MTM Español

**MTM Español** is an American Spanish-language broadcast television network that is owned by Argosy Media. The network broadcasts programs aimed at Hispanic and Latino American audiences throughout the United States – featuring a mix of telenovelas and other serialized dramas, reality television series, game shows, and feature films (both Spanish-dubbed versions of American films and imported films produced in Spanish-speaking countries).

MTM Español's programming, production and advertising operations are headquartered in the Seattle suburb of Studio City. The network is available in many media markets via low-power and some full-power over-the-air broadcast television stations (many of which carry MTM Español on their digital subchannels), and on select cable television providers through either a local broadcast affiliate or the network's default national feed.

## History

### Beginnings

MTM Español's beginnings trace back to 1998, when Argosy Media Broadcasting purchased KESP (channel 61) in Seattle, Washington, a television station that was a Spanish-language independent at the time.

On August 31, 1998, Argosy converted KESP into an independent station with a dual-ethnic programming format. The station ran a block of Spanish language programs during its daytime schedule – running from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays – originally consisting largely of dubbed versions of drama series from the Cairo/MTM Television library (such as WKRP and St. Elsewhere) and Mexican-produced feature films); the remainder of KESP's schedule consisted of Asian-imported programming from Japan and various South Asian countries. By 2002, KESP dropped its Asian-imported programming and became a Spanish language outlet full-time. Argosy acquired two additional stations over the next six years; in 2001, the company bought English independent KCAL (channel 9) in Los Angeles, California. Then in 2004, it purchased WGOD (channel 30) in New York, which then served as the original flagship owned-and-operated station of religious broadcaster FaithTV (which subsequently purchased PBS station WNJT to replace WGOD as its flagship); Argosy also purchased low-power station KWAT-LP (channel 30) in Portland, Washington that same year.

In 1999, Argosy formed a production division within its Cairo/MTM Television unit to produce original programming content that would be distributed to the stations, focusing on a mix of variety series, sketch comedy, scripted drama and music programs, talk shows and game shows.

By 2006, the company had adopted a consistent branding for its Spanish television stations under the brand "MundoMTM" (or "MTM World"). Argosy expanded the MundoMTM format to other markets where it acquired television stations, featuring much of the same programs as those aired by the Seattle, LA, and NYC outlets (some of which aired in different timeslots than they did on KESP, KCAL and KGOD). On May 30, 2007, Argosy Broadcasting purchased KLDS (channel 21) in Salt Lake City, Utah from the Mormon Church for $10 million (although it would continue to operate as an English language religious station from after the purchase was finalized that November until February 2008); then on August 18, 2008, the company purchased low-power station KTXS-LP (channel 42) in Dallas, Texas from Latin America Broadcasting, Inc. for $1.25 million.

As Argosy expanded its programming to other O&Os, its mix of programming shifted to appeal towards various Hispanic and Latino audiences and helped the pseudo-network beat its major competitors. In the Seattle market, the programs helped KESP become a strong ratings competitor, even beating the Telemundo owned-and-operated station for second place (ranking behind the long-dominant Univision O&O) among the market's Spanish language stations during the November 2008 sweeps period. In all five markets, the MundoMTM-branded stations ranked in second place among Hispanic adults in the 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 demographic, beating Telemundo's ratings by as much as 100% and Telefutura's by as much as 64% during the weekday early fringe and prime time (3:00 to 11:00 p.m.) periods.

### National expansion

On January 27, 2009, at the National Association of Television Program Executives Convention in Las Vegas, Argosy Media Broadcasting announced that it would turn the MundoMTM concept into a full-fledged national network that would launch at a then-yet-determined date later that year, which would be targeted at adults between the ages of 18 and 49 years old. Argosy had explored the possibility of developing a national Spanish network in 2007, when it raised $200 million in capital to acquire additional television stations and expand programming production. Argosy Media's decision to launch the network came despite experiencing revenue declines that affected other broadcasting companies during the Great Recession.

To counterprogram networks that already established a foothold with the Hispanic and Latino demographic (such as Univision, Telemundo, Telefutura and Azteca América), Argosy chose to maintain the existing format used by the company's independent stations and have MundoMTM rely on the company's extensive library of original programming (dubbed from English) as well as newer content for its inaugural schedule. The initial original programming-focused slate made up the majority of its schedule, running for a total of 56 hours per week from early-afternoon through prime time on Monday through Saturdays (its Sunday schedule would rely mainly on imported feature films).

### As MundoMTM

The formal MTM Español network traces its origins to the announcement by Argosy Media and Univision that the two companies would jointly launch a new Spanish language television network in the United States under the MundoMTM brand on January 23, 2009. Argosy spokesperson Ellen Peck noted that MTMnet saw "similar dynamics in play" when MTM launched the network in 1993 against then-upcoming English language networks UPN, The WB and PAX TV; MundoMTM, she added, would seek to replicate MTMnet's early years while launching against minor Spanish language networks MundoFox, EstrellaTV and Azteca América.

MundoMTM commenced programming with a soft launch on some of its charter affiliates on August 1, 2009; the network's formal launch occurred twelve days later on August 13. MundoMTM was headquartered with Argosy's other U.S. television operations in Seattle, Washington.

### Relaunch as MTM Español

On July 16, 2015, Univision announced that it had sold its stake in MundoMTM to Argosy Media, giving the owner of Cairo Pictures and MTM Enterprises full ownership of the network. Peck stated that the company was "proud of having started MundoMTM with Univision."

On July 28, 2015, Argosy announced that it would rebrand the network as MTM Español effective that day; the name change and new imaging package was fully implemented on-air two weeks later on August 13; however, the logo used by the network under the MundoMTM identity remained in use as on-screen bug during programming and on the network's Facebook and Twitter accounts until the rebrand was completed. Additionally, Argosy announced that it had shut down the network's news division, with company representatives arguing that news programming was "never part of the plan" for the network. The folding of the news division resulted in the layoff of 35 staff members as a result. On July 31, Peck stated regarding the move that "although we have cancelled Noticias MundoMTM, Cairo/MTM Television Group continues its dedication to bringing quality news coverage to the vibrant and dynamic multicultural American community".