Latin Heat Online
Posted on 09-28-2006

TV Azteca Uses Force To Stop Production Of Telemundo Reality Show

The Network Feuds

Mexico City, MX -- A TV Azteca contingent, composed of cameramen, reporters, lawyers and private security guards, accompanied by a court clerk and members of Mexico City's police, broke into Estudios Ajusco last Friday, where Telemundo's reality show Quinceañera was being filmed and shut down the production by force and intimidation.

"TV Azteca's unjustified use of force and intimidation is outrageous and unacceptable," said Alfredo Richard, head of communications of Telemundo.

On August 24, 2006, TV Azteca filed a suit with a Mexico City commercial court alleging that Nostromo, the producer of the show, and Alan Tacher, its host, were in breach of certain alleged contracts. A court clerk of the 5th Civil Court of Mexico City accompanied TV Azteca's contingent to serve a summons related to their commercial dispute.

"The summons contemplated only that the parties be given notice of the judge's order granting interim relief in the commercial dispute and did not authorize, much less require, that force be used to serve the summons," said Richard.

"Telemundo has always acted in strict compliance with Mexican law," he added."We understand that Nostromo is appealing the order. In the meantime, production in Mexico remains closed and we understand that a TV Azteca appointed representative is on the affected premises to ensure that production does not begin again in Mexico."

The break-in was led by TV Azteca's personnel supported by bodyguards and as many as 50 police officers, who came in cars without license plates, according to eye witness accounts. In addition to shutting down the production, TV Azteca sought to impound all of the equipment, costumes cameras and other assets related to the production.

Telemundo contracted Nostromo, a US-based TV production company with experience in producing Spanish language television throughout the US, Mexico and Latin America, for the production of Quinceañera, investing over US$3 million and creating over 200 temporary construction jobs for the set and 300 production jobs.

"Telemundo believes that TV Azteca's claim is completely meritless. No evidence showing any breach by Nostromo has been produced or made available to us," added Richard.

Quinceañera features talented 14-year-old young women and their mothers competing for the grand prize of a 15th birthday party and a talent agreement with Telemundo. The show began airing on August 26th, and can be seen in the United States from 7 pm to 9 pm on Telemundo's network on Saturday nights. There were only three shows left to tape in Mexico when TV Azteca forceably shut the production down.

"We respect the laws and courts of Mexico," said Richard, "but Azteca's action are beyond all justification for an ordinary commercial dispute. As we understand the court's order, no force was authorized and no permission to trespass was given to TV Azteca. Trespass by employees of TV Azteca on private property and the direction of the operation by TV employees and lawyers was also not authorized in the court order."