WASHINGTON, D.C. -- NAB Show and Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, today announced that it has joined SPROCKIT 2014 as a founding corporate member. Through this partnership, Univision will play an active role in the startup program that brings together entrepreneurs and industry leaders to spur innovation in media and entertainment.
Now in its second year at NAB Show, SPROCKIT is a year-round program that goes beyond showcasing market-ready startups by making introductions and fostering relationships with influencers and decision-makers. SPROCKIT 2014 will triple in size and select up to 30 startups to participate alongside corporate members like Univision in a week-long series of events at the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas and at SPROCKIT Sync meetings in Los Angeles in July 2014, New York in October 2014 and Silicon Valley in January 2015. Corporate membership is a new aspect of the 2014 program that furthers the SPROCKIT mission of bringing startups and industry icons together to collaboratively shape the future of the industry.
"Univision traces its roots back to a small San Antonio broadcast station that sought to deliver full-time Spanish-language programming for local viewers and has since evolved into a rapidly growing and high-performing multimedia company," said Kevin Cuddihy, president of Univision Television Group. "From our own humble beginnings, we understand the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for SPROCKIT participants. As a corporate member of SPROCKIT, we are delighted to share our expertise with these startups and have a hand in the disruptive products and services they deliver."
For over 50 years, Univision has changed and expanded from what was once a niche broadcast network into a multimedia powerhouse, operating 12 networks including Univision, UniMás and Galavisión; 69 radio stations and 62 television stations. Univision's unparalleled expertise in Spanish-language media has enabled the company to continue to expand, recently launching nine Spanish-language cable networks. As a corporate member of SPROCKIT, Univision executives will provide insights and mentorship to participating startups to help foster their own growth and to help advance the industry as a whole.
"The goal of SPROCKIT is to connect startup companies with established leaders to cultivate innovation, further ideas and spur growth in media and entertainment," said Gordon Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). "Univision's entrepreneurial roots and remarkable success makes the company an ideal corporate partner, and we're honored to have them join SPROCKIT for the 2014 program."
"SPROCKIT is a startup program unlike any other because it's driven by the industry," said Harry Glazer, founder and CEO of World Series of Start-Ups, LLC and the creator and co-producer of SPROCKIT. "Media and entertainment leaders like NAB and Univision have the foresight to recognize that emerging companies are steadily changing the nature of the business. They are taking an active role by collaborating directly with those entrepreneurs to contribute to innovations that are enhancing the media ecosystem."
Applications for SPROCKIT are currently being accepted online through November 22, 2013. Interested companies must have market validation and must prove the potential to significantly impact the media and entertainment industry. Up to 30 selected companies will be invited to participate in SPROCKIT at the 2014 NAB Show and SPROCKIT Sync meetings. For more details about SPROCKIT or to submit an application, please visit sprockitglory.com.
About NAB Show
NAB Show, held April 5-10, 2014 in Las Vegas, is the world's largest electronic media show covering filmed entertainment and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums. With more than 93,000 attendees from 156 countries and 1,550+ exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for digital media and entertainment. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms and countless nationalities, NAB Show is home to the solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and embrace content delivery to new screens in new ways. Complete details are available at www.nabshow.com.
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About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching approximately 96% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching approximately 89% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country´s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision telenovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of six cable offerings - De PelÍcula, De PelÍcula Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Distrito Comedia; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company´s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; UVideos, the first bilingual digital network serving Hispanic America offering popular Univision and new original and third-party programming, to be an on-demand service on whatever device audiences choose; and Interactive, a network of digital products and offerings including Univision.com, which continues to be, the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Móvil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services; and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit Univision.net.