Hispanic news network coming to Q-C

By David Burke | Thursday, June 07, 2007

Hispanics nationwide will see a 24-hour television news network broadcasting from headquarters in Davenport beginning in August.

Davenport-based Fusion Communications has formed a partnership with Frederick, Md.-based wireless and digital signage provider Solutrea to create the Hispanic News Network, scheduled to debut on Aug. 1.

“We saw the need for a good Hispanic news network, and a good alternative to something like CNN En Espanol on cable,” said Jeff Lyle, Fusion CEO and president. “But something that’s designed for broadcast is not necessarily like something that’s designed for cable.”

The new network would be targeted for stations as programming to fill the additional channel space they have with the conversion to multi-channel digital signals.

“They can create a market for Spanish-language news,” Lyle said.

Fusion’s sister company, Independent Network News, produces English and Spanish newscasts for nine stations across the country — including the 9 p.m. newscast on KLJB-TV18, Davenport — from its studios on Tremont Avenue.

“This has kind of been a brainchild for a couple of years, as we’ve watched the news grow,” Lyle said. “As the Hispanic population grows, the need for news and information is there.”

Lyle said the network would feature harder-edged news, as well as sports and weather reports.

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.