María Valenzuela exits Movistar Plus+ International as questions loom over sales arm

Maria Valenzuela (Source: Movistar)

María Valenzuela, the boss of Movistar Plus+ International, is stepping down from the company, with the future of the Telefonica-owned sales division coming under scrutiny.

News of Valenzuela’s exit, which was first broken by Spanish media site Audiovisual 451, comes as a surprise with the company recently enjoying success with the sale of shows such as La Mesías to HBO Latin America.

Valenzuela, one of the best known Spanish execs on the international circuit, had been in the role for almost three years since setting up the sales arm in 2021.

Rapa

Its future is now also in question, with the company “rethinking” the future of the distribution arm, according to Audiovisual 451.

Movistar Plus+ International was launched with the aim of managing international sales of original productions from Movistar Plus+, as well as third parties.

Its activities remain unchanged for now, with new scripted series Marbella – whose rights are controlled by Movistar Pus+ International – set to be presented at Berlinale Series which is taking place this week in Germany.

The distributor is also set to have its own stand at MIPTV in April, but a replacement for Valenzuela has not yet been named.

Movistar Plus+ has previously embarked on various strategies to sell its own originals of Spain, initially working with companies such as About Premium Content for shows such as Gigantes.

It then struck a copro and distribution deal with Germany’s Beta Film in 2019, which lasted three years, with the company continuing to sell new seasons of series such as Rapa.