Hearst Television to Launch "Matter of Fact," Talk Show Hosted by Author and Commentator Fernando Espuelas

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Hearst Television Inc. is launching a new weekly program hosted by acclaimed political commentator, author, national radio host and entrepreneur Fernando Espuelas.

The half-hour interview and discussion show, MATTER OF FACT WITH FERNANDO ESPUELAS, will broadcast from Washington, DC, beginning this fall, with plans for national expansion in the following months.  The program, consisting of 48 weeks of original content, will air across the Hearst Television group primarily in the Sunday morning news and information block.  Selected segments will be offered on demand via www.MatterofFact.tv; Twitter followers can connect with the show via @matteroffacttv.

"Matter of Fact will offer an analysis and perspective on current political and socioeconomic issues with a focus on the implications for newer generations who are shaping a rapidly changing American landscape," said Emerson Coleman, vice president, programming, at Hearst Television.  "Fernando's show sits right at the intersection of national politics and the population shifts that are redefining the country.  He'll be able to engage in a new dialogue with decision makers, from community leaders to heads of state, who influence policy and effect change in every corner of the world.  Matter of Fact is a perfect fit for our times."

"We'll give Americans an information toolkit to understand and engage with political and social issues," Espuelas said.  "We want people to hear from candidates and leaders – their visions and their answers to the questions that citizens want answered.  Matter of Fact will seek to put information in context, in a conversation that shifts away from ideology, partisanship and inside-the-Beltway chatter, and explains the issues in a way that is down-to-earth, relevant and more inclusive for all audiences."

Espuelas has interviewed a Who's Who of political figures including President Obama, Senator John McCain, Senator Rand Paul, Senator Bernie Sanders, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, among numerous others.  A Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, Espuelas has also written for CNN.com, the Huffington Post and The Hill, and is a frequent broadcast and cable network TV and radio commentator with a Facebook presence reaching some 300,000 unique users per week.   

Among his numerous honors, PODER Magazine in 2012 named Espuelas one of "The Nation's 100 Most Influential Hispanics"; Time magazine included Espuelas on its list of the "Leaders of the Millennium"; he was recognized as a "2000 All-Star" business leader by Crain's New York Business; the World Economic Forum included him among its "Global Leaders of Tomorrow"; and CNN en Espanol named him a "Latin American Leader of the Internet." 

A native of Uruguay, Espuelas and his mother fled that country's political and economic crisis, immigrating to the United States in 1976 with only $100.  He graduated from Connecticut College and went on to serve on its board of trustees.  Espuelas conceived and launched AT&T's first online service in Latin America and in 1996 co-founded and served as the CEO of StarMedia, a pioneering Internet multi-platform media company for Spanish and Portuguese audiences registering 1.8 billion page views per month at the dawn of the consumer Internet Age.  In 2008, he created Fernando Espuelas, a drivetime daily bilingual talk show broadcast on the Univision Radio Network and through mobile devices via iHeartRadio.  In 2012, The Fernando Espuelas Show was re-launched as part of the new Univision America Network. 

Among his many charitable and philanthropic endeavors, Espuelas co-founded and chaired the StarMedia Foundation which, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank and Microsoft, built information technology training schools in impoverished neighborhoods in Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay.  Espuelas' autobiography, Life in Action, was published by Penguin in 2004.

Award winning producer Sheila Jaskot, formerly with CBS Evening News, will serve as the show's senior producer.

"Fernando offers a well-informed worldview on today's issues," said Jordan Wertlieb, president of Hearst Television.  "His accomplishments in digital and broadcast media, in political commentary, and charitable works, mentoring and leadership have made him a leading voice in the Latino community today."

About Hearst Television 
Hearst Television, a national multi-media company, owns and operates 30 local television stations and two local radio stations, serving 26 television markets across 39 states, and reaching approximately 21 million U.S. television households. The company broadcasts more than 60 video channels, featuring local and national news, weather, information, sports and entertainment programming, and local community service-oriented programs.  The stations operate digital on-line and mobile platforms, reaching more than 25 million monthly unique visitors that extend the company's brands and content to local, national and international audiences.  Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies, and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service.  Hearst Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation.  The Company's Web address is www.hearsttelevision.com.

SOURCE Hearst Television Inc.

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