TelevisaUnivision's ViX's Bold Move on Its Second Anniversary: Series and Movies promote equality and fight machismo

In a strategic move that underscores its commitment to gender equality, ViX, the TelevisaUnivision streaming platform, celebrates its second anniversary by rolling out a series of new shows and upcoming seasons that tackle this crucial issue head-on.

In exclusive interviews with The Latin Times, Vincenzo Gratteri, Senior Vice President of Development at ViX, actresses Kate del Castillo, Angelique Boyer, Bárbara de Regil, Carolina Miranda, and Cassandra Sánchez Navarro provide an in-depth look at how the platform is weaving these themes into its programming, aiming to educate and inspire while entertaining.

A Vision for Change

"From the beginning, our goal has been to address gender equality from multiple angles and through diverse narratives," Gratteri said, explaining Vix's content strateft. This is evident in the platform's latest offerings, which span various genres and storylines, all highlighting the importance of women's rights and challenging traditional gender norms.

"ViX productions feature characters and, in many cases, central themes of gender equality and openly oppose machismo, as seen in "Isla Brava," "Las Pelotaris," "La Lola," and "Consuelo." Additionally, these themes are present in less obvious series like "Mujeres Asesinas" and even in movies like "Es por su bien," added the executive while mentioning some of the most standing productions of the platform.

Humor, suspense and murder

One of the flagship series in this initiative is "Mujeres Asesinas." Adapted from an Argentine show, this psychological thriller explores the harrowing stories of women driven to murder by years of abuse and mistreatment.

"Each episode presents a different woman's story, revealing the intense emotions and societal pressures that lead to their actions," said Carolina Miranda, one of its stars. "The show's raw portrayal of these women's struggles is another angle of what is happening to women and what can happens when they snap."

Another series, "Isla Brava," combines thrilling suspense with a powerful message against machismo. Set on a mysterious island, the series follows characters confronting deeply ingrained gender biases while navigating dangerous situations. "By embedding social advocacy within the drama, we ensure that the message engagingly reaches a wide audience," Gratteri notes.

The comedies "Consuelo" and "La Lola" tackle gender themes with humor and heart, making severe topics like gender roles and identity more accessible. "The shows manage to address important issues in a way that is relatable and entertaining. Humor is the perfect vehicle to tell sensitive stories that are important to equality and against injustice," said De Regil, who leads "La Lola."

Grattieri announced a second season for both comedies, as well as the for the successful remake of the iconic telenovela "El extraño retorno de Diana Salazar," starring Angelique Boyer and Sebastián Rulli.

In "Diana Salazar," Boyer plays two characters. One of them is Leonor de Santiago, a woman in the 16th century, who is tortured for rejecting an imposed engagement. Fast forward to the current time, Diana Salazar is a successful oncologist who is plagued by what she sees as nightmares, but are memories from her previous life as Leonor.

"What I find amazing about this version is that both characters are strong women who don`t let themselves put in the boxes that society wants to put them in," Boyer said.

In "Consuelo", Casandra Sánchez Navarro plays a woman in Mexico during the decade of the 50's who after finding herself as a single mother of three, she launches a small business selling sex toys.

"I found the character and the story extraordinary," said the Mexican actress. "But what surprised me the most was Vix's decision to make a story that feels revolutionary even now."

In the same vein, Vix has announced the original reality show "Chiquis sin filtro," starring Chiquis, the Mexican American singer-songwriter and Jenni Rivera's daughter, and a new series with the working title of "Cómplices," staring Lucía Méndez, Marjorie De Sousa, Maribel Guardia and Laura Flores, which follows four women involved in a TV talk show, who become murder suspects after the death of their tormenting producer. This event unites them, leading to personal growth and fulfillment through black humor and newfound camaraderie.

"Our upcoming series will continue to explore historical and contemporary issues affecting women through genres ranging from comedy to drama to romance," said Grattieri.

A Platform for Social Change

The TelevisaUnivision streaming service strategic focus on gender equality in its programming highlights its role as a platform for social change. By offering diverse and impactful stories, ViX entertains, educates, and empowers its audience. "We believe in the power of storytelling to inspire change and promote women's rights," says Gratteri.

For the executive, part of the platform's success comes from having " "the trust of writers who create stories with central female characters and organically present these titles to ViX audiences."