LOS ANGELES, June 4: Si TV, the media company that caters to 18- to 34-year-old Latinos in the U.S. with English-language entertainment and content, is launching an HD channel, Si TV-HD, next year.

Si TV-HD, a 24/7 channel, will offer shows shot in original high-definition format, covering music, reality, comedy and other genres. It will be offered on Verizon FiOS TV, Verizon's new fiber-optic television service, which currently operates in 10 states and already carries Si TV on its most widely distributed tier of service.

Si TV's target audience, 18-34 bilingual and English-dominant Latinos, is the demographic fueling the growth of the U.S. Latino population, the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in America today. This segment of the Latino audience controls the majority of the almost $900 billion of current U.S. Hispanic buying power, which is expected to surpass $1.2 trillion by 2010. Research also confirms that this group of consumers spends the vast majority of its television viewing watching English-language programming, which is the basis for Si TV's English-language programming format.

“Young Latinos are a huge economic and political force in America today and they deserve—like every consumer—the ability to enjoy the benefits of high-definition television made by and for them,” said Michael Schwimmer, Si TV’s CEO. “Si TV's audience is a vibrant influence in our country, and it shouldn't have to wait any longer for HDTV now that it's become mainstream fare. Si TV was the first to serve the acculturated Latino audience with a dedicated network and we'll be the first to provide Latinos the best in high-definition digital entertainment.”

Si TV is currently in production on two new high-definition series for 2008. Past Port, in which young U.S. Latinos return to the countries of origin of their parents or grandparents, will feature scenic footage from a variety of stunning Latin American locations. Total Combat is a gritty reality series about a young Latino couple running a Mixed Martial Arts Fighting League, brought to life in high definition.