LATV
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcast network, digital content publishing, media enterprise |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Walter Ulloa |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | United States and Puerto Rico |
Key people | Humberto Guida (leader), Andres Palencia (Co-Executive Director), Bruno Seros-Ulloa (Co-Executive Director) |
| Products | Television programming, digital content |
| Owner | LATV Networks (subsidiary of LatiNation Media) |
| Website | latv |
LATV (; initially pronounced on-air from 2007 until 2014 and since redefined as the acronym for "Latino Alternative Television") operates as an American bilingual broadcast network, digital content publisher, and media enterprise owned by LATV Networks, a subsidiary of LatiNation Media based in Los Angeles, California. The channel emphasizes original, inclusive programming such as music, talk, and variety series aimed primarily at Hispanic and Latino American viewers between the ages of 18 and 55.
LATV has gained recognition for showcasing Latin Alternative artists including La Ley, Zayra Alvarez, Jaguares, Julieta Venegas, Enrique Bunbury, Ely Guerra, and Aterciopelados. Under the leadership of Humberto Guida, the network underwent a programming shift that resulted in some channel drift.
The distribution of LATV spans nationwide coverage through digital subchannels affiliated with broadcast stations and select cable providers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The network offers basic programming packages to primary channel affiliates and digital tiers tailored for subchannel-only affiliates.
History
LATV originated in 2001 as a programming format on KJLA (channel 57), an independent Ventura, California-licensed station. Initially affiliated with Galavisión, KJLA transitioned to predominantly Spanish-language content while retaining some English programming. This format developed from the station’s nighttime and weekend blocks beginning in July 1998 after it disaffiliated from The WB in order to protect KTLA’s market position and secured must-carry status on Los Angeles cable systems. As Los Angeles's first bilingual television outlet, LATV concentrated on music-driven shows such as LATV Live and Mex 2 the Max. By 2003, the format expanded into a full 24-hour schedule.
On November 22, 2006, Costa de Oro Television—the original owner of KJLA acquired by LATV founder Walter Ulloa in 1994—announced intentions to develop LATV into a nationwide network featuring a unified programming lineup to compete with established Spanish-language broadcasters like Univision, Telemundo, and Azteca América. Costa de Oro was subsequently rebranded as LATV Networks. The national rollout of LATV occurred on April 23, 2007, debuting across 16 stations located in major Latino/Hispanic markets. Following this, on May 22, 2007, LATV entered into an affiliation agreement with Entravision Communications to extend its reach into an additional ten markets—including Boston, Denver, Albuquerque, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Washington, D.C.—covering five of the top twenty-five Hispanic markets nationwide.
On August 20, 2007, Post-Newsweek Stations (currently known as Graham Media Group) acquired a minority interest in LATV Networks and committed to broadcasting LATV on digital subchannels within its Houston, Miami, Orlando, and San Antonio stations; later expanding to include Jacksonville and Detroit. Post-Newsweek withdrew from this partnership in 2013 to concentrate on English-language subchannel networks, which led LATV to realign its affiliations within those markets toward other full-power and low-power stations.
In 2019, Andres Palencia alongside Bruno Seros-Ulloa assumed roles as Co-Executive Directors of LATV, spearheading growth in digital publishing through LATV.com and advancing the network’s digital streaming infrastructure.
On August 29, 2022, Entravision Communications announced a strategic collaboration with LATV.
Programming
LATV provides a general entertainment lineup to its affiliates on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 a.m., and on weekends from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The network fills other time periods with paid and brokered programming. Its content slate features original productions created at LATV Studios in Los Angeles that emphasize Latino heritage, the empowerment of Latina women, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ Latinos.
Notable shows include Rokamolé, which showcases Latin rock music videos hosted by guest personalities; La Casa TV, centered on lifestyle topics; Locas por el Futbol, a weekly soccer analysis presented by an all-female panel; Almohadazo el Noti, an informal late-night news and talk program hosted by Fernanda Tapia; En La Zona, focusing on entertainment and talk; Ponle Play, offering daily music video segments; Las Supér 20, weekend countdowns featuring pop and Mexican Regional music; Las Noches del LATV, a late-night variety show; and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, the network’s exclusive sports broadcast showcasing weekend lucha libre wrestling.
Although primarily broadcasting in Spanish, LATV also includes some English and bilingual content such as Latino TV, an interview series highlighting Latinos in entertainment, sports, and the arts. To comply with FCC educational requirements, the channel airs half-hour children's educational programs from Telco Productions Sunday through Friday mornings. Since 2014, LATV has simulcast Shop LC home shopping overnight from 3:00 to 9:00 a.m. under a time brokerage arrangement.
The network does not feature national morning or evening newscasts nor original daytime programming; instead, it airs reruns of evening and late-night shows from the previous day during weekday daytime hours. Its only current news program is Perspectiva Nacional, a Sunday political talk show produced by Entravision Communications. In the past, LATV broadcast the weeknight newscast Noticias LATV between 2010 and 2012.
Talk/interview/lifestyle shows
- Glitterbomb w/ Patrick Gomez (2018)
- Get It Girl (2016–present)
- The Zoo (2016–present)
- American Latino TV (2019–present)
- Checkitow (2019–present)
- The Hub on LATV (2019–present)
- LatiNation (2019–present)
- The Q Agenda (2019–present)
- Pinkafe (2020–present)
- Blacktinidad (2021–present)
- Shades of Beauty (2022)
Music series
- LATV en Concierto (2007–present)
- Rokamolé (2012–present)
- Las Supér 20 (2012–present)
- Videos2Go (2015–present)
News programming
- Lo Que no Sabias (2014–present)
- Perspectiva Nacional (2013–present)
Sports programming
- Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2007–present)
- LATV Fan Nation (2019–present)
- World Class Boxing (2016–present)
Children's programming
- Animal Rescue (2013–present)
- Biz Kid$ (2013–present)
- Dragonfly TV (2013–present)
- Dog Tales (2016–present)
- Think Big (2013–present)
- America's Heartland (2016–present)
- Soccer Academy (1999-present)
Talk/interview shows
- American Latino TV (2007–2013)
Scripted series
- Ceasar and Chuy (2007–2008)
News Shows
- Esto es Insolito (2010–2014)
- Noticias LATV (2010–2012)
Partner Stations
- Albuquerque || New Mexico
- Albany || rowspan=3 New York
- New York City
- Syracuse
- Oklahoma City || Oklahoma
- Philadelphia || Pennsylvania
- Aguadilla || Puerto Rico
- Austin || rowspan=10 Texas
- Corpus Christi
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- El Paso
- Harlingen-McAllen
- Houston
- Laredo
- Midland-Odessa
- San Antonio
- Salt Lake City Utah
See also
- MTV Tres – U.S. Latino-oriented counterpart of MTV
- NBC Universo – cable and satellite channel aimed at Latino adults aged 18–49, previously known as mun2
- Nuvo TV – discontinued channel targeting English-speaking Latinos between 18 and 49 years old
- UniMás – rival network under TelevisaUnivision, catering to viewers aged 18–34 with telenovelas and U.S. films in dubbed versions