Telemundo 2014 – 2015 Upfront

Telemundo annual Upfront presentation, held at New York’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, network executives unveiled the company’s 2014-2015 programming line-up, including more than 800 original new hours across all platforms featuring five new primetime novelas and a new Sunday night primetime musical competition series. Joe Uva, Chairman, Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal, announced Luis Silberwasser as the new President of Telemundo Network, to start in August. He also introduced the new brand positioning and programming line-up for mun2, accompanied by its newly appointed president, Rubén Mendiola. The presentation concluded with a high-energy performance by Prince Royce, the award-winning and current coach of Telemundo’s highly-rated singing competition “La Voz Kids.”

Silberwasser will have overall responsibility for the Telemundo broadcast network, including Telemundo Studios, the leading producer of original Spanish-language primetime content for U.S. Hispanics. Working closely with the Hispanic Enterprises and Content senior team and Telemundo’s leadership, Silberwasser will be responsible for developing and executing the Spanish-language network’s growth strategy with a focus on increased market share and profitability.

“With our continued commitment to high-quality content and innovation, new leadership at the helm of the Telemundo network and mun2, and the power of NBCUniversal, no other media company is better positioned now and for the future to grow and super serve our audience, our advertising partners and our distributors,” said Uva.
Mike Rosen, Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales, Telemundo Media, boasted on the network’s commitment and track record on innovation by promising clients a guaranteed return on their investments in innovative marketing solutions.  Rosen also spoke to Telemundo’s unique positioning to offer total market solutions to reach Hispanics, leveraging NBCUniversal’s unmatched reach of more than 90% of all U.S. Hispanics across both languages and all platforms.

“Now that Telemundo and mun2 are fully integrated into the world of NBCUniversal, there has never been a better time for marketers to connect with Hispanic consumers with unprecedented scale and power, regardless of language,” said Rosen. “That is why our ‘Total Market Innovation’ approach is so special, as no media company delivers on the promise of ROI like NBCUniversal, the most uniquely diverse, game-changing media company in the marketplace, now and in the future.”

Uva also unveiled a new multi-platform brand positioning of the mun2 cable channel. Starting in 2015, mun2 becomes the home of the most watched sporting events in the world – the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. In addition, mun2 announced it will become the official Spanish-language home of the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series starting February 2015. The network introduced an energizing mix of programming, including original scripted series created by leading producers of Spanish-language and general market content, Hispanic celebrity reality, premium sports and blockbuster movies, all offered across multiple platforms and elevating the Hispanic audience experience.  

Introducing more than 800 new original hours for the Telemundo network next season, Jesus Torres Viera, Telemundo’s Executive Vice President of Programming & Content, announced next fall’s Monday-Friday primetime lineup, including “Los Miserables,” based on the classic novel and starring novela superstar, Aracely Arambula (“La Patrona”); “Dueños del Paraíso,” featuring the television comeback of acclaimed actress Kate Del Castillo (“La Reina Del Sur”);  and  “Señora Acero” starring Blanca Soto, who recently joined the network.

In addition, Torres Viera announced the premiere of the mega reality musical competition series, “Yo Soy El Artista.” With castings currently underway, the reality competition will feature performers who truly capture the meaning of the term “artist” and can sing, dance and demonstrate star quality and showmanship. “Yo Soy El Artista” joins Telemundo’s successful Sunday primetime lineup,  infused by two adaptations of the NBCUniversal franchises “The Voice” as “La Voz Kids,” and “Top Chef” as “Top Chef Estrellas,” both of which have been greenlit for new seasons. Premiering this summer, “Miss Latina Universo,” a series where women vie for a spot in the Miss Universe Pageant, will also air on Sundays.

On the Sports front, beginning in 2015, Telemundo and mun2 will become the official Spanish-language home of the FIFA World Cup, featuring more than 550 hours across all its platforms, including the Men’s Under 20 and Under 17 World Cups, as well as the Women’s World Cup and Men’s Beach Soccer World Cup.

In addition, Telemundo recently announced it acquired the exclusive media rights for the United States of all the home games of the popular Mexican first division soccer team Pachuca, effective June 2014, for all its platforms. These rights complement the network’s existing media rights of the Club Leon games, at a time when both teams have qualified to La Gran Final of the Mexican League as the top two squads of the Clausura Tournament 2014.

It was also announced that this fall, Telemundo Sports and NBC Sports will join forces to launch a new extensive digital experience in Spanish-language sports, with top tier live matches, up-to-the-second results, interviews, and exclusive analysis, which will live on www.deportestelemundo.com.

Other digital announcements include the unveiling of the next two projects from FLUENCY, the new multi-format, multiplatform production studio that creates premium content for multicultural audiences. “The Home Team” (WT), will be a 90-minute production about a group of strong-willed high school girls from a small town in Indiana who are tested on and off the soccer field, and “Nobody Walks In LA” (WT), also clocking in at 90-minutes, about three young friends navigating the edges of Los Angeles after they’re caught up in a heist that brings the city to a standstill.

In addition, Telemundo secured the first Hispanic video partnership with the leading voice of digital culture, Mashable. The initiative will host the most popular content from Mashable, in English and in Spanish, on Telemundo digital and social media platforms, including Video on Demand.  Original, made-for-social video content will bring to life the latest culture and tech news from Mashable and prompt sharing across the online, mobile and social media of both Telemundo and Mashable properties.

Following is an overview of Telemundo’s new and returning programs:

NEW TELENOVELAS

“Señora Acero” (Mrs. Acero), written by Roberto Stopello, the writer of Telemundo’s blockbuster hit “La Reina del Sur,”  tells the story of Sara Aguilar Bermudez, played by acclaimed Mexican actress Blanca Soto. Sara is a woman who goes from being a housewife living an ordinary life to being the person capable of shaking the foundation of the Mexican government.  After her husband, Vicente Acero, is killed at their wedding, our heroine finds out Vicente was not the man she thought he was and, in fact, lived a double life. Her life becomes a race to evade the authorities and her husband’s enemies, and along the way, becomes the “queen of organized crime.”

“Los Miserables” is an original story by Valentina Parraga, inspired in the literary work Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. The modern day spin on the classic tale stars top Mexican actress Aracely Arambula (“La Patrona”) as Lucia “Lucha” Duran, an innocent woman wanted by the law, who has to fight fiercely and hide cleverly, until she is able to prove her innocence to her pursuer-Daniel Ponce-the harsh chief detective of the narcotics unit, a man whom she will love as she has never loved anyone else before.

“Dueños del Paraíso” (Owners of Paradise), an original story by Pablo Illanes, inspired by real-life events during the height of the 1980s drug trade era in Miami, marks the return to Telemundo of renown actress Kate Del Castillo (“La Reina Del Sur”) as Anastasia Cardona, the widow of a well-known Mexican drug lord who has become psychologically disturbed by the violence that has surrounded her. When she partners up with two local cocaine traffickers to take on the Santa Norma cartel, they become the target of the so-called “drug wars,” transforming the streets of South Florida into a terrifying battlefield.

“Tierra de Reyes” (Land of Kings), an adaptation of the successful novela “Pasión de Gavilanes” by Julio Jimenez, tells the story of the Gallardo brothers as they search for truth and justice after tragically and mysteriously losing their sister. On their journey, each falls in love with the daughters of the man suspected to be responsible for their sister’s death.

“El Jardinero” (The Gardener) tells the story of Carlos Martinez, an illegal immigrant living in Los Angeles. Carlos is an honest, hard-working man who aspires to offer his two sons a better future so that they can enjoy the opportunities he never had. In their quest for the American dream, father and sons will face the hatred and dangers within a city where the glamour of Hollywood often contrasts with the difficult life of the millions of undocumented Hispanics in the area. “El Jardinero” is a production inspired by an original story created by Roger L. Simon, an accomplished novelist and writer who has been involved in many successful projects, including the following films: “A Better Life” (2011), “Scenes for a Mall” (1991) and “Enemies, a Love Story” (1989).

NEW REALITY

“Yo Soy El Artista,” the weekend primetime musical competition series produced in partnership with Spain’s Reset TV, is set to premiere in the 2014-15 season. The show will challenge contestants with demanding auditions and hellish days of massive eliminations in order for them to earn a place in the school of music. There, they must work to coexist, learn and grow along with the best instructors. Week after week, they will have to demonstrate their talent on stage to earn the support and respect of the jury, the instructors and the audience and eventually become the ultimate artist and winner of the competition.

“Miss Latina Universo” will give 14 beautiful and talented Hispanic women the chance to compete in the 2014 Miss Universe Pageant representing all U.S. Hispanics. Each week, contestants will participate in elimination galas, runway competitions and challenges that will test their physical abilities, talent and determination. At the end of the competition, the winner will take the stage alongside the world’s most gorgeous beauty queens, for the chance to become Miss Universe 2014.

NEWS

Noticias Telemundo will expand its news programming with new, half-hour weekend editions of “Noticiero Telemundo,” featuring breaking news, health and consumer segments, in-depth analysis of the top stories of the past week and a preview of the upcoming week’s events most relevant to our viewers.

RETURNING SERIES

“El Señor de Cielos,” (The Lord of the Skies) the network’s highest-rated scripted program last season, averaging 2.3 million total viewers, will return for an unprecedented third season, making it the first super series in the network’s history to continue its run past a second season. “El Señor de los Cielos” is a fictional and action-packed story full of raw passion and emotions, greed, suffering, intrigue and suspense.  Inspired by true events, the series tells the story of Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya), one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 90s, whose ambition was to become one of the richest and most powerful men in the world.

The record-breaking hit “La Voz Kids,” will return for a third season of young vocalists between the ages of seven and 15 competing for a recording contract and cash prize to support their education. Produced out of Universal Orlando Resort, “La Voz Kids” will once again give Telemundo’s audience the opportunity to witness how the stars of the future are discovered and developed.

“Top Chef Estrellas,” the first-ever Spanish-language original version of Bravo Media’s hit culinary competition series, returns for a second season with new Hispanic celebrities competing for the crown and a cash prize for their preferred charities. The series will feature celebrities cooking their favorite dishes under the guidance and coaching of professional chefs. Celebrity contestants must use all of their culinary know-how to impress the chef judges and survive round after round of the competition to determine which celebrity takes home the grand prize.