CULVER CITY, Calif.—Sony Pictures Television is bringing a free, ad-support television service specifically designed for Spanish-speaking viewers in the U.S. to the air with the announcement of Sony Canal.

Sony Canal will consist of a portfolio of channels that feature original programming from SPT International Productions’ library of content. At launch, there will be two channels available—Competencias, focusing on competition series and game shows, and Comedias, which will feature comedies and dramedies.

The Sony Canal apps will be available for consumers through Vizio’s SmartCast Smart TV platform.

“The U.S. Hispanic audience is one of the most rapidly growing segments in the country,” said TC Schultz, executive vice president, Network Operations, Programming & Strategy, at SPT. “With these channels, whether it’s comedies or game shows, we are excited to have a new home for Sony Pictures Television’s diverse content offerings that appeal to multifaceted, Spanish-speaking viewers.”

A sampling of some of the content that will be available on the channels includes “Escape Perfecto” on Competencias, and local language productions of “La Niñera” (“The Nanny”), “Quién Manda a Quien” (“Who’s the Boss”) and “Casados Con Hijos” (“Married… with Children”) on Comedias.

SPT plans to launch additional ad-supported channels later this year.

Under chairman Mike Hopkins, Sony Pictures Television is being reorganized across its television networks, distribution and home entertainment units.  

“These changes are part of our ongoing ‘reimagining SPE’ efforts that [CEO] Tony [Vinciquerra] announced earlier this year to create a stronger and more agile organization, one that is better able to pivot and capitalize on opportunities in a fast-changing and increasingly complex global marketplace,” said Hopkins in a memo to staff.

As part of these changes, global networks operations and worldwide distribution/home entertainment will combine into a single business unit operating in a “territory management model.” SPT also will establish a direct-to-consumer unit “focused on engaging audiences and building new platforms.”

Additional layoffs are expected at the company as the result of the merging of three separate divisions.

The new territory management model will be led by Keith LeGoy, president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, with regional leaders reporting to him.

Europe will be led by Mark Young in Western Europe and John Rossiter in Eastern and Central Europe; the Asia-Pacific region will be overseen by Ken Lo; and Alex Marin will oversee operations in Latin America and Canada. In India, N.P. Singh will continue to oversee Sony’s channels and add television distribution to his portfolio.

Other areas that will also report into LeGoy include distribution operations, led by Angel Orengo, who previously was executive VP, distribution, EMEA; distribution strategy and content management, led by Mike Wald, who adds content acquisition, content partnerships and global partner marketing to his plate; and consumer insights and innovation led by Kim Overall. Finally, Lexine Wong will continue to lead home entertainment marketing.

Hopkins also said that SPT will be “energizing our first-run syndication business,” which essentially has been quiet since the company ended Queen Latifah in 2014 after two seasons on the air.

John Weiser, formerly president of U.S. distribution, will take on a new title, president, first-run television, reporting directly to Hopkins. In that position, Weiser will work closely with Holly Jacobs for U.S. production; Michael Davies from Embassy Row, which is housed within SPT; and Wayne Garvie’s international production teams.

In other moves, Flory Bramnick will take on U.S. syndication duties and advertiser sales, while Jason Spivak will oversee management of U.S. home entertainment, pay TV and SVOD sales.

Chief Digital Officer Eric Berger will oversee the newly formed direct-to-consumer unit, which will be composed of Crackle, Funimation, Flim 1 OTT and Animax On Demand. Within that, Gen Fukunaga will continue to lead Funimation, which offers anime to a global audience.

Key global network functions will run under one centralized services unit in Culver City, Calif., with T.C. Schultz taking on the newly created role of executive VP, networks operations, programming and strategy. 

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Broadcasters has announced that Steve Mosko, president of Sony Pictures Television, is set to participate in the opening keynote discussion at NAB’s Content and Communications World. The discussion will take place Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Steve Mosko

Mosko oversee all TV operations for Sony, including global distribution of film and TV content, digital networks and advertiser sales.

Bill Carter, former New York Times TV columnist and current contributor to CNN, The Hollywood Reporter and Sirius XM radio host, will host the conversation, which will address the current TV landscape. The discussion will include topics like embracing innovation from distribution dealmaking to OTT services.

The NAB CCW will feature exhibits on satellite communications and content delivery as they relate to commercial markets, broadcast, government and military, telecommunications, media and others. NAB CCW will take place from Nov. 11-12 in New York. For more information, visit www.ccwexpo.com.