Mario Pergolini: 'Television is dead, and I truly believe it is.'

Mario Pergolini, a prominent figure in Argentine media for three decades, has declared traditional television dead. He argues it now serves only a small demographic and that content must be hybrid, blending television production with the immediacy of digital platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. "Audiences no longer come to us," he stated, emphasizing the definitive shift in consumption habits.

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I am the founder of the phrase that television is dead; I really believe that it is.

Pergolini, known for his entrepreneurial vision, including developing the world's first globally streamed program, is now focused on new challenges. One significant project is ATO, a device designed for the elderly to combat the growing epidemic of loneliness. He described it as a "tremendous epidemic of loneliness," a cause close to him after his mother experienced blindness and isolation.

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Audiences no longer come to us.

The ATO device utilizes natural language and artificial intelligence to offer conversational companionship. Pergolini shared a personal story about his mother's frustration and anger after losing her sight, highlighting her struggle with autonomy and the difficulty of adapting to blindness later in life. He aims for ATO to provide meaningful interaction for those experiencing similar isolation.

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This is a business of vanity, no matter how much you want to seem different.

Reflecting on his own public life, Pergolini acknowledged his active role in the media ecosystem but stressed the importance of protecting his private sphere. He views the media business as one driven by vanity, despite efforts to appear otherwise. He also accepts criticism as an inherent part of the journalistic profession, stating, "It's part of the game."

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It's part of the game.