U.S. Spanish-language media leader Univision Communications has changed its reporting structure under a reorganization of its upper management ranks.
Alberto Ciurana, president of programming and content, Isaac Lee, president of news, and Juan Carlos Rodriquez, president of Univision Deportes, are now reporting directly to Univision Communications president and CEO Randy Falco.
The moves come as Cesar Conde, the former president of Univision Networks, has joined NBCUniversal, which owns Univision rival Telemundo, in the newly created role of executive vice president, reporting to CEO Steve Burke.
Ciurana, Lee and Rodriguez all previously reported to Conde, whose position will not be replaced at Univision. Falco, who will be inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in October, spent much of his career at NBC.
Ciurana oversees entertainment programming for Univision’s broadcast and entertainment cable networks. Since joining Univision last September after three decades at Televisa, Ciurana has helped grow ratings across time periods, including double-digit growth for Univision's morning show Despierta America and entertainment show El Gordo y La Flaca. Ciurana is also credited with increasing the synergies with Televisa, the longtime programming supplier that also owns a stake in Univision Communications.
Lee, an acclaimed journalist who joined Univision late in 2010, has strategic and editorial oversight of programming and production across the Univision Networks, Univision Radio, Univision Television Group and the company’s digital platforms, all of which are recording audience and demo growth in 2013. Lee is also engaged with Fusion, the English-language joint venture with ABC News that is scheduled to bow on Oct. 28.
Rodriguez leads Univision’s sports division, which has Stateside Spanish-language rights to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, across all platforms, including the dedicated Univision Deportes network, which showcases top-flight soccer fare and now countrs Dish, DirecTV, Cablevision, Cox and AT&T U-verse as affiliates. Rodriguez joined Univision Deportes from Televisa Deportes Network, where he held the post of CEO and grew the brand to become Mexico’s sports content brand of choice.
“Alberto, Isaac and Juan Carlos are three extraordinarily talented executives with keen insights and deep knowledge of our business, our audiences and what makes our Networks so successful,” said Falco. “They are largely responsible for the recent success and tremendous momentum of our Network business. This new management structure provides us with an opportunity to be even more nimble going forward and I look forward to working with the entire Network team and supporting their continued success.”
Falco also noted : “We are appreciative of Cesar’s contributions to Univision over the last decade.”
