A Familiar Former Univision Leader Goes Public

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He is a former President/GM of Univision Communications’ Los Angeles properties and, before taking that role in 2017, the 11-year head of the company’s Austin and San Antonio media facilities.


Now, he’s heading back to Lone Star State television by accepting the CEO role for “Austin PBS.”

Luis Patiño started his new position on Monday (3/21).

And, as Austin PBS sees it, he’s joining the operation “at a pivotal moment in the station’s history.”

Austin PBS explains, “As the opening of our new home — the Austin Media Center — at ACC Highland quickly approaches, Luis will lead the organization on an ambitious transformational journey, embracing our new partnership with Austin Community College to engage digital native generations and expand our reach and impact on a diverse and growing Central Texas community. He will build upon Austin PBS’s tremendous strengths and unique assets, ensuring we stay true to our mission while maintaining our entrepreneurial spirit to be a leading public media organization in a dynamic and shifting media landscape.”

During his time in Austin, Patiño served on several non-profit boards — including Austin PBS.

Patiño spent a total of 16 1/2 years with Univision, and from late 2011 through August 2014 was a Senior VP managing Operations, Ad Sales, Marketing, News and Production for Univision O&Os throughout the Southwest, including properties in San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Phoenix, Tucson, Austin and San Antonio.

From 1998-2005, he was National Sales Manager for Entravision Communications in San Diego.

Patiño succeeds the now-retired Bill Stotesbery.

“I am so impressed with Luis’ experience and deep involvement with empowering and educating communities through media,” said Austin PBS Board Chair Ryan Nixon in a news release. “As a leader who is intentional about diversity, community and challenging the status quo, we could not be more excited to have him join the Austin PBS team as our new CEO.”

Austin PBS is comprised of KLRU-18; its current branding began in November 2019.