Velatino is in the making

Miami based Velatino is planning to launch its own video destination platform this year, as it steps up its activities in the burgeoning Digital TV sector.

Miami based Velatino is planning to launch its own video destination platform this year, as it steps up its activities in the burgeoning Digital TV sector.

Velatino offers creators a business model that enables them to control their copyrights, monetize, syndicate and have access to collaboration and crowdfunding tools.

“This is nothing that resembles the way traditional networks conduct their business.
We are here to make a difference by giving storytellers and communities the opportunity to raise their voices, ” says Edgardo Ochoa, CEO of the media production & distribution company.

“We are not the traditional legacy TV company, our content creators come from different backgrounds and represent the diverse community that makes the 55 million US Latinos one of the most interesting markets in the planet, with a 3.1 billion buying power.” Ochoa announced the service will be an OTT platform specifically curated for the US Latino market, comprising transactional VoD/EST as well as an SVoD streaming component. “Velatino is aimed to fit both the needs of the diverse US Hispanic audience that is underserved, as well as provide Latino content creators with a platform for distribution and monetization, which is very difficult to achieve through traditional networks.”

“Our over the top platform has a freemium model. Audiences can start watching free and then decide to proceed to paid options. The content in the app will be available for subscription paid only customers. It will most likely go live in North America by the end of 2016,” Ochoa said, adding that the platform is already in the making and producing new shows with affiliates in Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, and several places in Latin America.

“Velatino is seeking investors for the new app/OTT platform. The investment will go toward development, content acquisitions, marketing and a one set studio location in Miami,” he added. “Local content distribution and the growing digital television market is a five-year plan for us.”

Velatino’s Co-founder and Chief Content Officer Alicia Monsalve, announced an undisclosed number of new shows being developed for the new platform, drawing on Velatino’s founders more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. Hispanic market. “Our first show’s producers have something in common, it’s rebelling against the Latino’s lack of representation in U.S. media. We are committed to enabling a platform where we can enjoy and produce culturally relevant content. We are counting on the power of storytelling and producers are very excited about this opportunity. We are more than ready to have a place of our own to gather, tell our stories and share our American experience.”

* Edgardo Ochoa is chief executive of Velatino. You can e-mail him at edgardo@velatino.com, and you can follow him on Twitter at @edgardoochoa.

For more information regarding Velatino, send an e-mail to: info@velatino.com, or call (786)529-1430 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm EST.