Telemundo’s New IP Strategy: Live TV, Streaming & Mediapro Film Deals
Telemundo Studios CCO Javier Pons reveals new IP, streaming, and live TV pillars. Diversifying content with Mediapro and Cinépolis on the Jaime Camil film, 'Catch Me If You Can.'
Telemundo Studios Shifts Strategy: Diversifying IP and Leveraging Live TV in the Streaming Era
Telemundo Studios is aggressively pursuing a new content strategy focused on diversification and the creation of valuable intellectual property (IP), according to Javier Pons, Chief Content Officer & Head of Telemundo Studios. This strategic pivot is best exemplified by the recent alliance with The Mediapro Studio US & Canada and Cinépolis, aimed at producing films for the U.S. Hispanic market.
Speaking at Iberseries & Platino Industria 2025, Pons outlined how the production arm of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is moving far beyond its traditional long-running series format.
“Before, we only made long-running series for the network, and for the past year we’ve been producing short-form series for streaming, docuseries, and movies. We want to start opening up our own catalog of properties,” Pons explained.
The Mediapro & Jaime Camil Alliance
The new partnership with Mediapro, a familiar collaborator to Pons from his previous role, is central to this expanded focus. The first project announced under this collaboration is the film Catch Me If You Can (Atrápalo Quien Pueda), starring the highly recognizable Jaime Camil.
Pons highlighted that Camil is an ideal star for the U.S. Hispanic audience, being "very well-known in Mexico, of course, but also very well-known in the U.S.," with a strong Hollywood background. The inclusion of Cinépolis, with whom Telemundo previously co-produced the film Casi al Paraíso, emphasizes the goal of venturing deeper into film co-production. Pons noted that the agreement was "easy, quick, and fruitful," with filming for Catch Me If You Can already underway.
Fighting Latino Underrepresentation in Audiovisual Media
Beyond business, the agreement serves a crucial cultural purpose. Pons stressed that the role of Telemundo Studios is to ensure these projects reflect the expectations of the Hispanic market and combat underrepresentation.
"Telemundo is not just an entertainment brand; it is a cultural destination for all Hispanics," Pons stated. He added, "I would even say that Latinos are underrepresented in all things audiovisual, and I believe this is one more step in the fight against that."
The Two Pillars of Telemundo's Offensive Strategy
Pons detailed the two main pillars of Telemundo’s strategy to compete effectively:
Live Programming:
Pons identifies live content as the network's "greatest tool to compete with the world of streaming." With Telemundo producing over 5,000 hours of live TV each year, he believes this proficiency is a major competitive advantage that will continue to be leveraged across both linear channels and digital platforms.
Original Intellectual Properties (IPs):
The second pillar positions Telemundo Studios as the key "generator of the company’s intellectual property." This focus includes series, films, and docuseries, all designed with a dual-world approach for both linear TV and streaming.
Pons confirmed that the long-running series now move from the Telemundo network immediately to Peacock, demonstrating the co-existence of both platforms. Furthermore, content development now organically integrates a multi-platform vision, including vertical formats for social media like TikTok, Peacock streaming, and other partners like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon. This "perfect alchemy" of supporting live programming and creating original IPs ensures that Telemundo continues to "play offensively" in the evolving media landscape.
