New York, NY -- Home Box Office will launch HBO Latino, a new Spanish-language multiplex channel, in the fall of 2000. Designed to reflect the diversity of Latino culture in the U.S., HBO Latino will feature Spanish-language films specifically acquired for the service, new and original on-air programming filmed around the country, live boxing commentary in Spanish, and a mix of the popular Hollywood movies and acclaimed originals found on HBO's main service. The channel is the newest addition to HBO The Works, the network's multiplex line-up.

"HBO Latino represents a critical addition to the HBO brand," said John Billock, president, U.S. network group at Home Box Office. "Latino viewers are an important and growing part of the network, and HBO Latino fits perfectly with our ongoing multiplex strategy to appeal to multiple segments of our overall audience." According to HBO research, Latinos make up 11% of HBO's subscriber base, with HBO in 19% of all U.S. Hispanic households.

Bringing the channel to life will be original interstitial programming that spotlights cultural issues and stories of interest to Latinos nationwide. These programs will originate from selected U.S. cities to capture the multicultural Hispanic community through segments on art, music, film, celebrities, current issues, local entertainment news and human interest stories. A core group of Spanish-speaking on-air personalities will represent different Latino regions across the country.

HBO Latino's programming line-up will feature regular U.S. premieres of Spanish-language films specifically acquired for the channel from film festivals throughout the U.S., Latin America and Spain. As part of this effort, in April HBO will sponsor the 16th Chicago Latino Film Festival, a major platform for Hispanic filmmakers, and one of several film festivals that HBO will support and attend to identify new quality Spanish-language programming.

HBO Latino will also air HBO's popular "World Championship Boxing" series live, for the first time, with dedicated on-camera commentary in Spanish. In addition, the channel will feature an outstanding mix of programming from HBO's main service dubbed in Spanish, from Hollywood theatrical films to HBO's award-winning originals.

Home Box Office is the premium television programming division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., providing two 24-hour premium television services, HBO and Cinemax. Together, both networks reach nearly 36 million subscribers in the United States via cable and satellite delivery. Home Box Office's international joint ventures bring HBO branded services to more than 45 countries around the globe.

Contact Info:
Jodie Hauptmann
212-512-5431