Miami – ​At the 2014 NATPE Market & Conference on January 27, Telemundo Media and Spain’s Reset TV announced plans to jointly own, develop, produce and distribute El Artista (Working Title), a new musical competition format and weekend primetime series, set to premiere in the 2014-15 season. The deal includes the co-ownership and production of a new format to be based on an original concept from Reset TV, the creators of popular entertainment formats such as Cronicas Marcianas (Martian Chronicles), Mira Quien Baila (Look Who’s Dancing) andOperacion Triunfo (Star Academy), among others. The parties also agreed to produce a new 13-episode, two-hour weekend series based on the format, to be helmed by Reset TV founders Toni Cruz and Josep Maria Mainat. The series will follow week after week as a bevy of talented upcoming stars demonstrate on stage in a spectacular TV gala that they have what it takes to become the show’s ultimate winner.
“Audiences around the world have a proven appetite for innovative music competition programs that the entire family can enjoy as appointment viewing,” said Marcos Santana, President of Telemundo International. “That growing interest combined with the creativity and experience of the team at Reset TV will allow us to develop and produce a successful format for the US and the international markets.”
“We are very proud NBCUniversal and Telemundo decided to join forces with us in this project,” said Cruz and Mainat. “We will provide our best experience so that this partnership, to which both companies will contribute their best talent, creates the next television blockbuster.”
(L-R) Jesus Torres Viera, Executive Vice President of Programming, Telemundo; Sara Maldonado, Camelia la Texana; Joe Uva, Chairman, Hispanic Enterprises & Content for NBC Universal and Marcos Santana, President of Telemundo International
Additionally, Telemundo International announced the launch of a second feed for its pay TV channel in Latin America. Beginning February 1, 2014, Telemundo International’s new feed will cover South America and the Caribbean, providing a customisable schedule consistent with the habits of the audience in the region, while the original feed will continue to serve the Mexican territory on its own timetable.
“Our Telemundo cable channel in Latin America has grown to become one of the leading programmers in the region,” added Santana. “This new feed for Venezuela, Colombia and Central America, will allow regional advertisers to more effectively reach their targets fueled by our compelling and engaging content.”
Actress Sara Maldonado was on hand at the presser to help Telemundo introduce the highly-anticipated new original series, Camelia La Texana, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Carlos Bolado. Inspired by the legendary norteño band Los Tigres del Norte’s popular corrido Contrabando y Traición, the new series is slated to debut in the network’s coveted 10pm timeslot, previously held by ratings hits such has La Reina del Sur (The Queen of the South) and El Señor de los Cielos, shows that regularly beat their competition – including English language networks – among key demos.
Starring Maldonado and Erik Hayser and produced by Tita Lombardo, a veteran of the acclaimed movies Amores Perros and Babel,Camelia La Texana tells the story of a naive woman driven to a life of crime by passion, betrayal and revenge. The series was written by Diego Ramón Bravo and Hilario Peña and adapted for television by Rodrigo Ordoñez. Camelia la Texana is being filmed with state of the art cinematography by Campanario Entertainment for Telemundo and will be distributed worldwide by Telemundo International.
