Telemundo has executed new round of changes in its network morning show, which includes eliminating several of its on-air personalities, just ahead of the company’s World Cup, which will displace the program for several weeks.
News anchor Rebeka Smyth, entertainment host Stephanie “Chiquibaby” Himonidis and Chef Oropeza, as well as a number producers, have been laid off.
Smyth, who has worked as NY correspondent and co-hosted Al Rojo Vivo, moved to the morning show in April. Himonidis joined the network morning program in 2019.
“As we continue to evolve our morning show to meet our audiences’ growing demand for entertainment content, hoyDia will transition to a variety, news and entertainment format,” a company spokesperson tells Media Moves.
And because of those adjustments, they “are making some changes in the show’s talent and production teams. These decisions are tough, but they are necessary to ensure we continue to serve our audiences with the content they crave in a highly competitive and evolving media space. We are deeply grateful to all the impacted employees for their hard work and commitment to hoyDía and wish them all the best as they pursue new opportunities.”
The morning show underwent a “news first” revamp January 2021, changing names from Un nuevo Día to hoy Día.
The morning show terminations took place Friday, November 18.
A day earlier, Al Rojo Vivo entertainment reporter Rodner Figueroa was cut from the company roster, five years after he was picked up by the network in 2017.
Also gone from the network on-air lineup is midday anchor Felicidad Aveleyra, who departed the network at the end of October.
According to the spokesperson, the company wished all of the laid of talent success in their future projects.