NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS - Telemundo, a leading producer of Spanish language content for Hispanics in the U.S. and around the world, today announced it will rejoin the National Association of Broadcasters, the industry trade group that represents free, over-the-air broadcasters on Capitol Hill and at the FCC.
"We are very pleased to rejoin the NAB. Telemundo has become a major force in Spanish-language television and is a leader in producing original, relevant content for Hispanics in the U.S.," said Don Browne, President, Telemundo. "Hispanics are reshaping the media market, and we are delighted to represent such an important and dynamic community at the NAB."
"This is terrific news for NAB and all broadcasters," said NAB President and CEO David K. Rehr. "Telemundo is committed to serving an important and growing population base, and we at NAB are honored by the trust placed in us to provide quality representation for their interests before Congress, the FCC, and in the courts."
This reinstates the Telemundo network and its 16 television stations into NAB membership. The network dropped out of the organization in 2002 when it was acquired by NBC Universal. Today's announcement comes on the heels of NBC Universal's recent decision to rejoin the NAB after a seven-year hiatus.
Jay Ireland, President of the NBC Universal Television Stations and Network Operations, who will also fill a network television seat on the NAB Board of Directors, said, "It has never been more important that over-the-air broadcasting have a strong and unified voice in Washington. The NAB will serve as an important advocate for Telemundo and its local television stations and help ensure that the broadcasting needs of the vibrant and fast-growing Hispanic community are well represented on Capitol Hill."
The Telemundo station group includes 15 Telemundo stations and one independent Spanish language station. NBC Universal has a total of 26 owned-and-operated television stations. NAB Joint Board Chairman Bruce Reese noted that there are now five networks in membership in NAB - NBC, Telemundo, Disney/ABC, ION Media Networks and Univision Communications. "The NAB Board of Directors has placed a high priority on bringing all of our network colleagues under the NAB umbrella, and we could not be more delighted by this week's NBC and Telemundo announcements," said Reese. "With NAB serving as our lead trade association in Washington, broadcast networks and their affiliate partners can look forward to continued success in the public policy arena."
About Telemundo
Telemundo, a U.S. Spanish-language television network, is the essential entertainment, news, and sports source for Hispanics. Broadcasting unique national and local programming for the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, Telemundo reaches 93% of U.S. Hispanic viewers in 142 markets, 36 broadcast affiliates and nearly 684 cable affiliates. The NBC Universal Television Stations division owns and operates 15 Telemundo stations and one independent Spanish-language television station (KWHY, Los Angeles).
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.
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