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Cantu debuts on Telemundo; Retro TV disappears
Veteran newscaster Fred Cantu kicks off his new gig as anchor of “Conteo Noticias,” a Spanish language newscast, on Austin CBS affiliate KEYE’s Telemundo 42.2 today. The program airs at 5 and 10 p.m.
U.S. Spanish-language television network Telemundo produces content for Hispanics including primetime novelas, news, and weekend primetime movie showcases.
“We are very excited that our new partnership with Telemundo allows us to serve Central Texas’ growing Hispanic viewer base,” KEYE President and General Manager Amy Villarreal said in a press release.
Cantu, known as “Uncle Fred” to his fans, began his career at KTBC-TV in 1990 and has been an Austin anchor for almost 20 years (and at KEYE since 2002). The morning newscast he recently co-anchored with Michelle Valles was cancelled and Valles was moved to KEYE’s new 4 p.m. lifestyle program, “We Are Austin Live” with Jason Wheeler (the morning news slot will be filled by a simulcast of local radio duo JB and Sandy beginning Monday, Oct. 5). News of Cantu’s departure generated many comments on his Facebook page, with some fans expressing outrage and others simply wishing him well.
“Conteo Noticias” is co-anchored by Emmy-nominated Karla Leal, who brings Telemundo experience with her to Austin, having anchored and reported on Bakersfield, California’s KKEY-TV, Telemundo 11. Reporter Erika Gonzalez comes to Austin from the Rio Grande Valley where she was an anchor on XRIO-TV, Fox 2 News and reported on Univision 48. Villarreal heaped praise on the trio, noting their strong ties to the Hispanic community.
Also beginning today, Telemundo 42.2 viewers can watch Telemundo Sports, including Futbol Liga Mexicana on Futbol Estelar and Futbol Telemundo, as well as the most Mexican League Soccer broadcasts.
An unfortunate byproduct of the switch is the loss of Retro TV, which had been broadcast on the channel previously. KEYE spokesman Jerry Wagley lamented the loss, which had a small but loyal viewership (the station received calls whenever they ran a notice that Retro TV was going away, Wagley said).
“We would have loved to have kept it because of that following,” Wagley noted, but he pointed out that although some Retro TV shows got traction, the programming as a whole hadn’t moved in the ratings. “It wasn’t working for us,” he explained.
Since Retro TV is provided by a syndicator, the programming could be picked up by another local broadcaster, but none has announced plans to do so.
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By ortensia castro
October 27, 2010 6:40 AM | Link to this
i Mr cantu will be missed.Ifor one always saw him as a very sweet down to earth man who always gave his all at what he did best i wish the very best for him and his family and hope to see him soon if not here hopefully at another network