News (Noticias) for Internet

Move Networks, the leading provider of Internet television services, today announced the company is working with Televisa, the world’s largest provider of Spanish language television, to deliver live and on-demand sports and entertainment programming on Televisa’s new web portals, making this programming accessible to millions of viewers living in Mexico.
Move Networks’ Internet television streaming technology enables Televisa to deliver world-class online viewer experiences. Televisa’s new sports portal, www.televisadeportes.com, is dedicated to broadcasting widely expanded sports content including live and VOD (video on demand) soccer matches and extreme sports such as motorcycle racing, AAA Wrestling and skateboarding. The new entertainment portal, www.tvolucion.com, offers a variety of VOD content, including prime time television series, news programming, TeleNovelas and classic movies.
Move Networks partnered with Schematic and Microsoft Silverlight to develop Televisa’s new online channels and create a flexible solution for monetizing programming through innovative inclusion of video ads, skins and banners.
“For the viewing public and for Televisa, the player is win-win,” said John Edwards, CEO of Move Networks. “For viewers it’s a pleasure to watch crisp video and at the same time easily browse other exciting viewing options.”
The Move Networks player can be seen on www.televisadeportes.com and www.tvolucion.com beginning Thursday, Sept. 25.
“This is a giant step towards making your computer as much fun to watch as your TV,” said Trevor Kaufman, CEO of the innovative digital agency Schematic. “With top-notch content from Televisa, a superior picture from Move Networks, a powerful platform from Microsoft’s Silverlight, and a best-in-class user experience from Schematic, this new video player is truly greater than the sum of its parts.”
International Growth of Internet Television
Since July, Move Networks has seen a sharp rise in the number of international media companies interested in using its services to deliver high-quality, live and on-demand Internet television to their viewers. Companies which have recently selected Move Networks as their Internet television services provider in international markets include the Channel Bee Network. Channel Bee used Move Networks services to deliver to music fans live, high-definition concert footage from Somerset House in London.
About Move Networks
Move Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of Internet television services that drive the growth and support of online audiences for leading broadcasters and publishers including ABC, the CW, Discovery, ESPN, and Fox. The Internet television technologies and services developed and managed by Move Networks enable leading brands to deliver live and on-demand programming to millions of people without the buffering, stalling, and low-quality viewing experiences common with competing technologies.
About Televisa
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world and a major participant in the international entertainment business. It has interests in television production and broadcasting, production of pay-television networks, international distribution of television programming, direct-to-home satellite services, cable television and telecommunication services, magazine publishing and publishing distribution, radio production and broadcasting, professional sports and live entertainment, feature-film production and distribution, the operation of a horizontal internet portal, and gaming. Grupo Televisa also owns an unconsolidated equity stake in La Sexta, a free-to-air television venture in Spain.
SOURCE: Move Networks, Inc.

Move Networks
Peggy M. Hayes, 801-209-8813
phayes@movenetworks.com
or
Televisa Interactive Media
Amparo Doormann, +52 55 52613670
adoorman@televisa.com.mx
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BabySpot.com announced today the launch of BabySpotLatino.com, a new social networking site for Latino parents and their families, which successfully debuted on the #1 Hispanic morning show, Univision’s Despierta America on Thursday, September 25th at 9:38am EDT. Within the first fifteen minutes after the show aired, over 100 Latino families joined the site. View the show at tinyurl.com/babyspotlatino .

Not only did the usage of social networking sites by Hispanics soar by more than 200% in 2006 according to Forrester Research, but they also suggest that U.S.-based Hispanic consumers are significantly more likely to participate in online social media than their non-Hispanic counterparts. BabySpot Latino addressed this surge by providing Latino parents and their families with a free, safe and secure forum (a Baby Spot) in which to celebrate the joys of becoming and being parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, as well as for networking and educational purposes to include sharing advice and experiences, staying in touch with relatives abroad and creating lasting friendships and business opportunities.

Zameer Upadhya, CEO of BabySpotLatino.com states, “Debuting on the leading Spanish language morning talk show as we are about to launch this new site is simply amazing. Our main goal is to provide an intimate, culturally relevant networking environment that allows for Latino parents and their families to safely connect on various levels with their family members and friends who are experiencing the same joys as they are.”

“NacerSano.org, the March of Dimes’ Latino arm, is going to provide BabySpot Latino with rich educational material on pregnancy and baby health issues designed to help keep families and their children happy, healthy and safe,” notes Mr. Upadhya.

Forrester Research notes that certain aspects of Hispanic culture attract Hispanics to the world of online social networking. Traditionally, Hispanics are early adopters of leisure technologies, which corresponds to using online social networking features. Furthermore, Hispanic culture emphasizes the group over the individual, hence looking to others for guidance.

Mr. Upadhya continues, “The unique features employed on BabySpot Latino are designed to cater to many Latino cultural aspects. Unique site features include options to facilitate in-person events, connection via live chat and blogging, Twitter-like micro-blogging for posting baby blurbs and profile updates, unlimited storage for videos and pictures and the latest in web 2.0 technologies which have been made easy to use. Features also include customizable private or public web page profiles, group formation and various organizational tools.”

A new report from Forrester Research shows U.S. Hispanics are active online social networkers. Three thousand online Hispanics were surveyed, and results showed 69% of Hispanic’s, compared to 42% of non-Hispanics, were characterized as spectators, meaning they peruse what others do, suggesting that this is a level where interactivity starts to increase. 40% of Hispanics, compared to 12% of non-Hispanics, were characterized as creators, meaning they actively pursued social networks by blogging, uploading photos and videos and creating personal web pages.

Additionally, research shows that out of 4 million US births, 25% of those were Hispanic. BabySpot Latino provides a cultural outlet for these families in order to add to the quality of their lives. “

Filling a void in the marketplace for online media options targeting U.S.-raised, second- and third-generation U.S. Latinos, Mi Apogeo, Inc. is pioneering a new consumer experience for U.S. Latinos with the launch of MiApogeo.com — an English-language social, lifestyle and entertainment website that, in addition to culturally relevant editorial, also provides social networking tools as well as “WikiLatino(R)” the first ever wiki dedicated exclusively to all things Latino.
“The goal of Mi Apogeo is to engage our users in building a culturally relevant, or ‘affinity,’ site that celebrates and promotes our success and contributions as American Latinos. We are a 100% Latino-owned and operated company, so we have a deep-rooted commitment to building a space for our users to meet, share and be published. Our site is truly by and for our audience, and features our users as the ‘Estrellas,’ or ’stars,’ of the site,” explained Founder and CEO Rosa Alonso.
Mi Apogeo (pronounced “mee- a-po-hae-o,” translated from Spanish as “my apogee,” or “my apex”) is an affirmation of the power of two cultures — American and Latino — and the influences that have converged to create the current U.S. Latino culture. “We like to call this ‘transculturation.’ We didn’t assimilate and we have moved beyond acculturation. We have created a new and distinct Latino culture that has fused elements of our experiences, as Latinos, as Americans and as citizens of the world. Mi Apogeo celebrates this new reality,” emphasized Ms. Alonso.
Already growing in popularity with the Latino segment, Mi Apogeo.com features:
– Entertainment, lifestyle, politics and community content — over 25 sub channels featuring original articles and content from users as well as Mi Apogeo team editorial.
– “Estrellas” — our featured “stars” section that recognizes and celebrates the contributions that individual Latinos are making in every facet of our society.
– Social networking and UGC tools with robust profile and media customization capabilities
– The first and only WikiLatino(R) — the world’s first user-directed U.S. Latino wiki.
With the bicultural Latino segment continuing to grow rapidly, studies show it is quickly representing a significant percentage of the U.S. Hispanic online population. Research continually points to these consumers as younger and having higher degrees of acculturation than their foreign-born parents. English is their preferred language online. “Until now there have been few online media options for Latinos outside of traditional Spanish-language sites and, most recently, teen-focused Latin music brands. Mi Apogeo.com’s mission is to offer bicultural Latinos of all ages a platform, in English, in which they can interact with each other, and be engaged on a wide range of culturally relevant topics. Our goal is to be truly reflective of the U.S. Latino experience,” added Willie Arredondo, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer.
Mi Apogeo offers consumers and advertisers a strong value proposition because it provides both cutting-edge technology and user functionalities as well as an environment created specifically for bicultural Latinos. From an advertiser’s perspective, Mi Apogeo is evolving as a matchmaker between the brands and consumers. One such union is the partnership with Virgin Mobile, one of the leading wireless brands in the U.S. Virgin Mobile recognized early on Mi Apogeo’s value in serving this untapped segment of the market and signed on as Mi Apogeo’s official beta launch partner in February 2008.
Kevin Jordan, SVP of Sales adds: “We reach and engage an audience that is self-expressive, educated, and tech-savvy, with a high degree of connectivity to friends and family. Mi Apogeo tailors culturally relevant programs for our client’s initiatives beyond banners and buttons. We’re offering various engagement vehicles such as exclusive content integration, and premium placement at various touch points throughout the site.”
About Mi Apogeo, Inc.:
Mi Apogeo, Incorporated, is a media and entertainment company specializing in interactive content and online social experiences for the growing bicultural U.S. Latino segment. Mi Apogeo.com is the first online media platform of its kind for U.S. raised, second- and third-generation consumers. It offers interactive social networking tools, rich multimedia and collaborative content as well “WikiLatino(R),” the first wiki dedicated to U.S. Latino culture. Mi Apogeo.com is a highly targeted affinity site that serves the U.S. Latino bicultural demographic, in English, the preferred language of this segment online. We are a key partner for advertisers and organizations seeking to reach, engage and impassion this consumer in a environment that truly reflects and celebrates the American Latino experience: Mi Apogeo — My Latino Voice” “

Today Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, announced jointly with Fania Records the availability of a custom collection of Fania albums consisting of never-before-digitally-released productions. For the first time, the Fania collection will be digitally remastered and available exclusively on Zune Marketplace. The collection will include legendary artists such as the Fania All-Stars, Hector Lavoe, La Lupe, Celia Cruz, Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby Valentin, and many more.

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080929/AQM057)
(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

During the 1960s and 1970s Fania Records produced the best in salsa and Latin jazz and has been credited with starting the New York salsa movement. Fania and its roster of stars have introduced Latin music to the world, and Zune will now make this music available digitally for a new generation to discover.

“It’s exciting to partner with Zune to offer our collection digitally and for new content from such classic artists. Our hope is to have a new generation of music lovers discover these masters of music from such a significant musical era,” said Leda Ceccarelli, director of New Media, Fania Records.

The Zune Marketplace Latin content producer worked with the label’s digital distributor, the Orchard, to select the content released through the custom-built Zune boutique page. The addition of Fania to Zune Marketplace demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to integrating Latin music across the platform and enabling music lovers of all genres to discover these artists. Most recently, the Zune Marketplace team also produced a special event with Tijuana-based artists to highlight Mexican culture, featuring graphic and visual artists Acamonchi and VJ PR4, DJ sets from Loud Noises and Tremolo Audio, and live performance by Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible.

“We wanted to bring a sense of retro music to Zune Marketplace, and to do that, there’s no other label to work with than Fania,” said Mariel Cruz, Zune Marketplace Latin content producer. “Fania’s renowned roster of musicians made it easy to select iconic artists, and we’re happy to bring this collection to our subscribers.”

The custom Fania Records store will be exclusive to the Zune Marketplace until Oct. 21 and will include music from the following albums:

* Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz, “El Bestial Sonido”
* Fania All Stars, “Live At Yankee Stadium, Vol. 1″
* Hector Lavoe, “Le Canta A Borinquen”
* Roberto Roena, “Greatest Hits”
* Cheo Feliciano, “Cheo,” “Felicidades”
* Ruben Blades, “Maestra Vida Vol. I”
* La Lupe, “La Reina (The Queen)”
* Mongo Santamaria, “Fuego”
* Various Artists, “Cuba Y Puerto Rico Son”
* Various Artists, “El Barrio: Gangsters, Latin Soul & The Birth of Salsa 1967-75″
* Mark Dimond, “Brujeria”
* The Lebron Brothers, “Criollo”
* Celia Cruz, “Bravo”
* Various Artists, “Bailando at the Palladium Vol. 1″
* Bobby Valentin, “Algo Nuevo”
* Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, “Algo Especial Para Recordar”
* Charlie Palmieri and his orchestra, “Adelante Gigante”

Zune is the only digital media player to offer an end-to-end experience for music lovers with its portal devices, available with 8 GB, 16 GB and 120 GB; software features such as Buy from FM, which allows users to download music directly from the built-in FM tuner; and the subscription-based service Zune Pass, which allows subscribers to download millions of songs for the monthly price of $14.99.

The exclusive Fania Records digital collection is available at www.zune.net/musica. “

ImpreMedia, the #1 Hispanic news and information company in the U.S. in online and print, and MySpace, the world’s premier social network, today announced that they will again team up to offer Spanish-language coverage of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates. ImpreMedia’s online portal, impre.com, will host live feeds of the Debates and provide simultaneous translation of the debates into Spanish, making the Debates accessible for the first time in Spanish to Spanish-preferred Hispanic voters.

The Spanish-language live coverage is also accessible on MyDebates.org, a new website that hosts interactive tools for viewers to virally engage in the political process, including a personalized issue scorecard, polling, reportable national statistics, and live web streaming. MyDebates is part of a landmark partnership between MySpace and the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) for the upcoming Presidential and Vice Presidential Debate series.

ImpreMedia’s online portal, impre.com, will host live feeds of the Debates and provide simultaneous translation into Spanish, making the Debates accessible to Spanish-preferred Hispanic voters. The first Debate between Presidential Candidates Senators Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R) will stream live nationally tonight at 9:00 pm (EST).

“We are proud to offer this public service to Hispanic voters,” said Arturo Duran, CEO of impreMedia Digital. “Hispanics will play a decisive role in this year’s election, and there is a great desire on the part of the Hispanic community to be informed. Our live translation of the Presidential Debates allows Spanish-preferred voters the opportunity to follow the Debates in the candidates’ own words.”

Registration of Hispanic voters has grown 50% over the past ten years, according to the 2008 Pew Hispanic Survey, with some 18.2 million Hispanic voters now comprising 9% of the overall US electorate. Additionally, over 23 million Hispanics are on the web with growth projected to be 29 million by 2012 (eMarketer, July 2008). ImpreMedia is serving this growing voter population with its Voto Latino 2008 initiative, a robust multi-platform strategy covering the election in print, online and on mobile devices, and focusing on key issues as prioritized by the Hispanic community: election news, events, and voter education (www.votolatino2008.com). Over 41% of all U.S. Hispanics use an impreMedia product in the course of a month.

“MySpace is thrilled to once again team up with impreMedia to serve this influential, growing audience,” said Lee Brenner, Director of MySpace IMPACT. “Providing the Hispanic community with Spanish-language translation of the Presidential Debates in real-time is an important part of MyDebates.org. We want to do everything possible to encourage Hispanic voters to participate in the elections in an informed manner.”

MyDebates.org is part of the IMPACT channel, MySpace’s hub for social and civic engagement, designed to empower MySpace users to make a difference in the world and to allow politicians, non-profits, and civic organizations to connect with MySpace’s global audience. “

Great players and soccer-crazed fans know that even the smallest opportunity can turn into the game winner! Now SOCCER.COM in association with Fox Sports en Espanol are giving fans all over the country the opportunity to become instant winners in the GiveandGo! Decoder Contest.

Now through November 20th, fans can register at WWW.SOCCER.COM/GIVEANDGO to receive an electronic decoder and see if they have won one of these fantastic prizes: (5) Five 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles; over $12,000 worth of Eurosport-SOCCER.COM gift cards; and 2,000 Give and Go t-shirts. Participants get only one chance per day to play, per registered email, and there is no purchase necessary to participate. Take a shot at becoming an instant winner, log onto WWW.SOCCER.COM/GIVEANDGO . Winning has never been so easy!

About Eurosport
Founded in 1984, Eurosport is the world’s leading authentic grassroots soccer company. Based in Hillsborough, NC, Eurosport is the largest soccer-specialty retailer in the United States. Our premier soccer website, Soccer.com has more than one million visitors per month, and the Eurosport catalog has the largest distribution of any U.S. soccer publication. In 2007 we launched Eurosport en Espanol in print and ESPANOL.SOCCER.COM on the web. Alongside soccer, Eurosport also operates leading on-line retail sites for lacrosse, and rugby - www.lacrosse.com and www.worldrugbyshop.com .

About Fox Sports en Espanol
Fox Sports en Espanol features more than 1,500 hours of live, exclusive sports programming in Spanish and, with few exceptions, English SAP each year, including InterLiga(TM), the Copa Santander Libertadores, the Copa Nissan Sudamericana, and the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournaments; the Major League Baseball regular season, divisional playoffs, All-Star Game and World Series; and premier combat sports including championship boxing from Mexico and the U.S., Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) and kickboxing. The channel reaches more than 14.4 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which 4.6 million are U.S. Hispanic households.

Fox Sports en Espanol is distributed by Fox Cable Networks Group and operated by Fox Pan American Sports LLC, an international sports programming and production entity jointly owned by HM Capital Partners, LLC and News Corporation’s (NYSE: NWS) Fox Sports International. For more information, visit Fox Sports en Espanol online at foxsportsla.msn.com .
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-impreMedia, along with its sponsors – including such marketing powerhouses as 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Albertsons, Bud Light & Clamato Chelada, Infiniti, Mervyns, Royal Caribbean International and Staples – today announced that it has launched a multi-platform campaign to make Hispanic voices heard across the country. The campaign, “Mi Hispanidad,” is based on the concept of user-generated content and includes a custom interactive mini-website on impreMedia’s national portal, impre.com (www.impre.com/hispanidad). In addition to feature editorial pieces on Hispanic community and culture, the site hosts a photo sweepstakes entitled “Recuerdos de mi Tierra,” and is complemented by daily mobile alerts with fun Hispanic facts. Utilizing its multi-platform assets, sweepstakes winners will be awarded prizes and showcased across impreMedia’s 28 online and print properties.

“Honoring Hispanic heritage is something we value at impreMedia as a reflection of our U.S. Hispanic users, whether they’ve been here for generations or are new immigrants coming to this country,” said Arturo Duran, CEO, impreMedia Digital. “impre.com is a destination that unites all of us with relevant news and information by and for our community, and we are proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the context of our daily mission.”

As the leading Hispanic News and Information Company in the U.S., impreMedia leverages the power of online, print, mobile, video and other social networking platforms to provide users and advertisers alike with original Spanish-language content. ImpreMedia’s publications are present in 17 top Hispanic markets that represent 65% of the U.S. Hispanic population. In the past twelve months, impreMedia has forged partnerships with The McClatchy Company, MySpace Latino, V-Me Television and The Hearst Corporation, among others.

“Sponsors have joined impreMedia to support their belief in the Hispanic community,” said Liz Sarachek Blacker, SVP Sales, Digital, impreMedia. “impreMedia knows our readers are our most important voice. We, along with our seven sponsors, are proud to celebrate their impact, importance, diversity and beauty by asking them to speak out and share their experience of what it truly means to be Hispanic,” said Ms. Sarachek Blacker.

“Royal Caribbean International is proud to partner with impreMedia during Hispanic Heritage month,” said Rebecca Barba, Manager, Segmented Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “We understand that multi-generational travel is one of the important factors for the Hispanic family when deciding on a vacation. Our cruises – with innovative amenities such as rock-climbing walls, ice rinks and surfing simulators – provide the perfect opportunity for every member of the family to share a memorable vacation.”

According to eMarketer July 2008, over 23 million Hispanics are on the web with growth projected to be 29 million by 2012. impreMedia realizes the need to have a robust multi-platform strategy in today’s Hispanic media environment and recently launched a Mobile Platform. impreMedia’s online and print publications will be covering the upcoming election through “Voto Latino” with additional content on impre.com (www.impre.com). Over 41% of all U.S. Hispanics use an impreMedia product in the course of a month and that number is projected to grow with the adaptation towards mobile and video online.

“Staples is very proud to partake in impreMedia’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration,” said Kenneth Brooks, Regional Marketing Champion, Staples. “We share the same values and both companies understand that utilizing multi-marketing platforms is instrumental in reaching the Hispanic consumer,” said Mr. Brooks.

impreMedia’s Hispanic Heritage celebration runs though early November and the winners will be highlighted in all impreMedia publications and websites at the culmination of “Mi Hispanidad” and the “Recuerdos de Mi Tierra” Photo Sweepstakes featured online at www.impre.com/hispanidad. “

General Mills Inc., today announced the launch of a year-long partnership with the Univision Network, the country’s leading Spanish-language television network, which will expand the reach of its highly successful Hispanic marketing platform, including the Spanish-language lifestyle magazine, Que Rica Vida, into television. The network’s Despierta America (”Wake-up America” M-F, 7 a.m. ET/PT; 6 a.m. Central) co-host Karla Martinez will be its new spokesperson. As such, Ms. Martinez will star in a series of 30-second vignettes that will air coast-to-coast over the next 12 months. Like the popular magazine, the vignettes will provide viewers with cooking- and nutrition-related tips, each featured by one of Que Rica Vida’s 14 participating General Mills brands.”As a young mother who has created a new life for herself and her family in the United States, Karla is the perfect person to facilitate Que Rica Vida’s conversations with consumers; the kind of person anyone would like to have as a friend,” said Que Rica Vida editor Ursula Mejia-Melgar. “We are excited to have her represent our initiative, which strives to be, ‘Una Amiga Para Siempre’ or ‘a friend for life’ to other Latina moms.”

Translated, Que Rica Vida means, “What a Good Life.” The magazine, along with its website (www.QueRicaVida.com), is the cornerstone of General Mills’ two-and-a-half-year-old, multi-brand Hispanic marketing initiative of the same name. Together, they constitute an important resource for Hispanic moms, who seek lifestyle tips, culturally relevant recipes, and solutions that preserve their heritage and traditions. With an overall quarterly circulation of 350,000, Que Rica Vida is distributed free of charge via direct mail, as well as at stores and community-based venues. Starting in 2009, a condensed version will also be distributed to more than 600,000 households as a free standing insert in various newspapers around the country.

In addition to venturing into the world of television, this year the publication also has enhanced its online presence with the creation of various Spanish-language brand micro-sites within www.QueRicaVida.com. The website will also include state-of-the-art graphics, podcasts and blogs written by several of the magazine’s regular contributors.

“All our research shows that since its inception two-and-a-half year ago, Que Rica Vida has been extremely successful in helping Latina women,” said General Mills Multicultural Marketing Director Rudy Rodriguez. “We want to build on that success by engaging our readers on other fronts, as well. The Internet especially allows for greater interaction - an on-going dialogue around a virtual dinner table, which for Hispanics is very familiar, and which they call a sobremesa, meaning, ‘over the table’.”

Sobremesas to Latinos are similar in tone to the water-cooler conversation that takes place in the general market, in which personal events and stories of the day are exchanged in a chatty way. Part of that conversation, both online and off, will include a new section sure to put a smile on readers’ faces. “Recetas para la Vida(TM)” or Recipes for Life(TM), is a unique, personal advice column in recipe form that will begin running in the magazine, as well as on the website. Created and written by two San Diego-based Latinas, Mexican-born Becky Krinsky and Argentine-born Iliana Berezovsky, their recipes “provide nourishment for the soul.”

“Life is a great kitchen, from where we all eat, which is why it’s so important to keep bettering its flavor,” the two authors explain. “It’s not always necessary to make drastic changes in our lives to be happier, just spice things up with new ingredients. Sometimes we can greatly improve our quality of life, simply by removing certain condiments that may be ruining our emotional palate. That’s what our recipes try to do.”

In addition to these enhancements, Que Rica Vida will also be launching this month a culturally-relevant health education initiative for Latinos called, Mente Sana en Cuerpo Sano (Sound Body, Sound Mind). The program is being co-sponsored by the Latino Nutrition Coalition, the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition and 14 community-based partners from Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Northern California. It is expected to provide vital health and nutrition information at the grassroots level to more than 10,000 people in its first year, alone.

About Que Rica Vida

Now in its third year, the Que Rica Vida initiative is an important resource designed to provide Latina moms with culturally relevant lifestyle information and expert advice on Education, Holiday Occasions, Health & Wellness and Family - issues of great importance to Hispanic families in America. The program was developed by General Mills to help the Hispanic mother succeed in creating a healthier, easier, richer life for her and her family. The cornerstone of the Que Rica Vida initiative is its free quarterly lifestyle magazine and website of the same name, www.quericavida.com

About General Mills

One of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had FY2008 global net sales of US$ 14.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.”

Latino College Dollars, a website offering interactive, no-cost information about scholarships available to Latino students, received over 110,000 unique visitors in the first eight months of 2008.

“We are continually updating the website,” said Corina Espinoza, Director of the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) Kids to College program. “And the 2008-09 directory will be coming out in late October.”

Latino College Dollars currently offers over 325 sources that students may contact for college scholarship information. The website grew from a TRPI research project assessing information available on the web to Latino students. “Curiously, we found that half of the websites on Latino scholarships were not functional,” stated Wendy Chavira, Associate Director of Operations at the Institute. “However, the remaining websites offered relevant information. Rather than saving the information, we decided to publish it.”

According to TRPI research, lack of information on college financing options is widespread among Latino youth and parents. Latinos lag behind in college preparation, resulting in only 7.2 % of Latinos between the ages of 18-24 enrolled in a 4-year college institution.

Please click here to visit TRPI’s Latino College Dollars website.

Click here to view the 2007-2008 directory.

TRPI encourages organizations offering scholarships for Latino students to contact the Institute to be included in the next Latino College Dollars directory.

About TRPI Founded in 1985, the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute advances informed policy on key issues affecting Latino communities through objective and timely research contributing to the betterment of the nation. TRPI is an affiliated research unit of the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning, and Development, and is associated with the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy at Columbia University.

Contact:

TRPI @ (213) 821- 5615″

Coming off the heels of a successful site re-design, featuring improved user interface and greater social interactivity, Quepasa (www.quepasa.com), a top online social portal for young Latinos, during a press conference announced a strategic partnership with celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Rey, star of the hit reality series “Dr. 90210″ on the E! Network.

The new community promises to give members unprecedented access to Dr. Rey’s expert advice on health, beauty, and fitness that up to now was only possible with an appointment. As part of the partnership, Dr. Rey, who is of Brazilian decent, will host his own “Community” in Spanish and Portuguese on Quepasa, promoting an active lifestyle to reduce the effects of aging and encourage healthy eating habits to address the rising incidence of obesity.

“Dr. Rey will add an important educational and interactive element to Quepasa’s social Community,” said John C. Abbott, Quepasa’s CEO. “Our partnership with a popular and influential figure like Dr. Rey will help drive community traffic and encourage our members to share their interests, ideas, and activities. High profile partnerships are just one of several elements of our roadmap to constantly enhance our website with helpful, fun and interactive rich multimedia content.”

Dr. Rey’s “Community,” which is slated to launch later this month, will give members unprecedented access to his expertise on health, wellness, and nutrition. How it works: Members can upload their video questions directly on to this highly interactive, multi-media community or they can email Dr. Rey their questions. Dr. Rey will reply with detailed, step-by-step responses via video capsules, to give members the most concise answers. Dr. Rey will also conduct regular chat sessions to give members additional access and information, as well as make several promotional appearances.

“Our relationship with Dr. Rey demonstrates our commitment to our users that Quepasa will always be an authentic social portal by, for, and about Latinos not the afterthought of a mega corporation that wants to be in ‘our space’,” said Jeff Valdez, chairman of Quepasa. “We’re excited to create a cyber version of the ‘house call.’ Our doctor will always be in…Your in box.”

Health and beauty are key interests among Quepasa members. According to research, Latinas spend more disposable income on beauty than women from any other ethnic group, plus rising health concerns over diabetes in the Latino community make this community especially poignant.

“It is very important for me to inform and stay in touch with my Latino community,” said Dr. Rey. “This new partnership will provide Quepasa members with access to me that up until now was only possible by appointment. I’m thrilled to be able to make myself more accessible to the Latino community and provide information that will help improve their health and ultimately their lives.”

In addition to interactive Q&A sessions with Dr. Rey, the “Community” will feature a photo gallery where members can upload and share photos with Dr. Rey, forums where members can share their opinions, a blog written by Dr. Rey, plus updates on Dr. Rey’s upcoming appearances and news.
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Consorte Media (www.consortemedia.com), a leading digital marketing company targeting the Hispanic market (www.consortemedia.com), today announced two new targeted advertising programs, Consorte Email and Consorte TV, for advertisers eager to reach online Hispanics. The new programs give Consorte’s publisher partners additional ways to monetize their traffic, and will allow marketers to connect with online Hispanics (www.consortemedia.com/corporate/en/hispanic_audience/online_trends) via channels that engage and appeal to them.

Email marketing (www.consortemedia.com/corporate/en/advertisers/brand_advertising) and video advertising have emerged as two of the most engaging and effective marketing platforms online today, especially when it comes to reaching the Hispanic audience. According to Forrester Research, 80% of the 23 million Hispanics online today use email. Further, a recent survey by Mintel Comperemedia showed that Hispanics welcome email promotions on average 11 times per month, whereas non-Hispanics only want to get promotional emails 7.4 times per month. With broadband connection rates of over 80%, Hispanics are also avid adopters of online video, watching and creating videos online more often than the general population.

“Advertisers are increasingly eager to reach Hispanics where they spend the most time online, including emailing and watching online videos,” said Alicia Morga, CEO of Consorte Media. “Consorte’s new email marketing and video advertising programs add significant value for our publishers, which can now generate new advertising revenue, while at the same time helping advertisers more effectively connect with a targeted Hispanic audience.”

Consorte Email
Working with Consorte, advertisers can either prominently sponsor a publisher’s email newsletter, or place Hispanic-focused ads and promotions alongside the publisher’s email communications. All emails are sent from trusted publishers to highly engaged recipients who already have a relationship with the publisher - driving maximum click-through and open rates for advertisers.

For publishers, Consorte Email is a free program that allows them to send personalized, relevant content via email to their Hispanic subscribers. Consorte manages the email list upload and delivery process, while publishers maintain complete control over their email lists and content. Consorte provides the infrastructure for publishers to target communications based on demographic and behavioral data, and using Consorte’s reporting capabilities, publishers can continually monitor email delivery, performance, and revenue information

Consorte TV
The Hispanic population is young, made up of a predominance of Gen X and Gen Y users, and these young Internet users are avid online video watchers. Some 44% of 18-27 year old online Hispanics watch video online, and 39% of 28-41 year old online Hispanics do, according to Forrester Research. Consorte TV allows advertisers to reach the large group of young, engaged Hispanics who watch videos online by placing innovative video advertising campaigns, including pre-roll ads, skins, and overlays, onto the syndicated video content.

The Consorte Video program gives publishers in the Consorte network access to a library of rights-cleared, high-quality, Hispanic-focused video content that can be effectively monetized with targeted advertising. (Consorte Media gathers and distributes video content from leading Hispanic media companies, making it available cost-effectively to its network of premium publishers.) The Consorte Video program also offers publishers a customized video player for their sites, so they can easily broadcast video content. By allowing their site visitors to view and interact with engaging, Hispanic-focused content, publishers can increase their audience size and encourage visitors to spend more time on their sites, not only generating new video advertising revenues, but also boosting overall advertising rates across their site.

Both Consorte Email and Consorte TV are now available to publishers and advertisers. For more information, visit www.consortemedia.com.

About Consorte Media
Consorte Media is a digital marketing company that connects advertisers with a diverse Hispanic audience online. Consorte’s innovative solutions include a Premium Ad Network with hundreds of quality sites attracting a Hispanic audience, high-impact, hosted Direct Marketing Services, and SALSA™, a proprietary campaign product that blends the power of the Ad Network with the precision of Direct Marketing. Consorte Media combines an analytical approach with extensive market expertise to generate results and insights for its customers, including such top brands as Best Buy, SendMe Mobile, Dealix and Advance Auto Parts. Consorte Media is a privately held company based in San Francisco, Calif. For more information about Consorte Media, please visit www.consortemedia.com.”

With the recent launch of a Spanish-language back and neck pain center, SpineUniverse.com is now a leading provider of online medical information for the Hispanic population. The company developed this valuable resource for patients and doctors because it believes that Spanish speakers have not had adequate access in their own language to thorough, informative, and accurate articles on the most common spinal conditions and treatments.
Bill Paquin, CEO of SpineUniverse, comments on the website’s latest development: “We believe that for the fast-growing Hispanic population in America–in addition to people in Spanish-speaking countries–there haven’t been a lot of easy-to-understand online resources for back pain. We intend to replicate our English-language success by becoming the most visited spine-focused website for the Hispanic community, and we’re committed to the continued expansion of our Spanish language content.”
The Spanish language portion of SpineUniverse debuted with more than 70 articles on general back pain, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and spinal anatomy. Each article is a careful translation of a highly popular and authoritative existing English article on SpineUniverse.com. The initial articles cover common symptoms, causes, non-surgical treatments, and surgical options for the various back and neck conditions.
Geraldine Collado-Moulton, a television news reporter and co-founder of FundaciAn Mariposa (Butterfly Foundation–online at www.butterflyfoundation.com/), is enthusiastic about SpineUniverse’s new Spanish-language section. Her foundation provides spine care for children throughout Latin America. Collado-Moulton comments, “These Spanish articles will be a valuable resource for our medical teams in Spanish-speaking countries. We’ll refer patients and surgeons to these articles because we trust the information on SpineUniverse.”
The US Census Bureau reports that more than 34 million US residents speak Spanish at home. Now, Spanish-speaking back pain sufferers can easily find understandable articles to help them get real pain relief. Additionally, doctors with Hispanic patients can direct those patients to SpineUniverse.com to learn more about spinal conditions and treatment options for back or neck pain in the patient’s preferred language.
To visit SpineUniverse in Spanish and explore the content, go to www.spineuniverse.com/espanol/.
About SpineUniverse
SpineUniverse, the most-visited spine-focused site on the web, provides online and offline resources for both patients and spine professionals. SpineUniverse.com helps patients and their families understand their back or neck problems with clear, straightforward explanations about what causes spinal problems and how they can be treated. SpineUniverse.com/professional features an industry-leading library of patient case studies and education resources. Relying on an 80 member Editorial Board of leading spine experts, SpineUniverse ensures that all information presented is trustworthy and of the highest quality.
For more information, please visit www.spineuniverse.com. “