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Netflix partners with Univision on El Chapo drama, more programming

The deal with giant Univision could help Netflix win over Spanish-speaking customers. As part of the agreement, the acclaimed series 'Narcos' will air on Univision.

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Laura Martínez Senior Editor / CNET en Español
Laura Martínez was a senior editor of CNET en Español. She has lived and worked as a journalist in Mexico, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires and New York. She was the founding editor of the U.S. Hispanic edition of 'The Wall Street Journal' and editor in chief of VNU's 'Marketing y Medios magazine. She is also the founder of Mi blog es tu blog, a daily commentary on Hispanic marketing, media and pop culture.
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Laura Martínez
Jessica Rodriguez, Univision CMO, during the announcement Tuesday.
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Jessica Rodriguez, Univision CMO, during the announcement Tuesday.

Jessica Rodriguez, Univision CMO, during the announcement Tuesday.

Netflix is getting an assist from Univision Communications with its Spanish-language programming.

The American Spanish-language broadcast network said Tuesday that it's partnering with Netflix on two original series. The companies will also co-produce a drama about Mexican drug lord "El Chapo," Univision said Tuesday in New York City at its upfront presentation, which teases the upcoming season's new programs. The first season of the acclaimed Netflix series "Narcos," about the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, will run on Univision.

The deal marks the first time a Netflix original series will air on broadcast television and is an unusually cozy tie-up between a traditional broadcaster and the online video-streaming service. The partnership could win over Spanish-language viewers in the US, and it bulks up Netflix's foreign-language programming at a time when Netflix is expanding its base of international subscribers.

"Netflix knows Hispanics are a growing market," Univision Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Rodriguez said during the presentation this morning.

Financial details of the agreement weren't disclosed.

A Netflix spokesman declined to comment beyond Univision's announcement.

This article also appears in Spanish. Read: Univision y Netflix producirán juntos una serie sobre El Chapo