Former Sling TV Boss Michael Schwimmer Joins Univision

Univision
(Image credit: Univision)

MIAMI—Univision Communications has hired Michael Schwimmer as its president of global platform strategy and revenue. 

The newly created executive position complements Univision’s redesigned corporate leadership structure ahead of the close of Univision’s previously announced merger with Televisa, Univision said. 

Reporting directly to CEO Wade Davis, Schwimmer will centralize distribution of the company’s platform, content offerings and sales opportunities that drive revenue growth. He will also work closely with Pierluigi Gazzolo, president and chief transformation officer, on global app distribution for the company’s unified two-tiered streaming service, scheduled to launch in early 2022.

“Michael will complement our team by leading global distribution for the combined library of Televisa and Univision content, including all subscription and content licensing activities, and will oversee our efforts to ensure that thousands of hours of our Spanish-language content reaches valued audiences worldwide,” said Univision CEO Wade Davis. “His extensive experience leading the strategy for multicultural and AVOD offerings and his proven track record navigating corporate transformations make him the ideal addition to our team, and his expertise and passion for increasing Spanish-language representation in the media speaks to our company’s purpose.”

Schwimmer brings a wealth of experience in digital media, content distribution and the Hispanic market to the new role. 

Prior to joining Univision, Schwimmer served as group president of Sling TV and executive vice president of Dish Media, where he managed all aspects of the Sling TV business and oversaw the advertising sales business for the Dish enterprise. Prior to this role, he was executive vice president of international, business development and strategy at Sling TV, responsible for the company’s Dish TV and Sling TV multicultural and AVOD offerings. 

He also held the role of president and CEO of Fuse Media, cross-platform entertainment media brand for multicultural youth that included Fuse and FM (Fuse Music) linear channels, video-on-demand (VOD) and over-the-top (OTT) apps. 

Earlier, he led programming, marketing and media sales for Dish Network, playing a key role in launching Dish’s international programming business as well as the Dish Latino brand and services. 

Schwimmer sits on the Board of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) and is a member of the NAACP Entertainment Industry Board of Advisors.

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George Winslow

George Winslow is the senior content producer for TV Tech. He has written about the television, media and technology industries for nearly 30 years for such publications as Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and TV Tech. Over the years, he has edited a number of magazines, including Multichannel News International and World Screen, and moderated panels at such major industry events as NAB and MIP TV. He has published two books and dozens of encyclopedia articles on such subjects as the media, New York City history and economics.