Pantaya

Pantaya
Screenshot
Type of site
OTT video streaming platform
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Country of originUnited States
Area servedUnited States, Puerto Rico
Key peoplePaul Presburger (CEO)[1]
ParentTelevisaUnivision
RegistrationRequired
UsersIncrease 0.9 million (as of April 1, 2021)
LaunchedAugust 1, 2017; 7 years ago (August 1, 2017)
Current statusMerged with ViX

Pantaya was an American OTT streaming service targeted for Hispanic and Spanish-language viewers.[2] Content included programs and films released in Latin America and original programming, as well as Spanish dubs from Lionsgate's select catalogue.[3][4]

The streaming service was available in the United States and Puerto Rico, and content can be accessed globally through other streaming services such as Amazon's Prime Video.[1][2][3]

After the acquisition of Pantaya by TelevisaUnivision in May, 7 months later in December, Pantaya ceased its services, and notified users about the switch to ViX.

History

Pantaya was launched in August 2017 in a joint venture between Lionsgate and Hemisphere Media Group.[3] Paul Presburger was appointed as CEO of the streaming service, who is also CEO of Pantelion Films.[1] Lionsgate has owned 75% of the streaming platform while Hemisphere owned 25% at the time.[2] In 2019, the platform has reached 500,000 subscribers.[1] In that same year, Pantaya has expanded into producing original programming, starting with El juego de las llaves which debuted in August of that year.[5][1]

In 2021, Hemisphere Media Group has acquired full ownership rights to the Pantaya streaming service from Lionsgate for $124 million, following the latter's decision to focus on the expansion of its Starz brand.[2] Lionsgate's CEO Brian Goldsmith has stated that the studio was "very proud to have helped build Pantaya into the leading premium Spanish-language platform in the U.S.," and added that Hemisphere Media Group was "the right owner".[2] Additionally, Hemisphere CEO Alan Sokol said that the company is aiming for expansion. "There's so much more we can do, and the opportunity is so much greater," Sokol said. "We've set a stated goal of 2.5 to 3 million subscribers by 2025. But honestly we feel that's a conservative goal and that the opportunity is two to three times that."[6] As of April 2021, there are 900,000 subscribers to Pantaya.[2]

More recently, she had signed a deal with actress Fernanda Castillo, whereas the actress would star in Pantaya's upcoming projects.[7]

In May 2022, TelevisaUnivision reached a deal with Hemisphere Media Group to acquire Pantaya, targeting the platform in order to fortify their own ViX streaming service.[8][9] The acquisition was completed on September 13 of that year.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Marie de la Fuente, Anna (9 October 2019). "U.S. Latinx Streaming Platform Pantaya Reels in More Subs, Ramps Up Original Programming (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Vlessing, Etan (6 April 2021). "Spanish-Language Service Pantaya Starts New Chapter After Lionsgate Sale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Tiffany, Kaitlyn (1 August 2017). "Lionsgate's Spanish-language streaming service Pantaya launches today". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions About Pantaya".
  5. ^ Villafañe, Veronica (16 August 2019). "PANTAYA Launches First Original Scripted Series 'El Juego De Las Llaves'". Forbes. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  6. ^ Faughnder, Ryan (13 June 2021). "The Spanish-language streaming wars escalate as Hollywood moves past lip service". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. ^ Cordero, Rosy (2021-12-16). "Pantaya Signs Overall Deal With Mexican Actress Fernanda Castillo". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  8. ^ Spangler, Todd (9 May 2022). "TelevisaUnivision to Buy Streaming Service Pantaya to Bulk Up ViX+". Variety.
  9. ^ Ago, 7 Hours (2022-05-10). "TelevisaUnivision bolsters streaming business with Pantaya acquisition". Digital TV Europe. Retrieved 2022-05-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "TelevisaUnivision Completes Acquisition of Streaming Service Pantaya". TelevisaUnivision. 2022-09-13.