Telenovelas and Latin Streaming Originals — 2026-09-27

Top developments

Globo brings "Roque Santeiro" back to primetime in Edição Especial slot

Globo confirmed that the legendary 1985 telenovela "Roque Santeiro" will air in the Edição Especial slot starting October 5, 2026. The series originally scored 96 points of audience share in Brazil, and re-airing such a landmark title is a calculated move to shore up linear ratings. It matters for Globo's prime-time strategy as novelas face steady audience pressure from streaming.

Globoplay launches vertical-format novela spin-off "Félix de Amor à Vida"

On September 22, Globoplay launched "Félix de Amor à Vida," a vertical-format continuation of the villain played by Mateus Solano in "Amor à Vida," with short mobile-first episodes that don't create a new story but expand the character's arc. This marks Globo's clearest experiment so far with vertical drama formats for mobile consumption inside a novela universe.

ViX sets October 9 premiere for "Timbiriche"

On September 24, TelevisaUnivision announced that "Timbiriche," the ViX original telling the story of Latin America's iconic youth pop phenomenon, will premiere October 9. It's one of ViX's most anticipated originals and a flagship tentpole heading into the final quarter, reinforcing the streamer's strategy of nostalgia-driven Spanish-language IP.

Spanish/Portuguese-language shows surging in unexpected markets

TheWrap reported this week that Spanish- and Portuguese-language shows are gaining traction in markets far outside their traditional territories, underscoring the growing export value of Latin American drama. This supports star and studio strategies built on producing globally portable Spanish-language IP.

Prime Video commits $2 billion to Latin America

Prime Video has announced plans to invest $2 billion in Latin America between 2027 and 2030, with more than 20 million LatAm households tuning into its sports coverage in 2026 so far. The investment raises the competitive stakes for ViX, Globoplay and Netflix across the region, including for originals budgets.

Local view

Brazilian entertainment outlets are framing "Roque Santeiro" as a ratings insurance policy: as noted above, the 1985 original hit 96 audience points, and Mix Vale highlighted the October 5 return as a major slate event. Meanwhile, Extra.com.br reported that Alessandra Negrini (last seen in 2022's "Travessia") has been cast in Globo's new novela, marking a high-profile return. Community blog Critica TV Blog continues to publish weekly Mexican ratings data drawn from PRODU.

Context & numbers

• Latin America's media streaming market reached USD 12.36 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 13.48 billion in 2026, projected to hit USD 26.91 billion by 2034 at a 9.03% CAGR.
• "Roque Santeiro" scored 96 audience points in its original 1985 run, historically one of the highest in Brazilian TV.
• Brazil remains the region's largest streaming market, with ~49 million subscriptions projected by 2026, and Mexico adding ~32 million.
• Prime Video's LatAm investment: $2 billion (2027–2030); 20+ million households watched sports on the service in 2026.

On the radar

• "Timbiriche" premiere on ViX, October 9 — a key test of nostalgia-driven originals for TelevisaUnivision's streaming business.
• "Roque Santeiro" rerun hits Globo's Edição Especial slot starting October 5 — watch for its effect on novela-slot ratings.
• Ratings watcher blogs report that Mexico's "Tan cerca del final" was approaching its finale in mid-September, with successor "Sabor a ti" launching to try to hold the same time slot — early "Sabor a ti" numbers will be worth monitoring.
• Rumor/early signal: Spanish-language IP as a co-production currency is the hot topic in trade press — Telelemundo's Sergio Mendoza recently told PRODU that original Spanish-language IP is now "the new currency of global co-production," suggesting more cross-studio deals may be announced soon.