Hi5 Strikes Deal with Televisa Interactive

Hi5 has joined Televisa Interactive Media, the Spanish-speaking media company, and announced an exclusive online ad deal this week.

Televisa said Wednesday that it would become Hi5's exclusive online advertising inventory representative in Hispanic Latin America. The two companies said that they will launch a co-branded premium video channel for Hi5 users with a library of full-length and short videos from Televisa.

The channel is scheduled for launch this summer and microsites will follow.

Together, the two companies said they reach more than 33 million unique users each month in Hispanic Latin America. Internet use in those countries grew by up to 16.6% last year, according to ComScore. That compares with North America's growth of 5.7% for last year, according to ComScore's figures.

"Hi5 is an ideal content and traffic extension that perfectly complements our best-in-class suite of promotional solutions for advertisers and brands in this region," Juan Saldivar, general manager of Televisa Interactive Media, said in a statement released Wednesday.

Televisa said that most of the videos are available through Esmas.com and through its vertical video site Tvolucion.com. Those channels are available in the United States, but the new video channel will not be available to U.S. users.

"This business relationship solidifies our leadership position in Latin America and delivers compelling content to our huge Spanish-language audience," Ramu Yalamanchi, founder and chief product officer at Hi5, said in a statement released Wednesday. "Televisa's experienced sales team and deep industry relationships will help us maximize our revenue potential in the Latin American market."

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