Aug 8, 2021,09:20pm EDT|826
Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Cable Net Streams Back To Life With Cinedigm Partnership
Veronica Villafañe
Contributor
Hollywood & Entertainment
I’m an expert in the Hispanic media industry.
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Robert Rodriguez, Founder and Chairman of El Rey Network. MATT SAYLES/INVISION FOR EL REY NETWORK/AP IMAGES
El Rey is coming back to life. Director Robert Rodriguez's struggling cable network, launched in 2013, came to an abrupt end December 31, 2020. When the niche cable net went off the air, fans hoped it would be revived, even suggesting he should launch an El Rey streaming channel. Well, that's apparently in the works.
El Rey Network, founded and owned by Rodriguez, John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa, and FactoryMade Ventures signed a partnership deal with streaming company Cinedigm. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The alliance will help El Rey transition from a linear to free ad-supported streaming channel. Cinedigm will have exclusive rights to El Rey’s content catalog and will exclusively distribute Rodriguez's feature film Red 11 and the companion docuseries Rebel Without A Crew: The Robert Rodriguez Film School.
Plans are for an El Rey over-the-top streaming service to be made available to all OTT distribution platforms, connected TVs, digital set-top boxes, media-streaming devices, as well as the web later this year. No date has been announced yet.
“El Rey has always been a network for the people - a mainstream outlet where we discover diverse, independent voices. The fact that we can also now make our catalogue of kick-ass programming available for free to all gives me enormous joy,” said Rodriguez. "As audiences move deliberately to streaming, it was important for me to democratize our platform so that the masses have the opportunity to see themselves in our lineup of curated, inclusive and entertaining content. This is a huge win in every way, and I want to thank Cinedigm for putting fans first with this new alliance."
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Behind the scenes of the Red 11 docuseries "Rebel Without A Crew The Robert Rodriguez Film School." EL REY
Rodriguez envisioned creating a culturally diverse "action-packed, general entertainment network in English for Latino and general audiences." Among the cable net's original and popular programs: From Dusk Till Dawn, Lucha Underground, The Chuey Martinez Show, and The Director's Chair, a series of specials featuring Rodriguez interviewing other directors, including Quentin Tarantino, John Carpenter, Francis Ford Coppola and Guillermo del Toro.
“What was once only available to those with expensive cable packages is now available through a variety of mediums. The partnership with El Rey allows the channel to broaden its digital footprint, as well as expand the access of its incredible programming to audiences worldwide,” said Erick Opeka, President & Chief Strategy Officer at Cinedigm.
Rodriguez previously partnered with Univision before the network's launch in 2013, which helped in the promotion, sales and distribution. At the time, Univision was also trying to tap into the English-language Hispanic market. But the Spanish-language media efforts fizzled and El Rey struggled to find its audience and wide distribution on cable and satellite providers. The relationship with Univision ended in November 2020, a month before El Rey ceased operations.
Taking a full dive into the streaming space will give El Rey broader and direct access to its fan base. Cinedigm’s president is confident its strong advertising partner relationships "will allow the channel to generate substantial advertising revenue among a key demographic in the growing AVOD & FAST space.”
