If a little “anarchy” at NBC Universo can bring big ratings and new advertising opportunities, the NBCUniversal pay TV network will likely be thrilled.

Don’t worry, clients: Little chaos will come thanks to the impending arrival of Sons of Anarchy.

The hugely successful FX original series about a biker gang has been dubbed in Spanish, and NBC Universo has nabbed the Spanish-language U.S. television cable rights from Twentieth Television.

NBC Universo expects to begin airing all 13 first-season episodes, in Spanish, in early 2017. An air date and time slot have not yet been announced.

Created by Kurt Sutter, Sons of Anarchy is one of FX’s most successful series and one of the highest-rated scripted programs in FX’s history.

"I love that this is finally happening,” Sutter said. “At its core, Sons of Anarchy is a show about family. And the Latino culture, like no other culture I know of, is rooted so deeply in the bonds of family.”

Described as “an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones,” Sons of Anarchy explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club’s desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their sheltered town of Charming, Calif. remains charming. The club must confront threats from drug dealers, corporate developers and overzealous law officers. Behind the bikers’ familial lifestyle and legally thriving automotive shop is a ruthless and illegal arms business driven by the seduction of money, power and blood.

Given the traditional plot lines of the Spanish-language telenovela, the subject matter will likely prove appealing to NBC Universo’s core bilingual and bicultural audience.

“Following the success of The Walking Dead en Español, we are thrilled to take our viewers on another unprecedented wild ride and experience the gritty tough biker world in their own language,” NBC Universo senior vice president of programming and production Joa Bilai Silar said. “We continue to raise the bar by offering audiences alternative quality content with great storylines and offbeat characters that is currently not available on any other Spanish-language cable network.”

Sons of Anarchy features such stars as Katey Sagal, Jimmy Smits and Drea de Matteo. It is executive produced by Sutter, Paris Barclay, John Linson and Art Linson and was produced by Fox 21 and FX Productions. 

One year ago, the future of popular reality TV series Larrymania and its star, Larry Hernandez, were in question.

On Sept. 25, 2015, Hernandez — a regional Mexican music star known for narco-corridos, songs that glamorize the Mexican drug lords — was prevented from boarding a Southwest Airlines flight from Ontario, Calif., to Denver by airport police who received a warrant for his arrest.  The warrant, issued in South Carolina, accused Hernandez of kidnapping, assault, and assault and battery causing injury.

That put Larrymania into best-of mode and sent NBC Universo execs into a mini crisis-mode.

Today, Larrymania is two episodes into its fifth season. Viewers have enjoyed catching up on the launch of a new beauty line from Hernandez’s fiancée, Kenia. They’ve also seen Larry enjoy a day off with the guys that takes an unexpected competitive turn.

Thus, all is well — for now — with Larrymania, which returned to the 9 p.m. Eastern time slot on the NBCUniversal pay-TV network on Nov. 27.

The reality show is arguably one of the most-watched programs on NBC Universo and is one of the few holdover programs from the network’s previous incarnation, mun2. That’s why media reports of what Hernandez was accused of were so concerning to network executives.

In late October 2015, it became known that Hernandez was charged with wrapping a man in plastic sheeting; forcing him into his hotel room with “several associates of Hernandez”; and beating him when Hernandez wasn’t paid in full for an August performance in the small agricultural town of Newbury, S.C., where many first-generation Mexican and Central American immigrants have settled.

At first, NBC Universo VP/Communications Peter Dobrow declined to comment on future plans for the series.

By February 2016, it became clear that Hernandez’s legal troubles would not be immediately resolved. With Hernandez out on bail, the network green-lighted a fifth season of Larrymania.

Alluding to his troubles, Hernandez said, “This new season of Larrymania will no doubt be very special because many different things have happened in my life. This is a new chapter of my life I want to share with my fans.”

There has been little discussion of Hernandez’s legal situation since February, when it was believed all charged would be dropped over suspicions the star was framed by another individual.

One thing is clear: The only thing Hernandez needs to worry about at the moment is Larrymania’s performance in the Nielsen ratings.

From 2011 through 2013, I Love Jenni was perhaps the biggest draw for the Spanish-language pay TV network then known as mun2.

That series’ run came to a tragic end in December of 2012, when its star, Mexican-American entertainer Jenni Rivera, was killed in a plane crash.

Now, the reality-TV legacy of the woman who commanded a huge legion of fans for her banda and ranchera music and her work for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence will be continued by her five children. NBC Universo, the network that replaced mun2 in February of 2015, will bow “celeb-reality” series The Riveras on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 10 p.m. ET.

The show focuses on Chiquis, Jacqie, Mikey, Jenicka and Johnny Rivera “as they step up and pull together to pursue their biggest dreams with humor and love.”

“We want to show the world you can continue moving forward despite adversities,” Chiquis Rivera, Jennu Rivera’s eldest daughter, said. “Yes, life without our mother has been painful and difficult. We have weak moments, but at the end of the day we come together as family to figure it out.”

The 10-episode season of The Riveras is executive-produced by Gloria Medel Solomons for NBC Universo and Blank Paige Productions.

“We are excited to give viewers access to Jenni Rivera’s biggest legacy, her children, and to witness their evolution,” NBC Universo senior vice president of programming and production Bilai Joa Silar said. =“Chiquis, Jacqie, Mikey, Jenicka and Johnny are spreading their wings and doing their best to make their mother proud. We are confident our audience will fall in love with The Riveras.”

The first episode of The Riveras will also be available on video-on-demand platforms and via the network’s authenticated NBC Universo NOW website and apps, which require a subscriber login.

The zombie apocalypse will continue to unfold — in Spanish — thanks to NBC Universo.

The NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises-owned network will bring Spanish-dubbed episodes of basic cable’s most popular series to NBC Universo for a third season. Freshly dubbed season-three episodes of the AMC-originated series debuted on NBC Universo on Aug. 31; subsequent episodes will air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern for 16 weeks.

“We are excited to have more people become part of our universe, and having the opportunity to present our show to Latinos in the U.S. on NBC Universo is unprecedented,” Greg Nicotero, executive producer, director and special effects makeup supervisor for the series, said in a statement.

 “We are thrilled to bring back The Walking Dead en Español, a series that has resonated immensely with U.S. Hispanic audiences,” said Bilai Joa Silar, senior vice president of programming and production for NBC Universo.

In the third season of the popular AMC dramatic series, officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) continues the fight to survive and protect a group of survivors, including his family, from walkers. When he discovers a federal prison could be a safe refuge to set a permanent camp, he will push his group to its limit to eliminate prison walkers. Soon, he will discover his biggest challenge to keep his group alive will be other survivors. (Season three aired on AMC in 2012-13.)

NBC Universo is currently available to a reported 40 million households across the U.S.

The Summer Olympics in Rio dominated TV-related social media posts on Facebook and Twitter Tuesday night (Aug. 16) with more than 3 million uniques, according to Nielsen Social.

"Uniques" are defined as "social media accounts that have authored original content related to a linear TV episode or engaged with that content."

The Olympics aired was across six networks -- CNBC, MSNBC, NBC, NBC Universo, NBCSN, USA Network -- over several hours, with 3,410,000 Facebook uniques and 488,000 Twitter accounts.

In fact, sports (and faux sports) programming took three of the top four social spots, with the Red Sox and Orioles game on MLB Network placing third, with 102,000 uniques, and WWE Smackdown on USA placing fourth, with 87,000 uniques

Second for the night was Freeform's Pretty Little Liars, with 260,000 uniques.

Telemundo’s weekday morning news and entertainment program is called Un Nuevo Día. With the 2016 Summer Olympics set to air for the first time on the NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises suite of Spanish-language networks, it is indeed “a new day” for Telemundo, the No. 2 U.S. Spanish-language network.

The Rio de Janiero games could very well make Telemundo the No. 1 Spanish-language network in the U.S., giving it multiple weekly ratings wins among viewers 6-plus over top rival Univision for the first time.

To build viewer and advertiser momentum ahead of the Aug. 3-20 event that’s been clouded by reports of political unrest in Brazil and the continued spread of the Zika virus across Latin America’s tropical environs, Telemundo announced its Olympic broadcast plans 102 days ahead of the opening ceremonies.

To say Telemundo is excited about Rio 2016 is a bit of an understatement.

“Telemundo is going to redefine Spanish-language Olympic event coverage in the U.S. with our Río presentation,” Eli Velázquez, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises executive vice president for sports, said. “Not only will we see more competitions than ever before, but we’ll also experience the moving stories of the Hispanic athletes on their quest for Olympic glory.” 

Telemundo’s Olympics coverage actually begins two days before the opening ceremonies from Rio, with a women’s soccer match on Aug. 3. Between Telemundo and its cable sibling NBC Universo, some 200 hours of Spanish-language coverage will be available to U.S. Hispanics throughout the Olympics.

One main programming highlight: coverage of El Tri, the Mexican men’s national soccer squad. Overall coverage will put a focus on Latin American athletes and sports that are “proven favorites among Hispanic audiences” — soccer, boxing, swimming, diving, track and field and basketball.

Telemundo will also broadcast Team USA’s participation in its entirety, including swimmer Michael Phelps’s attempts to add to the record-breaking 18 gold medals he has won in the course of three games.

NBCUniversal will host a single joint upfront presentation next month for the first time in company history, with cable amd broadcast, along with Spanish-language TV, taking the Radio City Music Hall stage together May 16.

Besides NBC entertainment, sports and news, the wingding will feature Bravo, CNBC, E!, Esquire Network, Golf Channel, MSNBC, NBC Universo, Oxygen, Sprout, Syfy, Telemundo and USA. In prior years, NBCUniversal held three upfront presentations, one apiece for broadcast, cable and Telemundo.

“As a media company, we have an unparalleled array of networks and digital platforms that reach the most audiences across all dayparts,” said Linda Yaccarino, chairman, advertising sales and client partnerships, NBCUniversal. “Our event will reflect the way we go to market as a unified portfolio which makes it easier for our clients to do business with us all together.”

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

A scripted drama inspired by the true-to-life story of Sonora, Mexico, native Dasahev López Saavedra, known to regional Mexican music fans as “El Dasa,” has started production ahead of an anticipated debut this spring on NBC Universo.

El Vato, a 10-episode series chronicling an aspiring singer of the same name as he navigates life in Los Angeles and ultimately lands a recording contract, is NBC Universo’s first original scripted series created expressly for U.S. Hispanic audiences. It is produced by Endemol Shine Latino and Boomdog.

“We are excited to offer our growing audience, including our loyal regional Mexican music fans, fresh and vibrant programming,” Bilai Joa Silar, NBC Universo’s senior vice president of programming and production, said. “This series promises to showcase El Dasa’s versatility as an artist, and his fans can expect to fall in love with his character El Vato and his entourage as they embark on their journey to stardom.”

Cris Abrego, co-chairman of Endemol Shine Americas, added that his firm is thrilled to be producing NBC Universo’s first scripted series along with Boomdog. “We’ve assembled an amazingly talented cast and El Dasa’s inspirational, true-life story and all the fun that ensues on his rise to stardom should make 'El Vato’ quite a ride for the network’s viewers,” Abrego said.

El Dasa was discovered in 2011 by legendary Mexican entertainer Vicente Fernández when his band asked him to listen to his chauffeur, Saavedra, sing. Fernandez was so impressed by the young singer’s talent that he invited him onstage to sing a duet at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. The audience gave the pair a standing ovation, with Fernández asking the audience to help support El Dasa.

Since then, El Dasa has regularly charted both in the U.S. and in Mexico on the regional Mexican airplay and sales charts and is considered one of the genre’s top recording artists.

Bravo’s popular Top Chef franchise is getting some Latin flavor, thanks to NBC Universo.

Top Chef Mexico, the South of the Border version of the reality competition TV series, will debut on the Spanish-language cable network on Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. Mexican model and actress Ana Claudia Talancón hosts the 13-episode series,

produced by Cinemateli Content.

Top Chef Mexico, like the franchise’s other iterations, pits 16 professional chefs against each other in various cooking-themed challenges. Judges will eliminate one contestant until the last chef standing wins the title of “Top Chef México.”

The 16 “cheftestants” in Top Chef Mexico will live together for six weeks, isolated from their homes, restaurants and social life. They will share rooms in an exclusive hotel adjacent to Mexico City’s Alameda Central.

Serving as judges are Mexican celebrity chefs Guillermo González Beristain, Aquiles Chávez, Juantxo Sánchez and Martha Ortíz.

“I am proud to be part of this exquisite project that shows México in a better light,” Talancón said. “Top Chef México showcases our culture, our traditions and the love we have for Mexican cuisine. Viewers will be delighted with the contestants’ talent, professionalism, their passion and will get to know first class chefs.”

The winning chef is selected based on several factors including flavor, technique, presentation and concept development, based on the challenge requirements. They are also judged on their ability to collaborate with the other participants. Top Chef México chefs will compete for a cash prize of $1 million Mexican pesos ($55,215) and a feature in Travel & Leisure Mexico magazine.

Episodes will also be available via video-on-demand and on the NBC Universo Now app on an authenticated basis.

The arrest of Larrymania star Larry Hernandez has put the NBCUniverso series, one of Spanish-language television’s most successful unscripted programs, into best-of mode.

On Sept. 25, the regional Mexican music star was prevented from boarding a Southwest Airlines flight from Ontario, Calif. to Denver by airport police who received a warrant for his arrest. The warrant, issued in South Carolina, accused Hernandez of kidnapping, assault, and assault and battery causing injury.

Hernandez is one of Latin music’s top regional Mexican artists, fueled by his controversial “narco corridos” featuring lyrics and themes tied to Mexico’s drug-trafficking subculture. Larrymania — billed as an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the star’s life — recently started its fifth season on NBCUniverso, with tales of a surprise trip to Hawaii, following a romantic trip to Paris for Hernandez and his now-fiancée, Kenia.

Larrymania is the No. 1 Hispanic cable-TV program among viewers age 18-49 and one of Spanish-language television’s most successful unscripted programs. It wrapped up its third season in August of 2014 with an average audience of 117,000 18-to-49-year-olds tuning in each Sunday at 9 p.m.

In fact, Larrymania’s popularity helped it outlive the network it launched on  — the youth-targeted mun2 — which was rebranded into the general-interest NBC Universo in February of 2015.

By late October, media reports offered further details of what Hernandez is being charged with: Wrapping a man in plastic sheeting; forcing him into his hotel room with “several associates of Hernandez”; and beating him when Hernandez wasn’t paid in full for an August performance in the small agricultural town of Newbury, S.C. Some 9.5% of Newbury’s 10,600 residents are Hispanic.

At first, NBC Universo’s communications team, which had relentlessly promoted every episode of Larrymania with weekly press updates in both English and Spanish, declined comment on Hernandez’s legal situation. When contacted in mid-October by Hispanic Television Update, NBC Universo VP of communications Peter Dobrow said: “NBC Universo continues to air reruns of the series. However at this time we are not commenting on future plans for the series.”

On Nov. 3, NBC Universo affirmed its decision to stick with best-of episodes, noting in a statement that it would air “special programming” each Thursday from 9 to 11 p.m. featuring “many unforgettable moments from the hit reality series’ last four seasons.”

The specials began airing on Nov. 5 and will run through Dec. 3. The programming is in response to “loyal fans that have demonstrated support for their idol,” the network said.

The announcement from NBC Universo came just days after Hernandez broke his silence on YouTube, the media platform that first brought him notoriety. Freed on a $200,000 bond some three weeks after his arrest, Hernandez appeared to be back in his Southern California home.

In the video, Hernandez said: “It’s not, as some in very bad faith have said, because I’m looking to sell an exclusive interview. My interest at no time is one of economic gain for an interest that narrates or reviews what has been a nightmare for me.”

Up next for Hernandez: A Dec. 31 court date to discuss probable cause.

NBC Universo has offered no visibility past Dec. 3 on what it intends to do with Larrymania. But new episodes could be back on the air sooner rather than later, thanks to a new twist in South Carolina.

José Andrade, the alleged victim in the case, was arrested in early November amid accusations of fraud tied to financial loans. While this case is unrelated to that of Hernandez, Andrade’s legal difficulties could greatly hinder the case against Larrymania’s star.

Meanwhile, Hernandez is back in action as a performer: He officially returned to the stage Nov. 13 in Dallas, following a Nov. 5 appearance on Estrella TV’s Premios de La Radio awards show. There, Hernandez was nominated for Best Performer of the Year and as the hottest social-media star of 2015.

NBC Universo has expanded its universe of successful English-language primetime series that can now be viewed on the network enespañol.

The network will air Heroes, the sci-fi drama that aired from 2006 to 2010 on NBC, at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays as of Nov. 18. Heroes is meant to complement reality show Superhermanos du Stan Lee,which will air back-to-back episodes at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. NBC Universo describes Superhermanos as “a daring series that showcases people from around the world with real life super powers.”

The show, which airs on History in English as Stan Lee’s Superhumans, is “hosted” by comic-book icon Lee and contortionist Daniel Browning Smith; audio is dubbed into Spanish.

“Featuring a diverse cast, Heroes is an iconic series that incorporates elements of fantasy and action that resonates with our Latino viewers,” NBC Universo vice president of program acquisitions and sourcing Jorge Balleste said in a statement. “We are pleased to add this series to our programming lineup alongside Superhumanos de Stan Lee as we continue to solidify our sci-fi offerings.”

The network also said it will soon add its first Zombinovela to its lineup, with dubbed-in-Spanish episodes of AMC’s megahit The Walking Dead — basic cable’s highest-rated scripted series — set to appear on the network early next year. NBC Universo will begin airing episodes from seasons 1 through 3.

And fans of the irreverent long-running Comedy Central animated series South Park can now follow the adventures of Stan, Kyle, Cartman and others in Spanish on NBC Universo. The series has aired at 10 p.m. on Monday nights since Oct. 26.

“By adding South Park to our already bold programming lineup, NBC Universo is going where no other Spanish cable network has gone before,” NBC Universal vice president of programming Arelys Carballo said in a prepared statement. “South Park adds an exciting twist to our lineup.”

The arrival of more shows bilingual and English-dominant viewers have likely had access to in English for years comes following the Oct. 20 addition of FX’s Prison Break with all-Spanish dialogue to the NBC Universo lineup.

Interestingly, the acquisition of The Walking Dead is the final programming move NBC Universo president Rubén Mendiola made for the network.

Mendiola has left amid a restructuring at NBCUniversal that gives Telemundo president Luis Silberwasser additional duties as head of NBC Universo. Mendiola was named president of NBC Universo in May 2014 and was charged with the network’s transition from mun2.

“We have decided to adjust our cable network’s structure in line with traditional cable channels operating within a portfolio and to ensure we are best positioned for future growth,” NBC Universo said in a statement. “We thank Ruben for all his dedication, passion and hard work in building NBC Universo from the ground up. We appreciate very much all he has done for the company and wish him the best in his next projects.”

NBC Universo president Ruben Mendiola is stepping down amid a restructuring at the NBCUniversal Spanish-language programmer. Telemundo president Luis Silberwasser will take on Mendiola’s duties, in addition to Telemundo.

Mendiola, a former content executive at Dish Network, NBCU parent Comcast, Fox and Televisa, was named president of NBC Universo in May 2014. He oversaw the relaunch and rebranding of mun2, which had previously been a bilingual music channel, as NBC Universo.

Silberwasser joined NBC Universal in May 2014 from Discovery Communications. He was formerly chief content officer at Discovery Networks Internatonal. 

In a statement, NBC Universo confirmed that the network and Mendiola are parting ways (news that was reported earlier by Billboard).

“We have decided to adjust our cable network’s structure in line with traditional cable channels operating within a portfolio and to ensure we are best positioned for future growth,” NBC Universo said in a statement. “As a consequence, Ruben Mendiola will be leaving the company to pursue other interests, and Luis Silberwasser will expand his responsibilities to oversee the channel, in addition to the Telemundo network. We thank Ruben for all his dedication, passion and hard work in building NBC Universo from the ground up. We appreciate very much all he has done for the company and wish him the best in his next projects. We continue to strongly believe that NBC Universo is a priority and that the cable network’s business represents an important growth opportunity for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.”

NBC Universo continues to be aggressive on the rights acquisition front, securing Spanish language rights to AMC’s zombie thriller The Walking Dead.

The Latino-targeted entertainment and sports channel will begin airing episodes of the popular drama beginning with seasons one through three dubbed in Spanish in early 2016, said network officials. In addition to airing on the network, The Walking Dead will also be available in Spanish on Video on Demand, as well as on nbcuniverso.com and the NBC Universo Now app by entering the subscriber’s log-in information.

"Very few series in television history have so thoroughly captivated young adult audiences like The Walking Dead. It has been a blockbuster mainstream hit, and there’s a tremendous appetite for Latinos to fully enjoy this series in Spanish for the very first time in the U.S.,” said Rubén Mendiola, President of NBC Universo in a statement. “Adding The Walking Dead to our primetime programming lineup is a clear demonstration of our commitment to bringing the most provocative and best-quality entertainment to U.S. Hispanics in Spanish.”

The Walking Dead joins other NBC Universo primetime series acqusitions including Prison Break, which will premieres tonight on the network, as well as South Park, which will debut on Oct. 26, according to network officials.

Upfront announcements by NBCUniversal Hispanic Group at a Lincoln Center gathering include a new sports unit, NBC Deportes, that will ramp up production ahead of the arrival of FIFA World Cup Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and sister network NBC Universo.

Ad-sales executives, including executive vice president Mike Rosen, pitched buyers and other attendees on the networks' reach to Hispanic Americans, under the theme  of "All Together. Latino." Rosen said NBCU will target Hispanic viewers across Spanish- and English-language networks, using an approach called CultureFirst that incorporates cultural traits (Latino "human truths") other than language that influence buying decisions.

Telemundo touted ratings gains, such as a 20% increase in weekday primetime viewing among 18- to 49-year-olds, aided by shorter, action-oriented drama "super series" including the hit El Señor de Los Cielos (The Lord of the Skies), starring Rafael Amaya as a Mexican drug lord. (It is returning for a fourth season in a format designed for multiple seasons). The broadcast network also is introducing Gran Hermano, a new U.S. Spanish-language version of the reality show Big Brother, and loading up on musical specials with the Latin American Music Awards, which is a new show modeled on the AMAs, and The 2015 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, a spinoff of the iHeartRadio Music Festival. Earlier, Telemundo said it would launch a new Saturday-night variety show, La Sorpresa de Tu Vida (The Surprise of Your Life), hosted by Angelica Vale and Raul Gonzalez, who on stage use the term "gigante" to describe the plans for the new show. Last month, U.S. Hispanic-content leader Univision said its Saturday-night variety show, Sábado Gigante, would end its 53-year run in September upon host Don Francisco's retirement. 

Sports formed much of the news, though, including the new NBC Deportes unit announced by Joe Uva, the chairman of Hispanic Enterprises and Content at NBCU, and NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus. It will gear up to provide 1,000 hours of sports content across network and digital platforms for such properties as soccer's FIFA World Cup (NBCU has Spanish-language rights to the next three Cup rounds), the Olympics and the National Football League. NBC Universo (the former mun2) is adding a new highlights show, Escena Deportiva, and obtaining home games on Saturday nights for Leon and Pachuca in the Mexican LIGA MX. 

On the digital front, attendees at Rose Hall in Jazz at Lincoln Center enjoyed seeing a demo of a new second-screen app, Double Acción, that streams content that complements what's being shown on TV during scripted series, even down to having one of the characters in the show call the person on the mobile phone that's running the app. The singer Daddy Yankee, a judge on Telemundo's La Voz Kids, performed at the end. 

Pictured, left to right: Rafael Amaya (El Señor de Los Cielos), Maria Celeste Arraras (Al Rojo Vivo) and Mike Rosen, EVP, Advertising Sales, News and Hispanic Groups, NBCUniversal.

Update: This story was corrected on May 18 to state that La Voz Kids is on Telemundo, not NBC Universo.

NBCSN's coverage of Manchester United's 2-1 win over Liverpool on March 22 was the most-watched early morning Premier League match in U.S. TV history.

The game, highlighted by Juan Matta's(pictured) pair of goals, averaged 950,000 watchers, the most for a Premier League contest that kicked off Stateside before 10 a.m. (ET), according to officials at the programmer.

Viewership topped out in the 10:45 p.m. (a.m.) quarter hour with 1.2 million watchers.

NBC Universo averaged 146,000 viewers for Liverpool-Manchester United, bringing the combined English- and Spanish-language viewership for the match to nearly 1.2 million viewers.

Season to date, NBC Sports Group’s Premier League viewership has grown 10% to an average of 485,000 viewers, and is up 19% among adults 18 to 49.

NBCSN has televised four of the five most-watched Premier League matches in U.S. cable history.

Most-Viewed Premier League Matches on Cable (on record):

As part of its inaugural presentations under its multimedia rights deal with FIFA, NBC Universo will be the home of team USA group stage matches in the upcoming Women’s World Cup from Canada and the men’s U-20 competition from New Zealand.

Telemundo and NBC Universo, the Spanish-language cable network formerly known as mun2,  this year will combine to offer 560 hours of soccer action from those events, as well the Beach Soccer World Cup and U-17 competitions across multiple platforms

Coverage will include 344 hours of online and mobile live-streams making it the first time that all 52 matches of the quartet of FIFA tourneys will be made available in Spanish to a nationwide audience.

“We are proud to be the first media company to offer such a comprehensive coverage of FIFA World Cup events in the United States in Spanish,” said Joe Uva, chairman, Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal. “Starting in May, we will leverage all of our linear and digital platforms to bring to U.S. Hispanics the best soccer in the world presented by an experienced team of talent and professionals with a deep understanding of sports broadcasting and storytelling.”

The men’s U20 World Cup, scheduled from May 29 through June 19, and the 2015 Women’s World Cup from Canada, playing out from June 6 through July 5, are the initial competitions under the $600 million deal Telemundo reached with FIFA and covers competitions through 2022.

“This is a unique opportunity for Telemundo, NBC Universo and their digital platforms to provide unprecedented Spanish-language coverage of these FIFA events for our viewers,” said Eli Velazquez, executive vice president of sports at Hispanic Enterprises and Content, NBCUniversal.

Four days after the FIFA Women’s World Cup champion is decided, the men’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, hosted by Portugal, will take place from July 9 to July 19. It will be followed by the final FIFA World Cup competition of 2015 featuring U-17 national teams, which will take the pitch in Chile from Oct. 17 to Nov, 8.

Schedules for the Beach Soccer and U-17 tourney have not been finalized as qualifying continues, according to executives.

Last month, Telemundo and Fox Sports, the English-language rights-holder, both added  for an undisclosed amount – sans bidding --the rights to the 2023-26 cycle of FIFA evemts. The last year under that new pact  could include the men’s World Cup here in the States. The extensions were widely construed as a means to appease the parties because the 2022 event from Qatar officially has been moved into November-December period of that year, when it will compete for viewer/fan interest against the American football, basketball and hockey seasons.

"We will go where the games are,” said Velazquez.

He also extended congratulations to France, which will host the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

“The French women's team is really a factor in the group stage and beyond in 2015 in Canada,” said Velazquez. “ Looking to 2019, France is a  more favorable time zone than South Korea.”

After dropping a 2-0 decision to France in a friendly during January, the U.S. turned the tables on Les Bleus by the same score in the final of the prestigious Algarve Cup earlier this month (pictured.).

As to the more immediate futbol business afoot, NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language networks, which supplanted former rights-holder Univision, have released their lineups through the group stage, and will kick similar scheduling game plans into play in May, June and July.

For the under 20 competition, Telemundo will air live 10 matches, including all competitions involving the Mexican national team – three group stage matches --plus two round of 16 matches, a pair of quarterfinals, one semifinal and the championship match. NBC Universo has 21 matches, including the New Zealand-Ukraine opener, all U.S. national team group stage matches, two Mexican team simulcasts, four round of 16 matches, two quarters and one semifinal. It will also encore the title match,

Given 16 hour-time difference to the east coast, Velazquez said the programmer is still mapping its strategy for more encore presentations on NBC Universo.

The presence of Mexican and U.S. teams in the tourney aside, Velasquez believes the presence of Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and other Latino-speaking nations will enable the programmer to appeal to the audiences we “super-serve.”

On the women’s side of the pitch, Telemundo also will air 10 matches, including the tourney opener between the host nation and China, a trio of round-of-16 matches, one quarterfinal match and the final. The cable network, which counts some 40 million subscribers, will feature 21 live matches, including all U.S..group stage matches -- as well as a simulcast of its competition, if it advances to later rounds -- four round-of-16 encounters, two quarters and both semifinals. NBC Univserso will also encore the opening and championship matches.

“We believe it is unique marketing opportunity for NBC Universo to be the home of U.S. women’s soccer during the group stage,” Velazquez.said, noting scheduling may place the team’s matches on Telemundo as the tournament progresses.

Asked to comment about Telemundo/NBC Universo's decision, vis a vis  Fox Sports' call to televise the entirety of the women’s event, in which the second-ranked U.S. is one of the favorites,  Velazquez said NBCU's schedule is “respectful and representative of where the women’s game is, and its growth” over the years.

Taking a page from NBC Sports Group’s playbook, the Hispanic Enterprises and Content unit will place heavy emphasis on letting viewers/users meet and get to know the players and coaches. Velazquez said the programmer, working with attendant federations,  already has sent crews to Latin and South America.

“We’re talking to some of the key athletes and coaches,” said Velazquez. “We want to tell the stories, so people can really start to follow these events and the participants and get invested. in them.”

He believes this approach not only will pay dividends in 2015, but for the rest of the FIFA cycle as it will enable fans to familiarize themselves with the best futbolers to come.

"Somewhere out there are the next Messsi and Ronaldos," said Velazquez.  "The next great players are going to come from these events.”

NBC Universo enjoyed a good coming out party on Sunday.

Fueled by its coverage of Super Bowl XLIX, the Spanish-language network, which was converted from mun2 at 1 a.m. (ET) on Feb. 1, was the most-watched Hispanic cable channel in total day and primetime.

The network's presentation of the New England Patriots and their last-second stand that secured a 28-24 win that dethroned the Seattle Seahawks, averaged 368,000 watchers, according to Nielsen data, 259,000 of whom were adults 18 to 49.  The telecast peaked with 457,000 during the final minutes, and cumed 1.14 million watchers. Fox Deportes' coverage of Super Bowl XLVIII, the first cablecast of the Super Bowl to air in Spanish in U.S., history, averaged 561,000 watchers.

NBC Universo officials said the network outdelivered Hispanic cable competitors by at least 2:1  margin during primetime, and Super Bowl XLIX was also the most-viewed program outside of top soccer matches in its predecessor's history.

Among Hispanic adults 18 to 49, the modern, general-entertainment channel was the most-watched cable network -- regardless of language -- during total day and primetime. Gauged on a total-day basis, NBC Universo averaged 121,000 total viewers, 81,000 ages 18 to 49. the network's best-ever performance with the demo.

In primetime, NBC Universo averaged 267,000 total viewers, including 186,000 in the aforementioned segment, marking its highest Sunday ever in the daypart with that group.

“Sunday marked a historic day for our network. On the first day of our re-launch, NBC Universo succeeded in delivering high-quality sports and edgy entertainment series to Latino viewers across the U.S., and more than a million people joined us to watch Super Bowl XLIX in Spanish,” said network president Rubén Mendiola. “As we continue to establish our network and new brand, we’re off to a thrilling start. We could not be more pleased with our viewers’ positive response to our new, vibrant look and feel. With FIFA World Cup, the NASCAR Mexico Series, more Premier League matches, WWE RAW and Smackdown en Español, and The 2016 Rio Olympics all on deck, Super Bowl XLIX was the first of many brilliant sports moments Latinos can expect from NBC Universo in the months ahead.”

NBC Universo tranforms from mun2 at 1 a.m. on Feb. 1, with the Spanish-language network serving up a diverse slate on its opening day, highlighted by its presentation of Super Bowl XLIX.

The 40-million subscriber network, which has reached an affiliate accord for DirecTV to become the first distributor to carry it in the high-definition format, dawns its new era with Bienvenidos a NBC Universo, a half-hour special that gives viewers a taste of what’s on the air and what will come down the road. The program will encore after the conclusion of the NFL championship game, as NBC Universo becomes the second Spanish-language cable outlet to televise a Super Bowl, following Fox Deportes' presentation last year.

Following the post-game airing of Bienvenidos a NBC Universo, the network, bolstered by a freeview expanding its reach to 74 million homes on Sunday, will air a special preview of its first new acquired series of the re-launched network. Crónica de Castas is nine-episode fictional drama series filmed in the small, impoverished neighborhood of Tepito in Mexico City. The series follows the lives of polarizing characters whose stories revolve around the local Hotel Galicia, where nothing is as it seems. This marks the pay TV debut of the series in the U.S., which is slated to run in full later this winter.

The coming out party for the network features a host of Super Bowl-related programming, and a couple of hours of Larrymania, the network’s venue for Larry Hernandez. The multi-award-winning artist will bring a fourth season to the network of his show in which he attempts to balance his lift as father, son, partner and high-profile celebrity.

Underlining the network’s enhanced emphasis on sports, which will see it carry FIFA World Cup, Olympics, NASCAR and other action, NBC Universo will showcase the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at 8:25 a.m. (Check out the day’s full schedule below.)

In line with its mission to bring Latinos must-see live events and continuing its delivery of hot music offerings, NBC Universo will present “Festival Viña del Mar” – a top music festival in Latin America, featuring some of the most-renowned artists in the world. Live from Chile, the event begins on Feb. 22, streaming online at nbcuniverso.com. Details regarding its TV telecast will be announced at a later date.

“We’ve promised Latinos high-quality programming, masterful storytelling and the best sports presented in culturally relevant ways,” said Rubén Mendiola, president, NBC Universo. “Our new programming is just the first step in delivering on this promise to our Latino viewers, as well as building a rich platform for distributors and advertisers to reach an important portion of the population with growing influence.”

NBC Universo Feb. 1 Lineup

1:00am – Bienvenidos a NBC UNIVERSO

1:30am – Operacion Repo

2:00am – Sabor Al Super Bowl

3:00am – Fugitivos De La Ley

4:00am – Fugitivos De La Ley

5:00am – Fugitivos De La Ley

6:00am – Larrymania

7:00am – Larrymania

8:00am – Universo: Amanecer

8:25am – Premier League – Arsenal vs Aston Vila

10:30am – Universo: NOW

11:00am- WWE RAW

2:00pm – Sabor Al Super Bowl

3:00pm – Estrellas Del Medio Tiempo

4:00pm – Road To The Super Bowl

5:00pm – La NFL en NBC UNIVERSO: Super Bowl XLIX Pre Game

6:00pm – La NFL en NBC UNIVERSO : Super Bowl XLIX

10:15pm – La NFL en NBC UNIVERSO: Super Bowl XLIX Post Game

10:30pm – Bienvenidos a NBC UNIVERSO

11:00pm – Crónica De Castas

The official transition of mun2 to NBC Universo on Sunday will be a highly defining moment for the network in more ways than one.

The modern general-entertainment cable service for Latinos has inked a deal with DirecTV for high-definition carriage. Subscribers at the nation’s leading DBS providers will be able to watch all of NBC Universo’s programming in the high-definition format on Feb. 1, highlighted by the network’s exclusive Spanish-language telecast of Super Bowl XLIX.

Deal terms were not disclosed.

While the DirecTV pact marks NBC Universo’s initial HD carriage entry, officials at NBC Universo, which counts some 40 million subscribers, are continuing to engage all of its affiliates in those conversations.

In the meantime, NBC Universo will look to provide more exposure for its coming out party via a free preview for the day with DirecTV, AT&T U-verse, Cox, Verizon FiOS, Dish, Cablevision and corporate parent Comcast that will make it available to 74 million homes.

On Super Bowl Sunday, NBC Universo viewers will be greeted at 1 a.m. by Bienvenidos a NBC Universo, a half-hour show outlining what viewers can expect from the service. The program will also air after the conclusion of NBC Universo’s coverage of the Super Bowl, a presentation that will make it the second Spanish-language network to air the NFL championship in the States.

After the post-game airing of Bienvenidos a NBC Universo, the network will air a special preview of its first new acquired series. Crónica de Castas is a nine-episode fictional drama series that was filmed in the small, impoverished neighborhood of Tepito in Mexico City. The show follows the lives of polarizing characters with plenty of secrets whose stories revolve around the local Hotel Galicia. The Sunday night airing marks the pay TV debut of the series in the U.S., before it unfurls in full later this winter.

The network’s opening day lineup also features a host of Super Bowl-related specials sporting among other things, highlights from Media Day, an interview with halftime entertainer Katy Perry, a behind-the-scenes look at its production game plan and the best performers from Super Bowl halftimes past. The official pregame show starts at 5 p.m.

Content will be accessible to all users at nbcuniverso.com.

While the transformation won’t officially occur until Super Bowl Sunday, NBCUniversal’s Hispanic cable network mun2 today said it is rebranding to NBC Universo.

The 40-million subscriber network, which will present the exclusive Spanish-language telecast of Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1, 2015, has unveiled its new name and logo, tying into NBC’s iconic peacock symbol and brand. The rebranding was first mentioned during the Telemundo/mun2 upfront presentation to advertisers in New York last May. 

As a general-entertainment service, NBC Universo will present top sports from around the globe, and feature high-quality entertainment, music, series and storytelling aimed at making emotional connections with U.S. Hispanics.

Rubén Mendiola, president of mun2, said the name change not only underlines the network's affiliation with NBC, but is in step with the Hispanic evolution in the U.S.

“The name mun2 is of two worlds: The part of the Latino community rooted in its heritage, as well as those assimilated to English and American culture. NBC Universo is more reflective of the wider world today and the choices it offers to Latinos. It’s much broader, a universe,” he said.

Joe Uva, chairman, Hispanic enterprises and content at NBCUniversal, said the transformation of mun2, which recently became available in the high-definition format, is one of the company’s top priorities. NBC Universo will have “greater appeal to viewers, advertisers and MPVDs. Distributors will value the network more as it offers high-profile programming and sporting events."

Mendiola said research revealed that current moniker didn’t evoke connections in the minds of viewers to NBC Universal and its iconic, cable brands like USA, E!, Bravo and NBCSN. “We want to be part of that group,” he said.

Noting that the switch is the result of extensive research among focus groups, online panels and other methodologies, Uva said there “isn’t any brand equivalent of a USA Network for Hispanics.” He said the research indicates Latinos will be drawn to culturally relevant general-entertainment programming.

Both executives talked up the network’s tentpole sports – a five-game NFL package, capped by the championship contest; 550 hours of FIFA fare it will share next summer with broadcast brethren Telemundo; a major jump in ratings for Barclays Premier League soccer; the bow of a full season of NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series in 2015; wrestling action via WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown, and the 2016 Summer Olympics from Rio de Janiero.

Mendiola said the network’s sports coverage is being informed by one of NBC's hallmarks: storytelling. "We want to take that aspect and make it culturally relevant to Latinos.”

He lauded the job NBC does with letting people get to know the athletes that compete in the quadrennials.  “Our goal is to do what NBC has done with the Olympics and move that to other sports," he said, noting that process is already underway with its BPL coverage and that the game plan calls for similar tactics during the upcoming FIFA run as players progress from the U17 and  U20 squads to ultimately attaining senior national team stature.

On the entertainment side, NBC Universo will continue to present music videos and build on A Toda Gloria, which provides with an all-access look into the life of international Latin music icon Gloria Trevi, both on- and off-stage.

Neither executive, though, would provide detailed programming specifics, which may be conveyed during the TCA winter press tour. There were hints, however.

Uva said that he hopes the rebranded service will continue to appeal to its bilingual, millennial base via sports fare and action programming, while broadening its audience overall with a more diversified programming lineup.

Mendiola said NBC Universo's target will be 18 to 34, with the audience pushing toward the 18-to-49 set. He said the programming will be "edgier than what you see on broadcast" and those sensibilities will be built into the series and movies that the network acquires and has in development.

While sports will air in Spanish – that’s where the network holds the rights – entertainment and other programming will be conveyed in the appropriate language, depending on genre and daypart. “ We want it to be organic,” Uva said.

Mendiola said much work lies ahead over the next 90 days or so before the rebrand on Super Bowl Sunday, but he's confident viewers will like what they see as NBC Universo moves to super-serve Hispanics.

“We’re very serious about the positioning, the new look and logo,” he said. “It’s going to be something that Latinos have not had before.”