Univision ups Lee to top entertainment post

Hispanic US broadcaster Univision has promoted the exec who oversaw the creation of subsidiary Fusion Media Group to a top entertainment role.

Isaac Lee (pictured), who was most recently chief news and digital officer, has now added entertainment and music to his duties.

He will continue to report to Univision president and CEO Randy Falco.

Lee was already in charge of Univision’s investments in news network Fusion, general entertainment network El Rey, news satire sites The Onion and Clickhole and Univision Digital.

Among his first moves in his expanded role will be hiring a president of entertainment, who will report into him.

He will also continue to work closely with Mexican broadcaster and Univision content partner Televisa, developing the newly-launched development and production business Storyhouse, which will coproduce upcoming Netflix drama El Chapo. Lee will also oversee Patricio Wills joint venture W Studios.

“Univision continues to evolve and drive innovation and I am confident that in this new role Isaac will further align our content and platform teams to strategically drive growth and engagement,” said Falco.

He added the promotion was part of a strategy to “continually disrupt the media landscape”.

Lee, who has a background in Spanish-language news services, has been with Univision since 2010. He has led Fusion, which was previously a JV with ABC, as CEO since 2013.

In related news, Univision has accused US cable operator Charter Communications of refusing the negotiate a renewal contract.

It has filed a lawsuit based on a “preposterous theory” that Time Warner Cable, which Charter recently acquired, controls Charter’s existing contract with Univision.

“But everyone knows that is not true: the longstanding CEO and the executive team of Charter, as well as its pre-existing board of directors, now manage and control all of the cable systems,” Univision said in a statement.

“Indeed, Charter pitched this deal to regulators, its subscribers, and the public, as one where its management team would take control of the combined company, and that is exactly what happened.

“Quite simply, Charter promised one thing publicly in order to secure approval for its acquisition and is now privately claiming the exact opposite to Univision.”

Miami-based Univision claims Charter is using the US$55 billion TWC merger to impose licence fees “dramatically below” going market rates.

Charter couldn’t reached for comment at press time, but a spokesperson told the New York Times: “We have a long-term contract with Univision, and we expect them to honour it.”