El Rey Network (Spanish for The King) is a media brand founded by Robert Rodriguez on December 15, 2013, that is currently owned in a joint venture with FactoryMade Ventures.
December 15, 2013 (2013-12-15) (television) August 17, 2021 (2021-08-17) (streaming)
Closed
December 31, 2020 (2020-12-31) (television)
Links
Website
www.elreynetwork.com
Until December 31, 2020, El Rey was a cable and satellite network, operated and distributed in-partnership with Univision Communications (now known as TelevisaUnivision), dedicated to Grindhouse-style programming targeting Hispanic audiences. By March 2015, approximately 40 million households received El Rey;[1][2] its carriage would fall to 13 million households by the time of the network's closure.[3]
Historyedit
As a television network (2013–2020)edit
El Rey Network was one of two ethnic outlets created as part of an agreement between Comcast, NBC Universal, and the FCC as a condition for the merger between the former two broadcasters (the other network being Revolt).[1]
The network's headquarters was in Austin, Texas, and launched as part of the digital basic service on some of Comcast's systems.[4][5] Comcast announced that the network was expected to debut by January 2014.[6] In August 2012, Antoinette Alfonso Zel was announced as CEO.[7] In May 2013, Univision Communications (now known as TelevisaUnivision USA) announced that it would be an investor for El Rey, handling the sales and distribution of the network.[8][9]
Between 2018 and 2020, various cable and satellite providers began dropping the network. On November 6, 2020, Univision announced it had sold its stake in El Rey, as part of a larger effort by the company to refocus on its core Spanish-language businesses.[22][23] Soon after, it would be reported that El Rey would cease operations on December 31, though it was speculated that the network would relaunch as a streaming brand.[24] The network went dark at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.[25]
As a streaming network (2021–present)edit
On August 6, 2021, El Rey Network announced a partnership with Cinedigm that would see the network relaunch as a streaming channel. As part of this agreement, Cinedigm will exclusively distribute Rodriguez's 2019 film, Red 11, and a companion docuseries titled Rebel Without a Crew: The Robert Rodriguez Film School.[26][27][28] El Rey would relaunch later that month via The Roku Channel on August 17.[29]
Programmingedit
El Rey Network's original programming included action genre series, sports, and lifestyle programming. Annual programming included a marathon of Toho-produced Godzilla films during the Christmas & Independence Day weekends and the ThanksgivingWay of the Turkey marathon of kung fu films.[30]
^ abcdRodman, Sarah (January 26, 2014). "New cable networks hope to blaze a trail". Boston Globe. Vol. 285, no. 26. pp. N1, N8 – via Newspapers.com.
^Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2015). "Distribution approximation as of March 2015". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
^Avalos, Regina (December 30, 2020). "El Rey Network: Robert Rodriguez Channel to End on Thursday". TV Series Finale. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
^Dinges, Gary (June 11, 2014). "El Rey network to be based in Austin". Austin American-Statesman. Vol. 143, no. 321. Austin, Texas: Cox Media Group. pp. B7, B8 – via Newspapers.com. Note: the link provided is for page B7; here is the link to page B8.
^"Comcast to start new minority-owned cable channels". Sports Illustrated. February 21, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
^Molloy, Tim (February 21, 2012). "Comcast Announces New Networks With Magic Johnson, Sean Combs, Robert Rodriguez". Reuters. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
^"El Rey Network Announces Antoinette Alfonso Zel As CEO". PR Newswire. August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
^"Univision Communications and El Rey Network Announce Strategic Partnership, Unveil Upcoming Scripted Series". Univision. May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
^"Univision pairs with Rodriguez on El Rey network". Associated Press. May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
^T2's Robert Patrick & More Join 'From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series', by Craig Hunter
^ abde la Fuente, Anna Marie (February 13, 2014). "Univision's Fourth Quarter, Full Year Revenue Rises". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
^"Univision, Time Warner Cable strike new distribution deal". Los Angeles Times. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
^Poggi, Jeanine (December 26, 2013). "New TV Networks Scorecard: Eight Cable Channels to Watch in 2014". Advertising Age. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
^"Bright House Networks Launches Univision Deportes Network and Univision tlNovelas". Bright House Networks. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
^"DIRECTV Rumor Alert (El Rey Network launched 1/1)". satelliteguys.us. December 28, 2013.
^Caldwell, James (July 10, 2014). "AAA news: El Rey announces AAA Lucha Libre show for U.S. TV - timeslot, show title, more details". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
^"Lucha Underground promotion TV debut moved back three weeks". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. September 22, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
^"5/20 Moore's Lucha Underground Review: The Crew vs. Son of Havoc, Ivelisse, and Angelico in a Ladder Match for the Lucha Underground Trios Championship, Marty The Moth vs. Prince Puma, Daivari vs. Texano". Prowrestling.net. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
^"Lucha Underground: A new era in wrestling". ESPN. January 27, 2016. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016.
^Reynolds, Mike (January 29, 2015). "Dish Inks Distribution Deal with El Rey". MultiChannel News. NewBay Media. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
^Farrell, Mike (February 3, 2015). "Suddenlink Launches El Rey Network". Multichannel News. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
^"Univision Exits Minority Position in El Rey, Enabling El Rey to Continue as an Independently Owned Entertainment Company" (Press release). Business Wire. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
^Hayes, Dade (April 8, 2019). "Univision Finalizes Sale Of Former Gawker Portfolio And The Onion To Private Equity Firm Great Hill Partners". Deadline. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
^Maclean, Amy (December 8, 2020). "El Rey Contemplates Next Steps As Network to Shut Down". CableFax. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
^"Schedule for El Rey Network". El Rey Network. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.[1]
^Faughnder, Ryan (August 6, 2021). "Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network to revive through streaming after going dark". LA Times. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^Spangler, Todd (August 6, 2021). "Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network Cable Channel to Be Rebooted for Streaming With Cinedigm". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^Hayes, Dade (August 6, 2021). "Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network Segues From Cable TV To Streaming In Deal With Cinedigm". Deadline. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^"El Rey Network To Air Legendary "Baja Desert Championship: Baja 500" On August 6th At 5 PM ET". Deadline Hollywood (Press release). Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^"Martial Arts Series 'Bushido Battleground' Gets Green Light At El Rey Network". Deadline Hollywood. July 27, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
^ ab"El Rey Network Adds Pair of Evening Talk Shows". Multichannel.com. April 16, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
^Negley, Erin (April 6, 2015). "Making the Cut". LNP. Vol. 220, no. 292. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Steinman Communications – via Newspapers.com.
^Starace, Alex (Winter 2017). "Animation Creation: Octopie Network Spreads its Tentacles". International Opulence Magazine. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Horizon Publishing. p. 99. Retrieved January 24, 2020. Note: Scroll down the target page to the digital magazine for Winter 2017/2018 and access page 99.
^"Man at Arms: Art of War: Season 1" Archived August 20, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. El Rey Network. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^El Rey Network Greenlights Second Season Of ‘Man At Arms: Art Of War’
^"El Rey Network To Boost Original Content By 50%; 'From Dusk Till Dawn' Still In Limbo – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. January 13, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
^"El Rey Network to show marathon of Muhammad Ali's 1977 animated series". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
Further readingedit
Rodriguez, Robert (March 14, 2014). "Tailor-made cable". The Morning Call (Interview). No. 44357. Interviewed by Meredith Blake. Allentown, Pennsylvania – via Newspapers.com. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to El Rey Network.