Mexicanal Gains Through Multicast Rollouts In Austin, Reno

Mexicanal continues its U.S. rollout, launching with new station affiliates in Texas and Nevada.
The service, formed jointly by Atlanta-based Castalia Communications and Mexico-based Cablecom and providing Mexicans living in the U.S. with news, entertainment and sports programming from their homeland, has gained digital broadcast distribution on KVAT-LD, channel 17.1 in Austin and KELM-LP, channel 43 in Reno. Deal terms were not disclosed.
With the launches, Mexicanal new reaches some 4.6 million Hispanic homes in the States through a combination of satellite (DirecTV), cable (in select Comcast markets) and digital broadcast through multicasting.
"We are very pleased to welcome new stations in Austin and Reno, two important markets for Mexicanal," said Mexicanal president Luis Torres-Bohl in a statement."As we have added each new affiliate to our stable, we have made it our mission to not only bring our viewers the best entertainment and news from throughout Mexico, but also strengthen their sense of community by keeping them connected with their hometowns and heritage."
The service's pick-up by KVAT-LD strengthens its reach in the Lone Star State, where it is already carried in Dallas (TV 31.2 DFW), San Antonio (WOAI, channel 4.2), Harlingen (KGBT, channel 4.2 Telerio) and Corpus Christi (KUQI, channel 38.2).
The launch in Reno marks Mexicanal's second berth in Nevada, where it already airs in Las Vegas (KTNV, Channel 13.2).
Additionally, Mexicanal counts multicast carriage in Los Angeles (KBEH, channel 63.3), San Diego (K50LL-D, channel 50.3), Tucson (KGUN, channel 9.2), Palm Springs (KMIR, channel 36.2), Oklahoma City (KOHC, channel 45.3), Boise (KIVI, channel 6.2), Twin Falls (KMVT, channel 11.4) and Yakima (K39FU, channel 39.2).
According to officials, three of its digital affiliates are also carried by the local cable operators: Las Vegas (Cox), San Antonio and Harlingen, Texas (Time Warner Cable). Additionally, the Dallas digital broadcast station is also available via Verizon FiOS.
Mexicanal's programming includes MX•24 Noticias, its daily, half-hour original newscast, featuring top regional, national and international news; and De Kiosko en Kiosko, which explores the culture, customs and traditions of Jalisco's different municipalities, among others. The network also produces a number of original programs, including monthly boxing series Cuadrilatero and La Ruta de Mexico, a show exploring the nation's traditions and the cultural events that take place throughout the year in its different regions.