El Rey Networks Ramps Up Schedule with Acquisitions, Lucha Libre Deal

PASADENA: El Rey Network has licensed the cable rights for Starsky & Hutch, Dark Angel and The X-Files, and struck a separate deal with Mark Burnett that involves Lucha Libre wrestling.

Burnett and El Rey Network are teaming up to create a new sports business in the U.S. featuring Lucha Libre wrestling. The business begins with a weekly one-hour series featuring a new Lucha Libre league, premiering on the network in the second half of the year. In addition to launching the weekly series, the new venture is developing monthly and quarterly specials and live pay-per-view Lucha Libre events, and also pursuing merchandise, licensing and product integration opportunities for the league. Burnett's One Three Media is partnering with the leading Lucha Libre team in Mexico, Lucha Libre AAA, and Factory Made Ventures. Also joining, through their interests in Lucha Libre AAA, are Antonio Cue Sanchez-Navarro and Alex Garcia's AG Studios.

"Starting this business with a new television series on a cutting-edge network like El Rey is very exciting," Burnett said. "And it doesn't end there. Wrestling is a billion-dollar business in the U.S., and with partners like Robert Rodriguez, Lucha Libre AAA and the rest of our great team, our new Lucha Libre league will make that market even bigger."

Robert Rodriguez, El Rey Network's founder and chairman, said: "El Rey Network is all about the unexpected which is why this is the perfect partnership. Our association with Lucha Libre AAA, FactoryMade and Mark Burnett's One Three Media speaks to our commitment to create content that resonates for a culturally diverse generation—one that expects high impact and excitement from their entertainment programming."

For its newly expanded 24-hour schedule starting February 14, El Rey Network also picked up three celebrated series mentioned above. In addition to the acquired programming, the network also unveiled plans to launch Grindhouse Fridays, a series of themed prime-time movie nights that celebrate cult classic feature films in the grindhouse, action, horror and sci-fi genres. Grindhouse Fridays is set to premiere February 21.

Also coming to the network are a series of specials produced by Gurney Productions, which is behind the hit reality series Duck Dynasty, and Vice Media. Scott and Deirdre Gurney will work with El Rey Network and Vice Media to develop edgy specials that examine interesting, off-beat subcultures and movements. Vice's Mexico division will assume a leading role in the development of the series, collaborating with the U.S. operation.

Rodriguez said: “From their distinctive style to their storytelling sensibility, Scott and Deirdre are the perfect match for El Rey Network. This show will generate a dialogue and create exposure for subcultures that have yet to be explored by mainstream media.”

“We are excited to be working with El Rey Network, Vice and Robert Rodriguez to showcase a previously hidden America—we hope that as we begin to pull back the curtain, viewers will become fascinated, as we were, with the compelling subjects that we explore. As storytellers, we couldn't have more engaging and better material than what is in our own backyard,” said Scott Gurney.