Mediapro North America is harnessing cutting-edge technology in its production of the new US women's basketball league, Unrivaled. The 3x3 league has entrusted GRUP MEDIAPRO with delivering a next-level audiovisual experience for viewers. The group is incorporating real-time graphics in its production of the league; technology that helps viewers follow the action with live, in-game stats, providing insights into player performance, assists, rebounds and analysis of plays. It has also set up a cloud-based system to centralize and archive the league’s audiovisual assets while also facilitating both editing and the creation of content for social media and Unrivaled channels. The group distributes the tournament's audiovisual signal through TNT Sports, TruTV and MAX (Warner Bros Discovery).
GRUP MEDIAPRO, which has extensive experience in live production and handles more than 25,000 events annually, has provided all the broadcast professionals and equipment needed for the production of the league.
Mediapro North America, which has had a presence in the United States for 25 years, boasts a team of more than 200 professionals and the latest in broadcast technology. The group is a specialist in the production of live events and in the last year alone was responsible for the production of the CONCACAF Champions League, the virtual production summit 'Virtually Everything' and the Miss Universe pageant, among others. Mediapro North America has four production centers in the United States, in Miami and New York, and a further two in Mexico, in Mexico City and Monterrey.
The Mediapro Studio US & Canada announced today that it has entered into a first-look deal with Kate Del Castillo’s Cholawood Productions. The announcement was revealed by JC Acosta, Head of TMS US & Canada during a panel in Content Americas outlining the company’s production strategy for US Hispanic content, together with Francesca Ricagni, recently appointed to the studio as Head of US Hispanic Content, and Catalina Porto, TMS’ Head of Content for Mexico and Colombia.
The deal grants the studio the exclusive first look and option to develop and produce all of Cholawood’s scripted and unscripted projects.
Cholawood was co-founded by renowned actress, Kate Del Castillo and entertainment partners, Carmen Cervantes and Jessica Maldonado, who jointly spearhead operations and creative for the production company out of their Los Angeles headquarters.
The trio formed Cholawood in 2019 to create high quality content with original concepts, both in English and Spanish, highlighting female and Latino characters while maintaining broad mainstream appeal. Most recently Cholawood has had success with a Spanish language hit series, Volver a Caer on Vix, and an English language film, Hunting Ava Bravo, distributed by THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO Distribution, which was #1 for several weeks on Amazon in Latin America and currently streaming on Roku in the U.S.
Recognizing the significant opportunity to serve the large Latino audience and building upon titles such as Las bravas S2 and Intercambiadas, the North American studio also announced its commitment to this demographic with the new leader for its US Hispanic Content division, Francesca Ricagni, who has spearheaded critically acclaimed projects for Apple TV+ and other premium streaming platforms.
JC Acosta has said: “We are thrilled to welcome Cholawood productions to The Mediapro Studio. Kate, Carmen, and Jessica are true pioneers in elevating the voice of Latinos across the globe. With our studio doubling down on the US, we are excited to partner together to create stories that entertain audiences with Latino and Female lead voices”.
Kate del Castillo has said: “I’m ecstatic about this new partnership with Mediapro. They not only understand Cholawood’s vision, but also the importance of supporting females and Latinos in an industry that is going through such a transformative time. Only together can we continue to make our voices heard”.
[Kate del Castillo is currently starring on Fox’s hit series, “The Cleaning Lady”, and has several new film projects coming out soon, including Dave Bautista’s “Traphouse” (in Theatres), “Instintos” (Vix), and “Odio a Lana Cruz” (Netflix).
The Mediapro Studio US & Canada - the North American division of the 30-year old award-winning global studio behind such film and television international hits as ‘Hard Truths’, ‘The Good Boss’, ‘Official Competition’, ‘The Head’, ‘The New Pope’ and ‘The Young Pope’, among others - announced today the appointment of Francesca Ricagni as the new Head of US Hispanic Content. Ricagni, who previously has been Creative Executive at Apple TV+, will report in her new role to JC Acosta, Head of TMS US & Canada, and will be responsible for the strategy of creating and producing content for the Spanish-language television channels, operators, and streaming platforms in North America.
The Mediapro Studio recognizes the significant opportunity to serve the large Latino audience - comprised of 650M+ people globally and 60M+ in the US - and is committed to telling new, authentic stories for this essential demographic. Ricagni joins the STUDIO’s new leadership team in North America at the Los Angeles headquarters. Her arrival strengthens the new structure of the company in the United States, where content for the US Hispanic market is of fundamental importance, and complements the recent announcement the production’s boost of English-language content.
JC Acosta has said: “I’m honored to welcome Francesca to The Mediapro Studio US/Canada leadership team. Her long experience, vast network of talent relationships and expertise on entertaining US Hispanic audiences, make her a perfect fit for our team. She will undoubtedly drive great success to the studio and deliver outstanding content and results to our partners and audiences.”
Francesca Ricagni has said: “At such a transformative time in our industry, I am inspired to join the team at The Mediapro Studio US & Canada. What a unique opportunity to tell rich, authentic stories that represent and resonate with the US Hispanic audience while captivating the world! Together with the rising and exceptional Hispanic talent, we’re excited to break new ground, showcasing our diverse, multi-layered experiences and creating content that celebrates our stories, culture, and unique perspectives, elevating them all on the global stage."
Throughout her career, Francesca Ricagni has been dedicated to amplifying US Hispanic and Latin American voices in the entertainment industry. At Apple TV+, she played a pivotal role in spearheading critically acclaimed projects, including ‘Land of Women’, starring Eva Longoria in one of her first Spanish-speaking lead role.
Francesca also made significant contributions to ‘Acapulco’ (starring Eugenio Derbez), one of Apple TV+’s most celebrated series. The show, currently in its fourth season, has received numerous accolades, including winning The Comedy Series Award at the Critics Choice Awards during the 4th annual Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television. Her work also extended to other groundbreaking projects like Midnight Family, produced by Oscar-winning director Pablo Larraín’s production company, which won Best International Series at the Critics Choice Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television, further expanding the platform’s influence in the US Hispanic and Latin American markets.
Earlier in her career, Francesca was instrumental at Amazon Studios in shaping the original programming slate for Latin America. She oversaw a slate of over 30 projects in active development, including local hits such as ‘Cómo sobrevivir soltero’, ‘Porno y helado’, ‘El fin del amor’, and the second season of ‘El juego de las llaves’.
LVP will produce, together with ISE, the Esports Arena, a large area dedicated to eSports that will feature live displays and presentations
GRUP MEDIAPRO, European entertainment and media market leader thanks to its multidisciplinary approach and constant innovation, will be helping shape the future at ISE 2025, the world’s leading show for audiovisual technology, taking place February 4-7 at the Fira de Barcelona – Gran Via exhibition center. At its large stand, the group will announce its strategic plans across various divisions (artificial intelligence, post-production and virtual production) and host panel discussions and seminars with industry leaders.
At its nearly 100 sqm stand located in the central aisle of Hall 4 (location 4H500), GRUP MEDIAPRO will be a meeting point for the whole industry. Over the 4-day event, the company will provide a range of forums in which to learn the latest on artificial intelligence, post-production and virtual production, as well as other subjects. It will also host presentations and panel discussions covering topics such as the production of large scale events, audiovisual platforms, new formats for museums and tourist attractions, and cloud playout, and involving prominent experts plus personnel from various divisions of GRUP MEDIAPRO (Mediapro Brands, Audiovisual Platforms, the Artificial Intelligence Center, Innovation, Unitecnic, Mediapro Xperiences – Mediapro Exhibitions and Mediapro Events, Overon, Virtual Production, and more).
Esports Arena in Hall 8
In addition to its stand in Hall 4, GRUP MEDIAPRO will be present in Hall 8.1 in a 1,000 sqm space devoted entirely to esports. Produced by ISE and LVP (GRUP MEDIAPRO), this premier attraction is called the Esports Arena.
A dual program will take place in this space. On the one hand, esports players will compete live, allowing the audience to experience the excitement of various different esport games and the striking audiovisual impact of a tournament. In tandem, there will be a series of talks and presentations featuring industry experts and representatives from across the entire esports value chain who will explore the future of the sector through technology.
About GRUP MEDIAPRO
Constant innovation and a multidisciplinary approach have placed GRUP MEDIAPRO at the forefront of the European audiovisual sector. With over 30 years of experience, the group covers all aspects of the audiovisual sector, innovating in all its projects. Through its five business areas, it creates, designs, produces and distributes every type of audiovisual and experiential content.
The Mediapro Studio is GRUP MEDIAPRO’s content creation, production and distribution factory. It is responsible for the implementation of high-quality global projects, developed together with first-rate talents of national and international acclaim. Broadcast Media Services, the audiovisual services division, boasts one of the largest fleets of outside broadcast units in the world and is responsible for more than 25,000 productions each year around the globe. Its 16 production centers spanning 4 continents are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Through Mediapro Xperiences, the group designs, produces and manages experiential spaces of all formats, harnessing the most innovative technology. The Rights agency, meanwhile, has established itself as one of the leading audiovisual rights management agencies in the industry. And through its Channels and Platforms unit, the group produces and manages up to 15 channels of its own as well as for major players such as ESPN, LaLiga and Movistar.
Each day, more than 7,000 staff in 50 offices across four continents convert GRUP MEDIAPRO’s purpose into a reality: Creating courageously and with a commitment to the community.
‘The 47' is the highest-grossing Catalan-language film in history and the most-seen film in cinemas in the last forty years
The film has also won two Forqué Awards and is the most nominated film at the next edition of the Goya Awards with 14 nominations
Produced and distributed at international level by THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO, ‘The 47’, produced by Laura Fdez. Espeso and Javier Méndez, and written and directed by Marcel Barrena, collected yesterday evening eight prizes at the 17ª edition of the Catalan Film Awards, becoming the most awarded film at the gala
List of awards:
Best Film
Best Leading Actor: Eduard Fernández
Best Supporting Actress: Clara Segura
Best Production Direction: Carlos Apolinario
Best Costume Design: Irantzu Ortiz, Olga Rodal
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Karol Tornaria
Best Special Effects: Laura Canals, Ivan López
Audience Award
‘The 47’ comes to win in December two Forqué Awards, Best Film and the Cinema and Values Education Award, and is the most nominated film at the next edition of the Goya Awards, with fourteen nominations. It also has three nominations for the Feroz Awards: Best Screenplay (Marcel Barrena and Alberto Marini), Best Supporting Actress in a Film (Clara Segura) and Best Original Score (Arnau Bataller).
The film, which has been in theatres sinceThe film, which has been in theatres since its premiere on 6 September 2024, has already accumulated more than 515,000 spectators and has grossed more than 3,323,000 euros.
‘The 47' is the highest-grossing Catalan-language film in history (without adjusting for inflation) and the most-seen film in cinemas in more than forty years, as well as the only Catalan-language film to have reached number one at the Spanish box office in more than fifteen years.
SYNOPSIS: Tired of Barcelona City Council maintaining that public transport could not reach the Torre Baró neighborhood because the streets were too narrow and unsafe, Manolo Vital, one of his neighbors and TMB bus driver, set out to demonstrate, behind the wheel of 'El 47', that the authorities were wrong. 'The 47' is the inspiring true story of a man, a bus and the destiny of a neighborhood.
The film tells the story of the Barcelona neighborhood of Torre Baró, but this is also the story of many other neighborhoods formed in the 1950s by immigrants who settled on the outskirts of the big cities of our country. In many cases, in homes built by their own hands after having had to leave their land to build a future far from home. Years later, in the 1970s, many of these neighborhoods were still not considered part of the city. They didn't even have running water, electricity or other basic services.
Marcel Barrena (Mediterranean, winner of three Goya awards; 100 meters, winner of two Gaudí awards, and Petit Mountain, nominated for the Goya for best documentary) is the director of the film and author of the script, which he wrote in collaboration with Alberto Marini (The stranger, While you sleep).
Next to Eduard Fernandez (Fernández (winner of three Goya awards, a Silver Shell from the San Sebastián Festival and three Silver Biznagas from the Málaga Festival, among other recognitions), complete the cast Clara Segura (nominated for the Goya for Creature), Zoe Bonafonte 'Scandal. Story of an obsession, Love is forever), Save Queen (Iron Hand, The Minimal Island), Carlos Cuevas (Merlin: Sapere aude, Smiley), Betsy Túrnaz (One for all, The One-Eyed King), Oscar de la Fuente (The House, The Good Patron) and Aimar Vega (Los pequeños amores, Model 77) and Vicente Romero (Intemperie, Express). and the special collaboration of David Verdaguer, winner of two Goya awards for Summer 1993 and Jokes & Cigarettes. In addition, many of the extras in the film, who also feature on the billboard for the movie, are actual residents of Torre Baró, who, in most cases, witnessed Vital’s challenge to the authorities in 1978 first-hand, or are direct relatives of those who experienced it, as an example of struggle and dignity of a united neighborhood.
'The 47' has the notable participation of Movistar Plus+, support of ICEC, the participation of RTVE and 3Cat, with the participation of Triodos Bank and the financing of ICO. The Mediapro Studio Distribution He is responsible for international sales.
Igor Seoane, director of the company PUERTO 80, is required to pay half of the damages jointly and severally
ROJA DIRECTA, the historic illegal sports content website, has been sentenced to pay damages amounting to €31.6M to GRUP MEDIAPRO for piracy of football content owned by the group. Commercial Court No. 2 in A Coruña has set the compensation PUERTO 80 and its administrator, Igor Seoane, are required to pay GRUP MEDIAPRO for the resulting damages caused by the broadcast of LALIGA matches for which the associated intellectual property rights belonged to the audiovisual group during the 14/15 season.
Previously, in 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that PUERTO 80 PROJECTS and its administrator, Igor Seoane, were responsible for the illicit activities carried out by the Roja Directa website, illegally distributing LALIGA matches, and the vast economic benefits earned from this activity. Now, the Court of A Coruña has established compensation for the damages caused at €31.6M, of which €15.8M is jointly and severally liable to the company’s director, Igor Seoane. Compensation was calculated based on the economic consideration that PUERTO 80 PROJECTS should have paid to GRUP MEDIAPRO to have access to the signal. Almost 10 years after the legal proceedings got underway, GRUP MEDIAPRO has finally managed to demand closure of the website in Spain and to set compensation for the infringement of related intellectual property rights.
The ROJA DIRECTA website provided access in Spain to illegal content, thereby infringing intellectual property rights through links that allowed live viewing of Spanish league matches as well as other sports content broadcast on pay-per-view television. Although access was free for users, PUERTO 80 PROJECTS obtained millions of dollars in revenue through advertising and commissions for redirecting traffic to sportsbook websites. Judicial expert reports from 2022 revealed revenues in excess of €11 million in just one of the company's accounts.
At the same time, the director and sole administrator of PUERTO 80 PROJECTS is facing criminal proceedings, brought by GRUP MEDIAPRO and LALIGA, for the ongoing illegal activity of intellectual property rights’ violation via ROJA DIRECTA and for the profits obtained from said illegal activity. The prosecutor for the case, which is currently is the oral hearing stage, is requesting a 4-year prison term for PUERTO 80’s administrator, while GRUP MEDIAPRO and LALIGA are demanding a 6-year term. PUERTO 80 PROJECTS and its administrator were required to have deposited a bond of €4M to cover future liabilities given the "special economic significance" of the profits obtained and the damages caused, according to the prosecutor’s conclusions. PUERTO 80 PROJECTS continues its illegal activities outside Spain.
