themarketingmonitor

Disney, Univision Talk About Starting a Cable News Channel

As Demographics Change, Channel Would Target Latinos Who Are Bilingual or English Speakers

Walt Disney Co., owner of the ABC broadcast network, is in talks with Univision Communications to create an English-language, 24-hour cable-news channel, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, confirming a report today in The Wall Street Journal.

Walt Disney Co. would oversee advertising sales and distribution for the venture, said the pair, who sought anonymity because an agreement hasn’t been reached. The channel would draw newsgathering resources from ABC News and Univision, the largest U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster, they said.

The discussions have been under way for at least six months and are ongoing, said the people. They added that the channel would be based in Miami and start service before the November presidential election.

A venture would provide Disney , which reports first-quarter results today after markets close, with a cable-news presence, and advance Univision CEO Randy Falco’s goal of building new channels.

Until now Univision has ventured tentatively and with little fanfare into English-language efforts, not wanting to undercut its core message that Hispanics speak Spanish and so advertisers need to buy Univision to reach them. The company has a year-old Tumblr website in English, and sees other opportunities in an English-language news website, expected next month. And closed caption English-language subtitles for the network’s popular telenovelas began this month.

Univision is well aware of changing demographics, as the U.S.-born Hispanic population continues to grow faster than Spanish-dominant immigrants, and more young Hispanics are bilingual or predominantly English speakers. According to Ad Age’s Hispanic Fact Pack, just 16% of Hispanics watch only Spanish-language TV, and 18% view just English-language TV, while the majority — 66% — go back and forth between the two languages.

To cater to that linguistic split, there’s a growing effort to offer language choices. Jennifer Lopez, for instance, is a partner in a new music show called “Que Viva: the Chosen” that debuted in late January in English, Spanish and Portuguese versions for the U.S. and Latin America. A Spanish-language version is running on Univision, and Fox is airing the show in English. Sponsors include BlackBerry, Kohl’s and American Airlines.

Separately, Univision is starting a Spanish-language telenovela network this month onDish Network Corp.’s satellite-TV system. Spanish-language sports and news channels will follow by midyear, according to Monica Talan, a spokeswoman.

While the names behind the English-language news channel are solid, Disney and Univision could face headwinds in getting a new cable outlet picked up by content distributors unless it is significantly differentiated from news outlets currently available. MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC and Bloomberg are all entrenched on cable lineups. Meantime, many cable and telecommunications distributors are placing more emphasis on using their bandwidth for services that will bring them additional revenue — such as video on demand — rather than open their tiers up for more content, and the subscriber fees that come along with it. Disney owns ESPN, which gives it heft in negotiations with content distributors, but it’s also true that one of the biggest distributors, Comcast, already operates two news channels under its NBC Universal subsidiary.

http://adage.com/article/hispanic-marketing/disney-univision-talk-starting-a-cable-news-channel/232568/

Mr. Clean, Sargento, J&J Launches Get The Nod

Which new 2011 products were considered best by the consumers who use them?

Each year, Better Homes and Gardens and market research firm Spark International ask U.S. consumers (women and men) to vote on the year’s crop of new products.

In the just-released 2012 Best New Product Awards (BNPAs), Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber with Febreze won best overall product launch, as well as its category, household products. Sargento Natural Blends Cheddar-Mozzarella Cheese Snacks won for best launch within food and beverages, and Natural Johnson’s Natural Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash won best within the health and beauty category.

The rest of the winners can be viewed by category on a page on BH&G’s site.

The awards are part of the annual American Shopper Study conducted by BrandSpark and BH&G. This year, more than 66,000 consumers were surveyed online between Nov. 4 and Dec. 23.

For the awards, they were asked about 225 products spanning 67 categories from 60 CPG companies that registered/submitted their products to participate. Consumers have to have used the product in order to vote or comment on it.

The study also probed consumers’ behaviors and attitudes relating to the product categories.

Food/beverage insights:

• Five in 10 — in other words, half — of adult shoppers consider themselves to be overweight. The same proportion say they are trying to reduce carbs in their diet, while seven in 10 are trying to reduce the amount of fat they consume.

• 86% continue to believe there’s a lot they can do with food and nutrition to prevent illness, and 65% say they are trying to reduce the risk of major health issues with their food choices (up from 62% a year ago).

• Seven in 10 are increasingly concerned about chemicals in their food, but only three in 10 are willing to pay more for organics. Many are looking for “natural” products, with six in 10 trying to buy products that are “as natural as possible.”

Health/beauty:

• Only 25% of shoppers have been under the care of a dermatologist in the past five years.

• However, five in 10 feel that they have sensitive skin and look for appropriate products. The ingredients shoppers avoid most in skin care products are ammonia, peroxides and alcohol.

• Other key considerations include safety, ease of use and trust in the brand.

• Trust in the product can be built through dermatologists’ recommendations, brand-name equity and consumer research that backs up product claims. 81% consider it extremely important than their beauty/grooming products are from a trusted brand, and 60% consider it extremely important that products are tested by dermatologists. Consumer research is trusted by 70% to 80% of shoppers, depending on the medium.

Private- label:

• More than nine in 10 shoppers have purchased private-label products in the past year.

• Seven in 10 shoppers have purchased private-label over-the-counter health products, up from just under six in 10 last year, making it the strongest category for private-label brands outside of food.

• National beverage brands are faring better than food brands. While nine in 10 shoppers have purchased private-label food products, less than half recall purchasing private-label beverages.

• 63% believe that the same manufacturers often make national-brand and private-label products. However, shoppers still see value in the most trusted brands, and 70% prefer to find national- brand products on sale than buy private-label.

Environment:

• Just four in 10 shoppers are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products, but more than eight in 10 appreciate it when the manufacturer bears the burden of producing environmentally friendly packaging.

FICO Launches myFICO.com en Español

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — FICO (NYSE: FICO) today announced the launch of myFICO en Espanol, the first Spanish-language website where consumers can obtain their personal credit report, credit report analysis, FICO� Score and FICO� Score analysis in Spanish.

“Today more than ever, American consumers need information, insight and tools that can help improve their understanding of how credit works in the U.S. financial marketplace,” said Mark Greene, CEO of FICO. “We felt it was essential to extend the award-winning resources on myFICO.com to the more than 34 million native Spanish-speaking consumers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.”

The FICO� Score is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the United States, and knowing and understanding it is considered by most personal finance experts to be a cornerstone of personal financial health. Ninety of the 100 largest U.S. banks use a consumer’s FICO� Score for such credit decisions as determining mortgage rates, car loan financing and credit card terms. Until now, Spanish speakers have only had access to their credit reports and FICO� Scores in English. Now these products and others � including FICO� Scores, credit reports, credit monitoring programs and the Suze Orman FICO� Kit � are available in Spanish.

“Accessing a FICO score and reading and understanding one’s credit report are fundamental to understanding one’s credit health,” said Sergio Ugarte, vice president of scores business development, FICO. “myFICO.com will change the way Spanish speaking consumers approach credit, just as it has done for English speaking consumers since 2001.”

FICO helps millions of individuals manage their personal credit health through its award-winning website, www.myFICO.com. It is a trusted source of consumer credit information with an average of 700,000 visitors monthly. The new site enables users to toggle between Spanish and English, a format that is preferred by many bilingual speakers. More than 600 pages of Spanish-language consumer financial educational materials are available to visitors.

“As someone who regularly works with Spanish-speaking consumers, I can tell you that myFICO en Espanol is ground breaking,” said Yamila Ayad, associate vice president, First Nations Home Finance. “This site is critical not only for the Latino consumer, but for many of the professional practitioners who help educate Hispanic families who want to become homeowners.”

The site is live at the following link: http://espanol.myfico.com.

About FICO

FICO (NYSE:FICO) delivers superior predictive analytics solutions that drive smarter decisions. The company’s groundbreaking use of mathematics to predict consumer behavior has transformed entire industries and revolutionized the way risk is managed and products are marketed. FICO’s innovative solutions include the FICO� Score � the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the United States � along with industry-leading solutions for managing credit accounts, identifying and minimizing the impact of fraud, and customizing consumer offers with pinpoint accuracy. Most of the world’s top banks, as well as leading insurers, retailers, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies, rely on FICO solutions to accelerate growth, control risk, boost profits and meet regulatory and competitive demands. FICO also helps millions of individuals manage their personal credit health through www.myFICO.com. Learn more at www.fico.com. FICO: Make every decision count�.

Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements contained in this news release that relate to FICO or its business are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the success of the Company’s Decision Management strategy and reengineering plan, the maintenance of its existing relationships and ability to create new relationships with customers and key alliance partners, its ability to continue to develop new and enhanced products and services, its ability to recruit and retain key technical and managerial personnel, competition, regulatory changes applicable to the use of consumer credit and other data, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions, continuing material adverse developments in global economic conditions, and other risks described from time to time in FICO’s SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes, FICO’s results could differ materially from its expectations. FICO disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. FICO and “Make every decision count” are trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/1/24/fico_launches_myficocom_en_espanol.htm

LosTween.com Launches blog and media company

To aid parents of diverse backgrounds navigate the fun, yet challenging responsibility of raising multicultural children ages 7-12, Latino marketing and PR expert Cristy Clavijo-Kish has joined forces with business partners to launch a new resource blog and media company, Los Tweens & Teens <http://www.LosTweens.com>.

Together with Katherine Doble-Cannata, a non-profit and immigration communications pro and Adrian Acosta a technology manager, Los Tweens was created to fill a void online– culturally relevant parenting advice focused on the developmentally important “Tween” years. The owner/publishing team at Los Tweens is creating an environment encouraging parents to hone their parenting skills by sharing the joys, tips, questions and headaches of raising children during these key years, while fostering opportunities for parents and tweens to interact online in a safe environment. 6

“My daughter inspired me with an essay test answer that specifically called out the importance of understanding other cultures,” recalls Clavijo-Kish. “As a Latina mom I always strive to retain our cultural roots while raising confident, proud, patriotic kids in the US. I became aware that if I didn’t focus on culture now as part of their development, I will have missed my opportunity as the teen years would be a late start,” she adds.

In addition to featuring content from parents, upcoming plans for the bilingual family community blog include:

o Expert content – Contributions from pediatricians, mental health experts, counselors, teachers, chefs, fitness coaches and other experts, like this post by Dr. Lydia Kalsner-Silver, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children and families, discussing the warning signs of bullying in the tween years.
o Tweenversations – Hosted online chats with parents and kids that directly relate to their current issues and situations.
o Officially launching MyLosTweens.com where kids will be able to share ideas, photos, book reviews and more content alongside their parents.
o Local live events, including support for initiatives that provide opportunities for pre-teens to volunteer and pay-it-forward.
o Additional content partnerships that link specialized posts like Building a Tween’s Cuisine from Latino Foodie and news/data from non-profit organizations helping parents and kids develop skills and services.

A full Editorial calendar is available with posts ranging from developmental changes to driving volunteerism and reviewing age-appropriate books, music, movies and more. Readers soon will start to see content in Spanish and other languages. Important issues as immigration and education readiness that impact preteens in Latino and recently arrived immigrant families also will be a focus and special series. While the term “los” drives a fun, Latino flavor- the site openly welcomes contributions from varying cultures and will soon feature posts from Japanese, Haitian and parents of varying cultural backgrounds and beliefs.

http://nglc.biz/2012/01/17/lostween-com-launches/

Giving Food a Latino Flavor

Food and beverage companies are testing the waters by adding Latin flavors to their traditional products. In January 2012, Cheerios releases its new Dulce de Leche flavor, which so far has had mixed results. Dulce de Leche is a traditional Latin American sweet, similar to caramel. The cereal will most likely have a very sweet taste. The interesting question is; will non-Hispanic consumers start buying Dulce de Leche Cheerios along with Hispanics?

The Economist recently discussed this in a recent article entitled, “Ethnic Advertising: One Message, or Many?” and quoted Neil Golden, McDonald’s American CMO, who argued that other Americans often follow trends set by ethnic minorities. As a result, he watches minorities for insights that can use in ads aimed at the general market. In 2010 McDonald’s learned that African-Americans liked sweeter, weaker caramel mocha, and began offering such blends everywhere, with great success.

I have noticed recently that the hot and spicy flavors of potato chips seem to be multiplying: Lay’s Chile Limón flavor, Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Crunchy. I am not sure whether this can be attributed to the power of the Latino market, or to non-Hispanics adopting these flavors. I suspect it is a combination of both. If anyone out there has tried Dulce de Leche Cheerios, the Laughing Cow Chipotle flavor, Starburst Sweet Fiesta, or any other food with Latino flavor, please let us know what you think of them.

http://www.reachhispanic.com/2012/01/09/giving-food-a-latino-flavor/

Cuba develops its own Social Network

Facebook is without a doubt the dominant social network around the world, although there are certain countries where other networks predominate. Brazil has Orkut, China has Ren Ren and Russia has VKontakte. Cuba never had its own network until now, with the advent of Red Social. Created by the Cuban Ministry of Education with the aim of connecting universities around the country, the social network is only accessible through an intranet on the island.

News of the network was first reported on the Cuban blog La Chiringa de Cuba by Carlos Alberto Pérez Benitez. The site uses a Facebook clone address that is inaccessible from the United States (just try it: http://facebook.ismm.edu.cu/). It is also interesting to note that last year Cuba launched its own sort of Wikipedia, Ecu Red which offers a Cuban view of things (often with a strong political tone). Given the political uprising in Egypt earlier this year, which was fueled by participation on Facebook, closed regimes are nervous about the potential for political organizing on social networks. This may explain Cuba’s decision to start Red Social. And since only 2% of Cubans have internet access, it’s unlikely that Facebook will be pursuing legal action about the very similar designs and the use of their domain name any time soon.

http://www.reachhispanic.com/2011/12/05/cuba-develops-its-own-social-network/

Disney’s Los Muppets Soundtrack Released in Spanish

ALBUM FEATURES BELOVED CHARACTERS SINGING BRAND NEW SONGS AND UPDATED MUPPET CLASSICS

Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and the whole Muppet gang are back and ready for their felt-frenzied close-up, as Walt Disney Records is set to release the Spanish language version of the soundtrack to Disney’s Los Muppets, the brand new big-screen adventure starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams and the beloved Muppets. Featuring songs written by Bret McKenzie (“Flight of the Conchords”), updated versions of Muppet classics and familiar hits given the Muppet treatment, the Spanish language soundtrack arrives in stores and at online retailers December 6, 2011.

McKenzie, who created, co-wrote, executive produced and starred in the hit HBO television series “Flight of the Conchords,” is the music supervisor, as well as the writer/producer of four original songs, including “Life’s a Happy Song,” “Let’s Talk About Me,” “Man or Muppet” and “Me Party.” McKenzie also produced “Pictures in My Head” and “Rainbow Connection.”

“Music was always an integral part of the ‘The Muppet Show’ and Muppet films,” McKenzie said. “It’s hard to think of the Muppets without thinking of songs like ‘Rainbow Connection’ or ‘Mah Na Mah Na.’ The Muppets don’t sound like anyone else and that’s what’s great about them. It was a huge honor to work on ‘The Muppets’ and I took the job very seriously, even when I was recording a man pretending to be a penguin.”

The Muppets turn in new renditions of “The Muppet Show Theme” (co-written by Jim Henson, the song opened and closed “The Muppet Show” for five seasons in the US and UK, from 1976-1981), the treasured Muppet classic and Academy Award-nominated “Rainbow Connection,” (penned by Oscar-winning composer Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher) as well as the original 1969 version of “Mah Na Mah Na.” The felt gloves come off in new Muppet interpretations of Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Also included are the original versions of Paul Simon’s 1972 hit “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and Starship’s 1985 chart-topper “We Built This City.” The album also features 15 dialogue interstitials from the film.

The following is a complete song list:

• “The Muppet Show Theme” – Performed by The Muppets, this is an updated version of the theme beloved for decades.
• “Life’s a Happy Song” – Sung by Gary, Mary and Walter the Muppet, this is one of the key tracks in the score that onscreen grows from a simple tune to an epic production number. “I wrote this in New Zealand when I was in a particularly good mood,” says McKenzie. “I sat down at the piano and it came out very quickly.”
• “Pictures in My Head” – Kermit the Frog takes a solo turn in this sweetly humorous ballad, in which he remembers only the good stuff about his glory days with his fellow Muppets.
• “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” – Paul Simon’s immortal hit from his 1972 self-titled solo album, perfectly captures the spirited fun of the film.
• “Rainbow Connection (Moopets Version)” – Written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher, this is perhaps the best-known, best-loved Muppets song of all time. Here it is utterly twisted up by The Moopets (Fozzie Bear’s tribute band to the original Muppets).
• “We Built This City” – Starship’s #1 smash hit from 1985 makes the perfect backdrop as the Muppets strive to save their studio.
• “Me Party” – Destined to become a classic, Miss Piggy and Mary team up for this upbeat, disco diva throw down.
• “Let’s Talk About Me” – One of the soundtrack’s most pleasant surprises is this die-hard hip-hop track, performed with charming malevolence by Tex Richman.
• “Man or Muppet” – Performed by Gary and Walter, this power ballad is sung during one of the film’s emotional high points.
• “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – The Muppet Barbershop Quartet of Rowlf, Beaker, Link Hogthrob and Sam the Eagle, takes on the timeless Nirvana hit. Kurt Cobain probably never imagined his music could be Muppetized.
• “Forget You” – Wildly popular and often copied as Cee Lo Green’s classic may be, it’s guaranteed that no one has ever heard a clucked-up rendition like this one from Muppets Camilla and the Chickens.
• “Rainbow Connection” – Here it is, the Oscar-nominated ballad from “The Muppet Movie” (1979) sung by the beloved Muppet gang.
• “The Whistling Caruso” – Noted whistling virtuoso Andrew Bird puckers his way through this delightful, wordless interlude, performed in the film by Walter.
• “Life’s a Happy Song Finale” – The entire cast teams up for a reprise of the opening number, in a joyous finale that audiences will not soon forget. Shooting the scene shut down Hollywood Boulevard for two nights and featured 80 dancers and 300 extras.
• “Mah Na Mah Na” – The memorable track from the original “The Muppet Show,” performed by Mahna Mahna and The Snowths.

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With a screenplay by Jason Segel & Nicholas Stoller, the film is directed by James Bobin. Featuring signature celebrity cameos, Disney’s “The Muppets” is in theaters now.

Disney’s Los Muppets Spanish language soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on Dec. 6, 2011. For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, please visit Disney.com/music, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic.

http://www.hispanicprblog.com/hispanic-culture-news/the-muppets-en-espanol.html

Tutele y Tutele Dos Launches global network

Maker Studios has launched its flagship online global bilingual network Tutele and Tutele Dos. This is the first bilingual online network of original web programming specially created to supply the increasing demand for content by Spanish-speaking, English-speaking and bilingual Latinos. Tutele, which is part of the launch of more than 100 thematic channels in YouTube, was announced recently by the Internet giant as one if its original investments.

Tutele, the net’s main “hub,” and its ancillary content channel Tutele Dos, has programming in Spanish, English and Spanglish, using a bilingual approach for all Spanish and English speaking Latinos. Tutele has 12 online channels and two hub channels. The network’s focus is cultural programming for young and adult Latino audiences, targeting viewers in the Latino community in the United States, Mexico, South America and Spain. Tutele has also partnered with already established and successful online channels aimed at the Latino community.

Current programming includes the action/comedy series “Si! es I, Pepe,” telenovela“Melodia de Amor,” and the music/talk variety show “Hello, Domingote.” For an insider’s view, Tutele Dos will also broadcast “extras” including behind-the-scenes videos, interviews with network talent and guest stars as well as “confessionals” from characters of the shows on the network.

“Our vision is to become the largest Internet network focusing on a variety of bilingual original web programming that will entertain, teach and inspire all range of audiences worldwide, while empowering our talent to take creative control and help them build a brand for themselves,” said Jai Bugarin, Head of Bilingual Programming, Tutele/Tutele Dos.

http://nglc.biz/2011/11/29/tutele-y-tutele-dos-launches/

McDonald’s launches @MeEncanta

McDonald’s USA is expanding its social media strategy with the launch of @MeEncanta, McDonald’s official Twitter handle focused on its growing number of Spanish-tweeting fans living in the U.S. The new social media channel offers followers the latest news about McDonald’s menu, exclusive promotions, as well as information on the company’s different initiatives to support the community in the areas of education, music and sports.

“Hispanics are social by nature, and one of the most active social media users group. Launching our Spanish-language Twitter page was a natural step for McDonald’s as we continue to build lasting relationships with our online consumers,” said Cristina Alfaro, external communications manager, McDonald’s USA. “Twitter is a wonderful way to listen to our followers, participate in the conversation, and lead with timely information about the things they care about, including access to college workshops; music and sporting events; fun giveaways and promotional events exclusive for @MeEncanta followers,” continued Alfaro, a guest speaker at PR News’ Twitter Conference in Las Vegas on Nov. 10.

The new Twitter handle is managed by McDonald’s national Hispanic PR agency of record, VPE Public Relations, and overseen by McDonald’s communication and social media teams.

http://nglc.biz/2011/11/14/mcdonalds-launches-meencanta/

Drive a VW Passat and learn Spanish

Sometimes a very simple concept for a commercial results in a rewarding 30 second spot. The newest campaign from VW Passat features two men embarking on a road trip, and one of them brings nothing but a ‘Learn Spanish’ tape for the men to listen to. We see the men drive far and wide, we hear them practice “Vámonos” and “Gracias” with pronounced accents, and then much later, at night, they both leave the car at a gas station. One angrily says “Trece horas en el carro sin parar y no traes música” (“Thirteen hours in the car and you don’t bring any music!”), while the other one replies, “Mira entra y cómprame unas papitas” (“Hey, get in there and buy me some chips”). The Spanish is spoken fluently, using good grammar, slang words (“papitas” for potato chips), and native accents.

This ad makes me smile every time I see it, mostly because, as someone who is bilingual, I like hearing a little Spanish and English spoken together on TV. As someone who has grown up bilingual, I never thought there was anything incredible about speaking two languages (although three really blows my mind). Nevertheless, I have often encountered monolinguals who are astounded at the fact that one brain can hold two languages. “How can you switch back and forth like that?!” they say. This ad seems like it was created to appeal both to bilinguals who don’t need to read the subtitles, and also to monolinguals who think that learning a second language requires a thirteen hour car ride listening to language-learning tapes. Wow, they entered speaking one language and exited speaking another. It’s like magic! I applaud Passat for creating a simple, humorous ad with broad appeal.

http://www.reachhispanic.com/2011/11/07/drive-a-vw-passat-and-learn-spanish/