Renowned television producer René Brea has officially taken the helm as the General Production Director at CDN (Channel 37), marking a strategic shift in his career from entertainment to broadcast news. Brea, who recently resigned as programming director for the Telemicro Media Group, joins the CDN executive team with a mandate to modernize the station’s content strategy.
A creative approach to journalism
In a recent interview with veteran host Jochi Santos on the show Es Temprano Todavía (Color Visión), Brea revealed a long-standing ambition to reinvent the news cycle.
“I am aching to do a news program. I want to take the news and turn it on its head,” Brea stated.
Brea argued that while the facts of a story remain constant, the delivery has become stagnant in the face of digital competition. He emphasized that the industry’s challenge is how to “repackage” information to engage a fragmented audience that increasingly relies on social media and streaming.
Brea’s new role comes at a time of reflection for Dominican media. He echoed sentiments shared by Jochi Santos during the 2026 Soberano Awards, where Santos, upon winning the top prize, remarked that “communication needs to be improved.” Brea has publicly backed this call, suggesting that traditional media must move out of its “comfort zone” and adopt more rigorous data-driven metrics to compete with platforms like YouTube.
Career milestones
Brea brings over 25 years of production experience to CDN. He is best known for:
• The Soberano Awards: He served as executive producer for six consecutive years, overseeing some of the highest-rated broadcasts in the ceremony’s history, including the 2015 historic musical reunion of Olga Lara and Vickiana.
• Primetime Success: He was the creative force behind Chévere Nights, hosted by Milagros Germán, and the Freddy and Milagros Show.
• Mentorship: Brea often credits the late Freddy Beras Goico as his primary mentor in television production.
As he transitions into news leadership, industry analysts are watching closely to see if Brea’s “concept-creator” approach can breathe new life into the Dominican Republic’s 24-hour news cycle.
CDN (Cadena de Noticias) is owned by Multimedios del Caribe, one of the most influential media conglomerates in the Dominican Republic. The group is led by Santiago-based businessmen — Manuel Estrella, president and Felix Garcia, vice president.
The acquisition of the group by Estrella and García in 2005 marked a significant shift in the Dominican media landscape. In addition to CDN (Channel 37), Multimedios del Caribe also owns the historic daily newspaper El Caribe and CDN Radio.
As of early April 2026, the corporation has implemented a structural reorganization to integrate its various platforms into what Manuel Estrella describes as an “information turbine.” These changes include:
• Nelson Rodríguez: Appointed as the director of both elCaribe and CDN.
• René Brea: Named General Production Director for the television channel.
• Marino Berigüete: Appointed to lead the radio division.
Read more:
En Segundos
Es Temprano Todavía / Jochi Santos Interview
CDN (Canal 37)
8 April 2026