The Telemundo network is going through one of the busiest weeks of the year after a series of layoffs that have shaken its talent team in front of and behind the scenes.
The departures of well-known figures in journalism and production have aroused surprise among viewers and concern within the media.
Among the most prominent names leaving the network are Myrka Dellanos, who was part of the La mesa caliente panel, and Jessica Maldonado, an experienced reporter and correspondent who had joined Telemundo after a long career at Univision.
Both journalists were considered pillars of the Hispanic network’s programming because of their closeness to the audience and their extensive careers in television.
Myrka Dellanos and Jessica Maldonado, two unexpected exits
Myrka Dellanos’ departure was officially announced live during a broadcast of La mesa caliente, when Giselle Blondet, her set partner, informed the audience that the journalist would no longer be part of the program. Blondet highlighted her professionalism and thanked her for her valuable contributions since the launching of the program.
Jessica Maldonado, known for her work as an entertainment journalist and Hollywood correspondent, also left the network in the midst of internal adjustments. Maldonado had been part of Al rojo vivo, where her direct style and access to exclusive sources allowed her to consolidate her position as one of the most beloved reporters by the public.
Both departures are part of a series of personnel cuts that the company is implementing in different areas, which has raised concerns among workers and followers of the affected programs.
Another significant drop for Telemundo
Magali Ayala, reporter and correspondent for Telemundo in Mexico, who worked for 16 years at the network, has been added to the list of dismissals. She was a regular presence on Al rojo vivo, where she covered general interest topics, international news and special coverage from the Aztec country.
Ayala had become a familiar face to Latino audiences in the United States, and her departure marks the closing of an important cycle in the network’s history. Her professionalism and commitment for almost two decades were recognized by colleagues and followers on social networks.
The moves did not only affect on-camera figures. One of the most talked about decisions was the departure of Jessica Benítez, general producer of Hoy Día, Telemundo’s morning show. Benítez had joined the program just a year ago with the mission of strengthening its structure and improving its competitiveness against its main rival, Despierta América (Univision).
However, according to journalists Mandy Fridmann and Javier Ceriani, the executive was recently fired, despite the fact that her incorporation had been presented as part of a strategy to revitalize the format. “In Hoy Día they take out who they just hired, supposedly to save the show, and she has made a program quite similar to Despierta América“, they pointed out during a live connection.
Before learning of his departure, Benítez had shared a message of satisfaction on social networks after welcoming Florinda Meza, widow of iconic comedian Roberto Gómez Bolaños “Chespirito”, to the program. “Today I can say that all the road traveled in this endurance race was worth it. It was all worth it for this moment lived and worked with you, Florinda,” wrote the producer.
According to sources close to the network, the layoffs are part of a far-reaching internal restructuring that seeks to adjust budgets and reorganize content to strengthen its programming in 2026. Although Telemundo has not issued an official statement on the specific reasons for these changes, there is speculation in the media that it is a business strategy to optimize resources and renew formats in the face of growing competition in the Hispanic television market.
For now, the moves at Telemundo have generated surprise among the public and within the industry. The departures of Dellanos, Maldonado, Ayala and Benitez represent a significant loss of talent and experience, and mark the beginning of a new phase for the network, which appears to be preparing a profound renovation in both its news programming and production structure.
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