Telemundo

This article is about the terrestrial television network launched in 1984. For the Puerto Rican television station it was named after, see WKAQ-TV. For the unrelated news program from Uruguayan channel Teledoce, see Telemundo 12.

Telemundo
TypeFree-to-air television network
CountryUnited States
Affiliates
HeadquartersMiami, Florida, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)Spanish
Picture format1080i HDTV
(re-scaled to 16:9 1080i for some affiliated channels)
Timeshift service
  • Telemundo East
  • Telemundo West
Ownership
OwnerNBCUniversal (Comcast)
ParentNBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises
Key people
  • Luis Fernández
    (Chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises
Sister channels
History
Founded1984; 40 years ago (1984)
LaunchedJune 19, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-06-19)
Former namesNetSpan (1984–1987)
Links
Websitewww.telemundo.com

Telemundo (Spanish pronunciation: [teleˈmundo] ⓘ; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. It provides content nationally with programming syndicated worldwide to more than 100 countries in over 35 languages.

The network was founded in 1984 as NetSpan before being renamed Telemundo in 1987 after the branding used on WKAQ-TV, its owned-and-operated station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1997, Liberty Media and Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired controlling interest in Telemundo. NBC then purchased Telemundo in 2001.

The channel broadcasts programs and original content aimed at Latin American audiences in the United States and worldwide, consisting of telenovelas, sports, reality television, news programming and films—either imported or Spanish-dubbed. In addition, Telemundo operates Universo, a separate channel directed towards young Hispanic audiences;[1] Telemundo Digital Media, which distributes original programming content across mass media, the Telemundo and Universo websites; Puerto Rico free-to-air station WKAQ-TV; and international distribution arm Telemundo Internacional.

Telemundo is headquartered in Miami and operates a studio and productions facility in the Miami suburb of Doral, Florida, and has 1,900 employees worldwide.[2][3] The majority of Telemundo's programs are shot at an operated studio facility in Miami, where 85 percent of the network's telenovelas were recorded during 2011.[4] The average hourly primetime drama costs $70K to produce.[5]

  1. ^ "Breaking News – In Landmark Move, NBC Universal Television Group Signs Development Deal With Galan Entertainment For Production Of Telenovelas In English Across Its Many Networks". The Futon Critic (Press release). February 27, 2006 – via NBC Universal Television Group.
  2. ^ Meg James (July 26, 2007). "NBC tacks on Telemundo oversight to Gaspin's tasks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  3. ^ "Legal corporate english". Telemundo. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  4. ^ Zachary S. Fagenson (June 23, 2011). "Telemundo Plans To Tape 1100 Hours Of Telenovelas In Miami". Miami Today.
  5. ^ Cynthia Littleton (July 30, 2013). "How to Build a Better Telenovela". Variety.