Javier Pons, president of Telemundo Studios: One of our primary goals at Telemundo Studios is to expand our reach into the world of film
A few months ago, Javier Pons assumed the role of president of Telemundo Studios. The seasoned Spanish executive, a journalist and producer by trade, brings over 45 years of experience to the industry, having spent significant time in both radio and television. In an interview with Richard Izarra on #PRODUprimetime, Pons emphasized that Telemundo Studios’ primary focus remains, and will always be, the Telemundo network, while also expressing openness to producing content for external clients.
Of those 45 years of career, 22 were spent in radio, culminating in his appointment as CEO of Prisa Radio, where he oversaw its Latin American stations. He then transitioned to television, accumulating 23 years of experience as a producer and senior executive at various companies. PRODU first began following his career in Mexico when he produced for TV Azteca and later when he led Mediapro’s Globomedia studios in Madrid, his hometown. There, he spent over eight years developing successful original content.
“We all have a unique signature, otherwise, what’s the point of being here? But, indeed, the signature often takes a backseat to the brand. In this sense, individual personalities and talents can become diluted, overshadowed by the overarching brand identity,” commented Pons. “As a seasoned professional with years of experience, I’ve always strived to contribute my expertise and unique perspective to the various teams I’ve worked with,” he added.
“The talented team at Telemundo Studios was already a leader before I arrived. Naturally, my goal is to reinforce and build upon their strengths, those unique qualities that resonate with our community. I aim to humbly contribute my experience and expertise, always striving to move the studio forward.”
Throughout the conversation, Pons repeatedly emphasized that the studios were already producing a significant amount of original fiction content. He dismissed the notion that he could take credit for this, highlighting several projects he had initiated before his arrival and others that were in development or had been completed since then.
“We recently completed a production in Mexico for Warner Bros. titled Colisión. It’s currently in post-production and consists of 45 episodes. We’re also collaborating with the talented Sebastián Ortega and his company, Underground, on several exciting projects. They have just begun filming En el Barro for Netflix, a spin-off of the immensely popular Argentine series El Marginal. This series has achieved tremendous success both in Argentina and throughout Latin America. In addition, we’ve made our debut in the film industry with Casi el Paraíso, a film that is set to premiere in Mexico next September. One of our primary goals at Telemundo Studios is to expand our reach into the world of film. We have several more projects in development with Sebastián Ortega’s Underground, including a long-form series filmed with Telefe Paramount and various projects for Disney and Amazon.”
“I’ve been following Sebastián Ortega’s work for many years, even when he was based in Spain,” Pons said. “Now, it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to collaborate with him on the same team.”
“I first reached out to Sebastián Ortega when I was working for Spanish Public Television. We were interested in adapting a popular Spanish series and sought his involvement due to his distinctive perspective and unique creative vision. His talent and approach immediately captivated me, and I’ve been following his career for about 13 or 14 years. Now, I’m incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with him on projects that share our passion and vision.”
Pons emphasized the importance of aligning his priorities and focus as head of Telemundo Studios with the overarching strategy of NBCUniversal and Telemundo as a network.
“Our top priority, without a doubt, is the Telemundo screen. This is where we’ve concentrated all our efforts. However, that doesn’t mean we’re neglecting other opportunities. I believe that while the Telemundo screen is our primary focus, there’s a vast world of opportunities in streaming that shouldn’t distract us from our core mission but should allow us to expand our reach,” he said. “Through these platforms, we can offer a lot to the Latino community in the US and around the globe. One of the significant advantages of streaming is that content is no longer produced solely for one market. Instead, we can create content that resonates with audiences worldwide.”
Another key topic discussed was the volume of fiction content being produced and the plans for future production, as well as the primary territories where the company intends to focus its efforts. Pons disclosed that in 2023, Telemundo Studios produced over 900 hours of fiction and that the goal is to continue expanding this output year after year.
Pons further stated that Miami would remain the primary production hub for Telemundo Studios, alongside Argentina, which is already well-represented by Sebastián Ortega’s team. However, he expressed a desire to expand production to other regions of the US that reflect the diversity of Hispanic communities there, as well as exploring projects in Mexico, Spain, and potentially Colombia.
“First and foremost, I believe it’s a challenge. Telemundo NBCUniversal is a premier reference point for anyone working in the media industry. I think any professional in the world would aspire to be in our shoes, to have the privilege of representing this renowned brand, this rich history, and the immense talent concentrated within this company, both at the parent company and at Telemundo,” he explained. “Truth be told, we’ve always had our sights set on this beautiful market. This challenge was the driving force behind my decision to join Telemundo. I’ve had the opportunity to work in various countries, across different audiovisual formats, including radio and television, in France, Spain, Mexico, and the US. Whether you like it or not, the US is the world’s primary media market, and who wouldn’t want to be part of it, especially with the best brand available, NBCUniversal Telemundo?”
