Cynthia Hudson Fernandez

Listen to podcast interview with Cynthia Hudson Fernandez, EVP, Spanish Broadcasting System about Mega TV

Posted by Elena del Valle on March 19, 2007



Cynthia Hudson Fernández, executive vice president and chief creative officer, Spanish Broadcasting System

Photo: Spanish Broadcasting System

A podcast interview with Cynthia Hudson Fernández, executive vice president and chief creative officer, Spanish Broadcasting System is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses Mega TV and the Spanish language television station’s branding and marketing strategies with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Cynthia was recently named SBS’ chief creative officer and executive vice president, reporting directly to chairman and CEO Raúl Alarcón. In her new position, she is responsible for SBS’ expansion into Television and new media, directly overseeing TV station MEGA TV - channel 22 in Miami, as well as the Company’s internet site LaMusica.com and other new media development. Cynthia is in charge of the strategic expansion of SBS content across multiple media platforms as well as development of branded entertainment synergies among the SBS portfolio of media assets.

From 1997 to 2005 Cynthia served as senior vice president and editorial director of Cosmopolitan Television a division of Hearst Entertainment and Syndication Group, heading up the creation and development of the Cosmopolitan TV Networks. While there she led the research, development and creation of Cosmo TV, overseeing design of original programs, on-air packaging, promotions and program acquisitions, as well as the creation and production of original formats.

Prior to Cosmo TV, Cynthia was senior vice president of Programming and Creative Services for United International Holding’s joint venture channel service, United Family Communications (UFC), now MGM Networks Latin America. While at UFC, she created Casa Club TV, one of the first pan-regional home channels for Latin America.

Cynthia has a Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Miami focusing on the acculturation and media consumption of the immigrant population in the United States.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Cynthia Hudson Fernández,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the March 2007 section of the podcast archive.




Spanish Broadcasting Names New Chief Creative Officer

Veteran media executive will oversee TV, Internet units
and leverage SBS proprietary content to fuel growth

COCONUT GROVE, Fla., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spanish
Broadcasting System, Inc. ("SBS"; Nasdaq: SBSA) today announced the
appointment of Cynthia Hudson-Fernandez to the newly created post of Executive
Vice President and Chief Creative Officer.
In her capacity as the head of creative strategy, Ms. Hudson will have
overall responsibility for the Company's recently announced TV venture as well
as the upgrading and rebranding of its New Media unit including the bilingual
Internet portal, LaMusica.com. In addition, Ms. Hudson will oversee the
development, execution and distribution of all SBS proprietary content -- a
key driver of future revenue growth.
Ms. Hudson is an eight-time Emmy Award winning producer, writer and
international television executive with over 20 years experience in both the
U.S. broadcast and international cable TV industries. Ms. Hudson's particular
area of expertise has involved the launching of successful start-up TV
networks; in 1996 she created Casa Club TV (now a Sony Network); in 1997 she
was hired by Hearst Entertainment to create the Cosmopolitan TV Network, now
the #1 ranked cable network among women viewers in Spain and a top-rated
network in Latin America.
She began her career as a TV news reporter in 1984 and has held numerous
positions at both U.S. Spanish-language TV networks Univision and Telemundo,
including Senior News Producer, Executive Producer and Vice President of
Programming and Production. Since 1997, Ms. Hudson has served as Senior Vice
President and Editorial Director of Cosmopolitan TV for the Hearst
Corporation.
Raul Alarcon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SBS stated, "Our
content consistently generates substantial audience shares in the nation's
largest Hispanic markets. We are fortunate to count on the expertise and
experience of an executive of Cynthia's caliber to assist us in further
unlocking the value of this content with an emphasis on our TV and Internet
properties. Her track record is exceptional and I am confident in her ability
to enhance our growing status as a leader in Hispanic media."
Ms. Hudson commented, "I look forward to this unique opportunity to
utilize my media background in launching these new initiatives at SBS. I am
equally optimistic about our ability to strategize our content and fully
leverage its multimedia potential."

About Cynthia Hudson-Fernandez
For the last eight years, Ms. Hudson has served as Senior Vice President
and Editorial Director of Cosmopolitan Television (a Hearst Entertainment and
Syndication Group division), heading up the creation and development of the
Cosmopolitan TV Networks. The first network was launched in Spain and Portugal
in March 2000 as Canal Cosmopolitan Iberia. Today, Cosmo TV Spain is the
highest-ranked channel in the market for women viewers. In July 2002, Canal
Cosmopolitan Latin America was created, as were other international versions
of the Cosmo TV concept. Hudson led the research, development and creation of
Cosmo TV, overseeing design of original programs, on-air packaging, promotions
and program acquisitions, as well as the creation and production of original
formats.
Prior to Cosmo TV, Hudson was Senior Vice President of Programming and
Creative Services for United International Holding's joint venture channel
service, United Family Communications (UFC), now MGM Networks Latin America.
While at UFC she created Casa Club TV, the first pan-regional Home channel for
Latin America (today MGM).
Hudson was the Vice President of Programming and Production for the
Telemundo Network from 1992-94. During her tenure the network's programming
line-up was redesigned, achieving its highest ratings to date and developing
its first in-house telenovela production unit with successes such as "Tres
Destinos", a prime-time scripted drama series that debuted in 1994.
From 1984 to 1992, Hudson held various production and executive positions
with the Univision Network, including Executive Producer of the first daytime
U.S. Hispanic magazine show, "TV Mujer" ("TV Woman"), which garnered Univision
its first Emmy Award for ongoing series production.
More recently, she created the first English-language, globally syndicated
telenovela "Miami Sands", distributed by Promark Entertainment.
Ms. Hudson has a Master's degree in Communications from the University of
Miami focusing on the acculturation and media consumption of the immigrant
population in the United States.

About Spanish Broadcasting System
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is the largest Hispanic-controlled radio
broadcasting company in the United States. Upon the completion of all
previously announced transactions, SBS will own and operate 20 radio stations
located in the top Hispanic markets of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago,
San Francisco and Puerto Rico, including the #1 Spanish-language radio station
in America, WSKQ-FM in New York City, as well as the nationally top-rated
radio stations in the Tropical, Regional Mexican, Spanish Adult Contemporary
and Hurban format genres. The Company also produces live entertainment
concerts and events in all of its markets. On July 13, 2005 the Company
announced the acquisition of WDLP-TV, a full-power television station serving
South Florida. The Company also operates LaMusica.com, a bilingual
Spanish-English online site providing content related to Latin music,
entertainment, news and culture. The Company's corporate site can be accessed
at http://www.spanishbroadcasting.com