Telemundo launches new development package with Peacock

As the streaming push into Latin America hots up, we see NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo Enterprises, perhaps the best-known Spanish-language media company currently operating, launch a new development division for Peacock and other NBC-owned properties. There’s already an ambitious slate of 50 projects lined up for 2022, and more beyond. Entertainment lawyer Los Angeles Brandon Blake analyzes what this could mean for the industry in general.

The division will launch as “NBCUniversal Telemundo Hispanic Streaming”, under the watchful eye of Romina Rosado as GM and executive VP. They move over from their role as executive VP of Entertainment and Content Strategy at Telemundo itself. Their remit is to further the Spanish content slate for the network, across telenovelas, unscripted content, comedy, and drama, alongside bolstering the other new edition to the Telemundo house- Telemundo Streaming Studios. Launched in May, these two new divisions are intended as a production hub for the language across NBC’s streaming networks, with TSS covering production and the newest division focusing on programming.

Spanish-language TV, and the Latin American market in general, has seen a shift to the same streamer-first mentality we’ve seen colonize the Northern American market in the last year, making it a smart secondary language choice for NBC, and the industry in general, to focus on. Telemundo, famous mostly for its beloved telenovelas, will face opposition from the other U.S-based Spanish language Media company, Univision, through its PrendeTV channel. With a key merger with Mexican TV giant Televisa on the cards for Univision, this could make it a thorn in Telemundo’s side over time, so it’s easy to understand why they’re looking to get the jump on content expansion. Who is their intended demographic? Both primarily Spanish-language consumers, alongside American Latino groups looking for a connection to their language and culture. 

Latin America is shaping up to be a proving ground for streamers looking to diversify their content markets, and as the Latino streaming wars heat up, it will be well worth watching these new developments for Telemundo and Peacock both.