• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, July 5, 2023

Virtual MVPD Fubo has broadened its content for Hispanic audiences by adding four channels from free, ad-supported streamer (FAST) Canela.TV. 

The channels, Canela Deportes, Canela Clasicos, Canela Cinema and Canela Telenovels, are available through Fubo’s Latino plan and its Latino Plus add-on channel package. Together, they bring more than 10,000 hours of content spanning sports, movies, novellas and kids’ programming. 

The Latino plan costs $32.99 per month for more than 50 channels and 100 live events and 250 hours of cloud DVR storage. The Latino Plus add-on package is $20 per month and can be added to any English-language streaming package.

Last month, Dish Network’s Sling Freestream FAST service added six ad-supported Canela.TV channels.

“Canela.TV’s distribution on Fubo marks another milestone in Canela Media’s growth to reach U.S. Hispanic audiences,” the company’s CEO, Isabel Rafferty Zavala, said in announcing the deal.

Zavala founded the company in 2020 to offer a FAST option for Spanish-speaking streaming viewers, who at that point had few options outside of paid subscriptions to leading networks such as Telemundo and Univision.

Canela.TV offers programming in Spanish and English, including live channels and VOD. Starting last fall, it began to add original content to its lineup of licensed content from Spanish-speaking countries and outlets.

As of September, the service claimed 23 million unique users across the U.S., Mexico and Columbia.

Spanish-language viewers’ options have expanded as media companies have responded to user demand and advertisers’ need to reach this rapidly growing demographic segment.

The Roku Channel launched Espacio Latino, a FAST hub geared to U.S. Hispanic audiences, last June. Fubo and YouTube TV now offer Spanish-language plans.

Telemundo launched a streaming brand, Tplus, on NBCUniversal’s Peacock last year, accessible with Peacock’s ad-supported ($4.99 per month) and ad-free ($9.99) tiers.

Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and other major streamers also offer libraries of Spanish-language content.