Telemundo Kicks-off With 3 Major Original Productions.

Telemundo launched three original productions in a row during March and April of 2005. With 100% originally produced content in primetime, Telemundo has put its efforts in creating quality programs that reflect the lifestyles of U.S. Hispanics, using the best talent, production crew and technology available in the industry. The recently launched “La Ley del Silencio” (M-F 10pm/9c) along with the upcoming “Los Plateados” (Premiering Monday, March 28 at 9pm / 8c) and “Amarte Así” (Premiering Tuesday, April 5 at 7pm/6c) will set a new precedent in high-quality productions for U.S. Spanish-language television.

“In 2004 we aired over 4800 hours of produced, original content and we are very proud of all we’ve accomplished to date,” said Ramón Escobar, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production, Telemundo. “These three new novelas, together with our realities, daytime programs and specials, clearly demonstrate how devoted we are to continue offering the high-quality and innovative programs our audience deserves; as we fulfill our mission to entertain, inform, and serve our community”

Produced in partnership with Freemantle, “La Ley del Silencio” is the perfect example of the network’s unique strategy of reflecting the U.S. Hispanic experience; going to the core of the issues that affect Latino communities today. Starring José Angel Llamas, Flora Martínez, and Rodrigo de la Rosa, the novela is shot in Dallas, TX, where Telemundo and Freemantle assembled a crew of more than 120 actors, directors, photographers, producers, assistants, editors, and coordinators, among others for its production. The main studio in Las Colinas has a generous area where a significant number of sets have been built, along with temporary sets, and locations all around the Dallas metro area. To achieve top quality on-air look, the novela is the first-ever shot with HD cameras, giving it a more “film-like” look than the typical novela production.

For Telemundo’s most lavish production to date, “Los Plateados”, a top of the line cast, production crew, scenery, and equipment were put together in partnership with Mexican production powerhouse Argos, to give life to this thrilling and passionate story; starring Humberto Zurita, Tamara Monserrat, Dominika Paleta, and Mauricio Islas. Set at the turn of the 20th century, the novela’s exteriors are being produced at one of Mexico’s most beautiful antique haciendas in San Diego Suchitla in the State of Villa Victoria; one of the few locations that still keeps the architectural structure and design of the times. The hacienda’s interiors were re-created at the sprawling Estudios Churubusco’s, where stunning Mexican gardens were built and illumination technicians took on the arduous task of replicating the sun’s light and shine for the garden’s open-sky terrace. For the development of the story, many of the male cast members had to undertake intense training in horse-back riding and firearms; while female stars are submitted to the “torture” of wearing corsets and full-length couture masterpieces. For the novela’s 1st episode, the producers commissioned a historic Train from Mexico’s Train Museum located in Puebla, and transported it to a railroad track in the city of Zempoala, State of Hidalgo; an astonishing cross-country week-long journey much like the ever-classic Fitzcarraldo.

Starring Lizty, Mauricio Ochnmann and the adorable Alejandro Flores, “Amarte Así” is being produced by Telemundo in partnership with Promofilm in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Located in the beautiful suburb of San Isidro, the spacious TelInde Studios hold numerous decorated sets, including a back-lot where an authentic Mexican barrio has been recreated. Over 120 people, including producers, technicians, make-up artists, and editors, among others, make up the production crew and more than 10 actors traveled from different countries to be part of the stellar cast; among them renowned Mexican actor, Edgar Vivar.

Telemundo, a U.S. Spanish-language television network, is the essential entertainment, news and sports source for Hispanics. Broadcasting unique national and local programming for the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, Telemundo reaches 92% of U.S. Hispanic viewers in 118 markets through its 15 owned-and-operated stations, 36 broadcast affiliates and nearly 684 cable affiliates. Telemundo is wholly owned by NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies.