Univision signs Eugenio Derbez’s 3Pas to first-look deal ahead of SVoD launch

Ben Odell and Eugenio Derbez

Spanish-language media and content company Univision Communications has signed a first-look deal with Mexican star Eugenio Derbez and 3Pas Studios, which Derbez runs alongside his producing partner Ben Odell.

The deal gives Univision a first look at all Spanish-language TV and theatrical films controlled by 3Pas Studios and Derbez, including movies and series for SVoD or theatrical releases.

The announcement comes as Univision gears up to launch a global streaming service in 2022. The platform will have both an SVoD and AVoD component, with Univision claiming it will “become the home to the most extensive offering of originally produced Spanish-language content in the world.”

Further details about the streamer and its roll-out are expected in the coming months, once the merger between US Hispanic broadcaster Univision and Mexican media company Televisa is completed. The mega-merger, announced in April, sees Univision buying the content and media assets of Televisa for around US$4.8bn. The deal comprises US$3bn in cash, US$1.5bn in Univision equity and US$300m from other sources.

Derbez and 3Pas Studios, which has offices in LA, Miami and Mexico City, will develop and produce a range of Spanish-language content for Univision’s SVoD platform, including projects starring Derbez. In addition, the actor and director will serve as a subject matter expert to develop and acquire Spanish-language content for the new Derbez Channel, which is scheduled to launch in Latin America as part of the AVoD tier of Univision’s upcoming streamer.

The deal represents an expansion of the business relationship between Derbez and Univision, which also owns the rights to a number of popular series fronted by the actor, including the sitcoms Al Derecho y al Derbez and La Familia P Luche and the blockbuster Instructions Not Included, the latter of which became the highest-grossing Spanish-language film of all time in the US.

In addition to the first-look deal with Derbez, Univision has deals in place with best-selling author Maria Dueñas, critically acclaimed director Santiago Limon and Nobel Prize for Literature winner Mario Vargas Llosa.