Pantaya
{{Short description|American OTT streaming service}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Pantaya
| logo = Pantaya_logo.png
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| logo_size =
| screenshot =
| screenshot_alt =
| collapsible = yes
| caption =
| type = OTT video streaming platform
| registration = Required
| country_of_origin = United States
| area_served = United States, Puerto Rico
| headquarters = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| parent = TelevisaUnivision
| president =
| key_people = Paul Presburger (CEO)
| url = {{official URL}}
| users = {{increase}} 0.9 million ({{As of|2021|4|1|lc=y|df=US}})
| launch_date = {{start date and age|August 1, 2017}}
| current_status = Merged with ViX
}}
Pantaya was an American OTT streaming service targeted for Hispanic and Spanish-language viewers.{{cite news |last1=Vlessing |first1=Etan |title=Spanish-Language Service Pantaya Starts New Chapter After Lionsgate Sale |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/spanish-language-service-pantaya-starts-new-chapter-after-lionsgate-sale-4162224/ |access-date=24 June 2021 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=6 April 2021}} Content included programs and films released in Latin America and original programming, as well as Spanish dubs from Lionsgate's select catalogue.{{cite news |last1=Tiffany |first1=Kaitlyn |title=Lionsgate's Spanish-language streaming service Pantaya launches today |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/1/16075108/pantaya-lionsgate-hemisphere-spanish-film-streaming-service |access-date=24 June 2021 |work=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=1 August 2017}}{{Cite web |date= |title=Frequently Asked Questions About Pantaya |url=https://www.pantaya.com/en/faq}}
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.{{cite news |last1=Marie de la Fuente |first1=Anna |title=U.S. Latinx Streaming Platform Pantaya Reels in More Subs, Ramps Up Original Programming (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/global/us-latinx-streaming-platform-pantaya-reels-more-subs-ramps-up-original-programming-1203364647/ |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=Variety |date=9 October 2019}}
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. Paul Presburger was appointed as CEO of the streaming service, who is also CEO of Pantelion Films. Lionsgate has owned 75% of the streaming platform while Hemisphere owned 25% at the time. In 2019, the platform has reached 500,000 subscribers. 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.{{cite news |last1=Villafañe |first1=Veronica |title=PANTAYA Launches First Original Scripted Series 'El Juego De Las Llaves' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2019/08/16/pantaya-launches-first-original-scripted-series-el-juego-de-las-llaves/?sh=569f4a417119 |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=Forbes |date=16 August 2019}}
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. 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". 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."{{cite news |last1=Faughnder |first1=Ryan |title=The Spanish-language streaming wars escalate as Hollywood moves past lip service |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-06-13/spanish-streaming-wars-escalate-netflix-hbo-max-disney-plus-pantaya |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=13 June 2021}} As of April 2021, there are 900,000 subscribers to Pantaya.
More recently, she had signed a deal with actress Fernanda Castillo, whereas the actress would star in Pantaya's upcoming projects.{{Cite web|last=Cordero|first=Rosy|date=2021-12-16|title=Pantaya Signs Overall Deal With Mexican Actress Fernanda Castillo|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/pantaya-overall-deal-fernanda-castillo-1234891872/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/televisaunivision-to-buy-streaming-service-pantaya-to-bulk-up-vix-1235261866/|website=Variety|date=9 May 2022|first=Todd|last=Spangler|title=TelevisaUnivision to Buy Streaming Service Pantaya to Bulk Up ViX+}}{{Cite web |last=Ago |first=7 Hours |date=2022-05-10 |title=TelevisaUnivision bolsters streaming business with Pantaya acquisition |url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2022/05/10/televisaunivision-bolsters-streaming-business-with-pantaya-acquisition/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Digital TV Europe |language=en-GB}} The acquisition was completed on September 13 of that year.{{cite web|url=https://corporate.televisaunivision.com/press/2022/09/13/televisaunivision-completes-acquisition-of-streaming-service-pantaya/|title=TelevisaUnivision Completes Acquisition of Streaming Service Pantaya|date=2022-09-13|work=TelevisaUnivision}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pantaya.com/en/ Official website]
{{TelevisaUnivision}}
{{VOD services}}
Category:2017 establishments in California
Category:Internet properties established in 2017
Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2022
Category:Internet television streaming services
Category:Subscription video on demand services
Category:Defunct video on demand services
Category:Entertainment companies established in 2017
Category:Entertainment companies disestablished in 2022
Category:Companies based in Los Angeles
Category:Former Lionsgate subsidiaries