The series, which first aired in Chile in 1962 and has become the longest-running variety show in TV history, will air for the last time in September (15).

Announcing the sad news in a statement on Friday (17Apr15), creator and host Don Francisco, real name Mario Kreutzberger, writes, "I'm so grateful for the opportunity that Channel 13 of the Universidad Catolica de Chile gave me as I was starting out, to Univision in the United States and also to the Televisa Network, which allowed us to bring our Sabado Gigante into the homes of millions of families in the United States and the world every week.

"I have no words to thank our viewers for the support, loyalty and enthusiasm with which they have honored us through the years and which have allowed the show to become an unprecedented success in the history of this medium. To all those who joined us by tuning in to Sabado Gigante with their constructive criticism, work and loyalty, I would like to say from the bottom of my heart and in capital letters, THANK YOU VERY MUCH."