THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
December 4, 2003
UNIVISION PROGRAMMING HEAD LEAVES TO FORM OWN COMPANY
By Eduardo Porter,
The Wall Street Journal
LOS ANGELES- Mario Rodriguez, the programming executive who led Univision Communications Inc.'s climb up the ratings ladder to the top rung of Spanish-language television, left his position as president of entertainment for its TV networks to launch his own consulting company.
Both Univision and Mr. Rodriguez said the departure was amicable, noting that Mr. Rodriguez would consult exclusively for Univision on TV-related matters. "Mario has been and will continue to be a tremendous asset to Univision," said Univision Chairman and Chief Executive A. Jerrold Perenchio in a statement. Added Mr. Rodriguez: "I remain proudly connected to the dedicated and talented Univision family."
The programming guru said that after 14 years in the business he had reached "the point in life when you want to start something different."
Mr. Rodriguez's departure comes as Univision has set off on a novel path. Until now, the Spanish-language media company based its ratings success on a prime-time schedule packed with the blockbuster soaps of Mexican Grupo Televisa SA, which have a huge following among the 40 million U.S. Hispanic population.
But later this month during weeknight prime-time, Univision will start airing its first in-house soap, "Te Amare en Silencio" (I Will Love You in Silence), which was produced by Paloma Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company set up by Mr. Perenchio more than two years ago.
Mr. Rodriguez said Univision's decision to air the Paloma soap had nothing to do with his departure. "I admire Jerry for what he's done with the novela. We need more novela producers and more novela productions."
Mr. Perenchio was closely involved with the production of the soap, down to choosing the male lead, according to insiders. Though Univision announced that "Te Amare en Silencio" would air last year, it was pulled from the lineup and instead will receive its first airing starting Dec. 15.
Mr. Rodriguez said Paloma made the decision to hold the novela while it was being re-edited, and that he had nothing to do with that decision.
Copyright (c) 2003, Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Reproduced with permission of copyright owner.
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