univision
TelevisaUnivision has named Daniel Alegre as its new CEO starting Thursday (Sept. 19). The decision is part of the board of directors’ strategic succession planning. Alegre takes over for Wade Davis, who will become vice chairman of the board of directors and remain on the executive committee.
“On behalf of the board, I’m excited to welcome Daniel to TelevisaUnivision as we embark on the next phase of our strategic journey focused on further integration and optimization,” TelevisaUnivision’s executive chairman, Alfonso de Angoitia, said in a press release. “It’s been a very dynamic media environment, and we are grateful for what Wade has accomplished in the turnaround of Univision and the subsequent transformative merger between Univision and Televisa’s content business to create TelevisaUnivision.”
“The media landscape is undergoing a profound transformation and TelevisaUnivision is strategically poised to seize new opportunities while staying deeply connected to the communities we serve,” Alegre said in a release. “The U.S. and Mexico represent the most valuable and populous Spanish-language markets in the world, a demographic that is becoming more prominent both regionally and globally.”
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Originally from Mexico, the new network leader possesses operational-focused leadership experience within the Hispanic community and across the U.S., Mexico and Latin America. With over three decades working in media, entertainment and technology, Alegre was most recently CEO of Yuga Labs, a web3 company. He previously served as president and COO of Activision Blizzard.
“Building on TelevisaUnivision’s solid foundation, global content pipeline, ongoing investments in cutting-edge technologies, and unmatched reach, we are uniquely positioned to continue serving this vital audience,” Alegre continued. “Wade and the entire TelevisaUnivision team have created a strong multi-platform media business with world-class quality and breadth of entertainment, news and sports programming.”
Davis added, “We could not have picked a better successor than Daniel, who brings an incredible track record of operational and strategic execution. He is the ideal executive to take TelevisaUnivision into its next phase of growth. The Company’s future is bright, and I look forward to supporting Daniel and the TelevisaUnivision team in my role as vice chairman of the board.”
During Davis’ Univision tenure, the company completed a $4.8 billion merger with Group Televisa in 2022, forming TelevisaUnivision as it is known today. The broadcaster has made significant investments in streaming and traditional TV, with its ViX streaming platform approaching profitability. It also runs 35 radio stations across the U.S.
MTV and TelevisaUnivision will partner for the second consecutive year with a live, hosted simulcast of the 2024 VMAs on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Univision, the most-watched network among U.S. Hispanics. An encore presentation of the awards show will air on UniMás at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT.
This is a reversal of what transpired last year, when the live simulcast aired on UniMás at 8 p.m. ET and the encore presentation aired on Univision at 11:30 p.m. ET. This platform flip portends a much bigger live audience this year, given Univision’s greater reach.
Univision will bring exclusive show access to its audience, with original, in-show commentary from entertainment host and reporter Alejandra Espinoza throughout the three-hour broadcast, live from New York’s UBS Arena.
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“We’re excited to build on last year’s unique and enormously successful partnership with TelevisaUnivision,” Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming & events, Paramount and chief content officer, Music, Paramount+, said in a statement. “Together, we were able to reach the largest live Spanish-speaking audience in VMAs history and deliver +29% [year-over-year] ratings growth. We look forward to celebrating the world’s top artists, including some of the biggest Latin superstars, with our fans around the globe.”
“TelevisaUnivision is excited to partner with Paramount for the second consecutive year to bring the VMAs to our audience,” said Ignacio Meyer, president of U.S. Networks at TelevisaUnivision. “Latin music’s rising influence on mainstream culture is undeniable. We’re proud to be the exclusive Spanish-language home in the U.S. for this year’s award show, offering viewers an in-language, front-row seat to this celebration.”
MTV calls this year’s show the “most global VMAs in show history.” The show will have three Latin performers — Anitta, Karol G and Rauw Alejandro, plus Camila Cabello, who has Latin roots. (The show has also booked K-Pop star LISA.)
Latin and Latin pop crossover music has been an important part of the performance mix on VMA broadcasts since 2018. Last year, four Latin artists performed on the show – Shakira (as part of her Video Vanguard award presentation), Karol G, Peso Pluma and Anitta (the latter both solo and in tandem with K-pop stars TOMORROW X TOGETHER).
Prior to that, in 2022, J Balvin (with Ryan Castro), Anitta and Bad Bunny performed. In 2021, Ozuna, Cabello and Tainy (in tandem with Shawn Mendes) represented Latin music. In 2020, Maluma, CNCO and Nicky Jam (in tandem with Black Eyed Peas and Tyga) did the honors. In 2019, CNCO (in the pre-show), Cabello (with Mendes), Rosalía and Ozuna (in a joint performance) and J Balvin and Bad Bunny (also in a joint performance) all performed. In 2018, Jennifer Lopez (receiving a Video Vanguard award) and Maluma performed.
Anitta is this year’s top Latin nominee, with three nods – best Latin and best editing for “Mil Veces” and another nod for best Latin for “BELLAKEO.” Bad Bunny and Alejandro each have two nods. Bad Bunny is nominated for artist of the year and best Latin for “MONACO” Alejandro is nominated for best Latin and best cinematography for “Touching the Sky.” Karol G, Shakira, Cardi B and Myke Towers each have one nod.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers of the 2024 VMAs. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba are executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
When the 35th edition of Premio Lo Nuestro airs tonight (Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET) on the Univision network, some 1,300 people will be working under the baton of Ulises Chang, the network’s vp and executive producer for Live Event Tentpoles.
In the Univision-verse, the role includes purview over the network’s four music award shows: Premio Lo Nuestro, Premios Juventud, Latin Grammys and its most recent addition, the Latin AMAS. Among them, Lo Nuestro is not only the network’s highest-rated, but, according to Nielsen, it’s also been the “No. 1 program on all of television for the third consecutive year among adults 18-49 and adults 18-34,” with over six million viewers tuning in last year.
On set at the Miami-Dade arena, Chang is, as ever, preternaturally calm. He’s had this position since 2017, and if the tumult caused by four hosts, 21 musical numbers and nearly 30 artists (not to mention dancers and musicians) fazes him, he doesn’t let it show.
“Ulises has played an instrumental role in shaping the success of our live events and tentpoles. His passion and unwavering commitment to excellence are a reference in the industry,” says Ignacio Meyer, president of the Univision Television Networks Group.
Between rehearsals by the likes of Maluma, Ozuna, Ricardo Montaner, Ivy Queen, Sebastian Yatra, Grupo Firme and Tini, we managed to ask Chang five questions about tonight’s show:
1. How is this year’s show different from other years?
Every year is a challenge. Balancing budgets, venue, timing, artist relations, the amount of artists that are out there now. This show has such a long history and such prestige, people really want to be here. That’s one of the biggest challenges: Being able to somehow fit everybody which always is hard. But also, if people come to us early on with a pitch or a plan, we can say, maybe it’s not the right fit for this show, but we can work out a plan where it fits more organically somewhere else.
2. You oversee four music award shows. What is Premio Lo Nuestro?
This is tradition and celebration of music, of our music. Celebrating our history in this country, and what we’ve contributed musically. And the slogan this year is incredible: El mundo es lo nuestro (The world is ours). Because of where are we nowadays. Where did Bad Bunny take us a year ago when, for the first time a Hispanic artist wins [artist of the year] at the VMAs and gives his speech in Spanish and says I don’t have to change who I am. Going out on tour, who breaks the record for most tickets sold? Bad Bunny’s tour. We’re taking over in a way.
3. My understanding is this is your top-rated show. What do you attribute the high ratings to?
Yes, this is our highest rated show. The goals we’re given are higher than for any other, so, it’s a big responsibility. I don’t know if the ratings have to do with it being at the beginning of the year. Also, we take a lot of risks and we have a lot of freedom to do things in this show
4. What is the Ulises Chang imprint on a music show?
Overall, to be able to make people happy at home when theyr’e watching, and to be able to transport them to another place. Music is so beautiful. Music takes us to places we’re no longer at, it reminds us of our parents. When we had Roberto Carlos, for example, that tribute took me back to my youth. If it takes me, imagine people at home who don’t have the capability of experiencing this the way we do. We feel very fortunate and at the same time very powerful with what we are able to give.
5. It seems to me like you’re really creating a multi-generational show. Is that how you view it?
Yes. And that’s how we always prepare it. We think that people at home –that co-viewing with different generations– is what Univision is. It’s what Hispanics are. We still sit at home with our parents to watch especially these types of shows. These types of shows do do that; they do bring the multi-generational co-viewing. I don’t know if it happens in other networks, but in Univision, the research we’ve done indicates co-viewing is very present.
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