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'Desvelados,' hosted by Omar Moynelo and Rashel Diaz, was cancelled this week.
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Mega TV Cancels Late-Night Show
January 12, 2007
By Nancy Ayala
Mega TV, a television operation serving the South Florida market by Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS), has canceled the late-night program Desvelados, confirmed SBS director of marketing and communications Isabel Bucaram-Montana. The program, which means "Sleepless," launched Oct. 26 and aired at 11 p.m.
Hosts Omar Moynelo and Rashel Diaz, and the production team were laid off this week. Other programming changes are in the works as shows have ended their run, according to information sent to Marketing y Medios.
The nighttime slot has been long-discussed as an area of interest among several Hispanic networks and advertisers. Both Univision and Telemundo unveiled plans to launch late-night talk shows during the 2005 television upfronts, but they never came to fruition.
But insiders said that Mega TV had not been meeting expectations in terms of revenue. Noted an insider at SBS, "The real story is Alarcón [SBS Chairman and CEO Raul Alarcón Jr.] is over his head and never expected TV to be so expensive."
Still, during nine months of operation, Mega TV in December picked up five Emmys.
WSBS-TV is the first TV station for SBS, the largest Hispanic radio broadcasting company in the United States, which dipped into the TV market with the Coconut Grove, Fla.-based station in March 2006. It has a targeted audience of Latinos ages 18-49. SBS currently owns or operates 20 radio stations in seven of the top 10 U.S. Hispanic markets.
Wall Street analysts had expressed concern about the move from radio to television. But Alarcón dismissed those concerns at the time and pointed out upshots to synergistic ties, saying that the intention was to build a multimedia powerhouse with a portfolio that includes radio, TV, the Internet, concert promotion and creating, producing and distributing branded entertainment.
SBS Radio has been dealt several blows in recent weeks. Luis Jiménez, host of El Vacilón de la Mañana on SBS' WSKQ in New York, signed with Univision Radio at the end of his contract in 2006. He had New York's No. 1 morning show.
Univision plans to debut Jiménez on many of its top markets, including Chicago, Dallas, Fresno, Calif., San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., and Los Angeles. No date was given for the debut.
"The evolution of the La Kalle format featuring music that targets 18-49 year old Hispanic listeners is a perfect fit for a talent of Luis' magnitude. We're looking forward to syndicating his show in many of our markets," said Gary Stone, president and chief operating officer for Univision Radio.
[Univision Scores Radio Host Jimenez]
Syndicated radio morning talk-show host Renán Almendérez Coello, also known as El Cucuy on SBS' 97.9 La Raza in Los Angeles, was arrested on new year's day for alleged domestic violence at his home. He was charged with making criminal threats against his wife, and turned himself in to police on Jan. 3. He is currently under investigation while on $50,000 bail for making threats to his wife and a police offer, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Additional reporting by Mediaweek
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