MundoMax (; originally known as MundoFox from August 13, 2012 to July 28, 2015) was an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network that was owned by RCN Televisión. The network broadcast programs aimed at Hispanic and Latino American audiences throughout the United States – featuring a mix of telenovelas and other serialized dramas, reality television series, game shows, and feature films (both Spanish-dubbed versions of American films and imported films produced in Spanish-speaking countries).
Headquartered in Los Angeles, MundoMax had been headed since its inception in its pre-July 2015 existence as a joint venture between RCN and U.S.-based Fox Entertainment Group (which originally operated the network through its Fox International Channels division) by network president Jose Molina.
History
As MundoFox
MundoMax traces its origins to the announcement by Fox International Channels and RCN Televisión that the two companies would jointly launch a new Spanish language television network in the United States under the MundoFox brand on January 23, 2012. Hernán López, president and CEO of Fox International Channels, said that the network would cater to "an increasing demand for quality Spanish-language content in the U.S. from both viewers and advertisers." According to 2010 United States Census data, among the 309 million people living in the U.S., 50 million of them were of some form of Hispanic and Latino heritage (totaling 16% of the total population); advertising revenue from the Hispanic/Latino market made up $3.6 billion of the $80 billion (or 4.5% of all ad revenue) in the total domestic market in 2011. López noted that the Fox Broadcasting Company saw "similar dynamics in play" when News Corporation (the corporate parent of Fox International Channels at the time of the announcement) launched the network in October 1986 against established English language networks ABC, NBC and CBS; MundoFox, he added, would seek to replicate Fox's early years while launching against established Spanish language networks Univision, Telemundo, and TeleFutura.
MundoFox commenced programming with a soft launch on some of its charter affiliates on August 1, 2012; the network's formal launch occurred twelve days later on August 13. Until it rebranding as MundoMax, MundoFox was headquartered with 21st Century Fox's other U.S. television operations in Los Angeles, California.
Relaunch as MundoMax
On July 16, 2015, 21st Century Fox announced that it had sold its stake in MundoFox to RCN Televisión, giving the Colombian private broadcaster full ownership of the network. Fox International Channels president Herman Lopez stated that the company was "proud of having started MundoFox with RCN and are confident that they will realize all of the potential of the network."
On July 28, 2015, RCN announced that it would rebrand the network as MundoMax effective that day; the name change and new imaging package was fully implemented on-air two weeks later on August 13, coinciding with the third anniversary of the network's launch; however, the logo used by the network under the MundoFox identity remained in use as on-screen bug during programming and on the network's Facebook and Twitter accounts until the rebrand was completed. Additionally, RCN announced that it had shut down the network's news division, with company representatives arguing that news programming was "never part of the plan" for the network. The folding of the news division resulted in the layoff of 35 staff members as a result. On July 31, network president Ibra Morales stated regarding the move that "although we have cancelled Noticias MundoFox, RCN Television Group continues its dedication to bringing quality news coverage to the vibrant and dynamic U.S. Hispanic community".
Closure
On October 6, 2016, it was announced by RCN Television that MundoMax would end operations and all affiliation contracts on November 30, 2016 and lay off dozens of employees in several departments, including administration, programming, promotions, research and sales in Los Angeles, New York and Miami. It was further confirmed on November 10, 2016. The network cited low ratings (which had not been tabulated since Nielsen Media terminated their contract with the network at the end of September), along with an affiliate base which was unable to acquire cable carriage due to their mainly low-power Class A status where must-carry status was unable to be executed. Several affiliates switched to Estrella TV, with Azteca America and other Spanish-language networks also taking advantage. The network went off the air without any ceremony on the night of November 30 at 11:59 p.m.