Spanish-language network Telemundo will be available in Africa starting this August, as announced by the Hollywood Reporter.
This is the first time the NBCUniversal-owned network will be broadcast in countries outside of Latin America. NBCUniversal’s Universal Networks International announced the network made available will be the pay TV version, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Telemundo will be broadcast in 48 different African countries.
This pay TV version of Telemundo will air only telenovelas, dubbing the Spanish programs into English and Portuguese for the necessary countries. Universal Networks International stated the telenovelas will include “a wide range of themes for the whole family to enjoy, including traditional romance stories, mystery, action and adventure stories, and stories based on real-life events with high-quality production values and featuring top talent,” the Hollywood Reporter quoted.
On the reason for broadcasting only telenovelas, the president of the Universal Networks International, Belinda Menendez, commented, “We know that there is a huge appetite for top-quality telenovelas, the world over, and are looking forward to building a fan base for this unique genre across Africa,” also posted by the Hollywood Reporter.
President of Telemundo International, Marcos Santana commented on the announcement, saying, “With the launch of Telemundo Africa, the region sees the birth of the first pay TV Latin American channel in the English language.”
Telemundo currently features a number of popular television shows outside of the telenovela genre, including La Voz Kids, the Latin American version of the Voice.