Univision Opens Production Studio in L.A.

NEW YORK: Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has launched a new Los Angeles-based development and production unit that will create original content for its portfolio of owned networks, as well as third-party channels and platforms.

Called Univision Story House, the new division will be a part of the recently announced Fusion Media Group. It will utilize its access to news archives and journalists at Univision News to source and develop long-form fiction and nonfiction content.

The unit has also inked a production deal with HBO for two projects: Outpost, a ten-part series that will give viewers a local perspective of faraway places, and Hate in America, which will see Univision and Fusion anchor Jorge Ramos investigating why hatred seems to be growing in the U.S.

Camila Jimenez Villa, who will be president and chief content officer of the Fusion Media Group, is set to oversee the unit, with Juan Rendón in charge of creative leadership. Christian Gabela will assume the role of VP and general manager and will help lead strategy and partnerships as well as manage the daily operations of the team. Also, Silvana Aguirre will be a creative director. The team will report to Isaac Lee, the chief news and digital officer for UCI.

“There is a wealth of untold stories about Latin America and the cross-cultural experience in the United States,” said Rendón. “The diversity of backgrounds and experiences that our experienced team embodies gives us the ability to tell those stories in the most authentic way.”

“The formation of Univision Story House is an extension of UCI’s commitment to serve young, multicultural audiences across a broad range of platforms with high-quality, meaningful storytelling,” said Jimenez Villa. “Our goal is to be the go-to place for premium content for the new, rising American mainstream regardless of brand, platform or language.”