NBCU Gets mun2 Carriage On Comcast

Digital Rollout Also Includes Telemundo Pickup In Seattle, Detroit

By Kent Gibbons -- Multichannel News, 3/3/2008 7:45:00 AM

Comcast will launch NBC Universal’s mun2 on digital lineups next month in a long-term carriage deal that adds 7 million homes to the youth-focused Latino network and includes Telemundo cable launches in Seattle and Detroit, NBCU said Monday.

Mun2 will join the majority of Comcast’s digital cable lineups in April, NBCU said, and April also is when broadcaster Telemundo will join Comcast’s lineups in Seattle and Detroit.

Mun2, launched in 2001 and pronounced “mun-dos,” is adding about 7 million Comcast subscribers in the deal, rising to 24 million subscribers in total, NBCU said. Comcast ended 2007 with about 15.1 million digital subscribers, it reported.

Comcast gets to offer mun2 and Telemundo programs on demand, including The Chicas Project and news specials from mun2 and telenovelas from Telemundo.

Bridget Baker, president of TV Networks Distribution at NBCU, said in a release: "This deal is a huge win for Comcast and NBC Universal. mun2's edgy and award-winning bilingual programs and Telemundo's sizzling telenovelas appeal to Comcast's diverse customer base.”

Said David Jensen, VP of content acquisition at Comcast, in the release: “Comcast is committed to delivering programming that reflects the diverse interests of our customers, and mun2 and Telemundo feature exciting programming that is relevant and appealing. We're also thrilled to have the opportunity to offer mun2 and Telemundo On Demand, allowing our customers the flexibility to watch what they want, when they want."