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Tags: sabado gigante | univision | ending | 53 years

'Sábado Gigante' Ending Broadcast After 53 Years on Air

'Sábado Gigante' Ending Broadcast After 53 Years on Air
(Fred Prouser/Reuters/Landov, file)  

By    |   Monday, 20 April 2015 01:01 PM EDT

"Sábado Gigante," the Spanish-language variety show broadcast in more than 40 countries, will air its final episode on Sept. 19 after more than half a century on the air.

"I'm excited to share with the audience this announcement, with which we're starting to bring to a close the 53-year cycle of 'Sábado Gigante,' 30 of which were possible thanks to Univision in the United States," show host Mario Kreutzberger said in a statement from Univision last week, NPR reported.

The legendary show — whose name translates to 'Giant Saturday' — was the longest-running variety program in world history, and featured a three-hour blend of interviews, musical performances, comedy skits, contests, and more.

The show originated in Chile in 1962, and was brought to Miami in 1986 by Univision. Kreutzberger — aka "Don Francisco" — was born to German-immigrant parents, and has hosted the show the entire time. He's famously missed only one episode — when his mother died.

He's now 74 years old, and said that he will continue to host TV specials like Univision's "TeletonUSA" charity drive after "Sábado" ends.

Univision nor Kreutzberger gave a reason for ending the broadcast, however Forbes noted that the show has experienced a 33-percent drop in viewership since 2012, from 2.9 million average viewers to 2 million.



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TheWire
"Sábado Gigante," the Spanish-language variety show broadcast in more than 40 countries, will air its final episode on Sept. 19 after more than half a century on the air.
sabado gigante, univision, ending, 53 years
212
2015-01-20
Monday, 20 April 2015 01:01 PM
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