TELEMUNDO TO HONOR MARIO KREUTZBERGER “DON FRANCISCO” AT PREMIOS TU MUNDO ON AUGUST 20 AT 8PM/7c
Kreutzberger is Creator and Host of the Longest Running TV Variety Show in the World
Miami, FL – Aug 11, 2015 – TELEMUNDO announced today it will honor Mario Kreutzberger, better known as Don Francisco, at its 2015 “Premios Tu Mundo” for his lifelong contributions to Spanish-language television and popular culture around the world. “Premios Tu Mundo” will broadcast live on TELEMUNDO Thursday, August 20, at 8PM/7c, preceded by the blue carpet special “La Alfombra de Premios Tu Mundo” at 7PM/6c, from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.
Creator and host of the longest running TV variety show in the world according to Guinness World Records, Mario Kreutzberger, who adopted the stage name “Don Francisco,” is the most recognizable face on Spanish-language television and a beloved international humanitarian. During his more than 53-year long career, Kreutzberger has traveled to over 185 countries worldwide, interviewing thousands of individuals including many world leaders, such as Presidents George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, among many others.
Born in Chile to German Jewish immigrant parents who fled escaping Nazi persecution, Kreutzberger launched “Sábado Gigante” in 1962 on Chile’s Canal 13 where the show became an instant success that has lasted 53 years, broadcasting in over 42 countries throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. “Sábado Gigante” will end its broadcast cycle in September 2015 on Spanish-language network Univision.
Kreutzberger has received numerous industry recognitions from public and private institutions in the United States and Latin America. He has been inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame; honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; featured in the “Museum of Television and Radio” in the U.S.; and received a special Emmy Award as “Leader of Spanish Language Television.”
His impact has extended beyond the small screen, through his admirable contributions towards the welfare of children. Since its founding in 1978, Kreutzberger has been at the helm of the “TELETON Chile,” a biannual telethon that has resulted in the construction of 13 hospitals where over 91,000 disabled children have been treated. To date, TELETON Chile has raised more than 491 million dollars. For his work on behalf of children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) named him Ambassador for the organization. In 1998, Kreutzberger founded ORITEL (International Organization of Telethons), the governing organization for the telethons of Chile, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Peru, USA, Guatemala, Honduras, Uruguay, Paraguay, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico. He currently serves as Chairman of ORITEL. In addition, in 2001, he became Vice President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the United States, a position he holds to this day.
TELEMUNDO’s “Premios Tu Mundo” will be hosted by Angelica Vale, Raul Gonzalez, Gabriel Porras, Maria Elisa Camargo, Rafael Amaya and Carmen Aub, and feature musical performances by Yandel, Alejandra Guzman, Farruko, Lucero, Yuri, Olga Tañon, J Balvin, Jencarlos Canela, Victor Manuelle, Banda MS de Sergio Lizarraga, Regulo Caro and Ky-Mani Marley.
Top novela stars Rafael Amaya, Aracely Arambula, Gaby Espino, Aarón Díaz, Kate del Castillo, Fabian Rios, and Blanca Soto, as well as Latino music stars Enrique Iglesias, Romeo Santos, Daddy Yankee, Banda El Recodo, Prince Royce, and Marc Anthony, are among the nominees for the 2015 “Premios Tu Mundo.”
Fans can review the full list of nominees and vote online for their favorite actors, singers and TV moments, selecting from 30 competing categories, at PremiosTuMundo.com until August 13th at 12PM ET. Fans can also be part of the action by following @PremiosTuMundo across Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Periscope, Meerkat, Facebook.com/PremiosTuMundo and joining the conversation using #PremiosTuMundo. Tickets for the exciting award show are now available at Ticketmaster.com.
TELEMUNDO, a division of NBCUniversal Hispanic Enterprises and Content, is a world-class media company, leading the industry in the production and distribution of high-quality Spanish-language content across its multiplatform portfolio to U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. TELEMUNDO’s multiple platforms include the TELEMUNDO Network, a Spanish-language television network featuring original productions, theatrical motion pictures, news and first-class sports events, reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets through its 17 owned stations, broadcast and MVPD affiliates; TELEMUNDO Digital Media, which distributes TELEMUNDO’s original content across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices and www.telemundo.com; an owned and operated full power station in Puerto Rico that reaches 99% of all TV households in that DMA; and Telemundo Internacional, the international distribution arm which has positioned TELEMUNDO as the second largest provider of Spanish-language content worldwide by syndicating content to more than 120 countries in over 40 languages.
