NBC Universo 2015 Upfront

NBC UNIVERSO announced the network’s 2015-16 programming highlights, which were unveiled tonight at NBCUniversal Hispanic Group’s annual Upfront presentation at New York’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.

“Viewers can tune into NBC UNIVERSO for blockbuster movies, edgy entertainment, music and big events — all built on a solid foundation of sports featuring some of the world’s best franchises,” said Rubén Mendiola, President, NBC UNIVERSO. “In other words, the quality and excitement Latinos in the U.S. want and deserve, from a first-rate cable network that advertisers, distributors and Hispanic viewers can rally around.”

Following are the highlights of NBC UNIVERSO’s 2015-16 Upfront schedule:

SPORTS & BIG EVENTS

On May 22, NBC UNIVERSO will debut its new, live Spanish-language signature sports show, “Escena Deportiva,” which will bring viewers the latest breaking news from the sports world along with the latest results and highlights, as well as the most-compelling stories from the superstar athletes of today and tomorrow. The one-hour show will bring viewers what they need to know from the sports world twice a week: on Friday nights, “Escena Deportiva la Previa” will highlight the upcoming weekend’s action, while experts give their predictions on the top soccer matches for the weekend; and on Monday nights, “Escena Deportiva el Wrap Up” will recap all of the action and storylines from the weekend. The show will also feature interactive segments on social media platforms to engage passionate Latino sports fans.

From the studio to the field, NBC UNIVERSO will build upon its great soccer lineup that currently includes Premier League and FIFA World Cup™. Starting this fall, the channel will become the home to some of the best Liga MX competition. NBC UNIVERSO will exclusively air all of the home games for León and Pachuca every Saturday night. Viewers will be able to experience all the teams of Liga MX as they visit Estadio León and Estadio Hidalgo under the lights.  Also, NBC UNIVERSO will air key qualifying matches for CONCACAF and the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics beginning later this year.

In addition, the NFL will be back again this season on NBC UNIVERSO. The network will air six games in Spanish this upcoming 2015-16 season — four regular-season Sunday night games plus two playoff games. Schedule details will be announced at a later date.

On the music front, “Festival Internacional de Viña del Mar,” Latin America’s largest and longest-running music festival, debuted on all of NBC UNIVERSO’s platforms earlier this year, and was the most-streamed event ever on nbcuniverso.com. The network announced that it will bring the festival back for another three years.

NBC UNIVERSO is also introducing a mix of scripted, reality and competition series.  

NEW REALITY

“Top Chef Mexico” (produced by Puente Del Cielo Productions)
The original Top Chef — one of the most successful reality competition shows ever — is coming to NBC UNIVERSO screens from Mexico for the very first time. Contestants will compete from some of the country’s most beautiful and spectacular locations. In addition, the series will feature some of the most acclaimed Latino chefs from top restaurants in Mexico and the U.S., including Enrique Olvera, head chef of Pujol – one of the world’s top restaurants – in Mexico City; and Martha Ortiz, chef and owner of Dulce Patria, also in the D.F.

“Reto Extremo: Fuerzas Especiales” (produced by Joe Magione and Benjamin Madden)
A competition series that will feature Hispanic veterans from the U.S. Special Forces. Participants will go through a series of heart-racing, high-performance Military-style challenges that will push their abilities to the limit; and all the while, allow us to learn more about these remarkable individuals and their amazing stories.

NEW SCRIPTED

“El Vato” (produced by Endemol Latino)
An original scripted series that stars the popular regional Mexican star, El Dasa. El Vato is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to record the next big album that can make him a superstar, but it means he has to leave his familiar life in Sonora, Mexico for the bright lights of L.A… and try to stay focused amid all of the city’s temptations. For El Vato, it’s time to go big… or go home.

“El Sexo Débil” (produced by Argos and Sony)
A dramatic series about five men – “Los Camacho” – who have it all and think they’re in control… until one day, their lives are turned upside down after they are suddenly abandoned by the women in their lives. This racy series calls into question who really is the so-called “weaker sex,” and can men really live without women?