Pasiones wins rights to Cisneros
telenovelas
P
asiones, the only 24/7
multicultural and pan-regional
TV network dedicated to novelas
and drama series, announced a deal
with global distributor of entertainment
content Cisneros Media Distribution
(CMD) for the pay-TV rights in Latin
America of a package of seven highly
successful telenovelas that includes Mi
Vida Eres Tú (You Are My Life) (pictured
right), Eva Luna (Eva Luna), El Talismán
(The Talisman), and Amor Comprado
(Love Contract), among others.
“We are excited to begin our partnership
with Cisneros Media Distribution and tap into
their highly acclaimed international novelas,”
said Francisco Gimenez, GM of cable networks
of Hemisphere Media Group, the parent
company of Pasiones. “This deal reinforces our
commitment to deliver the best programming
to our audiences; and we look forward to
strengthening our relationship with CMD to
bring more blockbuster titles to Pasiones.”
“We are thrilled to sign this agreement with
Pasiones as it will foster and fortify our reach
and the success of our trademark telenovelas
throughout Latin America,” said Marcello
Coltro, EVP of content distribution of Cisneros
Media. “We know viewers will enjoy our
featured programming, which contains iconic
stories written by our renowned cast of authors
like Veronica Suarez and Leandro Padron, the
masterminds behind such all-time favourites as
Mi Vida Eres Tú and Eva Luna.”
New EVP LatAm for BBC WW
B
BC Worldwide, BBC Worldwide,
the commercial arm and
main subsidiary of the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), has
appointed Anna Gordon (right) to the
role of executive vice-president (EVP)
for Latin America.
Based at the company’s regional
headquarters in Miami and reporting to Paul
Dempsey, President, global markets, Gordon
will oversee all of BBC Worldwide’s businesses
in Latin America. She will be accountable for
P&L and strategic decisions in 19 territories,
including the US Hispanic market; and be
responsible for delivering new brands, products
and service initiatives, as well as continuing to
drive future revenue growth.
Dempsey, said the demand for British
content in Latin America was “stronger than
ever”, with Gordon’s “impressive” track record
in the BBC and close affinity with the region
making her the ideal person to lead BBC
Worldwide’s ambitious plans in one of the
world’s fastest growing TV markets.’ Her most
recent roles within BBC Worldwide’s London
organisation was as Project Lead in the roll-out
of the company’s global OTT services and as
Director, Sales Strategy for Global Markets
(non-English speaking markets).
Gordon said she was “incredibly excited” to
be taking up the EVP role in Latin America.
“The region is a high priority for BBC
Worldwide and I look forward to working with
the team to take the business to the next level
and fulfil its considerable potential for growth,”
she added.
Millennials 65% of LatAm OTT consumption by 2025
According to new research
from analysis firm TDG,
Latin America is poised
to become a significant
market for OTT video, with
use especially prominent
among younger adults. By
2025, TDG forecasts that
consumers between the ages
of 18 and 34 will account for
65% of all OTT viewing.
“Much is said about the
rise of US Millennials and the
impact they will have on video
viewing,” says Joel Espelien,
senior analyst and author of
4 LATAM Briefing
TDG’s new report, El Futuro
de TV - OTT Video in Latin
America, 2015-2025. “But
few understand that these
same demographic trends
are creating tremendous
opportunities for OTT vendors
in international markets, Latin
American in particular.”
Though Internet penetration
in Latin America still trails that
of the US by a wide margin,
the total number of broadband
users is relatively even. This
is a dramatic improvement
over the last decade, thus
presenting a tremendous
opportunity for OTT video
services.
This opportunity is not lost
on Netflix, which first entered
the Latin American market
in 2011 and is now available
in 43 countries across the
region. The company has
recently invested heavily in
original Spanish-language
content specifically designed
for this emerging market. “The
fact that Netflix is expanding
its efforts in the region should
send a strong message to
others that the potential of
OTT in Latin America is real
and the time for entry is now.”
But OTT video in Latin
America also faces inhibiting
forces, including poor
penetration of fixed broadband,
widespread poverty and the
dominance of legacy free-to-air
broadcasters. Despite these
challenges, TDG forecasts
that OTT video will experience
strong growth in Latin America
over the next decade. By 2025,
OTT will account for 25% of all
video viewed in Latin America
generating US$8 billion in
annual revenue.