A full takeover of the producer and its streaming signal
Grupo Octubre has reached an agreement to take over the whole shareholding of Mandarina Contenidos, the production company behind a range of Argentine television formats, and the transaction also covers Bondi, the streaming channel the producer launched in May 2024. The group framed the move as another stage in its strategy of widening its business, with emphasis on making national content and on the growth of Argentina's audiovisual sector. The announcement was issued on 28 October 2026.[S1][S2]
The buyer is a conglomerate chaired by Víctor Santa María whose holdings span free-to-air television, news channels, AM and FM radio stations, print titles, digital platforms and audiovisual production. Among its best-known properties are Canal 9 and the newspaper Página 12; its portfolio also includes AM 750, Aspen, Caras y Caretas, Latinoamérica Piensa and Umet. In its own description, the group presents its various ventures as part of a long-running growth project shaped by the building workers' union Suterh.[S1][S2]
Who is behind Mandarina and what it produces
Mandarina Contenidos was set up in 2005 by Mariano Chihade and has built two decades of output across documentary, fiction, entertainment, magazine and reality formats. Its client list reaches both international platforms and Argentine free-to-air channels, including Netflix, Telefé, Canal 13, Disney, América, Canal 9, Paramount, ESPN, Televisión Pública, Discovery, Warner Media, Sony Pictures, Televisa and National Geographic. Its current shows include LAM, hosted by Ángel de Brito, and El diario de Mariana, hosted by Mariana Fabbiani on América TV.[S1][S2]
Bondi arrived in May 2024 with well-known entertainment and media figures fronting its programmes. Chihade's career in the industry stretches back three decades: he began as a producer at Promofilm, went on to serve as artistic director at Endemol Argentina and later led content and programming at América TV. He founded Mandarina in 2005, has been president of the industry body CAPIT and remains active on its board, and in 2023 was named a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He is also Mariana Fabbiani's partner.[S1][S2]
New role at Canal 9 and a bet on younger audiences
Under the terms of the deal, Chihade will take over as chief executive of Canal 9, the free-to-air channel owned by Grupo Octubre. The group said the acquisition fits its continuing commitment to domestic production, to the development of the Argentine audiovisual industry and to the evolution of media more broadly. Existing arrangements for programmes Mandarina makes for other broadcasters are to stay in place, with their teams remaining on agreed contracts.[S1][S2]
Earlier this year Chihade launched ShowUp Studios together with Demián Falestchi of Kidscorp, Federico Lauría of DalePlay and Carolina Lightcap, formerly of Disney and Discovery. The venture is described as a premium digital content ecosystem aimed at Generation Z, producing material for social platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. In a statement, the producer said the project blends experience with large-scale formats and the consumption habits of that generation, covering vertical and horizontal formats, different genres and lengths, and work with creators in a natively digital idiom.[S1]
