Ep. 69 Otto Padrón

EPISODE SUMMARY: Otto Padrón is a visionary leader who has shaped the media industry across TV, radio, and digital platforms. He is the former President and CEO of Meruelo Media, the fastest-growing minority-owned media company in California. and an Army Ambassador who has programmed Telemundo and Univision. He shares his incredible journey from Cuba, through the military, to becoming a giant of media.
 

On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Otto about:

1. Growing up in Cuba where his Dad was a chief engineer for Cuba's television network CMQ
2. The heroic sacrifices his parents made to escape Cuba and bring family to Miami via Spain
3. His Uncle Omar’s influence on him and U.S. Hispanic media in the U.S.
4. Serving as an Airborne Ranger and then a Green Beret during Desert Storm
5. What his military experience taught him about leadership
6. How programming Telemundo taught him to be bold and take risks
7. Leaving his head of programming role at Univision to be deployed in Iraq
8. Saving KDAY and how he fell in love with radio

And More!

ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Otto Padron is the former President and CEO of Meruelo Media and made it the fastest growing Minority owned Media Company in California. Otto’s mass media experience and leadership has been the instrumental vision powering Meruelo Media into an industry trailblazing organization. As such, there is no U.S. based minority owned and operated media company with the platform diversity, reach and execution of Meruelo Media.

Otto conceived, shaped, formed, and operated the most diverse Super Cluster in the Nation with a carefully curated and culturally unique multi-lingual collection of brands under one flag – Meruelo Media, Los Angeles. As such, this distinct organization is one of the fastest and strongest growing media companies in the Nation with six key broadcast properties serving the Greater Los Angeles area. Its broadcast portfolio holds some of the most legendary brands in the U.S. The oldest independent Spanish language TV station in the U.S., KWHY-TV 22 celebrating a 35-year broadcasting legacy with its combo full power sister station, KBEH-TV 63. These institutional properties are joined by heritage rock station KLOS 95.5 FM super serving SOCAL for over 50-years, coupled with the legendary KDAY 93.5 FM commemorating 40- years as the first U.S. commercial radio station to play Hip-Hop which is now joined by the iconic tastemaker rhythmic FM stations in the Nation – Power 106; the super cluster is capped by the new KLLI “CALI” 93.9 FM playing the hottest Spanish Language hits. All these iconic brands offer a deep and multiprong digital strategy to engage multimedia users at all relevant touchpoints. Such is the case for Power106 and its near 2 Million YouTube subscribers. In 2014, Otto led the design and construction of the new Meruelo Media Los Angeles multimillion-dollar Broadcast and Studio Center (www.meruelostudios.com) now home to FOX Television’s African American OTT/Streaming service – FOX Soul. As a widely respected and award-winning content creator, Otto brings a unique combination of revenue generation coupled with a well footed and pragmatic production approach that drives creative innovation at every phase of execution.

As a young Cuban immigrant growing up in the US, Otto formed a passionate bond with mass media thanks in great part to his father, a broadcast engineer in the then nascent Spanish language network, Univision. Many years later, Otto would serve as the Senior Vice President of Programming at Univision leading the network’s content strategy in setting viewing records and establishing itself as one of America’s most watched TV Networks – regardless of language! Otto is the only executive to have successfully headed programming for both major U.S. Spanish language networks, Univision and Telemundo. His unique media background brings a rich perspective and matchless insight of the Latino viewer profile, content, and cultural preferences to any operation. As a shaping member of these powerhouse brands, Otto skillfully blended solution-based content ideas with a value-oriented production management style driven by bottom-line results. During his +20-years programming these competitive networks, Otto developed a keen understanding of relevant entertainment/information formats and has established a reputation for delivering winning results through relevant and compelling editorial, production excellence and flawless execution.

During his nearly 15-year tenure at Univision, Otto assumed various positions of growing responsibility culminating as Senior VP, Programming and Promotions. He directly managed all domestic entertainment productions, operations, on-air promotions and key positioning and branding strate