The Univision CEO talks ‘firing’ Donald Trump, how to reverse his ratings slide, the fate of the telenovela and snapping up Gawker sites
In June 2015, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump sent a letter to Univision CEO Randy Falco, banning the media exec from his Miami golf resort following the Spanish-language broadcaster’s decision not to air the Miss USA pageant that Trump owned. But if the slight bothered Falco, an avid golfer, he’s not letting on. The letter sits framed in his corner office at Univision’s New York headquarters. And Falco, who has since been invited back to Trump’s resort, remembers with a chuckle how Trump told him, “I was personally hurt by what you did. Because, Randy, you fired me on the air.”
As the mainstream media is struggling with how to cover Trump, Falco, 63, is positioning Univision squarely as an advocate for its mostly Spanish-speaking audience. And at least in the news game, it’s working. Evening news ratings are up 17 percent since January. But the Trump bump can’t entirely save Univision — which is owned by a Haim Saban-led investor group and brought in $846 million during 2016’s fourth quarter — from ratings erosion. In four years, the network lost 48 percent of its primetime demo audience as rival Telemundo became competitive, though Univision remained the top Spanish-language network last season. So Falco, who spent 30 years at NBC, is emphasizing live entertainment and sports while revamping telenovelas for a modern audience.
Falco, who led AOL during the final years of its merger with Time Warner before joining Univision in 2011, also sees a future for digital programming aimed at a multicultural audience. With a long-planned IPO still on hold, the company has been buying up media brands — everything from Gawker to The Onion — to boost a portfolio that includes Fusion, the website and cable network that began as a joint venture with ABC aimed at Latino millennials.
This story is from the March 29, 2017 edition of The Hollywood Reporter.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 29, 2017 edition of The Hollywood Reporter.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Michael Ovitz, Me And The Truce That Never Was
As a new book puts the focus back on CAA’s origins, Kim Masters recalls how the agent’s fit at The Palm and her follow-up kicked off one of Hollywood’s prickliest pas de deux.
Songs Of Innocence And Experience
How 5 writers found the music to convey their films’ tragedy, injustice, patriotism and loveA Wonderful Example of ‘What the World Loves About America’
Execs Can Boycott The Press Tour — But Not The Pressing Questions
With top programmers passing on January’s TV Critics Association panels, THR poses (and answers) the five toughest quandaries of the unfolding season
Making Of Kubo And The Two Strings
Old-fashioned stop-motion meets new-fashioned 3D printing in this directorial debut by the head of Portland, Ore.-based Laika studios — and THR was on the set.
A World Of Pioneering Talents
Along with best picture contender Elle these 13 films may have the momentum to make the Oscar shortlist (still to be announced as this issue went to press)
Iain Canning & Emile Sherman
The Brit-Aussie team behind Lion talk winning an Oscar for The King’s Speech, working with Harvey Weinstein and the upcoming biblical epic Mary Magdalene
Producer Of The Year Charles Roven
He reveals what really happened between George Clooney and David O. Russell, witnessed Richard Pryor behave (very) badly in church and fired an actor for repeatedly shouting ‘cut’ on a set. All in a day’s work for a Hollywood slugger with $2B in 2016 box office.
No Happy Endings Required
The death of satire, when to kill a scene and how to write a Trump movie (‘Let’s hope it’s not a tragedy’).
Don't Stop, Won't Stop Believing
Hulu’s The Path centers on a fringe religious movement, Meyerism, with Emmy winner Aaron Paul as a disruptive doubter — but during a visit from THR, cast, crew and showrunners all seem in perfect harmony.
Ryan Murphy: American Success Story
The prolific producer opens up about the future of American Horror Story, his plans for more Broadway and the real reason an American Crime Story season centered on Hurricane Katrina won’t be quite as depressing as it sounds.
