For a while, it looked like it was all over for Azteca América in some of the most important Hispanic markets. But now a deal with Pappas Telecasting has saved its place in L.A. – the number-one Hispanic DMA in the United States. The new agreement will allow Azteca América to continue airing programming for five years until 2012 on KAZA-54.
“It gives us strength to keep positioning Azteca América in the most important Spanish-language media market, while we continue our nation-wide distribution strategy,” says A.A. spokeswoman Mónica Taher.
In April of last year, Pappas Telecasting, terminated its affiliation agreements with the Azteca América Network in all markets. Pappas launched Tu Visión, a new Spanish-language network as a replacement, claiming Azteca América programming was underperforming on its stations. The only exemption was KAZA-54 in Los Angeles, because the contract expired in June 30, 2008.
Pappas announced in December an intent to sell its television stations, but Taher confirms any potential sale will not affect the current agreement.