New York -- ESPN Inc. is expanding its portfolio of Spanish-language assets, teaming up with sister company ABC Radio and Lotus Communications to launch ESPN Deportes Radio as a full-time, national network.
ESPN Deportes executives, speaking at the company’s upfront presentation to advertisers here, said the network is expected to launch this September. Its rollout would mark the nation’s first 24-hour Spanish-language sports-radio network, according to network officials.
ABC Radio Networks will provide advertising sales, affiliate sales and marketing, while ESPN will supply the programming.
Lotus-owned KWKW 1330 AM in Los Angeles will serve as the flagship for the network, which anticipates launching with affiliates in Fresno, Bakersfield and Pomona, Calif.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; and Tuscon, Ariz.. Additional affiliates will be announced at a later date.
Back on the TV network, ESPN Deportes will launch its own version of Dream Job this fall. Competitors aspiring for on-air positions on the tentatively titled Dream Job: Reportero will vie for a chance to win a job covering the globe’s largest sporting event, the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Open regional auditions will be held in major U.S. Hispanic cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Miami.
