Univision Expands Midday Local Newscasts

Univision Communications is adding two versions of Edición Digital (Digital Edition) to its roster of midday local newscasts, which launched earlier this year in nine markets. Designed for broadcast on digital platforms and television, UCI’s hyper-localized, 30-minute newscasts will debut in Chicago (DMA 3) and San Antonio, Texas (DMA 31), on Monday, June 26, immediately following Noticiero Univision Digital.

“Chicago and San Antonio are two important cities with unique preferences so we designed these new iterations of Edicion Digital with each city’s needs in mind,” said Univision’s Chris Peña, SVP of news, local media. “As our community changes, how we serve them also must change; these midday newscasts have proven to be a successful format for us to get our audience thought-provoking and relevant news and information when and where they want it.”

Similar in style to Noticiero Univision Edición Digital, which airs on the Univision Network, the local shows aim to fill the midday news gap for Spanish speakers while catering to millions of Hispanic digital natives and adopters who increasingly prefer to get their information online. Viewers can watch the daily roundup directly from home on TV or on the go on computers, mobile phones or tablets without the need for a subscription.

Diana Perez and Enrique Rodriguez will lead Edición Digital: Chicago, merging television, radio, digital and social media platforms in a nontraditional news format geared to Chicago’s cross-cultural audience featuring live, in-the-moment interviews with influencers and experts. The newscast has also formed partnerships with local websites to feature their content and engage both English and Spanish-language audiences.

To boost the program, personalities from Univision’s local radio and digital properties La Qué Buena 105.1 FM, Amor 106.7 FM, Latino Mix 93.5 FM, Entre Café y Café con Vicky and Más Que Viernes will also broadcast the show. The newscast will air Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m.–noon. 

Edición Digital: San Antonio will be hosted by Brenda Jimenez and Prissila Sanchez. The new show, which will be bilingual, looks to merge television, digital platforms and radio. Univision’s local radio properties Qué Buena 92.9 FM, The Beat 98.5 FM, Tejano & Proud 107.5 FM and the new English-language Latino Mix 95.1 FM will also broadcast it. The newscast will air Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m.–noon.