America Ferrera to host documentary series for Pivot and Univision

“Ugly Betty” alum America Ferrera has been tapped to host a new Hispanic-focused documentary showcase “Panoramica” on Pivot and Univision.

The young cable network, which launched last summer, is teaming with Univision News, the Spanish-language news division of Univision Communications, to present the documentary series.

“Panoramica” will consist of eight documentary films, which have either been co-produced or acquired by Univision News and Pivot.

The documentaries will air in Spanish on Univision or its sister network UniMás, with a simulcast in English or with English subtitles on Pivot.

Ferrera, who most recently appeared in the big screen biopic “Cesar Chavez,” will introduce the documentaries and provide context to the topics the films explore.

Isaac Lee, president of Univision News and CEO of Fusion, noted Ferrera’s standing within the Latino community in making the announcement.

“Apart from being a distinguished actress, [America] has become an admired role model for young Latinos across the U.S. through her enormously successful career in Hollywood ... We know that she will connect with our viewers and create the perfect lead-in for the outstanding films that will follow her introduction.”

Evan Shapiro, president of Pivot, added: “America has a proven passion for films that unearth the root of social and eco-political issues in the Latino community,” he said in a statement.

Among its titles is “Cesar’s Last Fast,” which narrates Cesar Chavez’ hunger strike in 1988 to draw attention to the work conditions of farm workers, which aired on the Univision and Pivot networks in May.

“Marmato,” which chronicles the struggles of a mining town in Colombia, is scheduled to air on the UniMás network and simulcast on Pivot on Aug. 23.

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