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MLS unites with Radio Unica

August 14, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK, NY, (August 14, 2002) - Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Radio Unica that will provide unprecedented Spanish-language radio coverage for the League and a powerful marketing opportunity for advertisers and sponsors eager to reach the growing U.S. Hispanic community.

As part of the agreement, Radio Unica, the first and only 24-hour-nationwide Spanish-language radio network, will incorporate one hour of MLS news, analysis and commentary into its popular network sports program, "Unica en Deportes" (Unica in Sports), which airs weekdays from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. PT) and weekends, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT). The program, "Unicamente MLS" (Only MLS), will air Sundays, from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT).

In addition to the weekly show and daily segment, Radio Unica will broadcast live the league's championship match, MLS Cup 2002, on October 20 (1:30 p.m. ET) from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.

Both companies will also participate in exclusive cross-promotional programs to create awareness of a co-branded identity among MLS fans and Radio Unica network listeners. In addition, MLS and Radio Unica will offer unique marketing solutions to advertisers seeking to reach the U.S. Hispanic market.

"This alliance fits perfectly with our goal to become the meeting place for all soccer fans in the U.S., and clearly a high percentage of them are Latinos," said MLS Executive Vice President Mark Noonan. "This exciting partnership provides MLS with unparalleled Spanish-language radio coverage helping us to better serve our valuable base of Spanish-speaking fans while helping to nurture new fans. Equally important, this initiative will provide our sponsors with an exciting new platform to reach Hispanic fans interested in MLS and soccer in America."

Part of the agreement also provides MLS with cross promotion in Radio Unica's broadcasts of Mexican league matches and other international soccer matches.

"This partnership represents an excellent branding opportunity for Radio Unica," said Joaquin F. Blaya, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Radio Unica Communications Corp. "We are positioning our network and sports talent resources with a reputable, highly popular league focused on promoting and advancing the sport of soccer to millions of sports enthusiasts."

With the overall supervision of Radio Unica's Sports Director Jorge Ramos, "Unicamente MLS" will be hosted by journalist Hammer Londoño, a regular "Unica en Deportes" co-host and network play-by-play soccer broadcaster.

Ramos, who hails from Uruguay, is the former sports anchor of Telemundo Network (1994-2000) and one the most respected sports personalities among U.S. Latinos. His trademark play-by-play bursts with passion and fine-tooth-comb detailed descriptions of all the action. Beyond his broadcasting ability, Ramos's balanced and incisive analysis of soccer and sports at large is valued and respected by Latino fans.

Londoño's riveting play-by-play broadcasting style has its unique flavor mixing his refined and elegant accounts of the game with his trademark colorful expressions that have endeared him to Latino fans. The Colombian journalist and broadcaster also provides listeners with his insightful comments and reporting skills in "Unica en Deportes" and now in "Unicamente MLS."

About Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer is the United States' only Division 1 men's professional outdoor soccer league consisting of 10 teams in major media markets including five of the top 10 Hispanic markets. The 10 MLS clubs are: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Dallas Burn, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, MetroStars (NY-NJ), New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes.

Eleven MLS stars, including Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), Clint Mathis (MetroStars) and Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), helped the U.S. national team reach the quarterfinals of World Cup 2002, the team's best performance in the last 72 years. Major League Soccer also features world class international players like Carlos Valderrama (Colorado Rapids), Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United) and Alex Pineda Chacon (New England Revolution).

For more information about Major League Soccer, please visit www.MLSnet.com.

About Radio Unica

Radio Unica corners the market in sports with its exclusive U.S. Spanish-language radio broadcast rights to the 2004 Summer Olympics; Gold Cup 2003 and 2005; and Copa America 2004. Radio Unica also owns the exclusive U.S. Spanish-language radio broadcast rights to Mexican National League soccer matches.

Radio Unica features "Unica en Deportes" hosted by sports anchor Jorge Ramos and other top names in sports broadcasting in addition to many other contemporary-themed talk programming hosted by international personalities.

Radio Unica Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: UNCA), Hispanic America's talk and sports radio network, broadcasts in Spanish, 24-hours-a-day nationwide. The Radio Unica Network covers approximately 80 percent of Hispanic USA through a group of owned and/or operated stations and affiliates nationwide.

For more information about Radio Unica, please visit www.radiounica.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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