Univision Plans More ‘In-Culture Programming’

NEW YORK: Univision has added two new epic telenovela productions to its schedule, The Storm (La Tempestad) and Lie So You Can Live (Mentir para Vivir), as well as a host of other highlights.

The Storm is a brand-new novela from Televisa that will be running weekdays on Univision. It features William Levy and the former Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete. Lie So You Can Live, also a weekday novela from Televisa, is produced by Rosy Ocampo (Por Ella Soy Eva, La Fuerza del Destino). Other novelas on the schedule include Free to Love (Libre Para Amarte) and The Woman from Vendaval (La Mujer del Vendaval), both from Televisa.

The network has three new comedies that it has added to its lineup. They are Sleeping with My Boss (Durmiendo con mi Jefe), a modern Mexican twist on the classic sitcom The Odd Couple; All-Inclusive (Todo Incluido), which features the comedian Adrian Uribe; and Marry Me (Casate Conmigo), about a woman who flees the altar for a third time.

Among the reality shows slated for Univision are Va Por Ti, which searches for the next Latin music superstar; Look Who’s Dancing! 4 (¡Mira Quién Baila! 4), a dance competition; Our Latin Beauty 8 (Nuestra Belleza Latina 8), which is one of the highest rated reality series on Spanish-language television; and Parody 3 (Parodiando 3), which features contestants competing as the top celebrity impersonator.

The network also has ten new documentary films set to air, as part of a partnership with Participant Media. They are being produced in both Spanish and English for multiplatform distribution.

On the planner for UniMás are the drama series Metastasis, which is said to be based on Breaking Bad; The Team (La Selección), telling the true stories of the four stars of the team that led Colombia to World Cup victory in 1994; and The Black Widow (La Viuda Negra), based on the true story of a woman who ruled the Miami drug trade in the late 1970s and early 80s. The network is also getting the localized Gossip Girl Acapulco, La Madame, Cloroformo, Guardian Devil (Diablo Guardián) and Heroes of the North 3 (Los Héroes del Norte 3).

Randy Falco, the president and CEO of Univision Communications, commented: “There is no denying that the Hispanic community will drive future media consumption in the U.S. and that multiplatform engagement is the new face of the media landscape—there is also no doubt that Univision has an unmatched position at the intersection of those two growth opportunities: Hispanic and digital. We have a leading, unbeatable formula of exclusive content, high brand affinity, and unparalleled distribution across every platform, making Univision the one and only gateway to Hispanic America not just for advertisers, but also for any company looking to connect with this fast growing demographic. Our advantage is Spanish-language content, but we are constantly exploring all of the ways we can be the ultimate resource for all Hispanics’ tastes and preferences regardless of language or platform.”