News Corp., Partner to Create Spanish-Language Broadcast Network to Rival Univision, Telemundo

UPDATED: MundoFox, a partnership with Colombian broadcaster RCN Television, is scheduled to launch in the fall and bring "a similar sensibility as the Fox network" to Latino audiences.

NEW YORK - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is looking to challenge U.S. Spanish-language broadcast networks Univision and Telemundo, owned by NBCUniversal, by launching a rival in partnership with Colombian broadcaster RCN Television.

MundoFox, which will be part of News Corp.'s Fox International Channels unit, is scheduled to launch in the fall as the Hispanic audience continues to be a sought-after demographic, the companies said. They added that the goal is to bring "a similar sensibility as the Fox network" to Latino audiences.

Said Hernan Lopez, president & CEO of Fox International Channels: “There is an increasing demand for quality Spanish-language content in the U.S. from both viewers and advertisers. Fox saw similar dynamics in play 25 years ago when it launched the Fox network, and it would be a missed opportunity not to provide an alternative for the 50-plus million Latino viewers who currently have limited options in Spanish-language broadcast television. Our partnership with RCN will help us do this and we aim do it in a big way.”

MundoFox plans to be carried on stations covering 75 percent of U.S. households and is finalizing deals in top Hispanic markets across the country, the partners said.

Fox already has three Spanish-language cable networks, which target such niches as sports and nature.

Content for the new broadcast network will come from RCN, Fox International Channels, sports network Fox Deportes, News Corp.'s Shine Group, which will produce its first original Spanish-language content, and more.

“RCN has provided the main Hispanic networks in the US with much of their prime-time content for over two decades," said Gabriel Reyes, CEO of RCN. We now plan to maximize our capabilities and bring an increasing variety of fresh and innovative productions directly to Spanish-speaking viewers. I am certain that Fox is the best partner to make this a successful network.”



Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai