LAT TV

LAT TV
TypeBroadcast television network
Country
AvailabilityDefunct
OwnerLatin America Broadcasting
Key people
Wallace (Rocky) Springstead, President and CEO
Launch date
May 19, 2006 (2006-05-19)
DissolvedMay 20, 2008 (2008-05-20)
(2 years, 1 day)
Official website
http://www.lattv-english.com (English)

LAT TV was a Spanish-language television network emphasizing family-oriented and educational programming. It was owned by Latin America Broadcasting of Houston, Texas and launched in May 2006, initially on five low-power television stations in Texas and Arizona, four of which were in top-ten Hispanic markets. The network folded in May 2008.

History

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LAT TV launched on May 19, 2006 with television stations in Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio, Texas, and in Phoenix, Arizona. On April 10, 2007, LAT TV announced a partnership with Equity Media Holdings that would affiliate 26 stations owned or controlled by Equity with LAT TV, effective May 30, 2007.[1] The new affiliation expanded LAT TV coverage to 31 stations and to 27 markets in 15 states.

Citing a lack of investments caused by a lack of cable carriage, the network shut down May 20, 2008. The company planned to retain its broadcast licenses,[2] but ultimately would sell its stations to other parties soon after.

Programming

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LAT TV was headed by Patricia Torres-Burd and her team.

LAT TV offered a wide variety of programming from Mexico, Latin America, Europe and the United States to serve a diverse Hispanic market. The schedule included telenovelas, sports, comedy, and children's programming. A half-hour network news program from Independent News Network, Noticias LAT TV, aired each night. Weekday mornings included a block of public-service programs. Friday nights featured boxing matches, Late Night Variety Show "La Boca Loca De Paul" hosted by Paul Bouche, and the afternoon children's programming block includes Topo Gigio, a show that has been popular in the Latino community since the 1960s.

Technology

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LAT TV was entirely based on Internet Protocol. Its IT Manager Aaron Ward and network operations manager Jay Ross built and oversaw the process.

LAT TV Stations

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Network-owned

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Affiliates

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Charter affiliates

Affiliates added May 30, 2007

Announced for affiliation, but did not carry the network

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Growing Spanish TV Network Takes Another Big Step Towards National Coverage". April 10, 2007. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
  2. ^ Hem, Brad (May 21, 2008). "Spanish language station signs off". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
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