Azteca America Takes Spot Sales In-House: Network Sales and National Spot Teams Under One Roof

Azteca America Takes Spot Sales In-House: Network Sales and National Spot Teams Under One Roof

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Azteca America announced today the creation of an in-house rep firm for its spot sales business, consolidating both network and national spot sales under one roof.

Azteca America has decided to add national spot sales to its existing network sales organization rather than sign over representation to Cross Media, which recently was awarded the rights to purchase certain assets of the HITS and Azteca America Spot TV Sales business from the Interep Bankruptcy/Trustee. At Azteca America's request, the Interep Bankruptcy Court specifically declined to let Cross Media take on the national spot sales business of Azteca America and Una Vez Mas, its largest affiliate group.

"We feel it's a better strategic fit to move our very own dedicated Azteca America Spot TV Sales rep firm in-house rather than signing our spot business over to Cross Media, which does not possess the history or background that we have in the Hispanic market," commented Adrian Steckel, CEO, Azteca America.

Within the new organization, effective immediately, Bob Turner, President of Network Sales, will oversee both the network sales team and the newly created Azteca America Spot TV Sales division. Turner is currently in the process of hiring dedicated spot sales people for the following offices: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and San Antonio. Azteca America Spot TV Sales is now open for business and expects all of its offices to be fully staffed in the immediate future.

The Azteca America in-house rep firm will sell on behalf of network-operated TV stations in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as representing national spot sales for affiliate groups Una Vez Mas, Azteca America's largest affiliate group, and TVC. The groups operate in markets including Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Miami and New York. The newly created rep firm plans on offering its representation services to all the Azteca America affiliates in a total of 66 markets.

"We believe having network and national spot sales under one roof is the most effective way to better service our agencies and clients," Turner commented. "We want to ensure our clients can easily buy us as we partner with them to achieve their respective marketing needs."

"We have been coordinating with the other Azteca America affiliates to be certain that business continues to flow in an efficient, orderly manner," stated David Haymore, COO of Una Vez Mas. "All Azteca America affiliates remain committed to serving our clients with exemplary service during this transition phase."

"We believe this strategy for national spot representation for our stations will help us surpass all expectations in the near future," stated Jorge Jaidar, General Manager of flagship station Azteca America Los Angeles, KAZA-TV.

   For more information about the station groups, contact:    Una Vez Mas Sales:   David Haymore, COO   Office: 469-533-8257   E-mail: davidhaymore@uvmtv.com    KAZA TV Contact:   Jorge Jaidar, General Manager   Office: 818-844-1441   Email: jjaidar@aztecaamerica.com    Azteca America Sales Contact:   Bob Turner, President of Sales   Office: 212-896-8116   Email: bturner@aztecaamerica.com     About Azteca America  

Azteca America is the alternative choice in broadcast television for Spanish speaking families residing in the United States. As the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, Azteca America operates in 66 markets nationwide. Azteca America can also be seen on DIRECTV Mas Channel 441 (AZA 441) and DISH Network Channel 825. Wholly owned by Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V., Azteca America has access to the best programming from TV Azteca's three national networks, including a library with over 200,000 hours of original programming and news from local bureaus in 32 Mexican states. The network complements Mexican programming with an innovative line-up of shows from international producers and distributors to ensure the finest programming for Spanish-speaking viewers and unique advertising solutions for partners seeking to reach the most dynamic market in the country.

About Una Vez Mas, LP

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Una Vez Mas, LP (UVM) is Azteca Americas' largest television affiliate group. UVM has access to approximately 33% of U.S. Hispanic households, broadcasts in 17 of the top 40 Hispanic markets and represents almost 37% of the Azteca America network. UVM markets include 29 stations throughout the U.S., of which 19 cover the entire state of Texas. UVM markets include Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Phoenix (Prescott), Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, El Paso (Las Cruces), Philadelphia, Tampa-St. Petersburg (Sarasota), Washington, DC (Hagerstown), Atlanta, Las Vegas, Austin, Tucson (Sierra Vista), Corpus Christi, Laredo, Odessa-Midland, Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo, Waco-Temple-Bryan, Lubbock, Amarillo, New Orleans, Tyler-Longview (Lufkin & Nacogdoches), Abilene-Sweetwater, San Angelo, Wichita Falls & Lawton, Victoria, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and Sherman-Ada.

   Press Contact:   Daniel McCosh   011-5255-1720-0059   dmccosh@gruposalinas.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Azteca America, Una Vez Mas

CONTACT: Media, Daniel McCosh, Grupo Salinas, +1-011-5255-1720-0059,
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com; Una Vez Mas Sales, David Haymore, COO, +1-469-533-
8257, davidhaymore@uvmtv.com; Jorge Jaidar, General Manager, KAZA TV, +1-818-
844-1441, jjaidar@aztecaamerica.com; Azteca America Sales, Bob Turner,
President of Sales, +1-212-896-8116, bturner@aztecaamerica.com

Web site: http://www.aztecaamerica.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment