El Rey Network

History

As a television network (2013–2020)

El Rey Network was one of two ethnic outlets created as part of an agreement between Comcast, NBC Universal, and the FCC as a condition for the merger between the former two broadcasters (the other network being Revolt).

The network's headquarters was in Austin, Texas, and launched as part of the digital basic service on some of Comcast's systems. Comcast announced that the network was expected to debut by January 2014. In August 2012, Antoinette Alfonso Zel was announced as CEO. In May 2013, Univision Communications (now known as TelevisaUnivision USA) announced that it would be an investor for El Rey, handling the sales and distribution of the network.

In November 2013, it was announced that the production of From Dusk till Dawn: The Series had begun. Upon launch in the week of December 15, 2013, El Rey was also offered by cable companies Time Warner Cable, with Bright House Networks offering soon later in January 2014, and Cox Communications by February 2014. Cablevision added the network on April 7, 2014.

The first satellite service to host El Rey was DirecTV in January 2014.

That year, lucha libre program Lucha Underground, featuring wrestlers from Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) and produced by Mark Burnett, premiered on October 29, 2014. The show would go on to become the network's flagship series and both it, and the corresponding promotion, received positive reception.

Dish Network would begin carrying El Rey in January 2015. The following month, El Rey was made available through cable company Suddenlink Communications in select markets. El Rey was added to AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS that same year.

Between 2018 and 2020, various cable and satellite providers began dropping the network. On November 6, 2020, Univision announced it had sold its stake in El Rey, as part of a larger effort by the company to refocus on its core Spanish-language businesses. Soon after, it would be reported that El Rey would cease operations on December 31, though it was speculated that the network would relaunch as a streaming brand. The network went dark at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

As a streaming network (2021–present)

On August 6, 2021, El Rey Network announced a partnership with Cinedigm that would see the network relaunch as a FAST channel. As part of this agreement, Cinedigm will exclusively distribute Rodriguez's 2019 film, Red 11, and a companion docuseries titled Rebel Without a Crew: The Robert Rodriguez Film School. El Rey would relaunch later that month via The Roku Channel on August 17.

By 2024, Fuse Media would partner with El Rey to launch the "El Rey Rebel" FAST channel; which would air the network's original content, and carry combat sports programming as part Fuse's partnerships with Golden Boy Promotions and Combate Global. In June 2024, El Rey Rebel would begin distribution on DirecTV.

Programming

El Rey Network's original programming included action genre series, sports, and lifestyle programming. Annual programming included a marathon of Toho-produced Godzilla films during the Christmas & Independence Day weekends and the Thanksgiving Way of the Turkey marathon of kung fu films.

Original programming

• Baja Desert Championship (2017–2020)
• Bushido Battleground (2017)
• The Chuey Martinez Show (2019–2020)
• Correctamundo! (2020)
• Cutting Crew
• The Director's Chair with Robert Rodriguez (2014–2020)
• El Rey Nation (2019–2020)
• Explosion Jones, starring Michael Madsen
• From Dusk till Dawn: The Series (2014–2016)
• Lucha Underground (2014–2018)
• Man at Arms: Art of War (2017–2020)
• ¡MARIA! with Maria Cardona (2020)
• Matador (2014)
• Rebel Without a Crew: The Series (2018)
• Rite of Passage (2017)
• United Tacos of America (2019–2020)
• Vampiro: Unleashed (2020)

Acquired programming

• 19-2
• Airwolf
• Alien Nation
• Almost Human
• Biker Mice from Mars
• Clerks: The Animated Series
• Cold Squad
• Constantine
• Core Culture
• Crunch Time
• Day 5
• Demons
• Flatland
• Freddy's Nightmares
• Happy Tree Friends (Season 3-4)
• Human Target
• I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali
• Incredible Hulk
• Kidnapped
• Knight Rider
• Mercy Point
• Miami Vice
• Mondo Animation Hour
• Night Visions
• Pros vs. Joes
• Quantum Leap
• Red vs. Blue
• Relic Hunter
• Texas Justice
• Toxic Crusaders
• Stargate Atlantis
• Stargate SG-1
• Starhunter: ReduX
• Starsky and Hutch
• The A-Team
• The Twilight Zone
• The X-Files
• V
• Xena: Warrior Princess

Film releases

• Crow's Blood
• Kung Fury
• The People's Network Showcase
• Red 11

References

References

1. Seidman, Robert. (February 22, 2015). "Distribution approximation as of March 2015". Zap2it.
2. Avalos, Regina. (December 30, 2020). "El Rey Network: Robert Rodriguez Channel to End on Thursday". TV Series Finale.
3. Rodman, Sarah. (January 26, 2014). "New cable networks hope to blaze a trail". Boston Globe.
4. Dinges, Gary. (June 11, 2014). "El Rey network to be based in Austin". Cox Media Group.
5. (February 21, 2012). "Comcast to start new minority-owned cable channels".
6. Molloy, Tim. (February 21, 2012). "Comcast Announces New Networks With Magic Johnson, Sean Combs, Robert Rodriguez". [[Reuters]].
7. (August 6, 2012). "El Rey Network Announces Antoinette Alfonso Zel As CEO". [[PR Newswire]].
8. (May 14, 2013). "Univision Communications and El Rey Network Announce Strategic Partnership, Unveil Upcoming Scripted Series". [[Univision]].
9. (May 14, 2013). "Univision pairs with Rodriguez on El Rey network".
10. "T2's Robert Patrick & More Join 'From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series', by Craig Hunter".
11. (February 13, 2014). "Univision's Fourth Quarter, Full Year Revenue Rises". [[Variety (magazine).
12. (October 9, 2013). "Univision, Time Warner Cable strike new distribution deal". [[Los Angeles Times]].
13. (December 26, 2013). "New TV Networks Scorecard: Eight Cable Channels to Watch in 2014". [[Advertising Age]].
14. "Bright House Networks Launches Univision Deportes Network and Univision tlNovelas". [[Bright House Networks]].
15. (December 28, 2013). "DIRECTV Rumor Alert (El Rey Network launched 1/1)".
16. Caldwell, James. (July 10, 2014). "AAA news: El Rey announces AAA Lucha Libre show for U.S. TV - timeslot, show title, more details". Pro Wrestling Torch.
17. (September 22, 2014). "Lucha Underground promotion TV debut moved back three weeks". [[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
18. "5/20 Moore's Lucha Underground Review: The Crew vs. Son of Havoc, Ivelisse, and Angelico in a Ladder Match for the Lucha Underground Trios Championship, Marty The Moth vs. Prince Puma, Daivari vs. Texano". Prowrestling.net.
19. (January 27, 2016). "Lucha Underground: A new era in wrestling". [[ESPN]].
20. (January 29, 2015). "Dish Inks Distribution Deal with El Rey". [[NewBay Media]].
21. (February 3, 2015). "Suddenlink Launches El Rey Network". [[Multichannel News]].
22. (November 7, 2020). "Univision Exits Minority Position in El Rey, Enabling El Rey to Continue as an Independently Owned Entertainment Company". [[Business Wire]].
23. Hayes, Dade. (2019-04-08). "Univision Finalizes Sale Of Former Gawker Portfolio And The Onion To Private Equity Firm Great Hill Partners".
24. Maclean, Amy. (8 December 2020). "El Rey Contemplates Next Steps As Network to Shut Down". CableFax.
25. (December 31, 2020). "Schedule for El Rey Network".
26. Faughnder, Ryan. (6 August 2021). "Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network to revive through streaming after going dark". LA Times.
27. Spangler, Todd. (6 August 2021). "Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network Cable Channel to Be Rebooted for Streaming With Cinedigm". Variety.
28. Hayes, Dade. (6 August 2021). "Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network Segues From Cable TV To Streaming In Deal With Cinedigm". Deadline.
29. "The Roku Channel".
30. (February 24, 2024). "Fuse Media Named Exclusive English Language Partner of Combate Global". [[Combate Global]].
31. [https://www.15rounds.com/2024/04/24/el-rey-rebel-fast-channel-partners-with-oscar-de-la-hoyas-golden-boy-promotions-to-unveil-series-of-classic-fights-beginning-friday-may-3/?amp=1 EL REY REBEL FAST CHANNEL PARTNERS WITH OSCAR DE LA HOYA’S GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO UNVEIL SERIES OF CLASSIC FIGHTS BEGINNING FRIDAY, MAY 3; Press release via 15 Rounds; April 24, 2024; retrieved on August 10, 2024]
32. [https://senalnews.com/en/content/fuse-media-expands-distribution-on-directv-with-launch-of-two-fast-channels Fuse Media expands distribution on DirecTV with launch of two FAST channels - Señal News; June 18, 2024; retrieved on August 10, 2024]
33. "Shows on El Rey Network".
34. "El Rey Network To Air Legendary "Baja Desert Championship: Baja 500" On August 6th At 5 PM ET".
35. (July 27, 2017). "Martial Arts Series 'Bushido Battleground' Gets Green Light At El Rey Network".
36. (April 16, 2019). "El Rey Network Adds Pair of Evening Talk Shows".
37. Negley, Erin. (April 6, 2015). "Making the Cut". Steinman Communications.
38. "Two El Rey Series Stream Over to VRV".
39. Starace, Alex. (Winter 2017). "Animation Creation: Octopie Network Spreads its Tentacles". Horizon Publishing.
40. [http://www.elreynetwork.com/originals/man-at-arms-art-of-war_season-1 "Man at Arms: Art of War: Season 1"] {{Webarchive. link. (August 20, 2017 . El Rey Network. Retrieved October 12, 2017.)
41. [https://www.multichannel.com/pr-feed/el-rey-network-greenlights-second-season-man-arms-art-war-417495 El Rey Network Greenlights Second Season Of ‘Man At Arms: Art Of War’]
42. (January 13, 2017). "El Rey Network To Boost Original Content By 50%; 'From Dusk Till Dawn' Still In Limbo – TCA".
43. (August 2025). "El Rey Network to show marathon of Muhammad Ali's 1977 animated series".