Telemundo is a major Spanish-language network in the United States. Telemundo features entertainment, sports, and news programming by and for the Hispanic community. It is owned by NBCUniversal Media, LLC (formerly NBC Universal, Inc.).
The origins of Telemundo date back to 1954, when Angel Ramos, a newspaper publisher and radio station owner, founded Puerto Rico’s first television station in San Juan. The station’s call letters were WKAQ-TV, but Ramos called the station Telemundo. He already owned a newspaper called El Mundo (The World) and a radio station called Radio El Mundo.
In 1955, Telemundo transmitted Puerto Rico’s first locally produced telenovela. A telenovela is similar to a soap opera. Telenovelas are an extremely popular type of Spanish-language program.
In 1986, two investors created a company called Telemundo Group, Inc. The company launched the Telemundo network in the United States with stations in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City, as well as Puerto Rico, and with affiliates in Chicago and Connecticut.
In 2001, NBC Universal bought Telemundo and invested in the expansion of its broadcast, cable, and Internet services. It also expanded Telemundo’s international operations. Telemundo is seen in most of Latin America through its international channel, Telemundo Internacional.
See also NBCUniversal Media, LLC
