Exclusive: The new cable news channel from ABC News and Univision is closing in on its new name, someone familiar with the process tells TVNewser.
Currently there are a number of names under discussion, including “Accent,” “VZTA,” “UNA” and “U&A.” UNA and U&A are a play on the names of the two parent companies, while Accent and VZTA (pronounced like “vista”) are brand names that the joint venture could “own.” The goal is to have a name chosen by November, we are told, even though the channel itself won’t launch until 2013. The JV already launched online last month.
A check of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office filings shows that the prospective names above were all filed September 21st by “Univision ABC News Network, LLC.” The filings are 1B, which indicates intent to use. Those four names are the only ones filed at the USPTO by the joint venture, though we hear other names are also being considered.
Univision Communications also filed applications for the names “Uni Mas,” “Uni Dos” and “Uni 2” on the same day, though it isn’t clear if those are applicable to the new venture.