Cisneros Media, the corporate division encompassing the Cisneros’ media and entertainment businesses around the world, today announced the promotion of Cosme Lopez to the position of Senior Vice President & General Manager of Pay-TV Channels & Services, effective immediately. Based out of the Cisneros corporate headquarters in Miami, Florida, Cosme will report directly to Cisneros Media Executive Vice President of Content Distribution, Marcello Coltro.
Lopez’s new executive duties span the globe as he will oversee the company’s Pay-TV multi-platform business, and supervise the telenovela-exclusive OTT channel, Romanza+Africa, a partnership with Azteca and XP Africa, to list a few of his corporate responsibilities.
“Cosme has done a remarkable job managing the daily operations and distribution of our linear channels, joint ventures and Pay-TV services throughout Latin America,” emphasized Marcello Coltro. “I look forward to working with Cosme in his new position to optimize the company’s resources by identifying opportunities for the strategic development of businesses that maximize the potential of Cisneros Media’s high-quality content through traditional and emerging distribution platforms to deliver compelling entertainment-viewing experiences throughout the world.”
Lopez came to Cisneros in 2000 as General Manager of Venevision Continental, a cable channel that grew into a business unit, successfully developing and establishing the company’s Pay-TV services and channels - including Venevision Plus, VmasTV and VePlusTV (formerly Venevision Continental) - initially in Venezuela, before expanding into Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Cosme was key in the development of the company’s cable unit. By establishing a solid infrastructure, Cosme provided Venevision Continental total autonomy, enabling the Pay-TV division to grow independently and thus foster its migration into new markets and territories, as well as enabling its progression into digital formats and multi-platform distribution,” stated Jonathan Blum, President of Cisneros Media. “I’m confident that with Cosme leadership globalization is only a matter of time.”
Under Cosme’s tenure as General Manager, Venevision Continental launched Venevision Plus in Venezuela in December of 2007, and in only four months, it was the No. 1 rated Pay-TV channel in the territory, capturing a 30% market share of all advertising sales in just its second year of operation. Leveraging off the success of Venevision Plus in Venezuela, Cosme formed strategic alliances throughout the region and launched additional channels in the Dominican Republic, Colombia and pan-regionally. In 2010, Venevision Plus Dominicana (VePlusTV) made its debut in the Dominican Republic, fast becoming one of the favorite channels among women viewers over the age of 25; and in 2012, VmasTV was launched in Colombia, and it immediately became one of Top 3 most-watched programming among the adult female demographic.
Lopez began his career in 1993 with the Cisneros organization, working for Venevision International until 1997, before taking a position with HBO Latin America as Production and Post-Production Operations Manager in Caracas, Venezuela. Cosme holds a Degree in Electronic Engineering from the Universidad Simon Bolivar.