Cisneros Media

Cisneros Media, historically known as Venevisión International, is an entertainment and media division of the Cisneros Group of Companies. Its activities center on the creation, licensing, distribution and broadcasting of Spanish-language television and film content for audiences in the United States, Latin America and other international markets. The company operates across several connected parts of the entertainment value chain, including television networks, program distribution, independent production, film distribution, pay-TV channels, mobile content and intellectual-property administration. The business began in 1969 as Teverama Florida, a distribution venture established with Radio Caracas Television to sell Venezuelan programming outside Venezuela. After the relationship with RCTV ended and the distribution operation separated from the business that became Coral Pictures, the company adopted the name America Television Inc. In 1987 it became Venevisión International, a name associated with the international circulation of Venezuelan television, particularly telenovelas and variety programming. The company developed into one of the significant distributors of Spanish-language television programming, with a catalogue spanning soap operas, entertainment, music, comedy, game shows, talk shows, children's programming, documentaries and films from Latin America, Spain and Hollywood. A major strategic turning point came in 1992, when Grupo Cisneros joined a consortium with Jerry Perenchio and Emilio Azcárraga Milmo to acquire Univision. The transaction gave Grupo Cisneros a substantial minority position and helped deepen commercial and programming links between Venevisión and the U.S. Spanish-language television market. The relationship supported the distribution and co-production of telenovelas and other programming. The consortium's ownership was ultimately unwound through the 2007 sale of Univision Communications. From 2000 onward, Venevisión International broadened its role beyond third-party distribution. It invested in original production, developed a stronger presence in the U.S. Hispanic market, and established Miami as an important base for independent Spanish-language television production. Its film activities included theatrical, pay-per-view, pay-TV, video, hotel and tourism, airline, broadband and internet distribution. The company also created or operated specialized content businesses, including Latcel for mobile content and VeneMobile for mobile distribution of Cisneros material. It participated in television and theater projects with partners such as Spain's Nostromo and owned a Miami theater from 2001 to 2005. The group expanded into specialty television with the launch of the Spanish-language movie channel VeneMovies in 2006. The service used the company's Spanish-language film catalogue and combined round-the-clock movies with interviews and festival coverage for Hispanic viewers in the United States. Its international pay-TV activities also evolved through the Venevisión Continental, Novelísima and Ve Plus brands. Ve Plus became the successor to earlier international signals and focused on telenovelas, talk shows, variety programming and other Latin entertainment, with feeds serving different geographic markets. On October 28, 2013, the Cisneros Group relaunched Venevisión International as Cisneros Media as part of a wider corporate restructuring. The new division brought together Venevisión, the Ve Plus international channel, the Miss Venezuela Organization, Cisneros Media Distribution, Venevisión International Productions and Cisneros Studios. In this structure, Cisneros Media combined broadcaster, producer, distributor and channel-owner functions rather than operating solely as an export distributor. The company also represented Boat Rocker Media titles in Latin America in 2016, reflecting continued participation in international content licensing. Cisneros Media's positioning is built around…

Cisneros Media traces its origins to 1969, when the distribution business was established in Florida under the name Teverama Florida. It worked with Radio Caracas Television to distribute Venezuelan programming to overseas audiences. After the partnership ended, the operation separated from the entity that became Coral Pictures and changed its name to America Television Inc. In 1987, it adopted the name Venevisión International, aligning the business more closely with Venezuela's Venevisión television network and its international programming ambitions. During the late twentieth century, Venevisión International became a major exporter of Spanish-language television. Its catalogue emphasized Venezuelan telenovelas but also included entertainment formats, music, comedy, game shows, talk shows, children's programming, documentaries and films sourced from several Latin American countries, Spain and Hollywood. Its business model combined direct sales of programming rights with broader distribution arrangements for television channels, home video, hospitality systems and emerging digital outlets. The company's international importance increased in 1992, when Grupo Cisneros joined Jerry Perenchio and Emilio Azcárraga Milmo in a consortium that acquired Univision for $500 million. Grupo Cisneros held a 25 percent stake in Univision and later a 12.5 percent position in Univision Communications, according to the cited reference material. The ownership connection helped Venezuelan programming reach the U.S. Spanish-language television audience and supported co-production relationships between Venevisión International and Univision Communications. The consortium later sold Univision in 2007. Beginning in 2000, the company pursued a more diversified strategy. It developed original productions and sought a larger role in the U.S. Hispanic market, while establishing Miami as an important center for independent Spanish-language television production. The business also entered film distribution, releasing Spanish-language movies through cinemas, pay-per-view, pay television, home video, hotels, tourism systems and internet channels. It described itself as a pioneer in independent Spanish-language television production in Miami. Additional activities included Latcel, a U.S. Hispanic mobile-content business, and VeneMobile, which distributed Cisneros content through mobile services. The group added a specialized film channel with VeneMovies in 2006. The service used the company's Spanish-language film library and offered continuous movie programming together with interviews and coverage of major film festivals. In television, the company managed the evolution of the Venevisión Continental service. Venevisión Continental launched in 2000 as an international cable channel carrying entertainment, news, talk shows and soap operas. A later pilot project, Venevisión Novelísima Plus, led to the Novelísima identity, which concentrated on telenovelas, Latin entertainment, talk shows and contests while excluding opinion, political and news programming. In 2012, Novelísima and Venevisión Plus Dominicana were combined as Ve Plus TV; the service was subsequently branded Ve Plus. Cisneros Media also participated in theatrical and television projects with Spain's Nostromo and owned a theater in Miami from 2001 through 2005. These activities illustrate the company's effort to extend beyond television licensing into production and live entertainment. On October 28, 2013, the Cisneros Group relaunched Venevisión International as Cisneros Media. The restructuring grouped the Venevisión broadcast network, Ve Plus, the Miss Venezuela Organization, Cisneros Media Distribution, Venevisión International Productions and Cisneros Studios within a single entertainment division. The change reflected a shift from a primarily international distribution identity toward a broader, integrated media organization with broadcast, production, channel, film and rights-management capabilities. In 2016, the company represented Boat Rocker Media titles in Latin America. The available sources identify Peter Tinoco as the head of Cisneros Media but do not provide a complete current executive roster, financial statements or a confirmed headquarters address.

1. 2017The international channel is branded Ve Plus

   The television service previously known as Novelísima and Ve Plus TV adopts the Ve Plus brand.

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2. 2016Boat Rocker Media representation agreement

   Cisneros Media represents Boat Rocker Media programming in Latin America.

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3. 2013Venevisión International becomes Cisneros Media

   The Cisneros Group relaunches the business under the Cisneros Media name as part of a corporate restructuring.

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4. 2012Novelísima and Venevisión Plus Dominicana are combined

   The two services are merged to form Ve Plus TV.

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5. 2007The Univision consortium exits through a sale

   The consortium that included Grupo Cisneros sells Univision Communications, ending that ownership phase.

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6. 2006VeneMovies launches

   The group introduces a Spanish-language movie channel for the U.S. Hispanic market.

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7. 2000Original-production and Hispanic-market expansion begins

   Venevisión International begins diversifying toward original production and a stronger presence in the U.S. Hispanic market.

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8. 2000Venevisión Continental launches

   The international cable service begins broadcasting entertainment, news, talk shows and telenovelas to Spanish-speaking markets.

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9. 1992Grupo Cisneros joins the Univision acquisition consortium

   Grupo Cisneros participates with Jerry Perenchio and Emilio Azcárraga Milmo in the acquisition of Univision, strengthening links between Venezuelan and U.S. Spanish-language television.

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10. 1987The business adopts the Venevisión International name

    After earlier operating as America Television Inc., the distribution company becomes Venevisión International.

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11. 1969Teverama Florida is established

    The company opens as a Florida-based distributor of Venezuelan programming in cooperation with Radio Caracas Television.

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A vertically integrated Spanish-language entertainment company combining television broadcasting, original production, international content distribution, film distribution, pay television and digital content for Hispanic and international audiences.

• VenevisiónTelevision network

  Venevisión is the Venezuelan television network associated with Cisneros Media. It supplies the group with a major Spanish-language broadcast platform and has historically served as a source of telenovelas, variety programming, entertainment and other locally produced content for domestic and international distribution.

• Ve PlusInternational pay-TV channel2012

  Ve Plus is a subscription television service carrying telenovelas, talk shows, variety programming and other Latin entertainment. It evolved from Venevisión Continental and Novelísima, and operates distinct feeds for international markets, Venezuela and the United States.

• Cisneros Media DistributionTelevision and film distribution

  Cisneros Media Distribution licenses and sells entertainment content internationally. Its catalogue includes telenovelas, films, musicals, comedies, game shows, talk shows, children's programs and documentaries from Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Spain and other markets.

• Venevisión International ProductionsTelevision production

  This production operation develops Spanish-language television programs in multiple genres, using facilities in Miami and regional production relationships. It supports programming associated with Venevisión International and the broader Cisneros entertainment portfolio.

• Cisneros StudiosIndependent production studio

  Cisneros Studios is the production arm associated with Cisneros Media's Spanish-language programming activities in the United States and for Venevisión. It reflects the group's strategy of combining content creation with international distribution.

• VeneMoviesSpanish-language movie channel2006

  VeneMovies is a pay-TV movie channel created for the U.S. Hispanic audience. Its schedule is built around Spanish-language films and is supplemented by interviews and coverage connected with major film festivals.

• LatcelMobile content

  Latcel is a Cisneros-linked business producing and distributing mobile content for the U.S. Hispanic market, extending the group's entertainment catalogue beyond conventional television.

• VeneMobileMobile content distribution

  VeneMobile is a division offering Cisneros Group content through mobile-market services. It represents the company's early expansion into mobile delivery and digital entertainment.

• 2016Representing Boat Rocker Media programming in Latin AmericaOther

  Cisneros Media continued to expand its third-party content distribution relationships in Latin America.

  What changed. The company represented Boat Rocker Media titles in the region.

  Aftermath. The agreement reinforced Cisneros Media's role as a regional distributor of international entertainment content.

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• 2013Restructuring as Cisneros MediaStrategy

  The Cisneros Group reorganized its entertainment activities around a broader integrated media division rather than a stand-alone international distribution company.

  What changed. On October 28, 2013, Venevisión International was relaunched as Cisneros Media, incorporating broadcasting, pay television, production, distribution and the Miss Venezuela Organization.

  Aftermath. The reorganization gave the business a wider corporate identity and connected its broadcast, production and content-rights operations.

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• 2012Combining Novelísima and Venevisión Plus DominicanaGeneration change

  The Cisneros Group had developed related Spanish-language entertainment services for different markets, including the Novelísima service and Venevisión Plus Dominicana.

  What changed. The signals were merged to create Ve Plus TV.

  Aftermath. The consolidation created a broader subscription channel identity that was later shortened to Ve Plus.

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• 2006Launching VeneMoviesProduct launch

  Cisneros Media used its Spanish-language film catalogue to address demand for dedicated Hispanic movie programming in the United States.

  What changed. The group launched VeneMovies as a 24-hour Spanish-language pay-TV movie channel with films, interviews and festival coverage.

  Aftermath. The launch expanded the group from program distribution into branded specialty-channel operations.

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• 1992Participating in the acquisition of UnivisionM&A

  Grupo Cisneros sought a stronger position in the U.S. Spanish-language television business and joined a consortium led by Jerry Perenchio and Emilio Azcárraga Milmo.

  What changed. The consortium acquired Univision, with Grupo Cisneros holding a reported 25 percent stake in Univision and later a 12.5 percent stake in Univision Communications.

  Aftermath. The ownership relationship supported the distribution and co-production of Venevisión programming for U.S. Hispanic audiences. The consortium later sold Univision Communications in 2007.

  Acquisition price. $500 million (1992 transaction)

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• 2017Ve Plus branding replaces the earlier Novelísima identity

  The subscription television service formerly associated with Venevisión Continental and Novelísima was rebranded as Ve Plus.

  Product generationProduct launch
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• 2016Cisneros Media represents Boat Rocker Media titles in Latin America

  Cisneros Media represented programming from Boat Rocker Media in Latin American markets, extending its role as an international content distributor.

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• 2013Venevisión International is renamed Cisneros Media

  The Cisneros Group relaunched Venevisión International under the Cisneros Media name during a broader corporate restructuring, bringing several entertainment businesses under the new division.

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• 2006VeneMovies launches as a Spanish-language movie channel

  The Cisneros Group launched VeneMovies as a U.S.-focused pay-TV movie service built around Spanish-language films and related entertainment coverage.

  Product launch
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1. Cisneros Media