Joaquín López-Dóriga Fired By Televisa? Mexican News Anchor Stepping Down [VIDEO]

Joaquín López-Dóriga shocked viewers when he announced he was stepping down from his nightly newscast at Televisa. The Mexican journalist had been fronting the program for 16 years. There's no word as to why the change is being made or if he was fired and they are trying to soften the blow to viewers. Earlier in the year it was rumored that the television network was making drastic changes to its news division which included replacing the veteran anchor with Denise Maerker. The latter has not been confirmed but all the adjustments will take place at the end of August.

López-Dóriga teased big news on his Twitter account earlier in the day and at the top of his newscast he said, "Tonight I want to communicate that on Friday, August 19, it will be my last night in that for more than 16 years I present and direct this newscast. The truth is that this has been a marvelous trip since the beginning of this millenium, April 2000 to August 2016. This decision has been made talking with my family primarily and fundamentally, that even though it's redundant, is my foundation."

"I have talked to Emilio Azcárraga and Leopold Gómez that were the original creators of this extraordinary project, thank you [the viewers] that are there, and has been there for many years, thankful to all of my colleagues and operators of information. In August I finish my cycle and I will start another cycle, another one that I have already started." Watch his announcement below and tell us what you think!

Joaquín López-Dóriga has not announced if he's staying within the Televisa network or will look to work elsewhere. He does host a radio newscast for Radio Fórmula daily as well as a website bearing his name. Grupo Televisa president, Emilio Azcárraga, tweeted: "Dear López-Dóriga, thank you for 16 years of professionalism and dedication. You are at home. Let's go for more."

#GraciasTeacherhttps://t.co/rVpxEcC934

— Noticieros Televisa (@NTelevisa_com) May 24, 2016