LOS ANGELES — In the fourth quarter of 2017, HC2 Holdings — then under the leadership of Philip Falcone — engineered the purchase of the Azteca América Spanish-language broadcast network from U.S.-based affiliates of Mexico’s TV Azteca.
Since then, Azteca América has been the subject of more questions than answers, largely focused on HC2’s plans for the stateside version of a major Mexican brand. Now, those questions might be a bit more vociferous, as TV Azteca has just inked a content partnership with an entity considered until now a competitor to Azteca América.
On Tuesday, Estrella Media confirmed that it has entered into a content and programming accord for the U.S. and Mexico with TV Azteca.
Estrella, formerly Liberman Broadcasting, is the owner of Estrella TV, a national Spanish-language television network that is perhaps a strong No. 3 behind Telemundo and Univision. It’s been ahead of Azteca América, and the pact is likely a major win-win arrangement.
For Estrella Media, one of the largest producers of Spanish-language television content in the world, getting its programming on Azteca’s broadcast TV stations across Mexico is a coup. In return, Azteca programming from Mexico can now find a home on Estrella.
This sets the wheels into motion on what happens next with Azteca América.
Specifically, TV Azteca and Estrella Media will partner on the creation of over 600 hours of original programming for both the U.S. and Mexico, as well as the production of existing series and the licensing of library content to air in both countries.
It’s a two-year agreement. Already, Estrella Media and TV Azteca have committed to co-produce original content and specials, including Estrella TV’s annual Regional Mexican music awards, Premios de la Radio — originally created as a cross-promotion tool for Estrella Media’s radio stations under former entity LBI Media.
The content the companies will co-produce are a combination of scripted and unscripted for their broadcast television networks and digital OTT, AVOD, and FAST channels.
“This agreement brings two unique Spanish-language media companies together to create unparalleled content for Hispanic audiences in the U.S. and Mexico,” said Peter Markham, (pictured), the CEO of Burbank, Calif.-based Estrella Media. He personally thanked Benjamín Salinas, Vice President of the Board of Azteca parent Grupo Salinas, and the teams from both companies who helped shape the partnership.
“This partnership with EstrellaTV will allow us to broaden the reach of the best productions to Mexico and the U.S.,” said Salinas. “We believe in joining efforts with key partners, and our alliance with EstrellaTV means a great enhancement to what the public will find on multiple platforms: high-quality productions wherever and whenever they want them.”
Further details surrounding the digital distribution and digital content offerings will be unveiled at the Estrella Media presentation at the 2022 IAB NewFronts, on May 5 at 12:45 pm Eastern. Content details will be announced at the Estrella Media Upfront virtual presentation on May 9.
