Univision Communications Inc. has launched Univision Story House, a new content development and production venture that will produce original content for the Univision networks and other networks and platforms.
New York-based Univision said the unit, which operates out of Los Angeles, has already inked a production deal with HBO for two projects.
Story House is part of Univision’s Fusion Media Group and is overseen by Camila Jimenez Villa, Fusion’s president and chief content officer. Juan Rendón, who previously led Univision and Fusion’s documentary division, and Silvana Aguirre will serve as the venture’s creative directors.
Christian Gabela has been named vice president and general manager and will help lead strategy and partnerships as well as manage the daily operations of the team. The team will report to Isaac Lee, Univision’s chief news and digital officer.
Univision said Story House aims to “create innovative stories and formats that appeal to the new, rising American mainstream in both English and Spanish” and build on Univision’s “storytelling abilities to bring to life narratives and characters that are revealing, authentic and reflect the diversity of the changing face of America.” Story House will also use news archives and tap into the journalists of Univision News to source and develop long-form fiction and nonfiction content.
“There is a wealth of untold stories about Latin America and the cross-cultural experience in the United States,” Rendón said in a statement. “The diversity of backgrounds and experiences that our experienced team embodies gives us the ability to tell those stories in the most authentic way.”
“Our goal is to be the go-to place for premium content for the new, rising American mainstream regardless of brand, platform, or language,” said Jimenez Villa.
Story House’s production deal with HBO includes “Outpost,” a 10-part series that combines experiential journalism and adventure travel, with “immersive” stories on current events, subcultures, the environment, and adventure sports. The other project is “Hate in America,” which takes Univision and Fusion anchor Jorge Ramos on the road to investigate hatred in this country.
Source: Los Angeles Business Journal
###
