Viacom Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
(212) 258-6000
www.viacom.com
@Viacom
Sumner M. Redstone, Philippe Dauman, Thomas E. Dooley, Robert Bakish, and Brad Grey [2],[3],[4],[5],[6]
Top Executives
Sumner M. Redstone: Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2006. He also serves as the Executive Chairman of CBS [7].
Philippe Dauman: President and CEO since 2006 [8].
Thomas E. Dooley: Chief Operating Officer since 2010. He previously served as the CFO [8].
Robert Bakish: President and CEO of International Media Networks since 2011. He oversees all media networks outside of the United States [8].
Brad Grey: CEO of Paramount Pictures since 2005. Grey oversees the entire branch of Paramount Pictures [8].
A Brief History
In 1971, Viacom was formed by breaking off from CBS; it then merged with Warner Communications in 1983 [9]. It bought MTV in 1986, and then merged with Paramount Communications in a nearly $10 billion agreement [9]. The VIA stock became available to be bought and sold in the NYSE in 1999 [9]. CBS, the company it came from, and Viacom merged in a nearly $40 billion merger in 2000 [9]. In the next few years, it purchased BET, Noggin, Comedy Central, TNN, and more [9]. CBS and Viacom then split again in 2006 [25]. Also in 2006, Paramount acquired Dreamworks LLC, and MTV then partnered with Warner Music group [9]. Most recently, in 2011, Viacom International Media Networks was created [9].
General Overview
Viacom has many diverse assets, and therefore produces a lot of varied programming in different markets. It owns 205 television channels, spanning over 169 territories and in nearly 40 different languages [10]. It also owns Paramount Pictures, a big player in the film industry, and has released films of all types, such as The Adventures of Tintin and Paranormal Activity, that reach varied demographics.
Viacom’s TV Assets [11]
In the cable television market, Viacom has many different assets. These networks are very different and, again, reach many different audiences. Some of their major assets include MTV and Nickelodeon, which reach a younger audience, Comedy Central, Spike, and BET, which reach an adult audience, and TV Land, which reaches an older audience. Each network plays very different programming. VH1 and MTV play both shows about popular music and reality shows, with series such as Buckwild on MTV and Top 20 Video Countdown on VH1. Comedies of all different types are played on Comedy Central, such as The Colbert Report, and TV Land offers a lot of reruns of old shows and some original programming. Networks such as CMT (Country Music Television) and BET (Black Entertainment Television) also reach very specific demographics. Nickelodeon is the #1 cable network for seventeen years, showing the success of their networks [12].
Spongebob Squarepants, airing on Nickelodeon. [13]
Viacom has a lot of competitors, some of which include NBCUniversal, Time Warner, and Walt Disney [14]. Still, it is a leader in the cable television market .
Financials
During the first quarter of 2013, Viacom had a revenue of $3.314 billion, which includes $2.394 billion from media networks and $975 million from films [15]. This number is down 16% from last year’s first quarter [15]. However, media networks hardly decreased, down only 2%; this decrease is mainly due to filmed entertainment, which is down nearly 40% [15]. MTV is the network with the highest revenue, at around $548 million, with Nickelodeon following at around $357 million [10].
Viacom Inc. Stock 1 Year Chart [16]
The Viacom stock, sold as VIAB on NASDAQ, is currently priced at $65.49, hitting a high [16]. This is nearly $20 higher than CBS, around $7 higher than the Walt Disney Company, and nearly $25 higher than Comcast, all of which are Viacom’s competitors [17]. The VIAB stock increased greatly this year, raising from $46.75 a year ago to $65.49 today [16]. Viacom also sells class A stock, VIA, at $66; with this, stockholders have voting rights.
Recent News
Viacom has been in the news recently due to two major cases. First of all, Cablevision, a big cable TV service provider, is suing Viacom for bundling its channels and charging more for single channels [18]. This has, however, been its practice for a very long time. Also, last year, the case starting in 2007, in which Viacom sued Youtube, the popular website where users can upload their own videos, saying that some of its content infringed on Viacom”s copyright, was revived [19]. This case is still going on today.
Viacom also, however, has had a lot of positive things going on recently. VH1’s ratings in adult viewership raised 33% in 2012 [20]. It also has a lot of new shows airing this season, including Best Week Ever and The Jenny McCarthy Show, and new episodes of older shows, such as the very successful Mob Wives.
Also, the 26th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards, airing on March 23rd, drew an audience of nearly 6 million viewers with just the premiere, boosting Nickelodeon’s ratings greatly [21]. The 2013 MTV Movie Awards are set to air April 13th, which should also boost MTV’s ratings.
Digitally, Viacom is working on a lot of new technology in order to better the viewer experience. The new Star Trek into Darkness app allowed app users to get tickets to an early showing of the film [22]. Also, Spike TV, a cable channel, has created a new app for using while viewing Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts fighting tournament. The app allows veiwers to interact with the show in a way not used with other second screen apps, using results from judging on the app in the live show [23].
Paramount Pictures
5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 956-8398
Paramount Pictures is the fifth oldest film studio in America. It is a Viacom company, and with over 1,000 titles and numerous awards, it continues to produce entertaining, lucrative, and successful content. Divisions within Paramount include Paramount Vantage, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc, Paramount Studio Group, Worldwide Television Distribution, Paramount Famous Production, and Paramount Parks and Resorts [10].
Brad Grey, C.E.O. and chairman of Paramount Pictures, has held his positions since 2005.
After succeeding Sherry Lansing, Grey is responsible for 8 of Paramount’s top 10 highest grossing films of all time, including the Transformers series, Star Trek, Iron Man 1 & 2, Shrek the Third, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Paramount takes advantage of its rich historical value and prime location. It is the last remaining studio in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles.The studio hosts tours and many events within the studio. It is a major tourist destination in Los Angeles. An intimate tour of the studio leaves a visitor with a sense of the 100 year Hollywood history Paramount has to offer. Visiting offers opportunity to see where some of the most celebrated films and TV shows of all time were produced [4].
Paramount Studios Courtesy: flickr
HERE AND NOW
G.I. Joe: Retaliation Film Poster Courtesy: collider.com
Paramount is notorious for their highly grossing blockbuster films. Currently sitting at the top of the box office is Paramount Picture’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation. This science-fiction action, starring Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, and Channing Tatum, has already grossed $86.4M [8]. Despite the criticisms of the movie from fans and authors on websites such as rottentomato.com, the studio has still benefited from a lucrative return on their mediocre sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Scott Mendelson, a box office pundit and film market analyst, describes Paramount’s success:
Paramount held off on the release of the movie, which was planned to go into theaters in June 2012. Fast forward 9 months to March 2013, add in increased 3D ticket prices with Paramount’s decision to adapt the film to 3D, and G.I. Joe: Retaliation has pulled in $233M and counting worldwide. Because the international market went for the 3D option, the decision to wait 9 months to convert the movie into 3D really paid off [3].
“The Rock,” Dwayne Johnson Courtesy: businessinsider.com
The success can also be attributed to the films’s low budget and the decision not to reshoot parts of the film. With $233M made on worldwide sales, Paramount has already begun profiting heavily from the movie. Increasing its moderate $130M budget would not have made it an exponentially more entertaining film, according to Mendelson [8][3]. By sticking to its budget, appropriating 9 months for the transition to 3D, and refraining from taking exessive reshoots during post production, this mediocre sequel translated into a lucrative worldwide film.
JUST AROUND THE BEND
Upcoming on Paramount’s agenda is the release of some huge titles. Star Trek Into the Darkness is set to release on May 17 [10]. This sequel is being directed and produced by J.J Abrams, the man who previously produced and directed the recent 2009 Star Trek.
Star Trek Into the Darkness Film Poster Courtesy: taylormarsh.com
There are high expectations for this Paramount Picture franchise. Because Star Trek is such a storied franchise, fanatics are concerned about the anagonist’s role as well as overall expectations for the film. Benedict Cumberbatch, the man purportedly playing the role of “Khan,” speaks to these concerns [7]:
Paramount hopes to capitalize on the excitement of the film following the extremely successful 2009 Star Trek that found its way into the top 10 highest grossing films in Paramount history.
FURTHER DOWN THE LINE
There are two films Paramount is set to release within the next six months that have gained the attention of film-fanatics.With the phenomenon of AMC’s The Walking Dead, Paramount is “feeding” on America’s cultural fetish with zombies in Marc Forster’s apocalyptic horror film World War Z starring Brad Pitt [10].
World War Z Film Poster Courtesy: movienewz.com
Set to release on June 21, there have been some setbacks during production and a reported thrift between Pitt and Forster. After initial production had finished, this $125M budget film had to reshoot for seven weeks and its entire third act was rewritten [9]. Regardless, Paramount has high expectations for this gutty apocalyptic film, hoping it will be a summer blockbuster.
After the success and popularity of the 2004 film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, news of the sequel has been highly anticipated. Starring Will Ferrell, this goofy comedy’s plot is still up in the air. Anchorman The Legend Continuesis set to release on December 20, and fans are gearing up for another round of laughs [10].
Anchorman The Legend Continues Film Poster Courtesy: Wikipedia.com
Paramount’s executive decisions to make these movie sequels shows the studio’s main goal-to make successful, lucrative films. By taking advantage of names like Will Ferrell in the upcoming Anchorman, franchise names like Star Trek, and cultural fetishes like zombie apocalypses, Paramount hedges their bets with expected profitable films.
PARAMOUNT’s GLOBAL REACH
In one of the most luxurious places in the world, Paramount Hotels and Resorts has partnered with the United Arab Emirates-based luxury developer DAMAC Properties to build a 540 room hotel in Dubai. This building, DAMAC Towers by Paramount, acts as a gateway for Paramount to spread their media content around the globe. The hotel will offer residences as well as temporary stays [1].
DAMAC Towers by Paramount Courtesy: damacproperties.com
It will feature Paramount themed restaurants, bars, swimming pools, and contain a movie theater. The rooms will also have the accommodation to access exclussive Paramount films. According to initial reports, the Dubai venture has been a success, with the first level of residences already sold out. Construction is projected to be finished by the end of 2015. Paramount Hotels and Resorts is also extending its reach to Boao, China, where another hotel should be completed by the end of 2016 [5].
Fox Searchlight is a speciality division under 20th Century Fox. The company tends to release smaller budget, niche-genre films. Many of Fox Searchlight’s films have earned Academy Award nominations and wins such as Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, The Descendants, and Black Swan[4].
Chris Petrikin- Executive Vice President, Global Communications
Rupert Murdoch- Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Marick- Executive Vice President
Ricardo Crespo- Senior Vice President of Global Creative
Thomas E. Rothman- Board Member
Robert Harpe- Board Member
James Gianopulos- Board Member
Financial Information
News Corp’s current share price is $30.9 up 36.6% from 19.58 at this time last year. Their revenue for the year 2012 was $34.33 billion a 2% increase from their 2011 revenue of $33.4 billion [3].
This graph represents the share price of News Corp stock since 2008 [9].
20th Century Fox is currently number 4 in the market, holding an 11.7% share. It has grossed $256.9 million. Compared to its position in April of 2012, it is down $40 million in revenue, with the same amount of films released. In 2012, they finished 6th in the market with a 9.5% share, releasing 15 films. 2012 was a successful year, having increased profits from 2011 by 4.9%, up from $977 million to $1 billion [4].
Fox Searchlight is currently 16th in the market with a .2% of the market share. It has currently grossed $4.5 million at the box office with the release of 4 films so far this year. Searchlight finished 2012 grossing $117.8 million, down 22.7% from the 2011 gross of $152.4 million. For 2012, Fox Searchlight was 12th in the market a slight decline from their 2011 position of 11th in the market. In 2012 they released 10 movies and in 2011 they released 11, most likely causing the decline in profits [4].
Competitors
The Weinstein Company is independently owned unlike most studios that fall under a media conglomerate.
20th Century Fox competes most closely with the five other major studios (Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros, Disney, Universal, and Paramount.) Universal is currently number one in the market, followed by the Weinstein Company, and Buena Vista. Universal has only released 2 films so far this year, one being the successful film, Identity Theif, and have still been experiencing profits from their late 2012 releases including the award winner Les Miserables. Beuna Vista released the high grossing, Oz The Great and Powerful. The recent wild success of the Weinstein Company has caused it to become more comprable in profits to 20th Century Fox than to Fox Searchlight though they release similar types of films. This has largely been due to their award winning films Django Unchained and Silver Linings Playbook. 20th Century Fox has held a high position in the market due to the success of The Croods. Other 2013 releases inclue Broken Cityand A Good Day to Die Hard[4].
Recent News
After a phone hacking scandal in 2011 and increased pressure from shareholders, News Corp will be splitting into two separate companies mid-2013. 20th Century Fox and all other Fox brands will become a part of a new company titled Fox Group. The publishing side of the company will remain News Corporation. Fox Group is slated to be led by Chase Carey, president and chief operating officer, Rupert Murdoch, chief executive and chairman, and James Murdoch, who will serve as the deputy chief operating officer [6]. Due to this split, 20th Century Fox’s co-chairman Tom Rothman will be resigning, leaving co-chairman, Jim Gianopolus, to lead the entire film division [11].
The 2013 release of The Croods has been notable for more than just its success at the box office. The film is the first to be released under DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox’s new partnership. Formerly, DreamWorks films were distributed by Paramount but the two companies ended this agreement late last year. This new deal has been very profitable for 20th Century Fox, as The Croods grossed $44.7 million in its opening weekend alone [7].
20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios are currently preparing for the release of the film Epic. Director, Chris Wedge, known for the Ice Age films, claims that Epic shows both technological advancement and genre evolution for Blue Sky [12]. The companies are heavily promoting the film that is set to release in May. Teaming up with Rite-Aid, the film will be an official charity partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals[13].
20th Century Fox is taking initiative to lead the industry in the new medium of digital media. In September, the Home Entertainment division decided
to release digital copies of the film Prometheusthree weeks before the DVD and Blu-ray release. In attempt to make online films more accessible and affordable, the company is also moving to dispel online piracy. 20th Century Fox is the first of the major studios to place such high importance on the release of digital content, calling the initiative Digital HD. Fox will release all recent films on Digital HD in addition to the effort to have over 600 Fox titles available on other digital platforms [8]. 20th Century Fox as well as other studios are currently in a prolonged legal battle with Google due to online piracy issues. The companies are requesting Google to remove links to pirated content but Google is responding by publishing the requests from these companies with direct links to the pirated content. This phenomenon is being called “copyright irony.” [14]
Fox Searchlight recently announced that it will be releasing the upcoming film, Twelve Years A Slave, rather than the parent company 20th Century Fox. The Steve McQueen film features Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the young Quvenzhane Wallis. It will premier in December [10]. Fox Searchlight currently has two films in theaters: Danny Boyle’s thriller Tranceand Chan-wook Park’s Stokerwhich experienced festival success [10].
Tribune Company
435 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312.222.9100 / www.tribune.com
Company Overview
In 1847, this Chicago based company was created with the start up of the Chicago Daily Tribune, which had a circulation of 400 copies (1). After success in the newspaper industry, the Tribune Company has expanded its media platforms with the launch of its first radio station WGN in Chicago in 1924, and then its insertion into the TV industry in 1947 (2). With its rapid expansion in publishing, digital and broadcasting, Tribune has now become one of the principal multimedia companies in the nation.
After the company launched its first television station, KTLA- TV, Los Angles in 1947, the company expanded rapidly, tripling its station ownership by the next year. Now, Tribune is one of the leading broadcasters, with ownership of 23 major-market television stations across the US reaching an estimated 80 percent of TV households. The company also has a hand in the cable industry, with the WGN America cable network, which has an average viewership of over 70 million households through cable and satellite providers (3).
CEO of the Tribune Company, Liguori has worked for the Fox Broadcast Company, and most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Discovery Communications before coming on board with Tribune.
President of Broadcast media, Wert was appointed in February 2013, and is in charge of the company’s 23 television stations and WGN Radio in Chicago (4).
President & General Manager of WGN America & Tribune Studios, Cherniss is responsible for creation, strategy, and operations of the WGN superstation and Tribune Studios (5).
The staple of its broadcasting, WGN America, offers an array of content as “home of the superfan” with popular shows in syndication, movies, news, and Chicago based sports (7). As of July 2012, coverage estimates for WGN America were a little over 66 percent reaching a little under 76 million households (10).
With its ownership of 23 major-market television stations, Tribune has thirteen affiliations with The CW, seven with Fox, two with MyNetworkTV, and one with ABC (8). In addition to these major market stations, Tribune Broadcasting also has ownership of the CLTV, Chicagoland Television, which partnered up with Tribunes prominent WGN-TV station in Chicago to deliver 24 hour local and regional news coverage for the Chicago Area (18).
Tribune used to be a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange as of 1983, but in late 2007 the company became privatized again. In December 2008, due to an unexpected decline of revenue and too much debt to handle, Tribune had to file petitions for Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (11). After four years of restructuring, Tribune was able to recover from Chapter 11 with a new term loan of $1.1 billion and $300 million revolving credit facility to maintain operations of the company (12). Even though Tribune is now a private company, they still voluntarily report annual and quarterly financial statements, but they are only estimations and subject to change. On September 23, 2012 the third quarter results were released publicly, and the company had an estimated $2.2 billion operating revenue with a net income of $254 million. Since these financial statements are voluntary for the company they only have reports of the entire company and subsidiaries together. The only assets reported for the broadcasting division were the broadcast rights for this quarter, which were $26 million (9). With an up haul of restructuring and reorganization, Tribune has shown with their profitable assets that they are on their way out of bankruptcy. Tribune also has equity interests in broadcasting and digital content like the Food Network, NimbleTV, and TOPIX, which all have been helpful in its financial return and have contributed a good amount of success to Tribune’s already existing assets.
As of April 2nd Tribune Broadcasting’s creative division, Tribune Creative Group has partnered up with the production company Turbo Dog Productions. With its advances with equipment and creative expertise, this newly formed partnership will expand Tribunes footprint in its advertising. Turbo Dog Productions will now be located in Manhattan under the newly formed Pix11 studio, with state-of-the-art equipment like Motion Capture technology, a Virtual Camera system, full CGI and VFX, and multiple green screens (14). Andrew Kessler, CEO of Turbo Dog Productions stated that this new collaboration, “will ensure we remain significantly ahead of our competition and further our ability to provide both our domestic and overseas clients with the highest quality of content over the full spectrum of visual creative materials” (14).
PHL17, Tribune’s MyNetworkTV affiliate in Philadelphia announced on March 28 that the station would broadcast the 2013 Season Opener for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team game against the Atlanta Braves, with a pregame show at 6:30pm following up to the opener at 7:05pm (15). Nielsen ratings the next day estimated that the game averaged an 11.5 household rating, which set an unprecedented record high for the station over the last 17 years. These results gave an estimate that over 339 thousand homes tuned into the game, making it the number one programmed broadcast for the night (16).
Combined with its already prominent scheduling of popular syndicated shows like 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and Scrubs, WGN America announced on March 26th that they would be adding additional network shows to the mix. Hoping to boost ratings, Tribunes cable network will be airing marathon blocks of
The Vampire Diaries and Arrow. Original content from The CW Network, both of these shows have been the most popular shows to date for the network, with The Vampire Diaries being the highest-rated drama while Arrow has been the most-watched show. With the new addition of these shows through block programming, WGN America hopes to get viewers attention so they “can catch up on all the action-packed drama before the final original episodes of the season on The CW” (17).
Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) is a cable television network that offers a variety of popular “slice of life” brands across numerous mediums such as television, digital media, mobile, and publishing. The network is practiced exclusively in the lifestyle genre housing syndicated shows on popular channels such as Food Network, Travel Channel, and HGTV. Scripps is truly an interactive network with shows that inspire its audience, about 144 million unduplicated viewers per month, to try new things and explore the world around them.
Due to the style of its shows Scripps is known for integrating products into the actual program. With its number 1 rank in persuading viewers to buy new products, Scripps Network has become a favorite among advertisers. [1][2]
History
Scripps Networks Interactive first began to develop into the company it is today in 1994 with the debut of HGTV (formally Home & Garden Television). However, its roots date back to 1878 when Edward W. Scripps founded The Penny Press in Cleveland. Penny Press established the E.W Scripps Company as one of the post-war era’s most influential newspaper publishers. Following the success of HGTV, the company debuted additional channels through the late 90s and early 2000s including but not limited to, the DIY Network(1999) and Cooking Channel (formally Fine Living Network) (2002). In 2008 Scripps expanded into two publicly traded companies. E. W. Scripps Company houses broadcast television, news, and community educational services. Scripps Networks Interactive houses interactive media, and cable television. Today, Scripps Networks Interactive has grown to include six channels all of which have an active online presence through channel websites, social media pages and online videos. [3]
Food Network: Food Network is a unique channel that reaches viewers through TV, the web and magazine. The channel is distributed to more than 100 million American households. The channel also has a growing international presence with availability in more than 150 countries, including Great Britain, India, Asia and Africa. [4]
DIY Network: DIY is a home improvement channel that answers questions about home craft projects and makeovers. DIY reaches more than 56 million American households. [5]
HGTV: The veteran channel of Scripps Networks Interactive has everything you could ask for about the home and its surrounding landscape. HGTV offers a number of how-to home improvement series that focus on artistic renovations, crafts and maintenance. HGTV boasts a following of more than 95 million American households. [6]
Cooking Channel: As its catch phrase “Stay Hungry”, suggests Cooking Channel is a station that is as passionate about food as its viewers. Following the model of many series on Scripps other channels Cooking Channel features various instructional shows about proper cooking habits and features various unique recipes. [7]
Travel Channel: Travel Channel is a station all about the world around us. Programs offer beautiful adventures to its viewers by looking at the culture, food and homes of different nations. Travel Channel reaches more than 95 million American households. [8]
GAC: Great American Country (GAC) offers programs that focus on style of country living. Programs give viewers access to country music videos, cooking shows and reality TV series. GAC reaches more than 59 million American households. [9]
Finances
As of April 8th 2013 Scripps Networks Interactive stock is priced at $66.89. This is an increase of about 1.43% from yesterdays stock prices. The companies current market capitalization, as of April 5th, is about $9.82 billion. The companies current annual net income is about 681.48 million which is a great increase of about 60% from 411.56 million in 2011. Scripps seems to be doing very well with 305.80 million this quarter. [10]
Recent/Future News
January 2013
Last July Scripps Networks Interactive closed a carriage deal with Comcast that included TV Everywhere. Over the next 18 to 24 months, Scripps chairman and CEO Kenneth Lowe, plans to expand the companies TV Everywhere deals. TV Everywhere deals are
sure to substantially benefit Scripps series especially those that specialize in cooking. TV Everywhere could extend the amount of time a viewer spends watching a show. With channels like Food Network, viewers can take their laptops, tablets or smartphones into the kitchen to continue watching a program while the cook along with the show host. Lowe stated that Scripps could see more ratings as a result because their will be multiple platforms rather than a single stationary TV screen. However, some trouble lies within properly tracking TV Everywhere ratings. Nielsen Media Research insists it can consistently and accurately track TV Everywhere ratings, however, Lowe remains somewhat apprehensive. He states that the problem is with pricing and technical issues with programmers and rating companies. [11]
February 2013
Scripps Networks Interactive has been making progressive moves to expand its presence over seas by selecting two new additions to its international leadership team. Derek Chang and Márcio Fonseca have been named managing director of Asia Pacific and Latin American respectively. Food Network and Travel Channel already have a substantial
viewership in some parts of the Asian Pacific but Scripps is looking to further expand its market reach through wider distribution and additional program availability. Both Food Network and Travel Channel shows are rich with content related to Asian countries and have become the premiere brands in the life style programming categories. Chang, along with Scripps, have great plans for the future of these channels. Similarly, though Scripps is less established in Latin America, managing director Fonseca will carry out various growth strategies to launch the networks international presences. With these two new managers Scripps Networks now has a growing presence in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific and Latin America. [12][13]
Late this February Scripps Networks Interactive ventured into the VOD market with its first streaming video-on-demand partnership with Amazon. Scripps licensed many episodes of its top series to Amazon Prime. Though the deal was only about $15million, small potatoes compared to deals by CBS and Time Warner, it is expected to grow over time. Customers of Amazon Prime will have access to series from HGTV, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Travel Channel. These programs include but aren’t limited to “Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day”, “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” and “Iron Chef America.” Some of these series will almost be available to buy and download from Amazon Instant Video. These new deals with Amazon are part of Scripps new initiative to offer their programs whenever and wherever their viewers want it. [14]
April 2013
Travel Channel prepares for the spring season with two new series added to its lineup; “Red, White & New,” and “Dig Wars”. These two original series will premiere in late April and mid-June respectively with back to back new episodes. “Red, White & New,” is produced by Powderhouse Productions, and has cast Steve Watson as its show host. Watson will travel across the nation to discover original and unique American inventions. The show aims to celebrate new American ingenuity by highlighting people who invent interesting tools that transform their lives in exciting ways.
These inventions include a robotic exoskeleton that gives its wearer a form of super human strength, an extreme design of the classic Pogo stick that allows high jumping with compressed air-power, a the world’s first working water-powered jet pack! Host Steve Watson will test these inventions first hand while discussing the inspiration behind each project with the inventors.
“Dig Wars,” is produced by Sharp Entertainment and in june it will feature three teams as they hunt down relics across the country to uncover this nations hidden history. These teams will challenge each other head-to-head to unearth the most valuable relics through the exploration of numerous historical locations in America. Each episode, once they arrive on site, teams will work from sunrise to sunset using their archeological knowledge to gain victory. When the hunt ends the team’s treasures will be judged by a local expert who declares the winner. [15]
Food Network prepares for the its spring line up with a the new program “Giving You The Business”. The series is produced by Cineflix, and will follow employees that are selected by the company’s CEO to compete for the opportunity to own a food franchise. The twist, however, is that the contestants don’t know they are in a competition. Hand-selected for their devotion to the company the employees take part in various hidden-camera challenges meant to test the skills and knowledge that are typical in management positions. The winner is judged by the CEO, and is awarded their own franchise. The show is set to premiere April 25th and will feature Famous Famiglia as its first victim with Walter Bond as the show’s host. [16]
21: Giving You The Business: http://www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com/newsroom/company-news/Employees-unknowingly-compete-for-own-food-franchise-in-new-Food-Network-series/
22: Giving you the Business video: http://youtu.be/JPtTw1bmPD0
http://www.newscorp.com | @NWScorp | 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | (212) 852-7000
A Brief History
News Corporation was formed in 1979 when Rupert Murdoch needed a holding company for News Limited. News Limited began as a small Australian newspaper founded by the Murdoch family in 1923. Rupert Murdoch helped turn that small paper into one of the largest media conglomerates the world has ever seen. News Corporation has holdings in print, television, film, and web. They own everything from the Wall Street Journal to 20th Century Fox. Even after being hit by an international phone hacking scandal, it seems like nothing can slow down this media empire.
News Corporation is perhaps best known for their work on the small screen. They are behind such classic shows as The Simpsons, American Idol, Family Guy, Glee, and everything else under the Fox umbrella. The juggernaut behind one of the most successful networks in the world still has the drive to grow and prosper. Their effort, combined with that of NBC Universal and Disney saw the creation of Hulu.com, an ad-supported television streaming site. There is also a lot of speculation that the Murdoch Empire plans to add the LA Times to their collection.
Board of Directors
Rupert Murdoch – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, News Corporation
Jose Maria Aznar – President, Foundation for Social Studies and Analysis, Former President of Spain
Chase Carey – President and Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation
Natalie Bancroft – Director, News Corporation
Peter L. Barnes – Chairman, Metcash Limited
News Corp continues to invest in cable TV while other content providers worry about the long term security of the revenue stream. It was announced in late March 2013 that the channel FX would be getting a sister channel named FXX [1]. FXX will be targeting the coveted 18-34 demographic. In order to reach this younger audience, content will be transplanted from FX to FXX. Shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia will be moved to FXX once the channel launches on Sept. 2nd[2]. Because the channel will be launching with a potential audience of 70 million homes, News Corp is hoping that such a large potential audience will bring in lots of ad money [2].
FXX isn’t the only new channel that News Corp will be launching. They will also be launching a new sports channel, dubbed Fox Sports 1 [1]. Launching the new channel won’t be as expensive for News Corp as it would seem. What the company is essentially doing is rebranding their existing Speed Channel into a seemingly different channel [1]. Because they already own the rights to NASCAR, the NFL, MLB, and more than twenty local sports channels, finding content for the new channel won’t be a difficult task [1].
Although it sounds like News Corp is just shifting around their existing content, the stock market is expected to respond positively [3]. It might take a few years for Fox Sports 1 to gain an audience, but investors see a lot of potential in the new channel. Matthew Harrigan, a Wunderlich Securities analyst, raised his price target to $36, a $4 jump [3]. Although they don’t expect to be able to compete with ESPN, that might not be the case for competitor NBC Sports. President and COO Chase Carey told investors that the channel should see a loss for the first few years in order to give it the financial boost it needs. He urged “not to try to beat ESPN”, stating that financial success of the network would come in time [6].
The company is doing very well financially. According to the second quarter earnings released for 2013, News Corp reported earnings of $1.58 billion, up from $1.5 billion a year ago [4]. Their current stock price sits at $31.57 a share [5].
Current stock listing for News Corp
Despite their financial success, News Corp is worried. Every TV network has been closely watching the Aereo court cases. After Aereo won the first two court cases again them, the content producers started to get upset. Producing content becomes a lot less profitable when your content can be streamed online without any compensation. President and COO of News Corp Chase Carey might end up changing the way his network runs if this trend continues. On April 8th at the National Association of Broadcasters in Las Vegas, Mr. Carey claimed that if Aereo came out on top in court, he would take Fox off the air in favor of a subscription-based service [7]. Although doubtful that Carey could pull Fox off the air, it’s too early to predict what will happen next.
Disney and News Corp. are trying to figure out what to do with Hulu. On April 7th, 2013 a bid was placed on the popular video streaming site [9]. The $500m offer came from Peter Chernin, the former president of News Corp [9]. It is not yet known if the offer will be accepted or not. Earlier reports indicated that even if somebody were to buy Hulu.com, they wouldn’t necessarily be buying the content that goes with it. After spending millions of the website, the new owner would still have to go through discussions with Disney, News Corp, and NBC regarding the cost to stream their content on the web [8].
Although News Corp is doing well, so are their competitors. The Walt Disney Company is currently listed at $58.82 on the NASDAQ [10]. Comcast, now the parent company of NBC Universal, is listed at $41.63 a share [11]. The competition will only increase, but News Corporation has what it takes to compete.
[1] News Corp continues to invest in TV; creates FXX, Fox Sports 1
Originally founded as Viacom in 1970, The Columbia Broadcast System (CBS) Corporation separated from Viacom and became an independent new firm in 2006. It started trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in January 13, 2006. CBS focuses on every field of media and entertainment, including cable, publishing, radio, local TV, film, outdoors advertising, and interactive and socially responsible media. It owns the most-watched television network in the U.S. and one of the world’s largest libraries of entertainment content.
Key Executives:
Sumner M. Redstone, Executive Chairman
Photo Courtesy of CBS Corporation [2]
Leslie Moonves,President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation
Photo Courtesy of CBS Corporation [2]
Anthony G. Ambrosio, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, CBS Corporation
Photo Courtesy of CBS Corporation [2]
Louis J. Briskman, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, CBS Corporation
Photo Courtesy of CBS Corporation [2]
Martin D. Franks, Executive Vice President, Planning, Policy and Government Affairs, CBS Corporation
Photo Courtesy of CBS Corporation [2]
The CBS Corporation:
Photo Courtesy of CBS.com [12]
CBS Television Network was founded in 1928. It offers more than 200 television stations and affiliates reaching virtually every home in the United States. The Network has the No.1 drama/scripted program, NCIS; No.1 sitcom, TWO AND A HALF MEN; and No.1 daytime drama, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. It programs with CBS Entertainment, CBS News, and CBS Sports.
Judge Judith Sheindlin hosts the courtroom presence on the TV show Judge Judy, Photo Courtesy of CBS Corporation [2]
CBS Television Distribution (CTD) is successful for its television syndication. It holds the largest distributed television library at 70,000 hours strong. Well-known as its critically-acclaimed programs, CBS Television Distribution produces the No.1 syndicated series Judge Judy; talk leader Dr. Phil. As a big unit of CBS Corporation, CTD handles the domestic television distribution of CBS News, CBS Films and Showtime.
Photo Courtesy of CBS Corporation [2]
Formed as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, the CW is the only broadcast network “targeting women 13-34”. [3] The network currently runs programming six days a week: Monday through Fridays in the afternoon and in prime time, along with a Saturday morning children’s programming block produced by Saban Brands called Vortexx.Financials:
The stock price of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) has been going up since the beginning of this year. It has been on the top watch-list and top stocks for three month. CBS.A and CBS has become the most active NYSE stocks and surged up 2.51% to $44.88 on a traded volume of 10.59 million shares. [5] Shares of CBS Corporation closed at $44.98, up $0.29 (+0.65%) in the first trading session this year. [6]
The stock moved ahead 0.04% and closed the trading activity at $45.92. The day range of the stock was $45.44 – $46.00. The yearly trend of the stock remained positive +52.25%. [7]
CBS has seen an increase in hedge fund sentiment recently. Greenlight Capital holds the largest position in CBS Corporation (NYSE:CBS). The second is Highfields Capital Management, which held a $156 million position. Highfields Capital Management established the most valuable position in CBS Corporation (NYSE:CBS) and invested over 150 million into CBS Corporation at the end of the quarter this year.
CBS Corporation has reported regarding its intention to publish results for the Q1 f 2013 after the New York market closes on 1st May, 2013. At the same day, CBS Corporation will also report results for the first quarter of 2013 after the market closes. The Company will then conduct a teleconference call at 4:30 PM, ET. [8]
In the News:
In March 13th, 2013, CBS Studios International and Japan’s Avex Entertainment Inc. announced the expansion of their multi-year licensing agreement to include CBS programming on SoftBank Mobile’s subscription video-on-demand service, UULA. The UULA service will include the content from CBS’s extensive television library, including early seasons of current hits such as NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles and 90210 and full seasons of classic series such as Star Trek, Star Trek: Enterprise, Medium and The 4400. [9]
The expansion of CBS Corporation is not only international. In March 14th, it announced the launch of the new CBS App for iPhone and iPad users, offering full-episode streaming of CBS programming from primetime, daytime and late night. The new app further extends the approach of the shows’ audience, providing more flexibility and opportunity for catch-up viewing and opens yet another monetization window for the Company’s industry-leading content. [10]
In March 26th, 2013, CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) announced that the companies have entered into a 50/50 partnership. Under the deal, CBS will acquire a 50% stake in entertainment cable network TVGN and TVGuide.com. The basic cable network will still be entertainment focused. CBS is using content brands to gain access to a highly distributed basic cable network from Lionsgate. The venture combine CBS’s programming, production and marketing assets with Lionsgate’s resources in motion pictures, television and digitally delivered content. [4]
In March 27, CBS Corporation has announced that it will be renewing 18 prime-time shows, including 4 comedies and 8 dramas. Only one of the network’s newcomers will have a new lease, Elementary. [11] Another remarkable information from this announcement is that CBS has not included one hit drama series, Criminal Minds. However, there is a possibility that it is delayed by ongoing re-negotiations of contracts for the cast.
Elementary stars Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu. Photo: Craig Blankenhorn
[4] CBS Corporation : CBS AND LIONSGATE ENTER 50/50 PARTNERSHIP ON HIGHLY DISTRIBUTED ENTERTAINMENT CABLE NETWORK| 4-Traders| Stock Market Quotes and News
[5] Most Active NYSE Stocks: Merck & Co, CBS Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices, American International Group Inc. Mar 5, 2013| Press Releases| SBWire
[9] CBS Corporation : CBS STUDIOS INTERNATIONAL AND AVEX ENTERTAINMENT INC. EXPAND ON DEMAND MOBILE VIDEO DEAL TO SOFTBANK MOBILE’S UULA SERVICE| CBS Corporation| NYSE| Shares| 4-Traders Homepage
601 Clearwater Park Road West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 659-4122
EXECUTIVES
Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO [15]
Chris Addeo, Marketing [16]
Jeff Quinn, Finance [17]
Douglas Holloway, Distribution [18]
ABOUT ION MEDIA NETWORKS
Ion Media Networks was founded in 1984 under the name “Paxson Communications”. It wasn’t until 2006 that the company rebranded itself into what is now known as Ion Media Networks. The company today focuses their efforts in three areas: general entertainment television, special interest television, and mobile television.
Ion is considered a pioneer when it comes to providing their audiences with special interest television. They are the first to have launched two 24/7 DTV channels: Qubo and Ion Life [1]. Qubo is a safe haven for young kids to access entertainment that is always “good fun”. Qubo claims to be one of the few networks that offer age-appropriate programming to the underserved age group of 5 to 8 year olds. Ion Life is a channel dedicated to those with healthy, active lifestyles. The various programming options on this channel look to inspire, entertain, and encourage people to live their best possible lives.
In addition to special interest television, Ion co-founded the industry movement to bring television to mobile devices. Ion is a founding member of Mobile Content Venture (MCV), along with NBCUniversal, Fox and leading broadcast station groups [2]. Their division of mobile television, Dyle, provides viewers with access to live, local broadcast television through compatible mobile devices in select markets.
General entertainment television is Ion’s most prominent media outlet. They are a leading, high quality U.S. network, constantly providing innovation and growth to the industry. They serve an adult audience ages 25-54, and have recently expanded their reach to 260 million Americans in over 100 million U.S. households [3]. Their viewership has doubled since rebranding to “Ion Television” in 2008, climbing from nowhere to inside the top 15 cable ratings [4]. Their slogan “Positively Entertaining” lives up to the bill with syndicated programming such as: Criminal Minds, Numbers, Cold Case, and their original series Flash Point, in addition to many others. Their programming also includes various movie titles.
THE BEGINNING OF THE CAMPAIGN
Ion Television’s lineup of fully syndicated programming makes it difficult to persuade marketers to advertise on their channel. It is presumably more attractive for marketers to reach out to one of Ion’s competitors such as CBS or Fox, and advertise where programming is more diverse. Ion isn’t holding an upfront in 2013 to gain advertising on their channels like ABC, A&E, truTV, and Bravo (to name a few) are holding [5]. Instead, Ion must develop unique and creative ways to reach their advertisers.
Announced on March 4, 2013, the rebranding of Ion television and their new multi-tiered B2B campaign, introducing the ‘Ionthusiasts’, is exactly the creative buzz the network needs [6]. To go along with the campaign, Ion television will be releasing their new network logo under their already established tagline “Positively Entertaining”.
OLD [19]
NEW [20]
INTRODUCING THE IONTHUSIASTS
The bulk of the campaign is centered on the “Ionthusiasts”. According to independent research studies conducted by the network, Ion leads all of cable in adult co-viewing in households watching TV together. The data shows Ion is number 1 in cable for hours watched per viewer, and 69% of these committed viewers are watching marathons on a routine basis. After digesting this data, Barker DZP, the New York-based agency that developed the creative decided, “Ion viewers are highly engaged and unique in their passion for the network’s programming, they make an appointment to watch this content live for several hours at a time, which is why ‘Ionthusiasts’ is such an appropriate descriptor” [7].
Barker DZP Advertising [21]
The campaign will carry media buys across many different platforms including spots in print and out-of-home; however, the most intricate are the online spots. The network chose Barker DZP’s approach because, “their campaign truly reflected the attributes of our viewers…we found the perfect moniker that fully represents the quality of our audience and their enthusiasm for the Ion Television brand” [8].
The Ionthusiasts have a separate website displaying the three fictional couples (the Ionthusiasts) based on Ion’s key demographics: adults 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54. Each couple has a “profile” explaining some key facts about the particular age demo. These facts include: why they watch Ion Television, the percentage of having kids, some hobbies they enjoy, and their personality traits [9].
Ion Demographics [22]
Each couple even has a little video so the advertisers can see each demographic in action.
Dean & Steph [23]
Next, there is a “Learn About Ion” tab that contains a sizzle reel of their top shows [10]. However, the site goes even more in depth with an interactive section, allowing advertisers and marketers to drill down even deeper into the types of people that watch Ion Television. In order to receive a username to partake in the interactive part of the site, you must be an employee of a media planning & buying agency, advertising agency, or an advertiser [11]. Once you receive a username, you can play an interactive game that follows one of the Ionthusiasts families through their day. At each stoppage you make a decision to progress the family further along; this is useful to an advertiser because an “Ionthusiasts Fact”, which gives the player even more intricate details about the exact viewer, supports each decision you end up making. As you can see in the picture, the fact explains, through an MRI Spring 2012 Study, that Ionthusiasts are pet owners, suggesting the answer to the question is to travel to the pet store [12].
Interactive game [24]
These Ionthusiasts Facts clue marketers and advertisers into the minute details of each demographic, creating opportunities for super specified advertising to develop. For example, if Pet Smart knows that Ion has a very dedicated viewing audience, and that same dedicated audience owns pets, purchasing a media buy on this channel would be ideal for both parties. In addition to gaining insight on viewers, the marketers that play the game can earn points that go towards prizes such as iPads, vacations, and gift cards.
THE ION LONGUE
Ion Lounge [25]
Ion Media Networks did not neglect their dedicated fans through their campaign and rebrand. They developed an offshoot from the Ion Television website called the “Ion Lounge” [13]. It is a fun, colorful, and interactive site for fans to get their Ion fix long after their favorite show is over. The Ion Lounge allows you to play games and answer trivia about the shows. Each time you complete a game or answer a question right, you earn points that can later be traded in for prizes. These prizes do not compare to the Ionthusiasts prizes the marketers can win, but rather act as a token of fan-hood for the network with items such as t-shirts, tumblers, and drawstring bags. In addition, fans can create their very own “Ion Lounge” and upload it to the gallery where others can view the creation. It’s simple, but a great way to keep the viewers active with the brand.
Ion Longue homepage [27]
Lounge example [26]
It takes a creative genius such as those working at Barker DZP to develop such an ambitious and unique plan for attracting advertisers, but it seems as though Ion certainly has a good thing in the works thus far. It is still early in the campaign, but I’m sure they are going to be very happy with the results when it comes to an end.
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
(212) 846-3939 www.cbsradio.com
About CBS Radio
CBS Radio, a division of the television and radio company CBS Corporation, is the third largest radio station owner and operator in America with 127 broadcast stations in 28 major markets across the country under its control, and over 70 million listeners tuning in weekly.[1] Its flagship broadcast formats are sports, news and talk, and CBS Radio continues to be the largest broadcaster of play-by-play coverage and discussion of the major sports franchises in America, including the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL.[2] CBS Radio also offers local digital media in over two dozen markets in the US, with local traffic, news, weather as well as other recorded content for on demand access on the Internet and custom mobile apps.[3] CBS Radio’s particular attention to on-air personalities has made it a continual standout in the increasing switch to automated and syndicated radio programming for broadcast radio today.[4]
Key People
Dan Mason
Dan Mason was named president and CEO of CBS Radio in 2012 and oversees all stations as well as the day-to-day operations of the subsidiary. He reports directly to CBS Corporation CEO, Leslie Moonves. Mason has been with CBS Radio for almost two decades, previously serving as an advisor and consultant before stepping up for the role of CEO. He has an extensive background in radio programming and his success with the strategic growth of CBS stations has been reflected in ratings from listeners of all ages.[5]
Kevin Weatherly
Kevin Weatherly is the Senior Vice President of Programming at CBS Radio, the Program Director of the top stations in the Los Angeles market, and also Kevin of Kevin and Bean, the flagship personalities of LA’s KROQ FM. He has been with CBS Radio for over two decades, helping develop audiences for fledgling bands through strategic programming and monumental development for the music industry and radio relationship. He has received accolades and awards from virtually every music publication, including Rolling Stone Magazine, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly and more.[6]
A Brief History
In 1927, talent agent Arthur Jodson created the radio network United Independent Broadcasters in order to showcase the artists that he was working with and as an act of defiance to his employer for refusing to include his roster in their broadcasts. He named the new venture United Independent Broadcasters, but was soon merged with the Columbia Phonograph Company after financial struggles threatened to bury the station before it had even begun. Under the new name Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting Company, the station was launched in September 1927 and quickly grew to earn affiliates and employees, enough to catch the eye of investor William Paley, who bought the station in January 1929 rebranded as Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The station continued to grow by embracing advertising, and became a frontrunner in national radio. The company also expanded with ventures in television and film, putting CBS on the map as one of the top media companies in the world. After being outbid for the rights to NFL Broadcast in 1993 and under new leadership, CBS was sold to Westinghouse Corporation for $5.4 billion and put under the control of Viacom. In 2005 with the economic downturn, the television and film divisions of CBS were spun off under Viacom to improve stock market performance and the radio sector along with Infinity Broadcasting, a division of Viacom, were merged and rebranded as the new CBS Radio.[7]
Timeline of Recent Events
On January 2, 2013, CBS Radio launched the largest major market 24 hour sports stations featuring high profile personalities, player and coach interviews, national game coverage and more. This is an effort to condense the 10 million listeners that tune in weekly to over 100 CBS affiliate stations for sports programming, and is meant to compete with rival ESPN Radio.[8]
On January 3, 2013, CBS streamed Bon Jovi’s Tampa concert on Radio.com, the first live event streaming venture for the company. This is meant to rival the live streaming features of iHeartRadio, currently the frontrunner in online radio streaming and app-based radio services, and will lead to many more given the success. A first attempt in December 2012 was postponed due to a major storm affecting the East Coast.[9]
On February 7, 2013, Kevin Weatherly announced a renewal of his contract with CBS Radio, after more than 20 years of unparalleled contribution to the music industry and radio programming today. An on air personality himself on KROQ FM as well as a main contributor to radio’s second largest market in the nation, Los Angeles, Kevin is excited to continue to use his skills and expertise to benefit CBS Radio.[10] The pioneering program CBS World News Roundup celebrated its 75th anniversary on March 13, 2013. It is the longest running newscast in history and provided a benchmark from which modern newscasts would be modeled. News programming was the capstone of CBS Radio programming in the 1950s and 1960s, when Americans turned to radio for entertainment and realtime war coverage. Legendary reporters such as Robert Trout and Edward R. Murrow got their start and made their mark on this program.[11]
Financials
On March 27, 2013 CBS reported fiscal year-end results: revenue is up 2% to $3.7 billion and says that revenues from non-advertising sources is growing even faster than those from advertising.[12]
As a venture of CBS Corporation, the stock price of CBS Radio is dependent on the overall stock performance of all areas of the company in the market. As of April 5, 2013, CBS Corporation stocks are at 45.20 a share, with over 8 million shares on the market. The stock prices tend to fluctuate and rise around the most popular sports seasons, but typically stick around 45.00 a share.[13]
Before being appointed CEO, Falco was EVP and COO. Before his time with Univisio, he was chairman and CEO of AOL, Inc. Prior to this, he was President and COO of NBC Universal Television Group.
Andrew W. Hobson– Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Hobson has been EVP of Univision Network since 1994, and his successful work in strategic planning for the network has resulted in a successful climb in rank.
Jonathan Schwartz- General Counsel
Cesar Conde– President of Univision Networks
Roberto Llamas– EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer
Peter H. Lori- EVP, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer
Employees: 4,233
Company Profile
Boasting the Largest Spanish-language audience in the world (Nielsen), Univision is a television network based in America mainly targeted at spanish speaking families. The company’s beginnings date back to 1955, when Raul Cortez started a spanish-language network in San Antonio, Texas. As more hubs were added around the country, The Spanish International Network began to take shape. in 1986, the FCC mandated that the service was sold to a domestic organization. The name was then changed to Univision, and the network started to design their programming around a national audience. Univision acquired the Hispanic Broadcastic Corporation in 2003 and created Univision Radio, the largest spanish radio network in America. More recently, the addition of the Univision Deportes Network, a 24 hour sports channel, Univision tlnovelas, a channel that airs the highest regarded spanish novelas, and Uvideos, a bilingual channel, have all led to a seriously robust array of content. ABC News and Univision News have announced a multiplatform project entitled “Fusion” to empower and inform the Spanish Speaking demographic in America.
This entertainment-news program means “The Fat Man and the Skinny Lady.” The show features interviews with musical artists and actors, and appears on weekdays on Univision Network.
Nuestra Belleza Latina
A reality/beauty pageant competition show, Nuestra Belleza Latina has 12 hopeful women compete for a title, earning cash prizes and cultivating an image on the Univision Network. Giselle Blondet hosts this show, and coaches the winner a year after the seasons conclusion. Casting occurs in six different cities within the United States, and Puerto Rico, and the selected contestants live together in a mansion in Miami for the length of the show.
Primer Impacto
Meaning “First Impact,” Primer Impacto is a news program that airs on Univision in the United States at 5pm weekdays. One of the longer running shows on the network, it has been running since 1992, when it was broadcast under the name “Noticias y Mas” or, “News and More.” The show has several segments, and these include the news of the United States and the world, República Deportiva (Sports Republic), movies, and weather.
Mira Quien Baila
A Spanish reality show, “Look Who’s Dancing” features a similar premise to Dancing with the Stars. In fact, the show is actually included in the franchise. Professional dancers are paired up with spanish celebrities and actors, and perform latin or ballroom dance numbers before judges to receive a score. The grand prize is a donation of $50,000 to the charity of the winner’s choice.
![Ion Media Networks [14]](https://bejone03.expressions.syr.edu/trf235/files/2013/04/ION_Media_Networks_873968058.jpg)
![Barker DZP Advertising [21]](https://bejone03.expressions.syr.edu/trf235/files/2013/04/BarkerDZP.jpg){kind=small}
![Ion Demographics [21]](https://bejone03.expressions.syr.edu/trf235/files/2013/04/Ion-Demographics.jpg)
![Dean & Steph [23]](https://bejone03.expressions.syr.edu/trf235/files/2013/04/Dean-Steph.png)
![Interactive game [24]](https://bejone03.expressions.syr.edu/trf235/files/2013/04/the-game.png)
![Ion Lounge [25]](https://bejone03.expressions.syr.edu/trf235/files/2013/04/lounge-logo.jpg){kind=logo}
