MUMBAI: US media company Univision, which serves the Hispanic community, has secured a multiyear carriage agreement with Verizon?s Fios TV. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The deal includes continued carriage of, and on-demand programming for, Univision?s and TeleFutura?s owned and operated broadcast stations; distribution of the cable network Galavisi?n; the network feeds for Univision and TeleFutura; and the launch of Univision?s new networks - sports network Univision Deportes, telenovelas network Univision tlnovelas and Forotv, a Spanish-language news network.

The agreement also includes plans for multiplatform authentication rights for UVideos, Univision?s new video platform where viewers can interact with the best in Hispanic programming, including current shows from Univision?s portfolio, as well as all of the existing networks and the new networks joining the FiOS TV lineup.

Univision Communications senior VP, distribution sales and marketing Deanna Andaverde said, "We are excited to expand our relationship with Verizon as they recognise the growth potential with the exploding Hispanic demographic in this country. This deal speaks to Univision and Verizon?s commitment to continue to deliver compelling and relevant content offerings to US Hispanics."

Verizon director of Content Strategy and Acquisition Ben Grad said, "As the country?s leading provider of Spanish-language programming, we are committed to giving our customers the most robust package of such programming available today. We look forward to working with Univision Communications to ensure FiOS TV features the Spanish-language channels that are important to our customers."

Verizon Fios TV positions itself as being is the only all-digital TV service delivered by a major provider over an advanced fiber network straight to customers? homes and businesses. FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 550 all-digital channels, including more than 140 HD channels, and 35,000 monthly video-on-demand titles. Verizon features a robust Spanish-language offering with FiOS TV?s La Conexion and Spanish Language packages, which feature more than 41 of the most popular Spanish-language channels.

MUMBAI: US media watchdog Federal Communications Commission (FCC) members Mignon Clyburn and Robert McDowell will be featured in the session "FCC Talk: Conversation with the Commissioners" on 17 April during the 2012 NAB Show in Las Vegas.

During the session, which will address regulatory issues facing broadcasters, NAB COO Chris Ornelas will lead a conversation with the two commissioners and Beasley Broadcast Group executive VP, CFO Caroline Beasley and Schurz Communications senior VP, broadcast and cable Marci Burdick.

Beasley is also Nab?s radio board of directors chairman and Burdick is Nab Television Board chair.

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate News Corp has announced the appointment of Hamish McLennan to the position of executive VP, office of the chairman.

McLennan, who will divide his time between New York and Sydney, will report to News Corp chairman, CEO Rupert Murdoch and president, COO Chase Carey.

McLennan will be responsible for developing and enhancing News Corporation‘s large-scale, global brand partnerships in order to maximise revenue derived from the company‘s deep portfolio of media assets.

McLennan will collaborate closely with senior business leaders across News Corp to strengthen the company‘s rich and sustainable marketing alliances, and better position its core assets ? and their digital extensions? for today‘s global marketplace.
 
Prior to joining News Corp, McLennan served as Young & Rubicam (Y&R) chairman, CEO.

Murdoch said, "As we grow our international footprint we see a real opportunity to bolster the value of our brand partnerships and I am convinced that Hamish‘s considerable industry experience, coupled with a unique and wide-ranging strategic vision, make him the right executive to deliver the insights we need to maximize our global media investments".

News Corp. is working to deepen its brand partnerships across the world.

Said Carey, "Around the world, our clients are developing marketing programs that are increasingly targeting consumers globally and on digital platforms. Hamish‘s expertise, along with his global media business background, will be invaluable assets as we work to deepen our brand partnerships across the company."

Commented Hamish McLennan, "We have a unique opportunity to more aggressively position News Corporation‘s peerless content businesses and further develop existing - and untapped - global brand relationships."

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom‘s subsidiary Showtime has ordered two more seasons of its drama series ‘Dexter‘, starring Michael C Hall.

The announcement was made by Showtime Networks president of entertainment David Nevins. On the heels of Hall and Showtime closing a new, two season deal for Hall to return to the series, production will begin on season seven in 2012 in Los Angeles. Seasons seven and eight will consist of 12 episodes each.

Nevins said, "Dexter‘s enormous success is a real tribute to the great achievements of its cast, producers, and the powerhouse performance of Michael C Hall. The series is bigger than it‘s ever been in its sixth season, both in terms of audience and its impact on the cultural landscape. Together with Michael, the creative team on the show has a very clear sense of where they intend to take the show over the next two seasons and, as a huge fan, I‘m excited to watch the story of Dexter Morgan play out."

Hall said, "On behalf of the entire ‘Dexter‘ family, we relish the invitation to delve ever deeper into Dexter‘s world."

Dexter stars Hall, who plays a complicated and conflicted blood-spatter expert for the Miami police department, who moonlights as a serial killer.