Univision Announces Launch of Univision Studios

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Univision Communications Inc., the nation’s leading Spanish-language media company, today announced a major expansion of its original production and co-production capabilities with the creation of Univision Studios, and the hiring of 30–year industry veteran Luis Fernández as president of Univision Studios. This marks the next phase in the evolution of Univision Communications and a monumental step forward in the continuous transformation of the Spanish-language media landscape in the United States. Univision Studios will be based in Miami, Florida and Fernández will report to Univision Networks president, Cesar Conde.

“We have an unprecedented opportunity to expand our offering of quality Spanish-language programming to our loyal audiences not only through our existing programming partners but by building on our established multi-genre production track record to create more original productions and co-productions.”

Univision Studios will build on the 4,000 hours of original programming that the company already produces across multiple genres annually. The new division will produce and co-produce telenovelas, reality shows, dramatic series, entertainment specials and other programming formats for all of the company’s platforms including its three television networks – Univision, TeleFutura and Galavisión – as well as Univision.com and Univision Móvil. The launch of Univision Studios is the first major initiative under the Univision Networks since Conde became president of the division in October.

“The creation of Univision Studios is a transformational step in the development and growth of our company and an important, natural extension of our business,” said Joe Uva, president and CEO, Univision Communications Inc. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to expand our offering of quality Spanish-language programming to our loyal audiences not only through our existing programming partners but by building on our established multi-genre production track record to create more original productions and co-productions.”

Conde commented, “We are thrilled to have been able to attract such a talent as Luis Fernández, who is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished production executives of Spanish-language media in the U.S. and across the globe. Luis’ proven track record combined with his impeccable reputation and strong industry relationships will be instrumental as we take this next step to expand our abilities to deliver the best programming to our audiences. With his impressive credentials and Univision’s unique understanding of and deep connection to Hispanic audiences, our new studio division will make Univision an even more significant force in the development of Spanish-language content in the U.S.”

Fernández said, “I could not have asked for a better opportunity than to work alongside Cesar Conde and his team to develop Univision’s first in-house production studio. With its unmatched reputation among the most talented actors in the Spanish-speaking world, its strong relationships with the world’s leading producers of Spanish-language programming and unique relationship with its audience, Univision is a natural player to enter and succeed in developing innovative Spanish-language content.”

Fernández joins Univision from Corporación Radio Televisión Española (RTVE), the largest and leading broadcasting company in Spain. As president of Corporación RTVE and member of its Board of Directors, he successfully led the company’s various assets to leadership positions, including taking TVE-1 from third place to being the most watched channel in Spain. Fernández was named RTVE president in January 2007 by a unanimous vote of the Parliament of Spain and is widely considered the most successful company president in RTVE’s long history. Previously, he served as Managing Director of Promofilm U.S., a production company with offices and studios in Miami and Los Angeles. He was executive producer for “Al Filo de la Ley” (At The Edge of the Law), the first fiction series to air on Univision in primetime in 2005. He also was executive producer of several feature films, among them “Un Día Sin Mexicanos” (A Day Without a Mexican), co-produced with Televisa and which broke box-office records in Mexico. He also served as general manager of Plural Entertainment, the television and film production arm of Grupo Prisa, based in the United States and has held managing positions in Spain’s principal communications groups including Prisa, Telecinco, COPE, and Imagina.

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 64 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 68 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; and Univision Interactive Media, which includes http://www.univision.com, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S., and Univision Móvil, the industry’s most comprehensive Spanish-language suite of mobile offerings. Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa’s pay television channels in the U.S. Univision Communications has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.