Penélope Menchaca entertains the crowd

Over 5,000 Attend WWDT Fort Myers La Feria De La Familia

WWDT Fort Myers hosted its second annual La Feria de La Familia June 29 at the Harborside Event Center. Event attendees had the opportunity to meet some of their favorite Telemundo celebrities including Penélope Menchaca of 12 Corazones and Ana María Polo from Caso Cerrado. Penélope Menchaca emceed the event. One of the crowd’s favorites was the dance contest she hosted on stage with a $100 prize for the winner. She also entertained everyone with her famous 12 Corazones game, using volunteers from the audience who were ready to find love. Another highlight of the day was Ana María Polo from Caso Cerrado. People from the audience were thrilled when Dra. Polo came out on stage singing the theme song to her show. The excitement continued with Dra. Polo, as she signed autographs and took photos at the Telemundo booth. She also took time to listen to some very personal stories from her fans. The afternoon peaked when the stage came alive with Joche’s music, his contagious rhythms of rock mixed with hip-hop and Latin-American folkloric sounds really brought the audience to their feet. Throughout the day the public took advantage of the free services offered at La Feria de la Familia. People donated blood at the Florida Blood Center booth, families with children received a free children’s physical from Estero Urgent Care, others received free legal advice and many took advantage of the free hearing test offered by A Better Hearing Inc. The day was full of information, entertainment, resources, food, music and fun for the whole family.

Representatives of Florida Blood Services show their Telemundo pride with one of the blood donors

WRMD Tampa Encourages Record Blood Donations

On June 28 WRMD Tampa and Florida Blood Services hosted a summer blood drive from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. The original goal was to collect 50 pints of blood. This goal was quickly surpassed within the first hour of the drive and 82 pints of blood were collected throughout the entire day. Viewers, who watched the TV spots promoting the Blood Drive on Telemundo, began lining up as early as 11 a.m. to donate blood. “We are extremely pleased and proud of how our community responded to this important cause that benefits the whole Tampa Bay Area, ” said Jayme Ribeiro, General Manager of Telemundo Tampa. According to Florida Blood Services, the summer months are traditionally low in blood collections. “We are very thankful to WRMD Telemundo Tampa for their support and their incredible TV campaign that brought more blood donations within the Hispanic community than any other media company has in the past,” commented Vivian Quiñones-Solano, of Florida Blood Services.

Dra. Polo is #1 in El Paso

KTDO El Paso is Number One at One with Caso Cerrado

KTDO has the highest delivering program in El Paso during the 1 p.m. time period. According to Nielsen Media Research NSI data, Caso Cerrado with Dra. Ana María Polo out performs all other Spanish language and general market broadcast and cable television programs reaching 16% of the total television viewing audience in El Paso at 1 p.m. Caso Cerrado is favored by a broad demographic of viewers, making it the highest rated Spanish language program across all demographics in El Paso. Since November of last year KTDO has experienced significant growth. Daytime viewership has increased 10% and primetime viewership has increased 40%. In addition, sign-on/sign-off ratings have grown by 25% during the same time period making KTDO the fastest growing Spanish language station in the market.

ZGS Florida Stations DISH out a New Launch

The ZGS Florida stations WWDT Fort Myers, WRMD Tampa and WTMO Orlando are now carried on DISH Network. DISH Network launched each of the local stations earlier this year. All three stations are now part of the local channel package as well as the DishLatino package, which offers customers more than 35 Spanish-language channels. DISH Network and the Florida stations are also working collectively on other projects to reach out to Latino viewers.

The WWSI team with Eduardo and Ron at the launch party

WWSI Philadelphia Celebrates Ownership Under ZGS

WWSI hosted a Taste of Telemundo Philadelphia Launch Party on May 29 at Tequila’s Restaurant to celebrate the launch of the station under the ownership of ZGS. The event included a welcome from Ronald Gordon, President of ZGS Communications and comments from Clara Rivas, General Manager of WWSI, as well as a video programming presentation which highlighted new novela productions, the best in sports including the Olympics, and specials including Miss Universe and Premios Tu Mundo. The event also featured Telemundo celebrities Mary Gamarra from Al Rojo Vivo and Pablo Azar, well known for his performance in Telemundo novelas including El Cuerpo del Deseo and Marina. Azar will be appearing in the upcoming novela El Juramento. Fernando Mendez from WWSI’s weekly public affairs show En Portada also joined the celebration. Raices de Borrinquen Dancing Group and El Grupo Fuego provided entertainment. The event was a tremendous success with many community leaders in attendance. Clara Rivas commented, “The Hispanic community of Philadelphia has been extremely welcoming and we are thrilled with the response we have received and look forward to a new era of Telemundo Philadelphia.”

Red Sox Report to Broadcast on Telemundo New England

Vanessa Hauc with the Liberty High School Environmental Club

WTMO Orlando Goes Green with High School Visit

WTMO Orlando’s visit to the Environmental Club of Liberty High School in Poinciana, Florida on April 18 with Vanessa Hauc, reporter from Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste, was highlighted on a special segment of the show. About 40 Liberty High students participated in the question and answer session with Ms. Hauc, who is the face of Telemundo’s green campaign, Alerta Verde. The students were enthusiastic and passionate about the preservation of the environment and were extremely interested in the conservation tips she provided.

WRMD Tampa Launches Local Weather Segment

At the end of April WRMD Tampa launched its new daily weather segment Informe del Tiempo presented by Sergio Gonzalez, WTMO Orlando’s Weather Presenter. WRMD is also educating viewers about hurricane season with on-air hurricane preparedness vignettes and a partnership with the local newspaper Centro mi Diario.

The Orlando team at Fiesta Medina

WTMO Orlando Parties at Fiesta Medina

Telemundo Orlando, in conjunction with Rumba 100.3, WKMG Channel 6 and Rene’s Productions, participated in Fiesta Medina 2008. This street festival takes place in the heart of Orlando and is the second largest of its kind in the area. Performers on the WTMO stage included El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, N’Klabe and Domenic Marte. Telenoticias Orlando reporters hosted the stage and interacted with the public.

Monica Noguera reads to local children

WWDT Fort Myers Sponsors Reading Festival

On March 15, WWDT Fort Myers/Naples sponsored the Southwest Florida Reading Festival. This free annual festival incites a passion for reading and renews the public’s interest in leisure reading. WWDT invited Telemundo celebrity Monica Noguera to read to the crowd and sign autographs at the event. More than 20 authors participated. There was a great turn-out and the Reading Festival served to remind the public of all the resources available through their local libraries.

Participants check-in for La Buena Vida

WZDC Washington Encourages Healthy Living

To celebrate the 4th anniversary of the La Buena Vida campaign, WZDC Washington DC hosted a community event and invited its audience not only to register and become an ambassador of the wellness campaign, but also brought many partners that offered free health services to all the participants. Hundreds attended to check their cholesterol and blood pressure and to test for diabetes. Four local ambassadors were selected and profiled on weekly news segments. The winner, Liliana de Leon lost 30 pounds.

KTDO El Paso Sends Lucky Viewer to Set of Caso Cerrado

Alejandro Cantú is a real hero. No, Cantú didn’t rescue a cat from a tree or buy a hybrid vehicle. But the 32-year-old El Pasoan had the good sense to watch KTDO Telemundo 48 and register to win a trip to Miami to see a taping of the hit show, Caso Cerrado. As it turns out, Cantú luckily won the trip, and with travel scheduled for the second week of July, he gives his wife, Marcela, one heck of a birthday gift. “My wife’s birthday is on July 10 and she’s never been to Miami before,” Cantú said. “So we’re going to have a special time.” Cantú was one of over hundreds of viewers who registered for the trip at various sponsor locations scattered throughout El Paso, with 48 individuals chosen as daily winners and announced on the air. Daily winners received $50 gift certificates to local restaurants and were instructed to pick up their prizes at Cielo Vista Mall, where the public was treated to live entertainment and participated in fun games. The festivities concluded with the announcement of the grand prizewinner. Telemundo 48 is no stranger to sending lucky viewers to great places, as past winners have flown to Los Angeles to see the Mexican National Team and Miami to meet the cast of Dame Chocolate. This latest Caso Cerrado promotion was KTDO Telemundo 48’s way of saying “Thank You” to viewers for making the show number one during the February sweeps ratings period.

Alerta de Huracán 2008

WTMO Orlando Kicks off Hurricane Season

WTMO opened up the 2008 Hurricane season with their annual hurricane preparedness publication. Brochures are available for free throughout the community and compliment the on-air segments presented by Sergio Gonzalez, WTMO’s Weather Presenter. WTMO viewers receive tips and resources to help them plan, organize and respond to hurricanes.

Experts answer viewer's questions about taxes

WZDC Washington Opens Up the Phone Lines

On March 12, WZDC hosted another Linea de Ayuda, this time the focus was on taxes. Linea de Ayuda is a program developed as part of WZDC’s health and wellness campaign, La Buena Vida where viewers have the opportunity to call-in to receive expert advice on topics of relevance to the local Hispanic community. WZDC invited viewers to free consultations on how to complete their 2008 tax forms. Callers were able to ask questions to a group of experts that gave specific advice on filling out their taxes.

WTMO Orlando Gets Healthy

The second edition of the health initiative La Buena Vida returned to WTMO Orlando. Blue Cross Blue Shield has also returned as the title sponsor. The Buena Vida ambassadors were selected by a panel of judges and have since been working out diligently with trainer Max Rubera at Maximum Fitness Center in Kissimmee. WTMO viewers follow the progress of the ambassadors, which is documented every Friday during the evening news. Viewers receive health and wellness tips during the weekly La Buena Vida vignettes.

WZDC poses after the clean-up

WZDC Washington Cleans-up the Potomac

On April 5, WZDC Washington partnered with the Alice Ferguson Foundation, inviting the Latino community to participate in the Trash-Free Potomac Watershed Initiative. The Alice Ferguson Foundation provides experiences that encourage connections between people, the natural environment, farming and the cultural heritage of the Potomac River Watershed. Walter Tejada, member of the Arlington County Board joined the Telemundo volunteers and helped remove trash that drains into the Potomac River.

The KTDO team at the finish line

KTDO El Paso Walks All Night for Life

The El Paso community united and literally took steps – a lot of them – towards stomping out cancer on June 20 during the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay For Life event. For the third straight year, Telemundo 48 walked the oval track at Hanks High School along with a large contingent of local businesses and organizations to support those who have lost their battles with cancer, as well as those still fighting the disease. As its name implies, Relay For Life, is in fact an all night relay, in which teams find a way to stay up throughout the course of the night and walk the track. Music and entertainment help keep spirits high and eyes from shutting. Telemundo 48 didn’t lose out on the opportunity to fire up the grill and make the evening one to remember. Aside from raising funds for the cause, Telemundo helped supply 10 cases of water bottles for the Survivor’s Dinner, a special event that takes place for cancer survivors one hour before the festivities start. Individuals and teams also received prizes from Telemundo 48 throughout the evening.

Brittany Snow, actress and Tampa native signs autographs for festival attendees

WRMD Tampa Celebrates the Magic of Latin Cinema

WRMD Tampa teamed up with the Gasparilla Film Festival, the largest Film Festival in Tampa Bay to present International Cinema. This year’s focus was on Latin American Films. The films were screened from February 27 until March 2 at the Channelside Movie Theatres. Telemundo’s primetime novelas La Traición, Victoria and Pecados Ajenos were previewed during the opening night film screening.

Taylor Escajeda receives her award check

WRDM/WDMR Hartford/Springfield Surprises Local Student

WRDM/WDMR Hartford/Springfield participated in the Ronald McDonald House Charities local HACER (Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources) Scholarship program. HACER awards a $5,000 scholarship to a graduating senior who applied to the program and has at least one parent of Hispanic origin. On June 20 Telemundo Hartford/Springfield armed with balloons, flowers and a large check participated in the announcement of the award at Farmington High School. This year’s scholarship recipient was Taylor Escajeda who plans to attend Bowdoin College in the fall. Taylor was surprised by the award presentation during her high school graduation rehearsal, in front of the entire graduating class. Ronald McDonald and local McDonald owner’s and operators were present for this special, surprise ambush along with select, invited media. The scholarship award is made possible by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

WTMO on their float

WTMO Orlando Demonstrates Pride at Puerto Rican Day Parade

Thousands of Central Florida Hispanics lined up along the streets of downtown Orlando on March 30 for the annual Central Florida Puerto Rican Day Parade. The entire Telenoticias Orlando team was on site and interacted with loyal viewers. A banquet was held at the Asociación Borinquena the night preceding the parade where Larry De La Rosa, General Manager of WTMO was honored.

WRIW Providence Partners with the Paw Sox

WRIW Providence is a partner of the Paw Sox minor league baseball team. The Pawtucket Paw Sox are the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. WRIW has a Telemundo booth at the home games, participates in local events, promotes the games and highlights up and coming Latino players on-air.

Comments, suggestions or ideas for the newsletter? E-mail Tara Ballesteros tballesteros@zgsgroup.com

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