Latest news with #Speciale
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TelevisaUnivision Bets on Microdramas and Music in Upfront Push
TelevisaUnivision plans to lean into new formats and areas of cultural conversation, as the Spanish-language media giant seeks to stand out in a crowded upfront marketplace. That will include the addition of 24/7 reality formats, where viewers can watch the goings-on at any time in addition to regular episodes, a slew of music programming (and an entirely new live music festival), and a substantial investment in 'microdramas,' which will seek to bring the telenovela format to mobile devices. More from The Hollywood Reporter Kim Kardashian Plays Hardball Divorce Lawyer in Ryan Murphy's 'All's Fair' Legal Drama Trailer FX Sets Premiere Dates for 'The Bear' Season 4, 'Alien: Earth' and Sterlin Harjo's 'The Lowdown' Inside the Amazon Upfront: There's No Escaping Walton Goggins 'Where all other businesses are trying to be everything to everyone, we are laser focused, and always have been,' days Donna Speciale, TelevisaUnivision's head of ad sales, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. 'I think we have a uniqueness to us, you know, we are a cultural force. We're built on trust over 70 years. We have this authenticity and this deep connection with our audience, we are the heart of the Hispanic connection, and that unique proposition really makes us stand out and makes us be very different than everything else that's out there.' The company has the Univision network, of course, but it has also built up the ViX streaming platform, which is increasingly where it is investing in a push to retain relevance with younger consumers. The microdrama strategy is a key part of that. As TikTok-style vertical video has exploded in popularity, some Asia-based apps and studios have created ultra short-form dramas built with extraordinarily low budgets. While they aren't a threat to ultra-premium TV dramas, they are sucking up time on mobile devices, and TelevisaUnivision thinks that it can leverage its expertise in the telenovela space to secure a piece of that pie. The company plans to debut about 40 of the microdramas, which will be presented in ViX in one minute or so episodes, with plans to expand into documentaries, comedies and other genres later. 'This format has been exploding in the Asian markets, and it really taps into the appetite of that young, digital centric user based across a massive mobile footprint. We're basically capturing that craze, and we're building on our expertise with episodic scripted dramas,' Speciale says. 'We're going to be putting a lot of different types of innovation, messaging and stuff for clients and brands to sponsor and lean into.' Speciale adds that the company expects to experiment more with brand integrations in the microdrama space, given the short episodes and a desire to minimize viewing interruptions. 'Clients actually want to kind of test with us, because we all don't have the answers quite yet, but we all know, given what we're seeing and given the surge of TikTok and how this audience now lives on their phones and vertical content now is what they're used to,' she says. 'There's a huge opportunity here, and we really believe that we're going to seize the moment.' In the music space, TelevisaUnivision has a slew of programming on tap, and is planning to launch its own branded music festival called YA Fest, which will also run across the company's platforms. The company plans to host the festival across multiple cities with different genres of music. 'We're going to be simulcasting them at the same time between linear and digital, having a lot of influencers and hosts going across back and forth,' Speciale says. 'It's going to be a huge social play. Clients are definitely now leaning into wanting to do social first, digital first events. And I think this is going to be one of them that I think could be a huge success.' The company is also launching ViX Música, which it frames as a music destination within the larger ViX experience In the entertainment space, new series include reality concepts like the 24/7 reality concept La Mansión 24/7 and the survival reality show El Conquistador, and scripted fare like Doménica Montero and Los Hilos del Pasado. But the upfront comes at an uncertain moment for the ads business. Media buyers are seeking flexibile terms given tariffs and economic uncertainty, while media companies are leaning into sports and live events to try and secure as many commitments as possible. TelevisaUnivision is no exception, with a new deal with Concacaf adding its women's events to the lineup. Speciale says that her company is prepared for what's coming. 'Uncertainty is not new to the marketplace, I mean, we've have had recessions before, we all went through COVID. That was a first for us,' she says. 'What I can say and what has happened in all times of uncertainty is that marketers lean in and focus on areas and investments that drive the biggest impact, and don't scale back on the areas that drive growth, and I feel really good about that, because the Hispanic audience now being 20 percent of the population, clients are realizing that this is a huge business imperative, and it shows day in and day out the ROI when they lean in.' 'What they're talking about is flexibility. They want flexibility only because of the unknown and the upfront gives them the flexibility. The terms and conditions have always been there,' she adds. 'So to me, we're in a great place, because we are such a huge growth engine for them and such a huge growth driver that I'm really confident going into this, that we're not going to not going to be affected.' 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Nikkei Asia
13-05-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
India's deep tech startups fight for funding in a retail-dominated market
BENGALURU -- Arjun Rao wanted to go off the beaten track with his venture capital firm Speciale Invest, convinced that he could strike gold with startups dealing in robotics, rockets and chips and other complex technologies loosely called "deep tech." Not many people in India shared his enthusiasm. Most money from global VCs flowed into e-commerce and food delivery ventures, and it took Rao two and a half years to close Speciale's first fund, of $8.5 million, in February 2019. During that time, India-focused VCs as a whole mopped up roughly $3.6 billion, according to estimates by consultancy Bain & Co.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari 296 Speciale revealed with 868bhp and radical aero set-up
The new Ferrari 296 Speciale is billed as the 'most fun to drive, emotionally charged' car the marque has built yet, with its 868bhp claimed to be 'very close' to the limit of what a rear-wheel-drive car can offer. Priced from €407,000 (£349,000) in Italy and offered in both coupé and spider forms, it packs 49bhp more than the 296 GTB, has 20% more downforce and is 60kg lighter. However, it is 'not just an exercise where we put a few additional horsepower', said Ferrari marketing chief Enrico Galliera. The Speciale instead represents a more comprehensive engineering effort. For instance, its twin-turbo V6 uses aluminium pistons and the titanium conrods from the new F80 hypercar, and the head is secured to the block with titanium bolts. This has allowed an increase in combustion chamber pressure of 7%, boosting the V6's output from the previous 654bhp to 690bhp. Moreover, the crankcase has been shaved down to save 1.2kg and the turbo design has been reworked to shed another 1.2kg. Ferrari has also doubled the size of the 'hot tube' – the sound pipe linking the engine bay and cabin – to improve the sound quality and volume of the V6. Revised cooling for the hybrid system has unlocked a further 13bhp, independent of the V6. 'We are very, very close to the limit of the maximum horsepower that we can manage for a rear-wheel-drive car,' said development chief Gianmaria Fulgenzi. With that in mind, an aerodynamic overhaul has resulted in a redesign of the 296's rear end, inspired by the Challenge and GT3 racers. This has brought about the fitment of two winglets atop the car's rear haunches and a small active spoiler that rises from the back end – from just above the Prancing Horse badge. The spoiler has three possible positions and adjusts based on the steering angle and throttle position. It plays a key role in boosting the car's maximum downforce by 20% compared with the 296 GTB, with 435kg at 155mph. The damper and spring set-up has been revised, bringing a 5mm drop in ride height and a claimed 13% reduction in maximum body lean when cornering. The cockpit has been reworked to minimise weight, with new seats that are said to be 5kg lighter than those in the 296 GTB. There is more carbonfibre than before, including on a new single-piece door card, and the new steering wheel swaps the previous unit's touchsensitive control pads for traditional buttons. Ferrari said the Speciale will not be strictly limited in number but by the time it spends in production, which will be significantly shorter than for the GTB. It will be 'very exclusive', said Galliera. Ferrari will offer the car only to what it calls 'active' clients: those who have bought a new or approved-used car (or maintained an older car) through an official dealer within the past five years. ]]>
ArabGT
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Ferrari Unleashes the 296 Speciale for 2026 with Blistering Power
Ferrari has officially pulled the wraps off the 296 Speciale and its convertible twin, the 296 Speciale A, in the brand's legendary hometown of Maranello. That's where our colleague, Saheb Shashaa, got an exclusive look at the latest chapter in Ferrari's hybrid supercar saga. Set to arrive as a 2026 model, the Ferrari 296 Speciale is a mid-engine hybrid coupe that redefines dynamic driving in Maranello's current lineup and across its class. Building on the foundation of the 296 GTB, the Speciale elevates output to a staggering 880 horsepower—700 hp from its twin-turbo V6 and another 180 hp from a plug-in hybrid system—marking a 50 hp increase over the GTB. With a weight reduction of 60 kg, Ferrari has achieved a class-leading 1.60 kg/hp power-to-weight ratio, the best yet for a rear-engined coupé from the brand. Thanks to active aerodynamic solutions like an air brake and sculpted side winglets, downforce has been boosted by 20%, reaching 435 kg at 250 km/h. Handling is sharpened with a bespoke suspension setup, the latest generation ABS Evo, and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The V6 powerplant is enhanced with motorsport-grade upgrades including titanium connecting rods and a lighter crankshaft. It's paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) for razor-sharp gear changes. Visually, the Speciale takes heavy inspiration from Ferrari's racing DNA. A prominent front splitter and aggressive rear wing define its exterior presence. It rides on staggered 20-inch wheels—245/35 ZR20 at the front (J9.0) and 305/35 ZR20 at the rear (J11.0)—wrapped in track-ready Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Key Dimensions and Weight Length: 4625 mm Width: 1968 mm Height: 1181 mm Wheelbase: 2600 mm Dry Weight: 1410 kg Weight Distribution: 40% front / 60% rear Fuel Tank: 65 liters (with 10-liter reserve) Front Luggage Compartment: 169 liters Rear Storage: 112 liters Powertrain & Hybrid System Under the hood lies a 2992cc twin-turbo V6 producing 700 hp at 8000 rpm and 755 Nm at 6000 rpm, mated to an eight-speed F1-style DCT. Supplementing the combustion unit is an electric motor powered by a 7.45 kWh battery, generating an additional 154 hp. It allows for up to 25 km of electric-only driving at speeds not exceeding 135 km/h. Combined, the hybrid system delivers a total output of 880 hp. Performance Stats Top Speed: Over 330 km/h 0–100 km/h: 2.8 seconds 0–200 km/h: 7.0 seconds Fiorano Lap Time: 1 minute 19 seconds Acoustic Engineering While rooted in the signature sound of the 296 GTB, the Speciale takes audio immersion to the next level. The engine's acoustics benefit from less restrictive design, richer high-frequency tones, and enhanced volume. Ferrari also developed new audio pathways and integrated advanced 3D sound simulation. The drop-top variant doubles the number of internal sound channels compared to the GTB, with redesigned positioning for a more spatially refined auditory experience. A specially developed piping system delivers raw V6 engine noise directly into the cabin. Interior Philosophy Inside, the 296 Speciale follows Ferrari's modern Speciale blueprint—stripped-down yet refined. Compared to the GTB, the cabin is simplified with fewer individual elements, contributing to weight savings. Extensive carbon fiber and Alcantara use give it a motorsport-focused ambiance. Even the aluminum trim and component layout are optimized to align with the car's lightweight ethos. With this launch, Ferrari adds another icon to its Speciale lineage—one that blends power, precision, and emotional engagement like no other.
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Lightweight, track-focused Ferrari 296 Speciale revealed
Prancing Horse's still entry-level offering remains a limited edition, but now produces over 600 kW from its plug-in hybrid V6. Speciale name returns after last being offered on the 296's predecessor, the 488. Image: Ford Ferrari has taken the wraps off the most hardcore iteration of its hybrid V6 supercar yet, revealing the 296 Speciale and its open-top sibling, the 296 Speciale Aperta. PHEV twist Both models serve as spiritual successors to the 458 Speciale and 488 Pista, delivering better performance and sharper driver engagement while tipping the scales significantly less than the standard models. At the heart of both lies the now-familiar 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine producing a 515kW/755Nm. Paired with Ferrari's hybrid system though, the combined total system out comes to 648 kW. Revised aerodynamics results in the Speciale producing 435 kg of downforce at 250 km/h. Image: Ferrari Handling shifting duties is an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that delivers power to the rear wheels. The claimed all-electric range from the 7.4-kWh battery pack, which produces 113 kW, is 25 km. ALSO READ: WATCH: Ferrari 296 GTB introduces a new breed to South Africa As expected of a car bearing the Speciale badge, weight-saving measures have been a major focus. The coupe tips the scales at 1 410 kg. Unlike the standard 296, the cabriolet adopts the Aperta name rather than GTS. Image: Ferrari Ferrari's 40:60 front-to-rear weight distribution continues and performance figures claim a top speed of 330 km/h, 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 0-200 km/h in seven seconds. Braking from 200 km/h to a standstill takes 106 metres. The 296 Speciale's dimensions haven't changed significantly from its standard counterpart. Its length measures 4 625 mm, width 1 968 mm, height 1 181 mm and wheelbase 2 600 mm. Interior has undergone subtle changes. Image: Ferrari Aerodynamic changes abound, from a reprofiled front with an S-duct-style intake and larger cooling apertures to a reworked rear diffuser and active aero elements. Downforce is up by 20% compared to the standard 296 GTB, generating 435 kg at 250 km/h. The open-top Aperta shares the same mechanicals and performance but brings the retractable folding roof hard-top roof. Not yet for us Both models are due for global rollout from early 2026 and while Ferrari hasn't pegged the Speciale and Speciale Aperta as limited editions, production will be shorter than usual to ensure exclusivity. Italian pricing starts at €407 000 for the coupe and €462 000 for the Aperta, which amounts to R8 607 073 and R9 770 191 when converted directly into Rand. NOW READ: Ferrari 296 GTB retracts its roof, becomes 296 GTS
