TV Globo and TV Azteca closed a deal to co-produce a telenovela from TV Globo´s catalogue. The selected title is “Mad Love”, by Gilberto Braga, renowned author of successful international telenovelas like “Dancin‘ Days” and “Tropical Paradise”.
 
In the business model established between the two companies, TV Globo will participate with the original synopsis, creative ‘know-how‘, artistic design, pre-production process and production supervision.  TV Azteca, for its part, will be responsible for the adaptation of “Mad Love”. The telenovela will be shoot at TV Azteca studios in Mexico and with a local cast strongly identified with the Mexican company.
 
The new version will respect the original synopsis and maintain the creative premises of the original production. Structurally it will be adapted, with regard to the number of chapters, the setting, and some characters. "What‘s important is that the new version is carried out by respecting the peculiarities of the Mexican market aiming the local perspective", highlights Ricardo Scalamandré, Head of International Businesses at TV Globo.
 
“We are convinced that the co-production partnership with TV Globo will result in an amazing brand new version that will conquer Mexican audience; the joint of creativity and effort of the two companies, will guarantee a high quality production” mentioned Mario San Román, CEO of TV Azteca.

Gilberto Braga will have an important role during the pre-production process, supporting the conception and adaptation of the story. He will responsible with TV Globo and TV Azteca executives of establishing the creative premises of this new version.
 
The pre-production step is planned to start at the second semester and the production itself should run throughout this period. The premiere is set for January 2010.
 
Initially, the co-production will be broadcast on TV Azteca, but with the intention of exploring strategic markets, like the Hispanic market in the United States through Azteca América. The deal also guarantees the broadcast rights on TV Azteca´s international channel and on Azteca Novelas.
 
TV Azteca and Globo TV International, the TV Globo distributor arm, will handle the distribution on the international market.
 
Partnership
 
This association between TV Globo and TV Azteca is a natural advance in business between the two companies that have had a long ‘courtship‘.
 
TV Globo strategic orientation is to develop new opportunities and international expansion initiatives through co-production projects, to complement current content licensing. At the same time, there is a strong recognition in the international market of the excellence of TV Globo‘s creation and production capacity that has made it a preferred partner as a drama co-producer.
 
"Co-production brings us the opportunity to use our main strategic asset, our extensive experience in the creation and production of original high-quality stories, to several countries in the world. Always associated with strategic partners and respecting the reality of each territory and the characteristics of each audience”, concludes Scalamandré.
 
TV Globo
 
For more than 30 years, TV Globo has been distributing content overseas. During 2008, 30,000 hours were sold to 138 countries, in addition to the realization of a co-production. Combining high quality with surprising volume, TV Globo is the largest Brazilian producer and, at the same time recognized for having one of the biggest audio-visual production centers in the world. Every year, 2,500 hours of programming are produced at the biggest studio complex in Latin America, equivalent to more than 1,200 feature films. These are programs acclaimed by international critics at awards like the International Emmys, where it has already received 26 nominations. This partnership with TV Azteca is part of TV Globo‘s strategy of investing more in co-productions with strong partners.
 
TV Azteca

TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, operating two national television networks in Mexico, Azteca 13 and Azteca 7, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. TV Azteca affiliates include Azteca America Network, a new broadcast television network focused on the rapidly growing U.S. Hispanic market, and Azteca Web, an Internet company for North American Spanish speakers.

TV Azteca is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas, Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect TV Azteca and its subsidiaries are identified in documents sent to securities authorities.

Relación con Prensa TV Globo

Fernanda Vio
fernanda.vio@tvglobo.com.br

Relación con Prensa TV Azteca

Magdalena Fueyo
52 (55) 1720 5626
mfueyo@tvazteca.com.mx

Daniel McCosh
52 (55) 1720 0059
dmccosh@tvazteca.com.mx