Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, today hosted its annual Upfront presentation to unveil its 2015-16 programming line-up and to highlight how targeting U.S. Hispanics through Univision's multiplatform portfolio is the way forward for marketers to fuel growth. At the UCI Upfront event, Univision announced that "La Banda," the music-based, multi-media competition show developed by Simon Cowell's SYCO Entertainment and Haim Saban's Saban Brands and co-produced with FremantleMedia Latin America is back for a second season. Simon Cowell as executive producer brings SYCO Entertainment's trademark talent for finding stars and creating great entertainment to Spanish-language television for the first time this fall. For the second season, "La Banda 2" will scour the U.S. for the ultimate Latina girl super group.
With its signature new take on the singing competition show format, "La Banda 2" will search the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Representing Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico, female contestants will compete for their place in "La Banda 2."
"Music plays a central role in the lives of Hispanics and we are pleased to continue to bring new musical projects to our audience via this exciting new platform," said Alberto Ciurana, president, Programming and Content, Univision Communications Inc. "We're thrilled to collaborate once again with Simon Cowell's SYCO Entertainment as part of our commitment to entertain and empower Hispanic Americans through the programming they crave."
"I am absolutely delighted to be announcing Season 2 of 'La Banda'," said Simon Cowell. "The enthusiasm for this format is already very exciting and most importantly we are seeing some incredibly promising talent. Univision and Saban Brands are brilliant, music-focused, passionate partners and we are all looking forward to next year's search for a Latina girl group."
"La Banda 2" will continue in its Sunday night primetime position on the Univision Network in 2016.
Simon Cowell, Kelly Belldegrun and Nigel Hall will executive produce "La Banda 2" for SYCO Entertainment and Cisco Suarez will executive produce for Univision.
UCI's Upfront event also included a special guest appearance by President Bill Clinton, who provided his perspective on the importance and influence of the Hispanic community to the country's economic and political future, as well as a musical performance by international superstar, Ricky Martin.
For photos from the Univision Communications Inc. Upfront presentation, please visit Univision.box.com/s/1mmlt926imi1la3t416n7yoqmyh3f8fw.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. The Company, a leading content creator in the U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country available in approximately 93% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network available in approximately 87% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language cable network, as well as UDN (Univision Deportes Network), the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language sports network, Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to telenovelas, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to international news, and an additional suite of cable offerings - De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit; Univision Television Group, which owns 61 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; digital properties consisting of online and mobile websites and apps, including Univision.com, the most visited Spanish-language website among U.S. Hispanics, UVideos, a bilingual digital video network and Uforia, a music application featuring multimedia music content; and Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group in the U.S. which owns and operates 67 radio stations including stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico. UCI's assets also include a minority stake in El Rey Network, a 24-hour English-language general entertainment cable network and a joint venture with Disney/ABC Television Network for Fusion, a 24-hour English-language news and lifestyle TV and digital network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit Univision.net.
About SYCO Entertainment
SYCO Entertainment is a joint venture BETWEEN Simon Cowell and Sony Music and is one of the world's leading global music, film and television production companies responsible for some of the world's most successful global TV and music franchises. SYCO Entertainment is also the world's most successful producer of international talent with SYCO Music being the UK's number 1 record label for both A&R and sales and is record label home for such diverse international recording artists as Labrinth, One Direction, Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Little Mix, IL Divo, Fifth Harmony, Alex & Sierra and Ella Henderson. SYCO's television assets include the global franchises THE X FACTOR and Got Talent. Local versions of THE X FACTOR are produced in more than 51 territories, with artists discovered by the format selling more than 180 million records worldwide, including 200 number ones and 380 top 10 records. The Got Talent format is officially the world's most successful reality TV format of all time, holding the Guinness World Records title for the "Most successful TV format of all time" having been commissioned in an impressive 66 territories worldwide. America's Got Talent also airs in 193 countries around the globe and has been the #1 US summer reality series for the pass decade. SYCO Film produced the 2013 #1 global box office hit " One Direction: This Is Us" a 3D concert movie with Sony Pictures and have recently partnered with ANIMAL Logic (The Lego Movie, Happy Feet) to produce a number of music-based live action-hybrid animated movies.
About Saban Brands
Formed in 2010 as an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands (SB) acquires and develops a world-class portfolio of properties in the entertainment and lifestyle sectors. SB applies a global 360-degree management approach to growing and monetizing its brands through content, media, marketing, distribution, licensing and retail to markets worldwide and consumers of all ages. Saban Brands Entertainment Group (SBEG) develops innovative branded content that resonates with consumers across all media platforms. SBEG's growing entertainment portfolio of brands includes Power Rangers, Julius Jr., Popples, Luna Petunia, La Banda, Emojiville and others in development. Saban Brands Lifestyle Group (SBLG) drives major expansion within the company's diverse portfolio of fashion and lifestyle properties. SBLG's portfolio currently includes Paul Frank, Macbeth and Mambo. SB operates a global network of offices in Los Angeles, New York, London and Sydney. For more information, visit Sabanbrands.com.
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