Univision Television and March of Dimes Unite to Focus on Healthy Babies Throughout June

News Segments and Public Service Announcements
Key Elements to Broader Relationship

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 11, 2004 – As part of a multi-year partnership between Univision Communications, the nation's leading Spanish-language media company, and the March of Dimes, Univision Television Network will feature news segments and public service announcements on important maternal and infant health issues throughout the month of June.

"We are very excited with the new partnership and health education initiative we have with Univision Communications,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president, March of Dimes.  “This health initiative will enable the March of Dimes to help Hispanic women learn the best ways to take care of themselves and their babies during pregnancy.”

Univision Television Network affiliate station Univision 41 has produced five news segments and four 30 second “vignettes” and distributed them to all affiliate stations nationwide including it's “sister” networks, TeleFutura and Galavision Cable Network, reaching 98% of the U.S. Hispanic TV market.  The focus of the segments will be on prenatal care, prematurity, preconception health, the role of the father/family during pregnancy, as well as a history of the March of Dimes.

 The March of Dimes is part of Univision's broader call-to-action health initiative called, “Salud es Vida…Entérate!”  This comprehensive health initiative is designed to raise awareness, increase knowledge and encourage positive health decisions in the Hispanic community.  Key health issues to be addressed include: asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sexual health issues—including HIV/AIDS and other STDs—immunization, prenatal care/infant mortality, tobacco cessation, obesity, physical activity and nutrition.

The network has also produced a 30-second PSA on preparing for a healthy pregnancy, featuring, Regional Mexican Singer, "Priscila,” airing in June. Concurrently, Univision On-Line—the most visited Spanish-language internet site in the U.S., with one billion page views per year—hosts March of Dimes content in June with a link to our Spanish web site, nacersano.org.  The March of Dimes has also established a toll-free (1-800) national Spanish phone line for use within these news stories and PSAs, to answer viewer phone calls.