Noticias GenTV, which got its start in December of 2007, is anchored by former Telemundo correspondent and news director Ricardo Brown and Lourdes Ubieta.
According to Roberto Vizcón, the station’s general manager, the newscast is one of the highest rated programs in their lineup. “It’s a very successful product and it’s meeting a demand that we didn’t know was there. We were surprised by the viewer response. It just goes to show that there is a need for more local, national and international news and we’re giving viewers what they’re looking for.”
Roberto points out that Miami has evolved into a much more demanding market. It now has 5 Spanish-language stations, 3 of them independent, including his. GenTV, América TV and Mega TV are all producing local programming and the audience is responding favorably to news and entertainment shows that specifically target them.
“It’s a laboratory in progress,” says Roberto. “Who would have ever thought that Univision would lose its lead in Miami. But the reality is that all of the independent stations here are producing 100% local programming. And that’s what people want. We have a much more varied audience in Miami – with the influx of Argentinians, Colombians and Venezuelans seeking refuge from political and economic upheavals in their countries. While the Cuban community is still the largest, we can’t ignore the importance of those newcomers. The independent stations are more likely to produce programming that reflects the new makeup of our city.”
GenTV8 is owned by Colombia’s Caracol Televisión.