NBC and USA are mining Spanish-language sister network Telemundo to develop English-language versions of two telenovela properties, the companies announced Thursday. NBCUniversal Entertainment has optioned El Señor de los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies), Telemundo's highest-rated novela last season, averaging 2.3 million viewers nightly. And USA is developing the upcoming Mujer de Acero (Woman of Steel).
This is not the only example of cross-company synergy between Telemundo and English-language NBCUni properties. La Voz Kids and Top Chef Estrellas are among Telemundo's top-rated unscripted series. But this is the fist time that NBC and USA -- the top-rated cable entertainment network -- have optioned content from Telemundo novelas and it underscores the format's adaptability in the general market.
El Señor de los Cielos is the story of Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya), one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 1990s, whose ambition was to become one of the richest and most powerful men in Mexico. The telenovela generated more than 35 million page views on Telemundo.com, spurring a seven-part midseason web companion series -- El Capitulo Secreto (The Secret Episode) -- that bridged the first season cliffhanger with the second season, which began last Tuesday.
This is not the only example of cross-company synergy between Telemundo and English-language NBCUni properties. La Voz Kids and Top Chef Estrellas are among Telemundo's top-rated unscripted series. But this is the fist time that NBC and USA -- the top-rated cable entertainment network -- have optioned content from Telemundo novelas and it underscores the format's adaptability in the general market.
El Señor de los Cielos is the story of Aurelio Casillas (Rafael Amaya), one of the most prominent Mexican drug lords from the 1990s, whose ambition was to become one of the richest and most powerful men in Mexico. The telenovela generated more than 35 million page views on Telemundo.com, spurring a seven-part midseason web companion series -- El Capitulo Secreto (The Secret Episode) -- that bridged the first season cliffhanger with the second season, which began last Tuesday.
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