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LIN TV Launches Spanish-Language Network

Aug 23, 2004  •  Post A Comment

LIN TV Corp. on Monday said it has launched a new Hispanic-programming service targeted at Puerto Ricans living in the United States and has struck a carriage deal with DirecTV Group for the new service to be included in a Spanish-language programming package offered by the satellite company.

The service, called WAPA-America, features content programmed out of LIN’s San Juan, Puerto Rico, station WAPA-TV and features Puerto Rican news and entertainment shows as well as programming from WAPA’s TV library.

DirecTV will feature the channel in its DirecTV Para Todos programming package starting Sept. 1 and will serve as the exclusive satellite distributor through Jan. 31, 2006.

LIN says it is holding talks with other distributors and says it has “received considerable interest” from cable providers.

The channel will operate out of LIN’s broadcasting hub in Springfield, Mass., which the company said will limit the operating expense of running the channel, though it declined to provide any details.