NBC Universo enjoyed a good coming out party on Sunday.

Fueled by its coverage of Super Bowl XLIX, the Spanish-language network, which was converted from mun2 at 1 a.m. (ET) on Feb. 1, was the most-watched Hispanic cable channel in total day and primetime.

The network's presentation of the New England Patriots and their last-second stand that secured a 28-24 win that dethroned the Seattle Seahawks, averaged 368,000 watchers, according to Nielsen data, 259,000 of whom were adults 18 to 49.  The telecast peaked with 457,000 during the final minutes, and cumed 1.14 million watchers. Fox Deportes' coverage of Super Bowl XLVIII, the first cablecast of the Super Bowl to air in Spanish in U.S., history, averaged 561,000 watchers.

NBC Universo officials said the network outdelivered Hispanic cable competitors by at least 2:1  margin during primetime, and Super Bowl XLIX was also the most-viewed program outside of top soccer matches in its predecessor's history.

Among Hispanic adults 18 to 49, the modern, general-entertainment channel was the most-watched cable network -- regardless of language -- during total day and primetime. Gauged on a total-day basis, NBC Universo averaged 121,000 total viewers, 81,000 ages 18 to 49. the network's best-ever performance with the demo.

In primetime, NBC Universo averaged 267,000 total viewers, including 186,000 in the aforementioned segment, marking its highest Sunday ever in the daypart with that group.

“Sunday marked a historic day for our network. On the first day of our re-launch, NBC Universo succeeded in delivering high-quality sports and edgy entertainment series to Latino viewers across the U.S., and more than a million people joined us to watch Super Bowl XLIX in Spanish,” said network president Rubén Mendiola. “As we continue to establish our network and new brand, we’re off to a thrilling start. We could not be more pleased with our viewers’ positive response to our new, vibrant look and feel. With FIFA World Cup, the NASCAR Mexico Series, more Premier League matches, WWE RAW and Smackdown en Español, and The 2016 Rio Olympics all on deck, Super Bowl XLIX was the first of many brilliant sports moments Latinos can expect from NBC Universo in the months ahead.”

NBC Universo tranforms from mun2 at 1 a.m. on Feb. 1, with the Spanish-language network serving up a diverse slate on its opening day, highlighted by its presentation of Super Bowl XLIX.

The 40-million subscriber network, which has reached an affiliate accord for DirecTV to become the first distributor to carry it in the high-definition format, dawns its new era with Bienvenidos a NBC Universo, a half-hour special that gives viewers a taste of what’s on the air and what will come down the road. The program will encore after the conclusion of the NFL championship game, as NBC Universo becomes the second Spanish-language cable outlet to televise a Super Bowl, following Fox Deportes' presentation last year.

Following the post-game airing of Bienvenidos a NBC Universo, the network, bolstered by a freeview expanding its reach to 74 million homes on Sunday, will air a special preview of its first new acquired series of the re-launched network. Crónica de Castas is nine-episode fictional drama series filmed in the small, impoverished neighborhood of Tepito in Mexico City. The series follows the lives of polarizing characters whose stories revolve around the local Hotel Galicia, where nothing is as it seems. This marks the pay TV debut of the series in the U.S., which is slated to run in full later this winter.

The coming out party for the network features a host of Super Bowl-related programming, and a couple of hours of Larrymania, the network’s venue for Larry Hernandez. The multi-award-winning artist will bring a fourth season to the network of his show in which he attempts to balance his lift as father, son, partner and high-profile celebrity.

Underlining the network’s enhanced emphasis on sports, which will see it carry FIFA World Cup, Olympics, NASCAR and other action, NBC Universo will showcase the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at 8:25 a.m. (Check out the day’s full schedule below.)

In line with its mission to bring Latinos must-see live events and continuing its delivery of hot music offerings, NBC Universo will present “Festival Viña del Mar” – a top music festival in Latin America, featuring some of the most-renowned artists in the world. Live from Chile, the event begins on Feb. 22, streaming online at nbcuniverso.com. Details regarding its TV telecast will be announced at a later date.

“We’ve promised Latinos high-quality programming, masterful storytelling and the best sports presented in culturally relevant ways,” said Rubén Mendiola, president, NBC Universo. “Our new programming is just the first step in delivering on this promise to our Latino viewers, as well as building a rich platform for distributors and advertisers to reach an important portion of the population with growing influence.”

NBC Universo Feb. 1 Lineup

1:00am – Bienvenidos a NBC UNIVERSO

1:30am – Operacion Repo

2:00am – Sabor Al Super Bowl

3:00am – Fugitivos De La Ley

4:00am – Fugitivos De La Ley

5:00am – Fugitivos De La Ley

6:00am – Larrymania

7:00am – Larrymania

8:00am – Universo: Amanecer

8:25am – Premier League – Arsenal vs Aston Vila

10:30am – Universo: NOW

11:00am- WWE RAW

2:00pm – Sabor Al Super Bowl

3:00pm – Estrellas Del Medio Tiempo

4:00pm – Road To The Super Bowl

5:00pm – La NFL en NBC UNIVERSO: Super Bowl XLIX Pre Game

6:00pm – La NFL en NBC UNIVERSO : Super Bowl XLIX

10:15pm – La NFL en NBC UNIVERSO: Super Bowl XLIX Post Game

10:30pm – Bienvenidos a NBC UNIVERSO

11:00pm – Crónica De Castas

Jeff Mayzurk has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations and Technology for Telemundo and mun2, NBCUniversal’s Hispanic Enterprises and Content today announced today.

Based in Miami, Mayzurk's duties include, developing technology strategy for Telemundo Network and Studios, Telemundo International and mun2, and overseeing all operations, technology and facilities teams. He will also be responsible for advancing network architecture, such as supporting systems and technologies. 

Mayzurk previously worked as SVP, Studio Operations of NBCUniversal’s Operations & Technical Services Division, as well as the Chief Technology Officer for Comcast Entertainment Group (CEG).

mun2 will air a season one marathon of its reality series A Toda GloriaThanksgiving day, which will begin at noon.

Starring Mexican pop singer Gloria Trevi, the series will take viewers through her life, on and off the stage.

A new episode will air in the show's regular timeslot on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 9 p.m. as well. 

So much for that quinceañera.

NBCUniversal’s mun2, which last month celebrated its 13th anniversary as a youth-targeted Hispanic basic-cable network, will dispose of its identity next Feb. 1.

In its place: “NBC Universo,” described by network president Rubén Mendiola as a “modern general-entertainment cable channel for Latinos.” The NBC Universo logo will prominently feature the iconic NBC peacock, while the network’s new name reinforces its ties to Comcast’s broadcast and cable-TV holdings — a move clearly designed to increase awareness among media buyers and, subsequently, boost ad revenue.

More significantly, the pending evolution of mun2 as it approaches adolescence to NBC Universo will instantly pit the rebranded entity directly against Univision’s Galavisión, the longtime ratings and revenue leader among Hispanic basic-cable networks. The move reinforces NBCUniversal’s quest to attack and topple Univision, widening its fight from broadcast TV to the cable sphere.

In prepared comments, Mendiola said: “We will super-serve the Latino community with a universe of exciting viewing options in ways that are compelling and culturally relevant. Through this strategy, we are building a high-quality cable TV channel that we believe distributors are ready to embrace, advertisers are ready to support, and viewers will be drawn to.”

Mun2’s success with live sporting events — along with NBCUniversal becoming the new home of U.S. Spanish-language World Cup coverage for the next several years — fueled its transition to NBC Universo. In fact, the network’s official rebirth is concurrent with its U.S.-exclusive Spanish-language broadcast of Super Bowl XLIX. (NBC has the English-language rights.)

In particular, mun2 has seen considerable ratings and revenue success with telecasts of the Barclays Premier League, England’s top-level soccer league. Additionally, mun2 will air five National Football League games during the 2014 season.

But it is the audience growth and pending revenue bonanza tied to FIFA World Cup coverage set to air over the next several years that makes NBC Universo a draw before it even debuts. As NBC Universo, the network in 2015 will air the Men’s FIFA U-20 World Cup, with coverage from New Zealand, from May 30-June 20. Concurrently, the network will feature coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, held in Canada, from June 6-July 5. NBC Universo will then feature coverage from the FIFA U-17 World Cup, to be held in Chile from Oct. 17-Nov. 8.

NBC Universo will also serve as the exclusive Spanish-language U.S. home to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series; and Spanish versions of the popular World Wrestling Entertainment programs WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown.

“Mun2 is now clearly well positioned to better serve its stakeholders across all its platforms,” NBCU chairman of Hispanic enterprises and content Joe Uva said. “The network’s transformation into a high-demand cable network is one of our company’s top priorities.”

To accomplish this, a shift to “Telemundo Deportes” was not made; such a move would have put NBCUniverso in a crowded marketplace with ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, beIN SPORT, Univision and Gol TV, in addition to niche networks imported from countries across Latin America.

Instead, NBC Universo will have an entertainment component — using a formula that has proven successful for Galavisión.

Staying on the programming grid for NBC Universo is the reality show A Toda Gloria, which follows the daily activities of Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi; Larrymania, a reality show featuring popular entertainer Larry Hernandez; and Fugitivos de la Ley, a true-life bounty hunter show.

It’s not yet known which mun2 shows will be getting the axe following its transformation to NBC Universo; specific programming details are slated to be released in early 2015, the network announced.

Mun2 was born out of the former Latina-focused basic-cable network GEMS Television, which originally launched in 1993.

While the transformation won’t officially occur until Super Bowl Sunday, NBCUniversal’s Hispanic cable network mun2 today said it is rebranding to NBC Universo.

The 40-million subscriber network, which will present the exclusive Spanish-language telecast of Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1, 2015, has unveiled its new name and logo, tying into NBC’s iconic peacock symbol and brand. The rebranding was first mentioned during the Telemundo/mun2 upfront presentation to advertisers in New York last May. 

As a general-entertainment service, NBC Universo will present top sports from around the globe, and feature high-quality entertainment, music, series and storytelling aimed at making emotional connections with U.S. Hispanics.

Rubén Mendiola, president of mun2, said the name change not only underlines the network's affiliation with NBC, but is in step with the Hispanic evolution in the U.S.

“The name mun2 is of two worlds: The part of the Latino community rooted in its heritage, as well as those assimilated to English and American culture. NBC Universo is more reflective of the wider world today and the choices it offers to Latinos. It’s much broader, a universe,” he said.

Joe Uva, chairman, Hispanic enterprises and content at NBCUniversal, said the transformation of mun2, which recently became available in the high-definition format, is one of the company’s top priorities. NBC Universo will have “greater appeal to viewers, advertisers and MPVDs. Distributors will value the network more as it offers high-profile programming and sporting events."

Mendiola said research revealed that current moniker didn’t evoke connections in the minds of viewers to NBC Universal and its iconic, cable brands like USA, E!, Bravo and NBCSN. “We want to be part of that group,” he said.

Noting that the switch is the result of extensive research among focus groups, online panels and other methodologies, Uva said there “isn’t any brand equivalent of a USA Network for Hispanics.” He said the research indicates Latinos will be drawn to culturally relevant general-entertainment programming.

Both executives talked up the network’s tentpole sports – a five-game NFL package, capped by the championship contest; 550 hours of FIFA fare it will share next summer with broadcast brethren Telemundo; a major jump in ratings for Barclays Premier League soccer; the bow of a full season of NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series in 2015; wrestling action via WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown, and the 2016 Summer Olympics from Rio de Janiero.

Mendiola said the network’s sports coverage is being informed by one of NBC's hallmarks: storytelling. "We want to take that aspect and make it culturally relevant to Latinos.”

He lauded the job NBC does with letting people get to know the athletes that compete in the quadrennials.  “Our goal is to do what NBC has done with the Olympics and move that to other sports," he said, noting that process is already underway with its BPL coverage and that the game plan calls for similar tactics during the upcoming FIFA run as players progress from the U17 and  U20 squads to ultimately attaining senior national team stature.

On the entertainment side, NBC Universo will continue to present music videos and build on A Toda Gloria, which provides with an all-access look into the life of international Latin music icon Gloria Trevi, both on- and off-stage.

Neither executive, though, would provide detailed programming specifics, which may be conveyed during the TCA winter press tour. There were hints, however.

Uva said that he hopes the rebranded service will continue to appeal to its bilingual, millennial base via sports fare and action programming, while broadening its audience overall with a more diversified programming lineup.

Mendiola said NBC Universo's target will be 18 to 34, with the audience pushing toward the 18-to-49 set. He said the programming will be "edgier than what you see on broadcast" and those sensibilities will be built into the series and movies that the network acquires and has in development.

While sports will air in Spanish – that’s where the network holds the rights – entertainment and other programming will be conveyed in the appropriate language, depending on genre and daypart. “ We want it to be organic,” Uva said.

Mendiola said much work lies ahead over the next 90 days or so before the rebrand on Super Bowl Sunday, but he's confident viewers will like what they see as NBC Universo moves to super-serve Hispanics.

“We’re very serious about the positioning, the new look and logo,” he said. “It’s going to be something that Latinos have not had before.”

With four FIFA tourneys on tap in 2015, Telemundo and mun2 will devote some 550 hours to the events, including the Women’s World Cup, covering 188 matches.

The competitions will unfold on four continents and mark the first manifestations of the $600 million rights deal Telemundo/mun2 struck with FIFA back in October 2011, when it outbid long-time incumbent Univision for Spanish-language media rights from 2015-2022. Fox spent some $400 million for the English-language rights to the cycle, unseating ESPN.

Specific schedules were not revealed, owing in part to draws. For instance, the groups and matchups for the Women’s World Cup in Canada will not be divulged until Dec. 6. In 2011, Japan (pictured) topped the U.S. on penalties to win the title in Frankfurt, Germany.

Match coverage will be led by commentator Andres Cantor, along with Sammy Sadovnik and former players Carlos Hermosillo and Manuel Sol.

“We are proud to see the first tangible manifestation of this major acquisition, which will bring unprecedented exposure for Telemundo and mun2,” said Joe Uva, chairman of Hispanic enterprises and content at NBCUniversal. “And offer a unique opportunity to accelerate audience growth and consolidate our position in the industry.”

In addition to the WWC, which will play out north of the border among 24 sides -- up from 16 in previous quadrennials -- and 52 matches, Telemundo/mun2 will also showcase beach soccer and a pair of youth soccer tourneys.

Like the WWC, the FIFA under-20 and under-17 events will showcase 24 teams over 52 matches in New Zealand from May 30 through June 20 and Chile from Oct. 17 through Nov. 8, respectively. These are biennial competitions.

Similarly, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup has been played every two years since 2005. After Russia won the most recent competition in Tahiti, the 2015 event – 16, five-player teams will meet over 32 games --  will be staged in Portugal from July 9-19.

NBCUniversal’s Hispanic cable network mun2 said today that Peter Dobrow has been named vice president, communications, reporting to mun2 president Ruben Mendiola. Like Mendiola, Dobrow comes from the cable business at Comcast, the NBCU corporate parent, where he was executive director of corporate communications. There, he helped handle communications on matters including multicultural initiatives at the company’s consumer cable businesses, namely XFINITY Video, Internet and Digital Voice offerings, as well as the launch of XFINITY Latino.

In his new role Dobrow will work closely with the network’s leadership and Alfredo Richard, senior vice president of corporate communications at Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal, to develop and execute strategic communications plans including trade and consumer media relations, internal communications and corporate brand positioning among key internal and external stakeholders, a release said. Dobrow will be responsible for the conception, planning and implementation of strategic, high profile publicity campaigns for the network’s talent and content, and will be an instrumental part of the team that will develop and establish the network’s corporate and brand identity moving forward, mun2 said.

“Peter brings a wealth of industry knowledge and strategic communications expertise to mun2,” Mendiola said in the release. “As we enter this exciting time in our network’s history, and make the forward leaps to transform our brand and deliver a premium viewing experience, I’m pleased that Peter will be at the forefront of sharing our teams’ efforts with each one of our valued stakeholders.”

Before joining Comcast in 2010, Dobrow was director of external communications with T-Mobile USA, and before that was vice president and managing partner at ConceptBlue Marketing Communications & Publicity

mun2 will simulcast the 2014 NCLR ALMA Awards live on Friday, network officials said.

The awards, which celebrate America’s favorite Latinos in the entertainment industry, television, film and music, will be hosted by Eva Longoria and Mario Lopez. The NBCUniversal-owned network will also broadcast a one-hour pre-awards show special, mun2 All Access: Road to the ALMAs 2014 as part of its Hispanic Heritage Month, said network officials.

Telemundo.com will also live stream the NCLR ALMA Awards pre-show. The awards show and post-show will also stream live on MSNBC.

mun 2 will kick off the first of five NFL games next Sunday, a package that will culminate with coverage of Super Bowl XLIX.

NBCUniversal’s Hispanic cable network mun2, will broadcast the Hispanic Heritage Game in Arlington, Texas on Sept. 28, with the New Orleans Saints visiting the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.  The network will announce its on-air talent team later this week.

The primetime presentation is part of a one-year deal for “La NFL en mun2” that will also see the 40 million-subscriber service air the Thanksgiving night game, featuring  an NFC Championship Game rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. Mirroring NBC’s playoff schedule, mun2 will also televise a Wild Card contest, a Divisional Playoff game and Super Bowl XLIX from Glendale, Ariz.

The network will use the NFL championship as a forum to announce its new name and reveal elements of its upgraded programming slate.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to televise a number of high-profile events, capped by the Super Bowl, in partnership with the NBC Sports Group,” said mun2 president Ruben Mendiola. “We are very proud to bring these games to our audience in a culturally relevant way.”

mun2’s coverage marks the second time key NFL regular-season and playoff matchups will air on a Spanish-language cable network, as Fox Deportes was in the game last season with a package that culminated with coverage of Seattle's destruction of Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII.

The addition of the NFL games continues mun2's evolution to a lineup that features more sports. Mendiola believes the contests will not only generate strong appeal among mun2 viewers who are already pro pigskin fans, but they will open new audience doors.

“Many fans have been listening to the games on the radio, or not watching at all. With culturally relevant telecasts, we believe they are going to tune into mun2 to watch the action,” he said.

He noted that with Arizona’s significant Latino population, the Super Bowl will provide “a perfect forum” for the network to announce its name change.

The network, he said, is also benefiting from added attention on Madison Avenue: “There is a lot of interest among advertisers who are looking to reach mun2’s traditional and expanded audience.”

“La NFL en mun2” joins mun2’s sports roster that also includes coverage of the top Mexican soccer circuit and the U.K.'s Barclays Premier League. Other top sports properties on deck: La NASCAR en mun2, the FIFA World Cup starting in 2015, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

As part of NBCUniversal Hispanic Enterprises and Content’s social campaign Aprender es Triunfar, Telemundo, mun2, MSNBC and AMC Theaters are set to feature Mary Mazzio’s new documentary film Underwater Dreams. 

he film tells the story of four sons of Mexican immigrants who enter an underwater robotics competition against MIT engineers, fitting with Aprender es Triunfar’s mission to close the Latino student achievement gap in STEM education. The film will be hosted for free by AMC Theaters at up to 100 community screenings this summer, leading up to a television broadcast by MSNBC, TElemundo and mun2 in late July.     

AMC also plans to release Underwater Dreams theatrically on July 11, 2014. The television version will be broadcast simultaneously on MSNBC and Telemundo on July 20, with both English and Spanish versions available. The film will air on mun2 the following day, July 21. 

Leon pushed Pachuca in the second period of extra time to win the Mexico’s first division Clausura tournament on Sunday night and UniMas/Univision Deportes topped Telemundo/mun2 in the ratings for the two matches between the clubs.

UniMas and Univision Deportes Network's May 18 simulcast of the Liga MX Clausara averaged 2.5 million viewers from 8:52 p.m. to 11:43 p.m. that night, according to Nielsen data. That made it the most-viewed club soccer match on any U.S. network in 2014, besting Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Major League Soccer action, among others, according to officials at network parent, Univision Communications.  There was no breakdown between networks, with all of the viewership attributed to UniMas.

Leon’s 2-0 win, which gave them the Clausara title on aggregate, tallied 4.7 million viewers who saw some portion of the match, while averaging 1.6 million adults 18 to 49.

Sunday’s deliveries surpassed the 1.73 million viewers Telemundo garnered with its May 15 coverage of the opening leg of the two-game set that was won by Pachuca 3-2, which had stood as the most-watched Liga MX 2014 playoff matchup. That total included 991,000 of the abovementioned demos.

In addition, mun2’s simulcast in Spanish, delivering an additional 192,000 total viewers and 172,000 adults 18 to 49.

With Liga MX rights in the U.S., the networks telecast the home-team matches.

Starting next season, Telemundo holds the rights to both Leon and Pachuca, while Univision, which has scored the top ratings for all club soccer in the U.S. with its Liga MX coverage, will air the home matches from the circuit’s 16 other clubs.