Univision Communications has opened the doors of a Los Angeles-based content development and production hub that will produce original content for the Hispanic media company’s entire portfolio of digital and broadcast networks, in addition to interested third parties.
Univision Story House, part of the recently created Fusion Media Group unit, will create content in both English and Spanish. It furthers Univision’s efforts to increase and diversify its programming, going beyond its U.S. show-distribution pact with Mexican TV network Televisa, a Univision minority investor.
Camila Jimenez Villa, who was named Fusion Media Group’s president and chief content officer in April, will oversee Univision Story House. She has been with Univision since 2011 and was most recently vice president of strategy and analytics in the office of the CEO.
Juan Rendón and Silvana Aguirre will serve as the venture’s creative directors, while Christian Gabela assumes the role of vice president and general manager and will help lead strategy and partnerships, as well as manage daily operations.
Rendón previously led Univision and the Fusion network’s documentary division. Aguirre was previously creative director at UniMás.
All report to Isaac Lee, UCI’s chief news and digital officer.
Univision Story House’s first array of productions will be built on the network’s “storytelling abilities to bring to life narratives and characters that are revealing, authentic and reflect the diversity of the changing face of America,” the network said.
Univision Story House will have access to Univision News journalists and its archives “to source and develop long-form fiction and nonfiction content.”
Univision Story House’s first announced production deal is with premium network HBO. Two projects will take viewers “on a journey to examine an array of diverse cultures and perspectives”: Outpost is a ten-part series that Univision says melds experiential journalism and adventure travel by providing viewers a local perspective of distant places through immersive stories on current events, subcultures, the environment, and adventure sports.
From white separatists to anti-immigrant activists, Hate in America will see Univision and Fusion anchor Jorge Ramos in an investigative series on why hatred may be growing in the U.S. and who may be feeding it.
"There is a wealth of untold stories about Latin America and the cross-cultural experience in the United States,” Rendón said. “The diversity of backgrounds and experiences that our experienced team embodies gives us the ability to tell those stories in the most authentic way.”
Jimenez Villa added, “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. Our goal is to be the go-to place for premium content for the new, rising American mainstream regardless of brand, platform, or language.”
