Women of Juarez
Shedding light on murders on the border

Discovery en Español will premiere “Silencio en Juarez,” a documentary on the killings and disappearances of hundreds of women in Ciudad Juarez over a decade, on Sunday, October 26.

The doc features with the victims’ families, survivors, and the women who everyday fear for their lives.

Since 1993, over 400 women have been tortured and raped and over 1,000 more have gone missing in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The thousands of victims who have fallen prey share several important characteristics, all are young and of meager means, students and/or factory workers. Of those who were found dead, most were likely brutally tortured and raped before they were strangled or stabbed to death.

“Silencio en Juarez” also seeks to examine the different theories and hypotheses behind these unresolved femicides–drug trafficking cartel, domestic violence and machismo and serial killers on the loose.

“Silencio en Juarez” is an original production carried out for Discovery en Español by Eyeworks/Cuatro Cabezas, under the supervision of Sol Colom, executive producer, and Michela Giorelli, director of production and development, for Discovery en Espanol.

‘Oprah’ en español
Top Latino markets are first; others to follow

The popular “Oprah Winfrey Show” is now available in Spanish in major Hispanic television markets through Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) and through Spanish closed-captioning

The top six U.S. Hispanic TV markets — Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas and Chicago — are only the first to offer the Spanish language “Oprah” program to their viewers since October 20. More U.S. cities are follow suit in the 2008-2009 season.

“We are delighted to be providing the Spanish-language community with an opportunity to become part of the ‘Oprah’ show viewing family,” said Harpo Productions, Inc. President Tim Bennett. “We’ll be able to reach this audience more directly with programming that is relevant, informative and entertaining.”

The initial six television stations providing the “Oprah” show with Spanish SAP and closed captioning to viewers are KABC in Los Angeles, WABC in New York, WFOR in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, KHOU in Houston, WFAA in Dallas-Ft. Worth, and WLS in Chicago.

The Spanish-language SAP and closed captioning for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” are sponsored by Target.

‘Honor Hispano’
A salute to Latino military families

Spanish-language network V-Me will air its second annual, week-long “Honor Hispano” tribute November 10 through 14. The series pays tribute to Latino military heroes and their families.

Honor Hispano includes exclusive primetime specials, original vignettes presenting stories of Latino soldiers and their families, and an invitation for viewers to visit www.VmeTV.com and send messages of support to current and past servicemen and women. The messages will appear in V-Me’s signature primetime interview program – Viva Voz con Jorge Gestoso.

The series coincides with Military Family Month, which is observed in November. Honor Hispano is presented by Sears.

Program highlights include “When Parents Are Deployed 1 & 2 (Cuando el Servicio Lama: Vivencias de Familias Militares and Cambios: Vivencias de Familias Militares); a Veteran’s Day special with Sesame Street characters; “Valentia: Mexican Americans in WWII;” “Historias de Guerra;” “Clio Presenta: Diaries from Baghdad (Diarios desde Bagdad);”

The Latin Grammy
Performers list is official for award night

Cafe Tacuba, Kany Garcia, Alejandra Guzman, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Olga Tanon, and Julieta Venegas are the first performers announced for the 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards telecast.

Other confirmed award presenters are: Ednita Nazario, Ximena Sarinana, Tito El Bambino, Juan Luis Guerra, Daniela Castro, Cesar Evora and Eduardo Santamarina. The award ceremony will take place Nov. 13 at the Toyota Center in Houston and will be broadcast on the Univision Network from 8 – 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central).

Leading nominee Cafe Tacuba’s six nods include: Album Of The Year and Best Alternative Album for “Sino,” Record Of The Year and Best Alternative Song for “Volver A Comenzar,” and Song Of The Year and Best Rock Song for “Esta Vez.” Singers/songwriters Kany Garcia and Julieta Venegas each have four nominations: Garcia for Album Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Album (“Cualquier Dia”), Song Of The Year (“Hoy Ya Me Voy”), and Best New Artist; Venegas for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year (“El Presente”), and Best Alternative Album and Best Long Form Music Video (“MTV Unplugged”). Latin pop/rock artist Alejandra Guzman has a nod for Best Female Pop Vocal Album (“Fuerza”). Salsa artist Gilberto Santa Rosa is up for Best Salsa Album (“Contraste”). And Tropical artist Olga Tanon is nominated for Best Contemporary Tropical Album (“Exitos En Dos Tiempos”).