Under the agreement, Univision will have the first look at all Spanish-language television and theatrical motion picture projects controlled by 3Pas Studios and Derbez, including movies and series for SVOD (subscription video-on-demand) or theatrical releases
Univision Communications, the Spanish-language media and content company, has signed a first-look deal with global megastar Eugenio Derbez and 3Pas Studios, run by Derbez and producing partner Ben Odell.
Under the agreement, Univision will have the first look at all Spanish-language television and theatrical motion picture projects controlled by 3Pas Studios and Derbez, including movies and series for SVOD (subscription video-on-demand) or theatrical releases.
Univision will launch a unified global streaming service, including a new premium subscription (SVOD) and an expanded free advertising-supported (AVOD) tier in 2022 to become the home to the most extensive offering of originally produced Spanish-language content in the world.
More details for the service will be announced following the close of the Televisa-Univision merger.
Derbez and 3Pas Studios will develop and produce world-class Spanish-language content across different genres and age groups for Univision’s SVOD platform, including projects as possible Derbez starring vehicles. In addition, the renowned actor, comedian, and filmmaker will serve as a subject-matter expert to develop and acquire the best Spanish-language, authentic, family-friendly content for the new “Derbez Channel” which will initially launch in Latin America, on Univision’s streaming platform’s AVOD tier.
“Eugenio is a globally celebrated content creator whose vision and passion for storytelling are unmatched. We’re delighted to partner with him and 3Pas Studios on this first-look deal that will allow Univision to offer even more of the world-class, premium content that global Spanish-language audiences of all ages crave,” said Pierluigi Gazzolo, President and Chief Transformation Officer at Univision.
“This partnership is a testament to how we are doubling down on our commitment to building the best and largest Spanish-language streaming service in the world, one that will be the home to top-level creative Spanish-Language talent.”
Eugenio Derbez said: “I love (Univision CEO) Wade Davis’s and Pierluigi Gazzolo’s vision for this platform. It’s about time that our audience has consistent high-quality content to consume in Spanish. I can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work!”
Producing partner Ben Odell added: “Eugenio and I have spent the last seven years building a brand that delivers high quality entertainment for multi-generational audiences. With this new platform, we have the wherewithal to ramp up our content output and reach the widest audience possible for our Spanish language business.”
3Pas Studios services their Spanish language business from their offices in Los Angeles, Miami and Mexico City. Javier Williams, SVP of Spanish Content, oversees 3Pas Studio’s Spanish-language development and also heads 3Pas Studios’ production arm in Mexico, Visceral. The Emmy-nominated producer spent 28 years as an executive producer in Televisa in Mexico City and Televisa Internacional, working in a wide variety of projects and overseeing co-productions with partners like Disney, Sesame Workshop, and ABC, amongst others. Pablo Calasso is Director of Production in Mexico for Visceral. Prior to working with Visceral, Calasso developed and produced shows in the scripted and unscripted space throughout Latin America including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru and his native Argentina. Williams and Calasso manage a team of production and development executives located in Mexico.
Univision also has rights to iconic shows that made Derbez popular worldwide, including the sitcoms Al Derecho y al Derbez and La Familia P. Luche, one of the Spanish-language longest-running and most successful comedy series in the United States, and the blockbuster movie Instructions Not Included, which became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film of all time in the U.S.
Derbez joins a roster of globally recognized and award-winning producers, creators, and writers with deals at Univision, including best-selling author Maria Dueñas, critically-acclaimed director Santiago Limon, and Nobel Literature Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa.
