Adaptations of the television series for and against: nbcuversal telemundo in Connect

If you expect the adaptation of a successful television series for a different market is easier than creating a whole new one, you may want to think again! It was the message and insight shared by Sergio Mendoza, vice-president, the development scripted at Nbcuniversal Telemundo Enterprises, during an appearance on the last day of the ninth edition of Conqua Fiction & Entertainment in Cuenca, Spain.

“We believe that adaptation is less work than writing,” he said on Thursday during a round table on the internationalization of Spanish content. “But from an executive point of view, it actually takes more time.”

Especially the franchises with huge and passionate bases of fans can cause a lot of headache, he said. “If the [franchise] is so popular and well known, you have to pay very much attention to each choice you make because you will always get public comments, “said Mendoza.” They will say either “why is it like the original” or “you have deviated too much or you are too detached from the original”. “”

This can lead to great consideration and a debate within the creative team, as well as stress, but the executive has also noted that this can be an engine of imagination and innovation. “Adrenaline dances very closely with creativity,” concluded Mendoza.

The executive underlined how Telemundo last year acquired adaptation rights VelvetSpanish drama of Atresmedia 2014 which has become a global phenomenon, and launched its modern adaptation last month.

The original ran for four seasons and took place in the glamorous world of a Spanish fashion house in the 1950s, exploring themes such as love, ambition and family dynamics. Adaptation of Telemundo Studios, Velvet: the new empirehas a different framework, namely the contemporary New York. His cast features Yon González and Samantha Siqueiros, among others.

Mendoza expressed his pride in the new series and noted that his team is considering future spectacle opportunities. “I love thrillers, and they work very well in Latin America,” he said, reporting that he was keeping an eye on possible thriller opportunities.

Meanwhile, the sponsor of the Panelist María Pinilla, director of international and commercial affairs of the Banijay Iberia division of Banijay, addressed the trends of “risk aversion” and the restart of known formats and franchises. “For us, it’s quite frustrating,” she shared. “We have a lot of creatives, but not many creative ideas. We have to take risks on new ideas. “

The panel also presented Alexander Keil, managing partner of SKP Entertainment in Germany, José Pastor, Director Film and Fiction at Spain’s RTVE, Silvia Cotino, Sales and Business Development Director, Mediterráneo at Mediaset España, and Elisa Martin de Blas, Director General, Production & Distribution at Confubernio Films in Spain.

CONCTA 2025 saw the leaders of Warner Bros. Discovery, Brazil Globo, Gaumont television and the Banijay production giant discuss their original programming plans and the state of the television industry.