Don Francisco returns to TV with Telemundo

Don Francisco, the former host of Univision's  mainstay “Sabado Gigante,” will return to TV, but now with competitor Telemundo as a senior news correspondent and with a production venture.

Don Francisco, whose real name is Mario Kreutzberger, ended "Sábado Gigante" in September after 53 uninterrupted years on the air, including 30 years in the United States with Univision.

Telemundo sees Kreutzberger as a chance to improve its position regarding Univision, currently the leader in the Spanish-language TV race. César Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and NBCUniversal International Group, said the multi-year pact is twofold.

The deal includes the launch of a joint production company to develop and produce original content and formats for U.S. Hispanics and international audiences across multiple platforms, and a new role as senior news correspondent.

Kreutzberger, who turned 75 in December, will draw on his decades of experience interviewing world leaders, including President Barack Obama, for a series of sit-down interviews with prominent figures, as well as covering current events.

“Mario has such a unique understanding of the Spanish-language audience both here in the U.S. and abroad,” Conde told Variety.