Cultural network Once México appoints GM

Carlos Brito

Latin American cultural network Once México has appointed a GM to oversee its operations.

Carlos Brito Lavalle takes up the position at the non-profit Mexican channel, which is owned by Mexico’s Instituto Politécnico Nacional. A US feed directed at Spanish-language viewers is also available via Canal+ backed THEMA America.

Brito Lavalle previously headed up Once México’s acquisition division and worked across operations of the Aprende En Casa (Learn At Home) program.

He joined the organisation in 2019 and is focused in his new role on expanding Once’s public education remit, including the channel’s distance education project in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It airs shows that aim to highlight Mexico’s cultural heritage, across genres such as gastronomy and natural beauty.

Brito Lavalle added that on the US front, he would “intensify efforts to turn Once México into a multiplatform that offers inclusive cultural and educational content that will also attract people who generally don’t watch TV”.

Canal Once began broadcasting in Mexico in 1959 and reaches nearly 75 million viewers in the country. THEMA America represents and distributes Once México’s international signal to the Hispanic market in the US, where it reaches an audience of more than 2.5 million Spanish-speaking viewers.