Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez perform onstage during The 17th Annual Latin Grammy Awards on... [+]
For the first time in Spanish-language television history, Univision has joined forces with rival Telemundo to simultaneously broadcast a special benefit concert to raise funds for disaster relief in the southern United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and other affected areas in the Caribbean.
The rival networks have teamed up with superstars Jennifer Lopez and ex-husband Marc Anthony for “One Voice: Somos Live! A Concert For Disaster Relief,” airing in Spanish simultaneously on Telemundo and Univision this Saturday, October 14 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT, with NBC joining the telecast for the third hour in English at 10 p.m. “One Voice” will air time delayed in the West Coast.
Marc Anthony will perform live from Miami’s Marlins Park stadium. He’ll also host other performers, including Daddy Yankee, Alejandro Sanz, Romeo Santos, Camila, Gente De Zona, Nicky Jam and DJ Khaled.
Jennifer Lopez will perform live, and will also host alongside boyfriend Alex Rodriguez from an NBC soundstage in Los Angeles, featuring a star-studded lineup of talent from music, TV and film. Demi Lovato, Maroon 5, Ricky Martin, Gwen Stefani, Stevie Wonder, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige and other singers are scheduled to perform.
Univision and Telemundo recently produced and aired independent telethons to help the hurricane ravaged and earthquake stricken communities in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Both benefit specials took place during the same weekend in September and with many of the same celebrities, and carried the word unidos - Spanish for united. Univision lifted the Unidos por los Nuestros (United for Each Other) banner, while Telemundo raised the Todos Unidos (All Together) flag, prompting some criticism as to why they didn’t join forces. Both networks raised a combined $20 million for Puerto Rico and Mexico disaster relief.
Lopez and March Anthony, who launched Somos Una Voz (We are One Voice), an alliance of artists to aid those in need from the effects of recent natural disasters two weeks ago, are responsible for uniting the competing Spanish-language networks for a historic event. Funds raised from the telethon will benefit Feeding America, Save the Children, Habitat for Humanity, Unidos for Puerto Rico, United Way and UNICEF.
Update 10/13 - More networks join the simulcast: America TV, Azteca América, Bloomberg Television, Canal 1, 940 WINZ, Centroamérica TV, Cine Latino, Hero Broadcasting, Mega TV, Meruelo Media, NBC Pasiones, Prime Time Partners, Television Dominicana, Univision Radio and MTV Latin America, VH1 Mexico, VH1 Argentina and TR3S at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
MTV, MTV2, MTVU, MTV CLASSIC, MTV LIVE, LOGO, VH1, VH1 Caribbean, BET, BET CANADA, BET CARIBBEAN and NICK at NITE will join at 10 p.m. PT/ET to broadcast in English. UniMás will simulcast the 10 p.m. hour with Spanish subtitles.
