Televisa and Lionsgate plan TV Programming & Development Partnership for U.S. Market.

Lionsgate and Televisa have agreed on terms for a longterm programming and development venture to create English language television content for U.S. broadcast and cable networks, it was announced today at NATPE by Lionsgate Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Televisa President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio Azcarraga.

The alliance represents another expansion of Lionsgate and Televisa’s longstanding partnership and complements the two companies’ film joint venture, Pantelion Films, launched in 2010 to acquire and distribute feature films for the Hispanic market in the U.S. The new television partnership will include the development of scripted and unscripted English language original programming as well as format adaptations from Televisa’s vast library of thousands of titles, including the leading telenovelas in the world to be produced in English. It includes a significant development fund designed to attract quality talent to approximately six to eight projects a year.

Several projects are already in the pipeline, including: FROM PRADA TO NADA, Pantelion’s debut film which is being developed as a comedy TV series; BADLANDS, a scripted drama at ABC in partnership with ABC Studios based on Televisa’s runaway hit SOY TU DUENA, a successful telenovela; the poignant TERMINALES for ABC Family; and TERESA, based on another hit Televisa telenovela.

“Televisa is one of the greatest programming forces in the world, and they have consistently shown the ability not only to serve Latino audiences but to reach viewers around the world with exciting, entertaining and compelling content,” said Feltheimer. “I’ve known Emilio Azcarraga and Pepe Baston for many years, and I’m delighted to extend our Pantelion Films relationship into the U.S. television market as well.”

“We’re thrilled to extend and expand our relationship with Jon Feltheimer, Steve Beeks and the rest of the Lionsgate management team,” said Azcarraga. “We believe that our proven success in creating exportable content for markets around the world, coupled with a strong, savvy and experienced local partner in Lionsgate, is a winning formula for establishing a strong presence among viewers in the U.S. English speaking television market.”

Azcarraga and Feltheimer noted that the new venture would focus on programming with “a Latin feel and U.S. appeal.”