Telemundo Extends Its Multiyear Contract with Maria Celeste Arraras

By: Oct. 28, 2016
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Telemundo announced the extension of its multiyear contract with acclaimed Hispanic journalist María Celeste Arrarás as host and editorial director of its afternoon news program, "Al Rojo Vivo." The contract extension confirms that the network will continue to feature María Celeste, one of the most influential figures in Spanish-language television in the United States, among its top talent.

"María Celeste´s professionalism, determination and charisma have been essential to the growth of our network and its news department," said Luis Fernandez, Executive Vice President of Noticias Telemundo. "In her years with the network, María Celeste has forged a close relationship with audiences and her name has become synonymous with Noticias Telemundo. I am honored and proud to announce that she will continue to be a part of our family."

In this new phase of her career, María Celeste will focus exclusively on "Al Rojo Vivo," where, in addition to her current position as anchor, she will resume her role as editorial director. The change is part of a series of measures designed to strengthen the show, including the unveiling of the most sophisticated studio and the first 100% high-definition graphics package on Hispanic television. The new studio, the first in the history of the Spanish-language entertainment industry to incorporate virtual reality technology, augmented reality, robotic cameras and a cutting-edge LED lighting system, will be premiered today in conjunction with the network's announcement.

"Years ago I took a chance on Telemundo BECOMING the number one network in Hispanic television, and that bet has paid off. I am honored that the network's executives have continued to give me their vote of confidence and to support my career," María Celeste commented. "I am ready to focus all of my energies on this new era of 'Al Rojo Vivo' and to go back to being the show's editorial director, a responsibility l had to delegate to others in order to collaborate with 'Noticiero Telemundo.'"

To concentrate on "Al Rojo Vivo," which will be celebrating its fifteenth anniversary on the air in 2017, María Celeste will end her participation as co-anchor of "Noticiero Telemundo" following the presidential elections. She has played a key role in the newscast's electoral coverage, interviewing Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and BECOMING the only Hispanic journalist to participate in a Republican Party primary debate. During her time as co-anchor, "Noticiero Telemundo" experienced a period of solid growth, consolidating its position as one of the most trusted news sources among Hispanic audiences.

The winner of three Emmy™ Awards, María Celeste Arrarás is one of the most influential journalists in the Hispanic television industry. She serves as lead anchor of "Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste," the news magazine that defines the news and entertainment agenda for Hispanic audiences in the United States and has millions of viewers in more than 40 countries. Since 2013, she has also co-anchored Telemundo's flagship daily newscast, "Noticiero Telemundo." María Celeste is a familiar presence on English-language television as well, having served as guest anchor of NBC's "Today Show" and a contributor to "Dateline" and "NBC Nightly News." María Celeste has appeared on the cover ofPeople en Español more than 14 times and graced the front of Newsweek's special issue on "Women and Leadership: The Next Generation" in 2009. She has been profiled in numerous prestigious newspapers, among them The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post and The Miami Herald.

Born in Puerto Rico, María Celeste began her television career there as a local reporter for Canal 24 three decades ago, in 1986. She was hired by Telemundo's New York affiliate and in 1994 went on to work for "Primer Impacto" on Univision, rejoining Telemundo as anchor of "Al Rojo Vivo" in 2002. She has been honored with a number of distinguished awards, including, this year alone, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility's Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Council of La Raza's Rubén Salazar Award for Communications.

Image courtesy of Telemundo



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