BURBANK, CA - November 10, 2016 - (HISPANICIZE WIRE) - LBI Media, Inc., the fastest growing, minority owned Spanish language broadcasting company in the U.S. announced today that it has expanded the carriage of its Estrella TV Network by replacing two former MundoMax affiliates.

As Estrella TV gains traction and expands its audience reach nationwide, evidenced by its recent carriage deal with AT&T’s DIRECTV, the Spanish language network is now expanding its presence with a full power primary affiliate in former MundoMax market, Fresno-Visalia, CA on KGMC, channel 43.1, owned by Cocola Broadcasting. In addition, Estrella expanded its reach in the Ft. Myers-Naples, FL DMA with Sun Broadcasting on WXCW, channel 46.2.

LBI Media will also add a new Estrella TV affiliate in the Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo-Santa Maria, CA DMA by way of the Cocola digital broadcast station, KWSM, channel 32.1, which serves Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and various other Central Coastal communities.

“Having Estrella TV broadcast on these stations, which were formerly airing MundoMax, is a clear indication of our network’s growth, market influence, importance in Hispanic media and the continued demand for our original, and dynamic programming. Estrella TV is Spanish language television made in the US by Latinos and for Latinos, and this is something we are very proud of,” stated Lenard Liberman, CEO, LBI Media, Inc., parent company to the Estrella TV Network.

In a recent Nielsen data report, Estrella TV outperformed Univision and Telemundo in year over year ratings growth in Early Fringe and Primetime among adults 18-49 for the period Q3 2016, compared to same period in the previous year(1). This ratings feat along with the network’s counterprograming strategy, has positioned Estrella TV as one of the country’s most impressive success stories in Spanish language television in the U.S. Estrella TV’s recent expanded distribution and ratings success is further evidence of its industry recognition, and significance in the Hispanic media landscape.

“We are pleased to expand our partnership with LBI Media and excited to be the new Estrella TV network affiliate in these markets,” stated Gary Cocola, founder, chairman and CEO of Cocola Broadcasting Companies, LLC.

About LBI Media, Inc.
LBI Media, Inc., is the largest privately held, minority-owned Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States, with ten television stations and seventeen radio stations operating in top U.S. Hispanic markets. LBI Media, Inc. is the parent company to the Estrella TV Network, Don Cheto Radio Network, Fenomeno Studios MCN, Que Buena Radio and La Raza Radio. The company produces over 50 hours of original television programming at its Burbank Television Studios each week. The Estrella TV programming catalog consists of over 7,500 hours of original, Spanish-language television programming in genres including talk, drama, comedy, variety, reality, music and more.

About Cocola Broadcasting Companies, LLC
Cocola Broadcasting Companies, LLC owns and operates thirty digital broadcast stations in California and Idaho. Cocola operates these stations from their company headquarters in Fresno, California. Cocola is an experienced Spanish-language broadcaster and programs some seventy-five channels of digital programming across their network of stations. Cocola is always on the cutting-edge of investing in new technologies and exploring new business ventures and opportunities for their stations.

(1)Source: Nielsen National TV View; Live+SD (000), excludes sports; 06/27/2016 - 09/18/2016 vs 06/29/2015 - 09/20/2015; Networks & Dayparts as stated; A18-49