Univision Goes Home Grown

By Michael Malone, Broadcasting & Cable -- Multichannel News, 5/24/2010 12:01:00 AM

New York — Univision Communications presented advertisers last week with plans for 20- plus new shows, including five telenovelas, a pair of weekly series, two reality programs, two variety shows, and specials celebrating Mexico’s bicentennial and the “biggest and brightest” female entertainers.

Four new novelas are on tap for Univisionowned TeleFutura, which also picks up Hollywood films such as The Bourne Supremacy and Angels and Demons.

Late last year, Univision said it was creating Univision Studios, with an eye on owning more of its programming.

Univision Networks president Cesar Conde said the studio enables Univision to be a major producer across multiple genres.

Rival Spanish-language network Telemundo presented its new slate at a press breakfast on May 13, often reminding attendees that it creates original programming and has done so for several years, increasingly in partnership with advertisers.

Both Telemundo and Univision said the 2010 U.S. Census will show just how large a presence the Hispanic community has in the U.S. That Hispanic population is expected to deliver big ratings to Univision during the June 11-July 11 2010 FIFA World Cup: Univision has the Spanishlanguage rights in the U.S. to the world’s biggest sporting event.

Univision’s rookie novelas include Eva Luna, a “modern love story” that comes from the new studio and from Venevision. Univision Studios and Endemol are joining forces on the reality newcomer Mira Quien Baila (Look Who’s Dancing), while Univision Studios and BETV partner on the tropical island survival reality show Desafio: La Gran Batalla (The Challenge: The Big Battle). Novelas from Televisa International include Soy tu Duena (You Belong to Me) and Mar de Amor (Sea of Love).