Viacom, Inc. : Fastest-Growing Hispanic Cable Network Among Hispanic Millennials Announces New Content for 2012

MIAMI, Jan. 23, 2012/PRNewswire/ -- NATPE2012 - Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas, the fastest growing bilingual/bicultural cable network among the coveted Hispanic millennial generation, continues to boost its original programming slate in 2012. New content in development includes the aspirational series Amigas, Inc. under executive producer Jennifer Lopez, producing partner Simon Fieldsand veteran film and television producer Jane Startz. The network's new originals in production include the wildly-entertaining docu-series starring Mexican-American BMX champ Ricardo Laguna, a thriving Hispanic millennial discovered by executive producer Wilmer Valderrama, and Dulce Maria: Extranjera which documents the American Life of the former RBD star as she faces the cultural barriers and challenges of Hollywoodstardom.The announcement was made today by Charlie Singer, SVP of Content & Creative for Tr3s.

Tr3s will also acquire Mexico's innovative novela Bienvenida Realidad from Argos Communications, and will renew top-rated originals Quiero Mis Quinces, Quiero Mi Boda, Rock Dinner and La Escaleraas part of its stellar new programming slate.

"I'm so excited to bring the Amigas series to television and to share the rich cultural experiences of being a Latino that are universal to us all," said Jennifer Lopez.  "I hope that this series will entertain audiences and inspire my fans to pursue their own dreams."

"When I met Ricardo, I immediately discovered a disarming, charming and inspiring young man with a vision larger than even his whole family expected. I related to him on so many levels. Ricardo and his family remind me and all of us the reason why we move away from our countries and come to America to embark in the search of the American dream," said Wilmer Valderrama.

"Tr3s has become a strong creative content engine, and we take pride in knowing that we have established a credible and valuable space that allows producers to create innovative and compelling content," said Singer. "Our audience is more invested and engaged in our original programming than ever before and we look forward to continuing to deliver hit content."

AMIGAS, INC
Lopez and Fields are executive producing through their Nuyorican Productions and Startz is executive producing via her Jane Startz Productions.  Startz is the creator of the Amigas, Inc. books series and characters which were inspired by Jennifer Lopez.  Branded entertainment firm United Entertainment Group will also have a producing role in the series.  Amigas Inc. chronicles the lives of four entrepreneurial Miamiteens who pool their creative talents as singers, graphic artists, deejays and choreographers to launch a party-planning business to throw teenage girls their dream Quinceanera-the Latin cultural equivalent to a "Sweet Sixteen" celebration.  The business becomes such a success that soon the four teens find themselves with the hottest party-planning business in Miami. Tr3s has ordered eight episodes for a fall 2012 debut of the English-language coming-of-age series. 

THE RICARDO LAGUNA PROJECT
Actor turned Executive Producer Wilmer Valderrama teams up with Tr3s for the new docu-series The Ricardo Laguna Project. The series will take a look inside the outrageously amusing life of one of Las Vegasmagazine's Most Eligible Bachelor and BMX champion Ricardo Lagunaas he attempts to break 3 world records and start his own family business - all while balancing his close knit family and the enticing Vegas social scene. Tr3s will produce eight 30-minute episodes for a March 2012premier.

DULCE MARIA: EXTRANJERA
After achieving ultimate stardom in Latin Americathrough her success in music, film, television and a fan base of 1 million followers on Facebook and Twitter, Dulce Mariahas her eyes set on conquering the same success in the United States. Her new original series Dulce Maria: Extranjera chronicles thedifficultdeparture from her beloved family and fans to the star-studded life of Los Angeles, California. On this journey to new found independence, she experiences the challenges of a new language and culture, in the midst of launching a new career in Hollywood's competitive market. Tr3s will produce ten 1-hour episodes for July 2012.

BIENVENIDA REALIDAD
Tr3s has also acquired the young and innovative novela Bienvenida Realidad, a property of Cadena Tres, Argos Communications and Sony Pictures Television in Mexico. The series scored 10 million viewers and top ratings across all demos in Mexico, surpassing teen show Gilmore Girls in the Spanish-speaking region.  The novela casts a multigenerational ensemble of high school seniors, teachers and parents, who journey through the intolerance and stress points of adolescence (bullying, homosexuality, drugs, pregnancy, STDs). New deal includes 120 episodes starting February 2012.

Source: Nielsen Media Research NHIH, 6/27/2011-12/25/2011vs 6/28/2010-12/26/2010, HP12-34, Total Day M-Su8a-2a, Live +SD, % of total impression, % of total duration, growth based on ratings

About Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas
Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas, owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), reaches 6.3 million Hispanic TV households (45% of US Hispanic Total TV HH) and 33.6 million total TV households. The network's programming embraces the trilogy of cultures that represents Latino life - Latin American plus American equals US Latino - through original productions, key acquisitions, and content from MTV Networks' portfolio of entertainment brands. Tr3s embraces the key lifestyle aspects of Latino identity -- milestones, making it and music -- as well as social responsibility through its initiative "Agentes de Cambio", which tackles issues that affect Latinos today. The network also taps into the growing number of Latinos that are digitally connected through .

SOURCE Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas