Media Moves

LBI Media’s Estrella TV is expanding its reach to Wichita, Kansas.

The network signed an affiliate agreement with KCTU 43.2 to broadcast its news and entertainment programming, starting the first week of August.

The deal is part of Estrella TV’s ongoing expansion in key markets across the United States.

KCTU becomes the network’s 48th affiliate.

Jennifer Montoya Betancourth will join Estrella TV flagship station KRCA 62 in Los Angeles as anchor for the 12 and 5 pm local newscasts.

She starts the new job on Monday, July 31.

Montoya Betancourth was previously noon and primetime weekend news anchor for “Noticias Caracol” and lead anchor for “Última Edición.” She also anchored two national political affairs shows, “Análisis Mundial” on the Cablenoticias Network and “Una Mirada al Mundo” for Caracol Internacional.

Before that, she was the Editor-in-Chief of digital magazine Política Crítica and worked at Blu Radio as a Bogotá correspondent.

Montoya Betancourth’s hiring comes four months after the station fired anchor Karla Amezola, who filed a sexual harassment complaint earlier this year against former VP of News Andrés Angulo and LBI Media/Estrella TV for improperly handling the situation and nurturing a hostile work environment.

Amezola’s case is still pending.

LBI Media has decided to promote Estrella TV network national news anchor Pedro Ferriz Hijar to VP of national news, effective immediately.

He takes over the position left vacant earlier this year after the forced departure of Andrés Angulo following sexual harassment complaints and lawsuits filed by former anchors Karla Amezola and Adriana Ruggiero, which are still pending.

Ferriz Hijar, who will continue his role as news anchor, will be responsible for the strategic planning and management of the network’s news division, as well as production of all news-related programing.

Prior to joining Estrella TV as anchor of its national newscast “Cierre de Edición” in February 2016, he was an anchor for Efekto TV and hosted a 3-hour nightly program on Poder México Radio.

LBI Media-owned Estrella TV, looking for a wider audience, is preparing to take its shows worldwide.

The Burbank, CA-based network has signed an international distribution agreement with Sabbatical Entertainment.

As the company’s international distribution agent, Sabbatical will sell Estrella TV’s original programming outside of the United States, including shows such as “Rica Famosa Latina,” “Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento,” “Noches con Platanito”, “Alarma TV” and “Premios de la Radio.”

According to EstrellaTV, its programming catalog consists of over 7,500 hours of original Spanish-language television programming in genres including talk, drama, comedy, variety, reality and music.

Estrella TV anchor Karla Amezola, who sued her boss VP of News Andrés Angulo for sexual harassment, was fired Tuesday.

The company confirms she was terminated the same day that Angulo resigned from his post.

Amezola, who first reported him to Human Resources a year ago, filed a lawsuit against Angulo and Liberman Broadcasting for sexual harassment in June of last year.

That lawsuit is still pending.

You can read more details and Amezola’s reaction to her dismissal on Forbes.

Estrella TV’s VP of News Andrés Angulo has resigned, effective immediately, according to company sources.

Angulo leaves the company amid allegations of sexual harassment. His last day was Tuesday, February 28.

Two female anchors – Karla Amezola and Adriana Ruggiero (who is no longer with the company) – last year filed sexual harassment lawsuits against Angulo.

Both complaints also name Liberman Broadcasting/LBI Media, for failing to protect them for unwanted sexual advances, even after reporting the alleged acts to the company’s Human Resources department.

No word at this time on the status of those lawsuits.

Angulo joined LBI Media as News Director of KRCA-62 in 2011 and was promoted to VP of News a year later.

A spokesperson would not comment on Angulo’s departure or if he would be replaced.

In October of last year, Andrea Ospina was hired as VP of Local News, presumably to act as a buffer between Angulo and anchor Amezola, as well as other female employees, although the company would not address or comment on the reasons behind the hire.

Updated to reflect his final day at the company.

LBI Media has signed a multiyear agreement with DISH that will expand Estrella TV network’s U.S. distribution to approximately 40 million homes.

Due to “must carry” rules, Dish been carrying Estrella TV O&O Stations in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Salt Lake City.

But thanks to the deal – the first between DISH and LBI Media – the satellite operator will now carry Estrella TV’s national feed in every U.S. market on their AT200 and Dish Latino Tiers.

According to the company, this new national carriage deal will strengthen Estrella TV’s brand nationwide and allow it to compete more effectively in the marketplace.

From L to R: Anaís Salazar, José Luis González and Claudia González.

Estrella TV is expanding original programming to its weekday mornings.

The network today launched its first ever national morning newscast and morning shows.

Newscast “Primera Edición” kicks off the day at 7:30 am/6:30 CT, followed by one-hour entertainment program “Buenos Días Familia” at 8 am/7 CT.

Anaís Salazar will anchor the morning newscast. She’ll also do news updates throughout “Buenos Días.”

José Luis González and Claudia González will host the new entertainment program, which will feature celebrity interviews, human-interest stories and entertainment news.

Anaís and Claudia both have been co-hosting Estrella TV’s “iTestigo.” José Luis has had a long history at the network. He was the host of the controversial “José Luis Sin Censura,” and has also hosted “Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento.”

Both shows are executive produced by Juan Alberto Santos, who will also continue to EP “En Vivo,” which airs weekdays at 12:30 pm in the Los Angeles market and nationally at 5 pm/4 pm CT.