Miami, FL –(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–July 25, 2003–Western Union has teamed up with Sabado Gigante, Univision Network’s popular variety program, to add a new dimension to the gift of giving. In a continued effort to stay in close touch with the Hispanic market, Western Union helped celebrate summer time by awarding thousands of its recent customers who sent money transfers to Latin America with a variety of prizes, including five Ford automobiles and all expense paid trips to Miami.
The highlight of the trip will be a visit to Sabado Gigante, the highest-rated television variety show among Hispanics in the United States with more than 100 million viewers worldwide. A group of winners were flown to Miami for the weekend to tour the Univision studios, be guests on the show and meet Don Francisco, host of Sabado Gigante.
“Sharing moments of joy and laughter with the audience is one of the most important aspects of the show,” explained Don Francisco. “It is rare that sponsors such as Western Union make it possible for a large group of viewers from around the country to be part of our studio audience.”
Winner Wilma Fajardo of Rialto, Calif. stated, “This opportunity to visit the set of Sabado Gigante and to meet Don Francisco is something I never even dreamed. Western Union made this a reality for me.” In addition to the people visiting the set, Western Union gave away 3,000 phone cards so that their customers can talk to friends and family in other parts of the world.
“Through promotions such as this one, Western Union rewards its consumers,” said Michelle Rendo, manager, promotions and alliance marketing, Western Union. “Our customers work hard year round in order to send money home. Winning a reliable vehicle and trip to the set of Sabado Gigante means even more when families, divided by distance, can tune in simultaneously and see their loved ones on the show.”
Rendo explained, “Western Union recognizes the influence Sabado Gigante has in our community and understands that it plays a significant role in the lives of multiple generations of viewers.” Sabado Gigante, which has aired for more than 40 years without interruption or repeats, has been nominated for various awards, including the Silver Award, Emmy Award and ACE of New York.
The show will air live from Miami on Saturday, July 26, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central/Mountain Time) and all winners who are present will be seen on an international broadcast. Winners were chosen from automatic submissions, generated when a Western Union consumer sent a qualifying money transfer and from mail-in entries that required no purchase.
About Western Union Financial Services, Inc. and First Data
Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), is an international leader in consumer money transfer services. Consumers can quickly and reliably pay bills and transfer money around the globe using the company’s proprietary money transfer network. Western Union and its subsidiary, Orlandi Valuta, together make up one of the world’s largest money transfer networks with a total of approximately 159,000 Agent locations in more than 195 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph service, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced electronic money transfer service in 1871. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at http://www.westernunion.com.
About Sabado Gigante
Sabado Gigante is a nationally syndicated variety show that successfully airs in 20 countries of Central and South America, including Mexico. Sabado Gigante was first broadcast in the United States in 1986, but has aired in Chile since 1962. Its host and creator, Mario Kreutzberger (“Don Francisco”) has a loyal legion of fans across Latin America. In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records named SABADO GIGANTE as “the longest running program in America”. According to Nielson Media Research’s investigation, the program is considered among Spanish television’s most watched programs.
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