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2018 Hispanic TV Upfront Guide Presented by HispanicAd.com
A newly invigorated Azteca América released its Upfront information one month ago. ESPN Deportes’ Upfront is now rolled in to the main ESPN presentation scheduled for May 15; network representatives declined to share new programming details prior to our deadline.
Thus, this is the not the end of Hispanic television’s “epoca de oro.” Rather, this is simply the end of the Upfront dog-and-pony show as we knew it.
Even so, Hispanic media must be cognizant of the new challenges presented in particular by Netflix. As of this writing, two Spanish-language television shows are capturing Latino subscribers. One, from Spain’s TVE, is El Ministerio del Tiempo, a family-friendly offering that pairs three unlikely individuals from different eras in Spain’s history as time-traveling sleuths working for the Ministry of Time in Madrid. The other is La Casa de Papel, an Antenna 3 suspense drama from Spain, told in real time, about a money heist of a Euro printing facility by a group of misfit criminals led by a mastermind known as “The Professor.” It’s a smash hit in countries including Argentina and Turkey, with a theme song that has charted in each of these nations. Netflix recently confirmed that it has given the green light to a third season.
The style of these shows can’t be found on Univision, or Telemundo — although the new fall programming slate includes some very intriguing programming. Telemundo has an ambitious take on a popular German series that could easily be found on Netflix, based on the trailers. Univision, for its part, is encouraging “family-friendly programming” while taking a swipe at its competitors for hopping aboard the Narcotrén and hyperfocusing on a genre of programming that may be too adult for younger audiences.
For the Hispanic TV network, the Upfronts are still vital. But, gatherings in New York across three hectic days full of alcohol, hors d’oeuvres, and hopscotching around midtown are simply no longer necessary. Road shows are more effective. Telling the entire story of how Hispanics view English-language TV, and how they still need Spanish-language TV, is essential.
This is the reality of Hispanic TV in 2019, and for the next several years, as disruption leads to destruction. You don’t want to hear it, but we have no fear in telling you the truth. Broadcast TV will remain exceptionally strong in the years to come, thanks to ATSC 3.0 – the next-gen digital broadcast standard the FCC recently approved for voluntary implementation. An NBC affiliate in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., is the guinea pig for this rollout, which promises better sound and picture-window broadcasts. Attendees of the 2017 NAB Show and 2018 NAB Show in Las Vegas saw first-hand what this technology will bring to viewers. It’s astounding.
And, it doesn’t require cable. In any metropolitan area, one can simply become a cord-cutter and buy a $25 digital TV antenna at Best Buy.
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