Telemundo Reinforces Talent Roster

MCN Staff — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 13:00:00 +0000

A leading lady of Telemundo’s afternoon will stay in place for a few more years, as Al Rojo Vivo anchor and editorial director María Celeste Arrarás has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with the NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises network.

“María Celeste’s professionalism, determination and charisma have been essential to the growth of our network and its news department,” Telemundo executive vice president of network news Luis Fernandez said. “In her years with the network, María Celeste has forged a close relationship with audiences and her name has become synonymous with Noticias Telemundo. I am honored and proud to announce that she will continue to be a part of our family.”

The new deal between Telemundo and Arrarás comes as Al Rojo Vivo debuts virtual reality technology, augmented reality, robotic cameras and a cutting-edge LED lighting system — the first Spanish-language TV program in the U.S. to use such technology.

“Years ago I took a chance on Telemundo becoming the No. 1 network in Hispanic television, and that bet has paid off,” Arrarás said. “I am honored that the network’s executives have continued to give me their vote of confidence and to support my career. I am ready to focus all of my energies on this new era of Al Rojo Vivo and to go back to being the show’s editorial director, a responsibility l had to delegate to others in order to collaborate with Noticiero Telemundo.”

To concentrate on Al Rojo Vivo, which will be celebrating its 15th anniversary on the air in 2017, Arrarás will leave her role as co-anchor of Noticiero Telemundo following the U.S. presidential election.

Arrarás’s contract extension comes as Telemundo makes two other key appointments that involve women:

• Ingrid Sanchez Graham has joined Telemundo as senior vice president of creative operations. She had served as VP of busIness operations at Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic and will drive the operational development, management and execution of creative shared services and manage departmental budgets. Based in Miami, she will report to senior VP of marketing and creative Aileen Angulo-Merciel.

• Debra Juarez was named vice president of digital at co-owned Telemundo station WSCV and NBC station WTVJ in Miami. Most recently news director at NBC O&O WMAQ Chicago since 2011, she spent seven years in Miami as a producer and executive producer at WCKT/WSVN from 1983 to 1990.

Telemundo's Luis Silberwasser Joins Hispanic TV Summit

MCN Staff — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:00:00 +0000

In a special presentation session recently added to the agenda for the 13th Annual Hispanic Television Summit, Telemundo Network president Luis Silberwasser will be interviewed by María Celeste Arrarás, co-anchor of Noticiero Telemundo and host of Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste,” Multichannel News and Broadcasting & Cable said Monday (Oct. 12).

The one-day conference covering the business of Hispanic television in the United States, Latin America and around the world is set for Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Park Central Hotel New York.

The Hispanic Television Summit will be, for the first time this year, one of the signature events comprising New York City Television Week (#NYCTVWK), which also includes The Next TV Summit & Expo, The Content Show, Advanced Advertising and the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.

“Telemundo’s continued participation in the Hispanic Television Summit is extremely gratifying,” said Louis Hillelson, vice president and group publisher of Multichannel News/Broadcasting & Cable. “The high-profile participation of both Luis and María Celeste -- two of the most noteworthy and influential figures in all of Hispanic television -- underscores the Summit’s position as the premiere industry conference of its kind.”

Titled "The Importance of Creating Original Content for Today’s Hispanic Audiences," the session will look at why original programming is critical for the Hispanic media market. As audience tastes change in today’s cross-cultural environment, from traditional telenovela formats to faster paced super series, the content evolution is also stretching to live music and sports events, as well as the trans-adaptation of popular general-market reality series for Spanish-speaking audiences.

Silberwasser, named president of Telemundo in August 2014, has overall responsibility for the Telemundo broadcast network, including Telemundo Studios, the leading producer of original Spanish-language primetime content for U.S. Hispanics. Working closely with NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises' senior team and Telemundo’s leadership, Silberwasser is responsible for developing and executing the Spanish-language network’s entertainment, sports and news growth strategy. Prior to joining Telemundo, he was executive vice president and chief content officer for Discovery Networks International.

María Celeste Arrarás, an Emmy award-winning journalist and investigative reporter, is one of the most popular Spanish-language television news personalities. She has been a guest host for NBC’s Today and has collaborated with Dateline and NBC Nightly News. She received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Hispanic Television, which was presented to her at the third annual Hispanic Television Summit.

The Hispanic Television Summit is the premier event for those in the business of television for Hispanic audiences and covers programming, advertising and online distribution technology. This year it will also focus on the genre of telenovelas.

More than 500 executives attend from around the world, representing broadcasters, pay TV providers, over-the-top digital services, programming networks, production companies, advertisers, ad agencies, technology suppliers, research firms, investors and more.

The Summit includes the presentation of the Leadership in Hispanic Television Award, which this year goes to Verizon, as well as the Award for Achievement in Hispanic Television, which will go to actress, TV host and singer Lucero.

Previous recipients of the Leadership Award include Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Dish Latino and Major League Soccer. Past recipients of the Achievement Award include on-air personalities Don Francisco, Andrés Cantor and Cristina Saralegui; network news anchors Jorge Ramos, Arrarás, María Elena Salinas and José Díaz-Balart; sports celebrity Oscar De La Hoya; and advertising executives Monica Gadsby of SMG and Edgar Sandoval of P&G.

The Summit is produced by The Schramm Marketing Group, based in New York City (contact Joseph Schramm, 212-983-0219 or jschramm@schrammnyc.com, regarding speaking inquiries). Rebecca Shottland is handling registration (917-281-4782 or rshottland@nbmedia.com), while publisher Charlie Weiss is overseeing sponsorship opportunities (212-378-0478 or cweiss@nbmedia.com).

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Telemundo Reinforces Talent Roster

Telemundo's Luis Silberwasser Joins Hispanic TV Summit