Spanish-Language Univision 41, New York, Commercial-Free on September 11

New York, NY — New York’s premiere Spanish-language TV station, Univision 41 (WXTV) here will be commercial free on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Starting with its early morning news program, “Noticias 41 Al Despertar” (Channel 41 News at Dawn) at 5 am on September 11, 2002, and continuing through the conclusion of Univision’s network news-interview program, “Noticiero Univision Ultima Hora,” at midnight, no commercials will be broadcast on Univision 41.

Instead, station breaks will feature announcements in keeping with the character of the day.  Prominent among them will be “Tributo Al Valor,” thirty-second tributes to Hispanic
victims of the attack who were honored in the “Portraits of Grief” photo essays seen in The New York Times.  Presented in cooperation with the Times, “Tributo al Valor,” narrated by “Noticias 41” (Channel 41 News) senior anchor Rafael Pineda, will feature the name and photo of the deceased, where the deceased came from, and names of survivors.

Live News Coverage Most of the Anniversary Day

Beginning September 9, Univision 41 evening newscasts will originate from a rooftop in sight of Ground Zero.  On September 11 all Univision 41 local news will originate from the Ground Zero location with live reports from Washington, DC.  Memorial coverage will dominate the September 11 schedule as follows:

• 5 am to 7 am:  Univision 41, in cooperation with the Univision Network, will broadcast full coverage of memorial events, beginning at 5 am with “Noticias 41 Al Despertar” (Channel 41 News at Dawn), the station’s regularly scheduled morning news.
• 7 am to noon:  At 7 am, normally the starting time of Univision’s Miami-based breakfast news program, “Despierta America,” Univision will instead offer network coverage of memorial events.  Univision live coverage will continue until noon.
• 4 pm to 5 pm:  “Edicion Especial,” a special afternoon edition of “Noticias 41” with anchors Rafael Pineda and Denisse Oller, will originate from the Ground Zero location.  Coverage will include the arrival of President Bush at New York.
• 5 pm to 7 pm:  Univision network and local news programs “Primer Impacto” (First Impression) at 5 pm, “Noticias 41” at 6 pm and “Noticiero Univision,” (Univision’s 6:30 pm evening news) will focus on the memorial.  “Noticias 41” will recap the Bush visit to New York.
• 10 pm to 11 pm:  Univision’s Don Francisco, a.k.a. Mario Kreutzberger, will host a live, memorial program, “Don Francisco Presenta” (Don Francisco Presents).  Don Francisco is host of “Sabado Gigante,” TV’s longest-running program.
• 11 pm to midnight:  “Noticias 41” at 11 pm followed by “Noticiero Univision Ultima Hora” will recap the day’s events and offer a look at how our lives are changing in response to terrorism.  “Noticias 41” will also offer highlights of the President’s speech.