Azteca America Available to DISH Network... April 1/05

Darkman · 03-29-05, 04:10 PM

AZTECA AMERICA AVAILABLE TO DISH NETWORK

-Enhances Distribution in the U.S. Hispanic Market-

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

Mexico City, March 18, 2005-TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE: TZA; BMV: TVAZTCA; Latibex: XTZA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish language television programming in the world, announced today that the company has signed a distribution agreement in which EchoStar Communication Corporation's DISH Network will make Azteca America available nationwide via satellite TV.

The parties signed a contract through which the Azteca America channel will be available as part of EchoStar's DISH Latino programming packages, and settled all prior disputes. EchoStar has also obtained the right to air the 24-hour live transmission of the company's musical reality show, La Academia 4, on another EchoStar channel.

"We are thrilled that viewers will now be able to turn from seeing TV Azteca's channel 13 to our Network's programming, allowing Azteca America to benefit from the tremendous subscriber growth that EchoStar has established during the past five years," said Luis J. Echarte, President and CEO of Azteca America.

The Azteca America channel will be available by April 1, 2005. For additional programming information please visit www.dishnetwork.com.

Company Profile

TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish language television programming in the world, operating two national television networks in Mexico, Azteca 13 and Azteca 7, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. TV Azteca affiliates include Azteca America Network, a new broadcast television network focused on the rapidly growing US Hispanic market, and Todito.com, an Internet portal for North American Spanish speakers.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Risks that may affect TV Azteca are identified in its Form 20-F and other filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

( Source: http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir...item_id=687251 )

TNGTony · 03-29-05, 05:14 PM

The change-over from Azteca Trece to Azteca America will happen tomorrow by 5pm Eastern.

See ya
Tony

scottchez · 03-29-05, 06:31 PM

QUESTION- Didnt they say on the retailer chat the some markets are blacked out from this, due to the local station not allowing it, like Omaha NE and Pappas Corp.

TNGTony · 03-29-05, 07:30 PM

Yes. This is the note I have on the Channel Chart: "Azteca America (826) is available to all Dish Latino subscribers EXCEPT in Houston, San Francisco and Yakima where their local TV Azteca affiliates will become available in the DL package instead of the national feed. Dish Latino subscribers in Reno and Omaha are not able to get TV Azteca at all due to the local stations' refusal to allow Dish Network to rebroadcast their signal."

See ya
Tony

**James Long** · 03-29-05, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNGTony

Yes. This is the note I have on the Channel Chart: "Azteca America (826) is available to all Dish Latino subscribers EXCEPT in Houston, San Francisco and Yakima where their local TV Azteca affiliates will become available in the DL package instead of the national feed.

I'm reading that as being able to get one local channel (the Azteca affiliate) without subscribing to other locals. Can this be legal?

JL

TNGTony · 03-29-05, 10:18 PM

On the surface it seems like it wouldn't be. But Sky Angel does this with 5 different channels! One in Pittsburgh, one in Detroit, one in Tulsa, one in Orlando and one in Lynchburg. So... I guess there is a loophole somewhere.

See ya
Tony

Baldur · 03-31-05, 02:05 PM

This is the letter I just sent to Azteca 13 in MExico

From : Baldur
Sent : Thursday, March 31, 2005 3:00 PM
To : <fcabrera@tvazteca.com.mx>
CC : <erick@tvazteca.com.mx>, <eterrazas@tvazteca.com.mx>, <fmoctezuma@tvazteca.com.mx>, <fundacion@tvazteca.com.mx>, <hechospm@tvazteca.com.mx>, <jalatorre@tvazteca.com.mx>, <jlrodriguezpe@tvazteca.com.mx>, <ltellez@tvazteca.com.mx>, <mabascal@tvazteca.com.mx>, <mcabrerav@tvazteca.com.mx>, <oavila@tvazteca.com.mx>, <platapi@tvazteca.com.mx>, <rsalinas@tvazteca.com.mx>
Subject : NO A AZTECA AMERICA EN DISH NETWORK

| | | Inbox

***********************
Your mail has been scanned by InterScan VirusWall.
***********-***********

Estimados Senores y Senoras,

Mi nombre es Baldur y radico en Maryland, Estados Unidos.
Recientemente hemos recibido la noticia de que la senal de Azteca 13 sera
reemplazada por Azteca America. Lo anterior a los subscriptores de Dish Network,
una compania de television via satelite aqui en los Estados Unidos. El anuncio
dice que "Porque Ud. lo pidio, ahora Azteca America se transmitira por el canal
825 de su programacion a partir del 1o. de Abril". Realmente a la comunidad
latina de este pais nos tiene muy indignados, ya que perderemos programacion
como Los Sanchez y otros programas de entretenimiento que se transmiten
actualmente por Azteca 13. Hasta donde tengo entendido y con todas las personas
que vemos el canal (informacion obtenida por foros satelitales en internet,
vecinos y amigos) nadie ha solicitado dicho cambio.
Hay alguna forma de pedir que Azteca 13 no desaparezca de nuestra programacion?
Le agradeceria sus comentarios a la brevedad posible. Y quien es la persona
encargada de dicho cambio.
Dish Network, va a perder a miles de subscriptores debido a que la unica razon
por la cual se tiene contratado el servicio con Dish Network es por tener la
senal en vivo y en directo de Azteca 13. No cometan el mismo error que Televisa
y Univision aca en los Estados Unidos, llenandonos de censura, shows diferidos,
editados y con pesima programacion local.

Muchas gracias,

Baldur
Maryland, USA.

Darkman · 03-31-05, 04:58 PM

I see you made sure .. so that the "message got accross"

billpa · 03-31-05, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkman

"We are thrilled that viewers will now be able to turn from seeing TV Azteca's channel 13 to our Network's programming,

I'm sure YOU are...no one else is

Paul Secic · 03-31-05, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottchez

QUESTION- Didnt they say on the retailer chat the some markets are blacked out from this, due to the local station not allowing it, like Omaha NE and Pappas Corp.

Why are they doing this? I've got Azteca in my locals. I know there are lots of Spanish speaking people here & I welcome them, but doesn't this belong in Internationals?

God I wish I took Spanish in high school.

Paul Secic · 03-31-05, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billpa

I'm sure YOU are...no one else is

You certainly say that again!

TNGTony · 03-31-05, 05:46 PM

Curtesey translation for those who didn't pass Spanish in high school

Quote:

Dear Gentlemen and Ladies,

My name is Baldur and I am in Maryland, United States. Recently we have received the news that the signal of Azteca 13 will be replaced by Azteca America. The Previous applies to subscribers of Dish the Network, one of the satellite television TV companies here in the United States. The announcement says that "Because you asked for it, now Azteca America will be available on channel 825 from 1st of April". This has the Latin community of this country very indignant, since we will lose programming like the Sanchez and other entertainment programs that are transmitted by Aztec 13 now . I have talked with all the people who we see the channel (data obtained by satelite forums in Internet, neighbors and friends) nobody it has asked for this change.
Is here some way to request that Aztec 13 does not disappear from our programming? I would appreciate your comments as quickly as possible. And who is the person in charge of this change?
Dish Network, is going to lose to thousands of subscribers because the only reason they have the Dish Network service is to receive the live signal of Aztec 13. Do not commit the same error that Televisa and Univision have here in the United States, filling us with censorship, delayed (deffered) shows, programming edited and with local (pesimism?) .

Thank you very much,
Baldur Maryland, USA.

Since this letter was directed at the folks of Azteca TV in Mexico, Spanish was the way to send this letter.

See ya
Tony

aguilazul206 · 03-31-05, 08:08 PM

Couldn't have said it better Baulder!!! We are watching the last instalment of Top Models and Los Sanchez as I speak. That is what makes this odder, they could have waited untill at least one novela ended, really not thinking of the public at all.

Well, good news for D*, we ordered their service this weekend. I am loving Canal 11 and 22 plus local news from Puerto Rico is cool to watch. Though not my thing it's nice to see channels like Casa Club and Utilisama as well. D* really has a nice mix of channels for a family to choose from. I just miss Telehit and Htv but can live without them.

Baldur · 03-31-05, 08:27 PM

Tony,

Thanks for translating the letter I sent to TV AZTECA. I did not think about translating it once I upload it to this forum. I really appreciate it. About the question mark you added about (pesimism?), well, "pesimo" would be translated as horrible, really bad, dreadful, terrible, awful, etc. I wrote that b/c most of the programming in other Spanish broadcasters in this country is really bad. They think of us (latinos, hispanos, Spanish-speaking people, etc.) as uneducated, and with lack of interest of quality programming. Some say that they want to broadcast a more "International-Spanish-Shows" b/c some people might/would get offended with the pure 100% Mexican content made in Mexico. This is getting ridiculous. Dish Network as well as other Satellite and cable providers have tons of channels. If you get offended about something you do or do not understand, then you have the power to change the channel or turn off your TV. That simple.
I think the whole idea of having a direct broadcast from Mexico for Mexicans or any other Spanish-speaking-communities is to have that feeling of being in your Country. Listening to the voices you know, watching the news the way are intended to be, the shows live, etc. are things we like to have. Now, if you want to watch what's going on in the US, I think Dish Network and FTA local channels give you tons of that information that you might need.
At the end, Dish Network and us loose. Dish Network will loose clients and we will loose original, uncensored, live and direct content.
I never though I could get so... upset about loosing a TV channel. Now look at me talking about it like a child loosing his favourite toy.
If I got too long here, my sincere apologizes.
Enjoy AZTECA AMERICA! (Sorry about my sarcasm!)
Baldur

TNGTony · 03-31-05, 11:27 PM

Baldur,

Thanks fror the clarification. My vocabulary is probably that of a 15 year-old and I learned Spanglish to begin with in PR

See ya
Tony

Baldur · 04-01-05, 07:41 AM

Tony,

Don't worry about it, my English is probably as good as your Spanish

Thank you again for your kind translation and we'll see what's going to happen from now on in our channel line-up.
Guys, I'll see you around.
Thanks,

Baldur

aguilazul206 · 04-01-05, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldur

I think the whole idea of having a direct broadcast from Mexico for Mexicans or any other Spanish-speaking-communities is to have that feeling of being in your Country. Listening to the voices you know, watching the news the way are intended to be, the shows live, etc. are things we like to have. Now, if you want to watch what's going on in the US, I think Dish Network and FTA local channels give you tons of that information that you might need.
At the end, Dish Network and us loose. Dish Network will loose clients and we will loose original, uncensored, live and direct content.
I never though I could get so... upset about loosing a TV channel. Now look at me talking about it like a child loosing his favourite toy.
If I got too long here, my sincere apologizes.
Enjoy AZTECA AMERICA! (Sorry about my sarcasm!)
Baldur

Baldur,

Don't worry, I feel the same way. I never thought I would feel so attached to TV. It was so sad to see Azteca America this morning. Azteca 13 really was so many things, a connection to Mexico and also one of the few networks that realizes not all of us are uneducated. My big fear is that they will go the way of Univison and Telemundo and cater to only the lowest denominator.

I am kind of offended by the censoring words that other nationalities may find offensive. Most people realize that every country has its own vocabulary and are not offended by it when used in its native context. Besides it is a Network named AZTECA. If they really want to cater to everyone, they should have changed the name.

Well, as bad as it sounds, hopefully Dish will lose a lot of subscribers and as money talks, work with Tv Azteca to get Azteca 13 back in the US.

-Sebastián

Baldur · 04-01-05, 08:01 PM

>>> <egarciap@aztecaamerica.com> 04/01/05 10:44AM >>>
Buenos días sr. Baldur:

Antes que nada muchas gracias por expresarnos su opinión. Le comento que
efectivamente a partir de hoy primero de abril recibirán la programación de
Azteca America por dish network la cual intentamos día con día sea de su
agrado. Así mismo le comento que a partir de esta fecha la programación de
Azteca America tendrá poco a poco mayor cantidad de programas directamente
desde México y continuamos con programas producidos especialmente para
ustedes, la mejor información de America Latina con los noticieros Azteca
America, la Academia, Ventaneando, Billboard Latino, soccer y mucho más.
Me gustaría seguir en contacto con usted para saber sus comentarios sobre
la programación y así poder ofrecerle lo mejor de nuestras producciones.
Saludos,
Azteca America

Now, they did not respond to the questions I asked.
Anyway... I think I will be wasting my time asking them to give us back Azteca 13. You just said it right Sebastian, it's AZTECA in the name, MEXICO and now what... they no longer should be named AZTECA.
Oh well... I guess I will see you later here.
Tonight I am just going to watch a movie instead of TV. Take care guys and see you around.
Baldur