NBC Universo Rides With ‘Sons of Anarchy’

If a little “anarchy” at NBC Universo can bring big ratings and new advertising opportunities, the NBCUniversal pay TV network will likely be thrilled.

Don’t worry, clients: Little chaos will come thanks to the impending arrival of Sons of Anarchy.

The hugely successful FX original series about a biker gang has been dubbed in Spanish, and NBC Universo has nabbed the Spanish-language U.S. television cable rights from Twentieth Television.

NBC Universo expects to begin airing all 13 first-season episodes, in Spanish, in early 2017. An air date and time slot have not yet been announced.

Created by Kurt Sutter, Sons of Anarchy is one of FX’s most successful series and one of the highest-rated scripted programs in FX’s history.

"I love that this is finally happening,” Sutter said. “At its core, Sons of Anarchy is a show about family. And the Latino culture, like no other culture I know of, is rooted so deeply in the bonds of family.”

Described as “an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones,” Sons of Anarchy explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club’s desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their sheltered town of Charming, Calif. remains charming. The club must confront threats from drug dealers, corporate developers and overzealous law officers. Behind the bikers’ familial lifestyle and legally thriving automotive shop is a ruthless and illegal arms business driven by the seduction of money, power and blood.

Given the traditional plot lines of the Spanish-language telenovela, the subject matter will likely prove appealing to NBC Universo’s core bilingual and bicultural audience.

“Following the success of The Walking Dead en Español, we are thrilled to take our viewers on another unprecedented wild ride and experience the gritty tough biker world in their own language,” NBC Universo senior vice president of programming and production Joa Bilai Silar said. “We continue to raise the bar by offering audiences alternative quality content with great storylines and offbeat characters that is currently not available on any other Spanish-language cable network.”

Sons of Anarchy features such stars as Katey Sagal, Jimmy Smits and Drea de Matteo. It is executive produced by Sutter, Paris Barclay, John Linson and Art Linson and was produced by Fox 21 and FX Productions.