Premieres Five New Original Series Launch Partner Trojan™ Brand Condoms Sponsors Exclusive Series
Univision Communications, Inc. (UCI), the leading media company serving Hispanic America, and Bedrocket, a leader in digital programming and innovation, announced today the official launch of Flama, available at TheFlama.com. Flama is UCI’s first fully dedicated over-the-top network providing premium English-language video programming for 15 – 30 year olds who are inspired and entertained by the Latin culture that is influencing today’s younger generation. A slate of five new original series premiering this week include a docu-series featuring 17-year-oldhip-hop artist Becky G, a soccer-themed mockumentary show, a weekly show starring music expert and professional hype man D-stroy, a review series with Flama’s unpredictable and unapologetic resident grandmother aka Abuelita, and a short-clip series starring comedian and character extraordinaire Johnny Sanchez.
TheFlama.com features established and emerging stars across comedy, music, sports and lifestyle verticals.In support of the exploding Latino creative community, Flama is a network for discovering and sharing original and curated video. It isdedicated to providing access to talent and storiesmade by, for and with Hispanic millennials.
“Flama is working with talent and storytellers that connect with young Hispanics through a shared experience, a point of view, and sometimes simply a passion for llamas,” said Steven Benanav, general manager of Flama. “We’vecreated a network for our audience to discover and share great programming that includesoriginal series and the best curated material from theInternet.”
In addition to working with talent that is directly related to Flama’s target audience, the network engaged leading Latino stand-up comedian Al Madrigal (“The Daily Show”, "About A Boy") as an early adviser.
"While other companies have set out to attract young Latinos and treat them like a hom*ogenous group, from Flama's inception, the network has been staffed by Latinos of all backgrounds who are making quality content for what is actually a diverse group," said Al Madrigal. "This more legit approach is what sets Flama apart and will lead to its success."
Flama also announced the addition of Alexis Tirado, managing editor forTheFlama.com, who was previously at MTV Networks, and Yamin Segal, director of programming & production forFlama, creator of indie web series East Willy B.
"There was no question in my mind to work with Flama, I would feel FOMO if I didn’t," said Alexis Tirado, managing editor for TheFlama.com. "For young Hispanics, there's no one place online for entertainment that is created for us and by us, so to take my experience and apply it to a pioneering new site is a crazy dream come true. Plus, my parents actually approve of this job, even if they don’t get the programming."
TheFlama.comlaunches with partner Trojan™ Brand Condoms, which has sponsored an exclusive series set to premiere in Summer 2014. Details on the series will be made available at a later date.
“As the most trusted name in sexual health for more than 90 years, Trojan™ seeks to empower the Hispanic audience to take ownership of their sexual health,” said Bruce Weiss, Vice President of Marketing for Trojan™ Brand Condoms. “We are very proud to support this innovative series and hope to use it as a vehicle to spark an open and honest dialogue about the importance of using a condom each and every time.”
Original Programming
With original and curated comedy, music, lifestyle and sports programming, new series premiering this week include “Super Accurate Soccer History,” “Left Unattended with D-stroy,” “Drop the Mic with Becky G,” “Abuelita’s Review,” and “The Johnny Sanchez Show.”
“Super Accurate Soccer History”
As a precursor to World Cup 2014 Brazil, this mockumentary style show features made up soccer stories that are so ridiculous, they have to be true. In the six-episode series, comedians and well-known soccer players narrate the incredible soccer stories of famous events and legends never heard about previously.
“Left Unattended with D-stroy”
A weekly, high-energy series, featuring D-stroy Melendez, viewers will be invited into D-stroy’s inimitable brand of comedy on trending topics. Complete withhumorous interludes andinterviews with music’s biggest influencers, including rapper Ice-T, DJ Premier and producer Just Blaze, D-stroy covers top events, bloopers and recommendations on some of the best and most random topics facing today’s society.
“Drop the Mic with Becky G”
Follow 17-year-old hip-hop artist Becky G through the ups and downs of making it in the music industry and rising to stardom, while staying grounded through her family and friends. Cut to the rhythm of a music video, each episode of this six part docu-series is a moment of Becky G’s musical time capsule on her journey to success. Using Becky G’s narration, the series gives her more than 3.2M fans a peek into her personal diary.
“Abuelita’s Review”
Flama’s resident 83-year-old grandmother, Abuelita, shares her wisdom with viewers in a six part series where she reviews today’s top products, from electronics to food. With an unapologetic opinion, Abuela shares historical anecdotes of the years when things were ‘better.’ The series stars Altagracia Guzman (“Raising Victor Vargas” and “I Heart Huckabees.”)
“The Johnny Sanchez Show”
Get into the mind of comedian and character extraordinaire Johnny Sanchez (“MADtv,” “Happy Feet”) as he shares his humor and spot-on impressions in a fun, off-the-wall, short-clip series.
Flamaprogramming willpreside at TheFlama.comand through major video distribution partners, as well as on social channels, YouTube,Twitter, andFacebook, to reach audiences worldwide.
About Flama
Flama is a digital network for original programming, curated video and other English-language content made by, for and with Hispanic millennials. A joint venture between Univision Communications, Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, and Bedrocket, a leader in digital programming and innovation, Flama is UCI’s first fully dedicated over-the-top network offering premium video content for 15 – 30 year olds who are inspired and entertained by the Latin culture that is influencing today’s younger generation.For more information, visit TheFlama.com and follow @theflama.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching approximately 96% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching approximately 89% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of six cable offerings - De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Distrito Comedia; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company’s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; UVideos, the first bilingual digital network serving Hispanic America offering popular Univision and new original and third-party programming, to be an on-demand service on whatever device audiences choose; and Interactive, a network of digital products and offerings includingUnivision.com, which continues to be, the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Móvil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services; and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visitUnivision.net.
About Bedrocket
Bedrocket is changing the way brands and media companies think about creating online video channels and destinations through proprietary technology, original content and partnerships. The company’s pioneering online destinations include Network A, Official Comedy, Look TV, Kick TV, Flama in partnership with Univision, and NowThis News, a Bedrocket partner company. Bedrocket investments include Emmy award-nominated What’s Trending, Fullscreen, VHX and Tubular. Bedrocket offers other media companies, category leaders and online video creators leading digital entertainment capabilities. For more information, visit Bedrocket.com and follow @bedrocket.
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