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.
