Creation
In the spring of 1972, Mutual Broadcasting System ("Mutual") president C. Edward Little announced the creation of two new networks designed to target minority audiences: the Mutual Black Network (MBN) and the Mutual Spanish Network (MSN), or Mutual Cadena Hispanica (MCH). Both services signed on May 1, 1972; MBN had 32 affiliates, while MSN//MCH began with 17 affiliates, mostly in the southwestern United States. Miguel Bomar was hired as news director for MSN/MCH, which aired 16 newscasts every day at :45 minutes past the hour between 7:45 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. eastern time. Two sportscasts were fed weekdays, three on Saturday and Sunday. One advertisement for the new network (headlined "A Spanish News Network? ''Si!''") stated, "Now, for the first time, advertisers can reach the U.S. Spanish market on a national basis with network radio...one order, one billing covers outstanding Spanish radio stations in all the important U.S. markets."Robert L. Hilliard, "Media, Education and America's Counter-Culture Revolution" (Ablex Publishing, 2001), p.89Problems and closure
From the start, advertiser support was lacking for MSN/MCH: it wasn't until August that the network signed its first sponsor, when Sterling Drug bought 15 commercials on an alternate-week basis forReferences