Spanish Broadcasting Names New Chief Creative Officer
January 17 2006 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Veteran media executive will oversee TV, Internet units and
leverage SBS proprietary content to fuel growth COCONUT GROVE,
Fla., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spanish Broadcasting
System, Inc. ("SBS"; Nasdaq: SBSA) today announced the appointment
of Cynthia Hudson-Fernandez to the newly created post of Executive
Vice President and Chief Creative Officer. In her capacity as the
head of creative strategy, Ms. Hudson will have overall
responsibility for the Company's recently announced TV venture as
well as the upgrading and rebranding of its New Media unit
including the bilingual Internet portal, LaMusica.com. In addition,
Ms. Hudson will oversee the development, execution and distribution
of all SBS proprietary content -- a key driver of future revenue
growth. Ms. Hudson is an eight-time Emmy Award winning producer,
writer and international television executive with over 20 years
experience in both the U.S. broadcast and international cable TV
industries. Ms. Hudson's particular area of expertise has involved
the launching of successful start-up TV networks; in 1996 she
created Casa Club TV (now a Sony Network); in 1997 she was hired by
Hearst Entertainment to create the Cosmopolitan TV Network, now the
#1 ranked cable network among women viewers in Spain and a
top-rated network in Latin America. She began her career as a TV
news reporter in 1984 and has held numerous positions at both U.S.
Spanish-language TV networks Univision and Telemundo, including
Senior News Producer, Executive Producer and Vice President of
Programming and Production. Since 1997, Ms. Hudson has served as
Senior Vice President and Editorial Director of Cosmopolitan TV for
the Hearst Corporation. Raul Alarcon, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of SBS stated, "Our content consistently generates
substantial audience shares in the nation's largest Hispanic
markets. We are fortunate to count on the expertise and experience
of an executive of Cynthia's caliber to assist us in further
unlocking the value of this content with an emphasis on our TV and
Internet properties. Her track record is exceptional and I am
confident in her ability to enhance our growing status as a leader
in Hispanic media." Ms. Hudson commented, "I look forward to this
unique opportunity to utilize my media background in launching
these new initiatives at SBS. I am equally optimistic about our
ability to strategize our content and fully leverage its multimedia
potential." About Cynthia Hudson-Fernandez For the last eight
years, Ms. Hudson has served as Senior Vice President and Editorial
Director of Cosmopolitan Television (a Hearst Entertainment and
Syndication Group division), heading up the creation and
development of the Cosmopolitan TV Networks. The first network was
launched in Spain and Portugal in March 2000 as Canal Cosmopolitan
Iberia. Today, Cosmo TV Spain is the highest-ranked channel in the
market for women viewers. In July 2002, Canal Cosmopolitan Latin
America was created, as were other international versions of the
Cosmo TV concept. Hudson led the research, development and creation
of Cosmo TV, overseeing design of original programs, on-air
packaging, promotions and program acquisitions, as well as the
creation and production of original formats. Prior to Cosmo TV,
Hudson was Senior Vice President of Programming and Creative
Services for United International Holding's joint venture channel
service, United Family Communications (UFC), now MGM Networks Latin
America. While at UFC she created Casa Club TV, the first
pan-regional Home channel for Latin America (today MGM). Hudson was
the Vice President of Programming and Production for the Telemundo
Network from 1992-94. During her tenure the network's programming
line-up was redesigned, achieving its highest ratings to date and
developing its first in-house telenovela production unit with
successes such as "Tres Destinos", a prime-time scripted drama
series that debuted in 1994. From 1984 to 1992, Hudson held various
production and executive positions with the Univision Network,
including Executive Producer of the first daytime U.S. Hispanic
magazine show, "TV Mujer" ("TV Woman"), which garnered Univision
its first Emmy Award for ongoing series production. More recently,
she created the first English-language, globally syndicated
telenovela "Miami Sands", distributed by Promark Entertainment. Ms.
Hudson has a Master's degree in Communications from the University
of Miami focusing on the acculturation and media consumption of the
immigrant population in the United States. About Spanish
Broadcasting System Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is the
largest Hispanic-controlled radio broadcasting company in the
United States. Upon the completion of all previously announced
transactions, SBS will own and operate 20 radio stations located in
the top Hispanic markets of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago,
San Francisco and Puerto Rico, including the #1 Spanish-language
radio station in America, WSKQ-FM in New York City, as well as the
nationally top-rated radio stations in the Tropical, Regional
Mexican, Spanish Adult Contemporary and Hurban format genres. The
Company also produces live entertainment concerts and events in all
of its markets. On July 13, 2005 the Company announced the
acquisition of WDLP-TV, a full-power television station serving
South Florida. The Company also operates LaMusica.com, a bilingual
Spanish-English online site providing content related to Latin
music, entertainment, news and culture. The Company's corporate
site can be accessed at http://www.spanishbroadcasting.com/ First
Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: DATASOURCE: Spanish Broadcasting
System, Inc. CONTACT: Analysts and Investors - Joseph A. Garcia,
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, +1-305-441-6901,
; or Media and Press - Todd St.Onge, Brainerd Communicators, Inc.,
+1-212-986-6667, Web site: http://www.spanishbroadcasting.com/
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