Two Top Entertainment Brands Unite to Provide the Most Comprehensive and Dedicated Site Reaching the Sizeable U.S. Hispanic Moviegoing Audience
Telemundo Media and Fandango today announced a partnership to launch Fandango Cine, the first comprehensive and dedicated digital offering designed to reach U.S. Hispanic movie fans. Fandango Cine will be integrated into www.telemundo.com, mun2.tv, and www.fandango.com, as a convergent experience that will combine Telemundo’s deep understanding of the Hispanic audience with Fandango’s movie content and ticketing expertise. The new site was announced in conjunction with NBCUniversal’s digital Upfront (#NBCUNewfront), and is planned for launch in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Fandango Cine will offer movie-related editorial and video programming in Spanish from Fandango, Telemundo, and mun2, including original features, interviews, and movie guides – all specifically geared toward Hispanic moviegoers. The site will provide Fandango’s comprehensive movie show times and unparalleled ticketing access to over 70% of the nation’s top theater chains, along with Fandango’s industry-leading innovations, such as mobile barcode ticketing and reserved seating at select theaters.
“While Hispanics make up about 16% of the U.S. population, they represent 28% of today’s frequent moviegoers, according to Nielsen, and they are nearly twice as likely as general market moviegoers to see a movie on opening weekend,” said Peter Blacker, EVP of Digital & Emerging Media, Telemundo Media. “This partnership between one of the most influential Hispanic media brands and the nation’s leading moviegoer destination will provide the best movie content and ticketing convenience for avid Hispanic moviegoers, enhancing their overall experience.”
“NBCUniversal has significant reach among passionate online communities – particularly when it comes to Hispanics and moviegoers,” said Nicholas Lehman, President of NBCU Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media, which includes Fandango. “Fandango Cine is a powerful way to combine these two audiences and super-serve them with the most relevant movie content and seamless ticketing experience that the marketplace has to offer – tailored for the Hispanic audience.”
According to the Motion Picture Association of America, 43 million Hispanic moviegoers purchased 351 million movie tickets in North America in 2010, up 16 percent from the prior year. Beyond that, Hispanics have the highest movie-going per capita rate, averaging seven trips to the movies a year, as opposed to an average of four trips for other ethnic groups.
Telemundo.com had its best year ever in 2011 in U.S. video streams, becoming the most engaging Spanish-language web site for Latinos in the U.S., and having its best year ever for video streams since the site’s re-launch and its ad revenue is also up double digits up 18% in 2011 vs. prior year.
Heading into the summer, the busiest moviegoing season of the year, Fandango just finished its most successful first quarter in the company’s nearly 12-year history. As Fandango’s ticket sales surged 127% over last year, the company also partnered with AMC Theatres, Regency Theatres and other chains to expand its theater network by 19%. The quarter also included Fandango’s recently-signed ticketing deal with Yahoo and the launch of Fandango’s enormously popular Facebook Timeline app, “Movies with Friends.”