Univision, the USA-based Spanish language broadcaster, has unveiled plans to launch a new global streaming platform next year off the back of its merger with Mexican media giant Grupo Televisa.
The broadcaster will offer a two-tier streaming service, including both free ad-supported and premium subscription-based options, to be rolled out in the US and Latin America.
The ad-supported tier will be anchored by Univision’s new and existing free streaming service PrendreTV and will feature an expanded live sports offering, as well as selected original programming, films and a 24/7 news service. In total, the free package will have over 100 linear channels.
Univision and Televisa hold rights to matches of various soccer clubs in Mexico’s top-tier Liga MX, while the former’s other top soccer content includes North America’s Major League Soccer and Europe’s Uefa Champions League.
The new premium subscription tier is also expected to provide sports coverage, in addition to extensive Spanish-language content and original productions exclusively on the service in the first year.
To support the launch of the new OTT platform, Univision has appointed Rodrigo Mazon as executive vice president and general manager of SVOD (video-on-demand), reporting directly to president and chief transformation officer Pierluigi Gazzolo.
With over 10 years’ experience in streaming, Mazon joins Univision from Netflix, where he most recently served as vice-president of content.
Televisa and Univision officially agreed a merger in April in a deal worth $4.8 billion and immediately set their sights on OTT opportunities in the market.
Gazzolo said: “Today’s announcement is a quantum leap in Univision’s transformation as we aggressively scale and expand our streaming capabilities. We are excited to announce our new SVOD service as a powerful cornerstone of this strategy, providing us the opportunity to reach global audiences with high-quality, original programming.
“With PrendeTV, and now with our SVoD offering, Univision is uniquely positioned to satisfy the global demand for premium Spanish-language content.”
Under the merger, a new company is being created, called Televisa-Univision, combining the content of both organisations, including sport, films and entertainment and drama series.
Televisa will be the major shareholder in the firm.
