LMC CEO and founder Jose Escalante hopes more TV networks in Latin America air GMA dramas
Latin Media Corporation's CEO and founder Jose Escalante, together with his wife Andreina, paid a visit to GMA Network on Tuesday, March 12. The couple was received by the network's top executives and were also able to meet the Kapuso stars who appear in the shows being aired in Latin America.
IN PHOTOS: Latin Media Corporation CEO and founder Jose Escalante visits GMA Network
Mr. Escalante's company is a well-respected distributor of Korea, Turkish, Indian and Filipino content in Latin America. Through GMA Worldwide Inc., the Kapuso network was able to enter into an exclusive distribution agreement with LMC, allowing the airing of our drama shows not just in all of Latin America, but also in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Spain, and Spanish language channels in the USA and Canada.
In an interview during the courtesy call, Mr. Escalante shared why he decided to bring Filipino content to Latin American viewers.
"Latin America produces a lot of telenovelas, When I started to think of bringing content from Asia, I thought of bringing the Filipino dramas because we look the same, our families, our values are very similar. So I started bringing Filipino dramas in Peru, Ecuador, recently in Uruguay and Mexico."
He added, " Actually in Peru and Ecuador, the ratings are really, really high. We are very happy, and that's what helps us to spread the word of Filipino dramas in the region. They are doing well in the two countries, so people would think that they will do well in other countries. As a matter of fact, we just started with Someone To Watch Over Me and the ratings are really good. So they have been very well accepted, very beautiful cast."
He also talked about convincing more TV networks in the region to air GMA content.
"We have been talking to different networks in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Panama, and Colombia. We are trying to convince them to [air] current Filipino dramas that are from GMA, which is what we represent."
GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon also expressed his gratitude for the partnership between GMA and LMC in the last four years.
"We are very happy that we have partnered with Latin Media Corporation. They are the number one distributor of foreign content, and our revenues from our association with them are consistently growing. I think the reason is Mr. Escalante is a very good manager."
Some of the shows being distributed by LMC now are My Special Tatay, Impostora, Hanggang Makita Kang Muli, and Ika-6 Na Utos.
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My Special Tatay's Ken Chan, who was present in the event, was really happy when he saw the program's trailer dubbed in Spanish.
"Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na dati, bata pa lang kami ni Rita, napapanood lang namin ang telenovelas. Tapos kami na ngayon ang dina-dub ng mga taga Latin America, sobrang nakaka-proud," he said.
His partner in the show, Rita Daniela, was very grateful for the opportunity given to the show to go global.
"We are very, very grateful sa GMA kasi 'yung opportunity na binigay nila for us na mapanood sa ibang bansa. Dati kasi tayo ang nanonood, but now nag-turn na ang tables. There's the opportunity, the chances of travel and to reach out to more people, it's so amazing."