Award Winning Local Media Company Adds ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ News, Sports & Entertainment on Various Devices

San Diego, CA July 28, 2014.  To keep up with the rapid pace of consumer demand for 24-hour, real-time content, the U-T San Diego has significantly upgraded its digital platform, which has already experienced tremendous growth.

The media company has re-designed its U-T TV into a user-friendly, 100 percent digital platform that gives local and global audiences updated news and information at their fingertips. Instead of watching an entire show at a predetermined time, viewers will be able to access the content using any electronic device, anytime, anywhere. As part of the digital expansion, U-T TV has launched an app for the popular Roku streaming player, which has already had 2,250 downloads.

U-T TV’s revamp comes as the popularity of digital content continues to soar – for all ages. In fact, according to company stats, 26 percent of today’s Internet users are 55 and over, while 20 percent are ages 15 to 24, and 18 percent are 25 to 34. Meanwhile, online video consumption has grown over 800 percent in the last six years, with 89 million Americans watching 1.2 billion videos daily.

“As consumers shift away from traditional cable services to rich, real-time digital content, the U-T is committed to boosting its digital platform to feed the growing appetite for real time news and entertainment,” said U-T San Diego Chairman and Publisher Papa Doug Manchester.

In only two years since launching U-T TV, the station has quickly demonstrated a dynamic shift in meeting consumer demand for excellent content, switching to a news format in July 2013 and expanding the capabilities of its award-winning staff of photographers, videographers, reporters, producers, and on-air talent.

“Video is the fastest growing platform for consumers to review content, news, information, and entertainment,” said Mike Hodges, U-T San Diego’s president and COO. “U-T TV has become a top source for San Diegans who are hungry for real-time and meaningful coverage of significant and newsworthy events in their communities.”

San Diego’s cyber culture logged on to U-T TV in droves during the recent San Diego wildfires. During the week of the May 2014 wildfires, U-T TV viewership grew 175% (46,000) over the regular weekly viewing. U-T TV’s overall growth in 2014 has soared 109% (161,000) for weekly views the past month. To further demonstrate the demand for content, the U-T San Diego websites now have more than 1 million video views per month.

“The U-T’s new digital platform allows us to produce and provide rich and interactive content and featured segments on a daily basis,” said Jeff Light, Editor and President of News Content. “We have short form content to cater to viewers’ digital appetite, which includes video on demand, as well as more in-depth stories and information. This includes a variety of channels for sports, entertainment, business and more. We will continue to provide award-winning and quality content, on demand, on various platforms.”

U-T San Diego has received numerous awards for their quality and compelling journalism, including 12 Emmy’s since 2011. Earlier this month, U-T TV received several top honors at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 40th Annual Pacific Southwest Emmy® awards, which were presented June 14 at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad.

U-T TV staff – including Nelvin Cepeda – recently received 11 nominations and picked up five statuettes, the fourth highest total from the San Diego market of 10 news outlets that entered the contest. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Pacific Southwest region includes San Diego, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara.

 

Awards Showcase High Quality of Journalism from U-T San Diego  

– July 2014 U-T San Diego won 17 first-place awards in the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego chapter’s annual contest. The awards were presented July 10, 2014 at the Bali Hai on Shelter Island.

The awards covered the journalistic spectrum, from breaking news to columns and criticism; from arts and entertainment to science and technology. “I could not be more proud of our talented team of journalists,” said Papa Doug Manchester, the U-T’s Chairman and Publisher. “Our strength has always been in quality journalism and reporting the news with honesty and integrity.”

U-T San Diego’s website was honored as best news site and best entertainment site; which proved to be an especially gratifying award for U-T staff, Manchester said.“U-T Journalists have been trained to write for all platforms, all devices, and all mediums, including social media,” Manchester stated. “They are true multimedia journalists.”

This multimedia strategy greatly expands the U-T’s reach. Its goal is to distribute content locally, nationally and internationally, depending on the content and subject matter. In fact, half of all digital viewers are not from the San Diego region.

U-T columnist Fred Dickey received the Diversity Prize for his column “Hopefulness lives among the homeless.” He also won first-place awards for environmental story, sports story, feature story and column. “These awards demonstrate the enduring value of a printed newspaper,” Manchester said. “Our journalists have the capabilities and access to report in-depth stories and provide breaking news and behind-the-scene glimpses that really put the reader inside the story.”

“U-T San Diego is the leading news source in San Diego,” said Jeff Light, U-T Editor and Vice President of Content. “We pride ourselves on delivering unbiased news and information that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Other U-T first-place awards were:

  • Arts/entertainment story: George Varga, “Sinead O’Connor talks music and controversy.”

  • Breaking news story: Kristina Davis and Debbi Baker, “Biotech exec accused in La Jolla shootings.”

  • Education story: Gary Robbins, “Chemistry professor at University of California San Diego starts 50th year.”

  • Health story: Beth Wood, “Scientists make their case for clinical research using human subjects.”

  • Legal story:Greg Moran and Kristina Davis, “Fall from grace for former San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor.

  • Multicultural story: George Varga, “Women in mariachi shatter stereotypes.”

  • News or feature series (any subject): Roxana Popescu, “One street, three views on guns.”

  • Political/government story: Roxana Popescu, “Filner’s corner: Who’s left?”

  • Review/Criticism: George Varga, “Rolling Stones’ tour-opener ignites.”

  • Science/technology story: Gary Robbins, “The virus hunter: Erica Ollmann Saphire takes on deadly threats.”

  • News headline: John Keller, “Yoga suit has many bent out of shape.”

  • Photo Essay: David Maung, “Canal of homelessness.”

  • Blog: Matthew T. Hall, “Your vote for coolest Aztec ever (and your souvenir bracket!);” “Worst and best dates ever? Check, and check please!;” “New York loses ‘pizza war,’ gives Bronx cheer to San Diego.”

SPJ is the latest industry organization to recognize the quality work done by U-T San Diego journalists. In March, the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) organization ranked the U-T San Diego Sports Department among the best in the U.S. And last month, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Pacific Southwest chapter bestowed five regional Emmy awards on U-T TV.

 

Hunt Construction Group selected to spearhead construction of Fairmont Austin hotel

Austin, Texas (March 19, 2014) – The developer of the Fairmont Austin hotel has selected Hunt Construction Group as the project’s construction firm.

Manchester Texas Financial Group LLC (MTFG), the developer of the hotel, notes Hunt Construction Group is the same firm that was successfully contracted for two other large projects its parent company’s developed in San Diego. MTFG, based in Austin, is a subsidiary of San Diego-based hotel industry powerhouse Manchester Financial Group. Hunt Construction Group’s relationship with Manchester Financial Group dates back to 1982, when it constructed the 1,360 room San Diego Marriott Marquis Hotel and Marina. Hunt Construction also participated in the construction of the 1,630 room Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, the world’s second largest Hyatt hotel.

Hunt Construction Group has been awarded a $247 million contract for its role in the upcoming Fairmont Austin. Construction is anticipated to take 32 months to complete. For more than four decades, Hunt Construction Group has been providing construction services for the hotel industry nationwide that includes over 60 specific projects totaling more than $6.5 billion.

“Trust means a great deal to our family, and our successful history with the Hunt Construction Group gives us great confidence in the firm’s ability to once-again deliver an outstanding hotel,” said Douglas F. Manchester, founder and chairman of Manchester Financial Group.

The $370 million Fairmont Austin is slated to feature more than 1,000 rooms, stand 47 stories tall and showcase an “aerial promenade” providing a direct connection for its patrons into the Austin Convention Center. The site is located at the Northeast corner of Cesar Chavez and Red River Streets – just across the street from the Austin Convention Center.

“Hunt is all about building lasting relationships and is excited to continue a long-established relationship with Manchester Financial Group,” said R.G. Hunt, president and CEO of Hunt Construction Group.

Douglas W. Manchester, president of MTFG, the project’s developer, said: “Given our long-standing relationship with Hunt Construction Group and the firm’s excellent track record in developing two outstanding, convention hotels for us in San Diego, we feel confident the same team will produce an exceptional hotel here in Austin as well.”

He notes all aspects of the Fairmont Austin are being designed to embody Austin in an authentic, upscale way.

All-Digital, On-Demand Format to Keep U-T San Diego on Industry’s Cutting Edge

SAN DIEGO (February 19, 2014) – U-T San Diego is revamping U-T TV, moving away from the traditional broadcast mode of operation and embracing a 100 percent digital model.
As of tomorrow, Feb. 20, 2014, U-T TV will no longer broadcast on Cox Cable Channel 114 and ATT / U-verse Channel 17 and 1017. Instead, it will make programming available exclusively on utsandiego.com and uttv.com. This enhanced content is designed to be accessed on any digital device, including computers, tablets and smartphones.
“The move toward an all-digital format is the next evolution for U-T TV,” said U-T San Diego, president and COO, Mike Hodges. “We will continue to innovate our market-leading news report on video and digital platforms, continuing the entrepreneurial spirit in which we launched this division.”
U-T San Diego’s move follows a trend in advertising dollars shifting to digital platforms. Research firm eMarketer estimated spending on video ads that air on PCs and mobile devices will reach $4.14 billion this year, more than double 2011 levels. By 2017, spending will more than double again, to $9.06 billion.
“We are projecting over a 30 percent gain in year over year digital revenue growth in 2014,” said Hodges. “U-T TV will be a key driver of that success.”
U-T TV was formed in April of 2012 to extend U-T San Diego’s news reporting onto broadcast and digital video platforms. Local business conditions, in particular, the inability to negotiate a carriage agreement with Time Warner cable, proved a barrier to profitability for the broadcast division.
U-T San Diego has steadily been evolving toward becoming a multi-platform media company. All U-T journalists have been trained for the new age of video/digital journalism. There are no longer purely print reporters or television personalities in our newsrooms. Today, all U-T journalists work to produce integrated print, digital and video content.
“The talent, technology and organizational learning we have acquired are extremely valuable assets to our company,” said U-T San Diego Editor Jeff Light. “We are confident they will help us to rapidly deliver the best local news digital video report in the industry.”
U-T San Diego Chairman and Publisher Papa Doug Manchester stated, “Our business model has always been this: We will try new ideas and continue to evolve as a company to provide the best content and information possible for our audience and our advertisers.”
The state-of-the-art U-T San Diego studios will continue to operate, producing and delivering news and lifestyle content focused on all things San Diego. All of this content will be repurposed in a multitude of business, community outreach and new information channels in the future.
“The overall idea, as it has been from the beginning, is to stay one step ahead of the curve,” said Papa Doug Manchester. “In that spirit, U-T San Diego is once again embracing the leading edge of digital content programming.”

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About U-T San Diego
The San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC, owner of the 144-year-old U-T San Diego, is San Diego’s leading media company and its most comprehensive source of news and information. Each week, U-T San Diego products reach more than 96 percent of all San Diego County households through the combined strength of its integrated media portfolio: the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, U-T San Diego; the website, UTSanDiego.com; the Night + Day weekly entertainment guide; Spanish-language products, Enlace and Vida Latina San Diego; a digital news and programming entity, U-T San Diego; and additional home-delivered products.

Popular Conservative to Broadcast Final Show on U-T TV  

SAN DIEGO, CA, June 23, 2014 – To the tears of many admirers, Roger Hedgecock is leaving one of his public platforms.  The longtime conservative radio and television talk show host will air his final TV webcast on U-T TV Tuesday (June 24). The show can be seen on utsandiego.com/roger.

Roger has been an integral part of U-T TV from the start. Since The Roger Hedgecock show was launched in July of 2012, he has hosted approximately 500 shows over the past two years. Hedgecock is perhaps best known as a political activist committed to San Diego. He is a self-described Constitutional Conservative and a practicing free marketeer.

“Roger is one of the greatest commentators for television and radio and is a tremendous advocate for the city of San Diego.  He is always trying to change our nation for the better and I commend him for everything he has done for U-T TV”, remarked U-T San Diego, Chairman and Publisher, Papa Doug Manchester.

“I appreciate the opportunity that Papa Doug Manchester gave me to be involved in the start-up of  U-T TV”, stated Roger.   “My family comes first, and I need more time to help my mom. She lives in the same house in San Diego that I grew up in, and recently took a fall.”

Hedgecock, a former San Diego mayor and San Diego County supervisor, has been talking about national, state, and local politics for nearly three decades on his award-winning nationally syndicated radio show. He offers an optimistic look at the world stage and the political players who stand on it.  Roger will be continuing with his popular nationally syndicated talk radio show that can be heard locally on AM760 KFMB from 3p.m. to 6 p.m.

 

About the U-T San Diego  

The San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC, owner of the 145-year-old U-T San Diego, is San Diego’s leading media company and is the most comprehensive source of news, entertainment and information in the region. Each week, U-T San Diego products are delivered to more than 96 percent of all San Diego County households through the combined strength of its integrated media portfolio: the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, U-T San Diego; the website, UTSanDiego.com; the Night + Day, Sunday’s Best and DiscoverSD weekly entertainment guide and website, DiscoverSD.com; Spanish-language products, Enlace and Vida Latina-San Diego; U-T TV, an on-demand news video platform; and hyper-local community papers, U-T Community Press.