Spanish-Language PPV Service Sets December Schedule

Ring sports, documentaries and independent films will serve as the main programming for In Demand’s new PPV en Espanol service, which launches this Saturday (Dec. 1).

The service will target Hispanic viewers with live sports events featuring commentary produced in Spanish for the network, according to company officials. On tap for December is the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Dec. 29 live UFC 155 En Español: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez event. Also scheduled to air live on the channel is a Spanish-language version of WWE’s Dec. 16 TLC Tables, Ladders & Chairs event featuring on-site Spanish announcers, as well as a separate Spanish language production of the Dec. 9 TNA: Final Resolution event.

Suggested retail prices for the Spanish-language events will be the same as the traditional English-language events, said In Demand.  

Along with live events, the service will feature two taped King of The Cage mixed martial arts events per month as well as Mexican-based wrestling content. The service will also feature library product from the UFC such as its UFC Presents En Español: 100 Greatest Knockouts special.

The company is working with boxing distributors like HBO to develop Spanish-language offerings for the sport’s major PPV events, according to network officials.

While ring sports will dominate PPV en Espanol’s weekend schedule, major studio movies dubbed in Spanish will air on Tuesday and Friday nights. On Thursday, independent movies from around the world will occupy the schedule.  

Also in December the service will feature documentaries on the historic soccer rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid as well as veteran actor Antonio Banderas, said company officials.

Suggested retail prices for the service’s content will range from 99 cents for older titles and short-form programming to $44.99 for top PPV events.

In Demand will also offer operators a companion VOD service that will carry approximately 20-30 hours per month of events and movies.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.