Caracol Internacional’s Success: Alejandro Bernal Discusses the Impact of Colombian Content Abroad

Alejandro Bernal assures that formats like “El desafío” have been successful abroad.

Photo: JULIANA LOPERA

For 2 decades, Colombians residing in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain have enjoyed Caracol Televisión content in their territories thanks to the Caracol Internacional signal. A channel that has made it possible to bring closer and strengthen the emotional bond of millions of households with the culture, daily life and traditions of the country through its own, exclusive content and with a wide variety of topics: sports, show business, fashion, information, analysis world news, among others.

Currently, Caracol Internacional’s signal reaches more than 10 million homes through various subscription television platforms: cable TV, DTH (satellite) and OTT services, positively impacting its audience, advertisers and distributors; with more than 60 weekly hours of programming that are linked to the open signal of Caracol TV in Colombia and with the own content produced by Caracol Internacional. Alejandro Bernal, manager of new channels, spoke to El Espectador about this long journey and the challenges he has had to face.

There are two decades on the air for Caracol Internacional, how will you celebrate this achievement?

We have several things to offer viewers, starting with special programming on the screen, four special programs in the form of a “talk show” with special guests who are going to tell us what has happened to their lives in the last 20 years, the idea is that are pleasant, warm and emotional conversations. We also have great appreciation for this huge group from Caracol that has supported the effort to get here.

How has the process of consolidating the productions that are part of Caracol International been and taking them to countries like the United States, Canada and other places in Latin America?

The challenge was great from the beginning, because it was about programming a 24-hour channel that served Colombian audiences in various countries as an initial target. Due to the quality of our products we have attracted a foreign public, we receive many comments, emails and correspondence from other nations. We have a channel that has 60 weekly hours of programming linked to the Caracol Colombia signal and the quality of the newscasts is very good, the morning show, gossip programs like La Red, comedy shows like Sábados Felices are very successful… all these contents are seen simultaneously and people have become very fond of them.

And the own products?

Having their own production and additional content was also part of the challenge, because we wanted them to establish a differential in the market. That is what allows us today, 20 years later, to continue being a channel that is very well received, highly desired, and highly watched in Latin America, the United States, Canada, and Spain.

How have people from other countries received this programming?

Today people are closer and live more aware of everything that happens. Let’s think about the fact that 20 years ago there were no platforms and Colombian content came largely through Caracol Internacional, now it comes through us and also through these platforms, which has given us a much larger display in the territories. People discover that this channel contains dramatized content that fascinates them. Productions like El Desafío are a phenomenon, and we have seen that several countries have replicated things very similar to this very successful format that has already been in Caracol for several years and is already an institution, it is very well received by all.

Apart from El Desafío, what are those formats that have had international success?

A format that has been very well received and successful has also been “Around the World in 80 Laughs”, which is also typical of Caracol and deals with comedians who travel to different countries and have to go through quite funny and very Colombian situations. That’s why outsiders understand with a much clearer perspective what it’s like to be in these circumstances. And not to mention “Happy Saturdays”, which is a Guinness world record. It is a very Colombian way of making humor.

How has Caracol Internacional joined the streaming platforms?

In the end we end up being complementary offers. There are things that are very good on the platform and we are an important provider of several of them, but linear programming and television as we know it is still valuable, the newscast is still an appointment to inform us. In the United States many Colombians go to a Colombian restaurant at noon not only to have lunch, but because they know that the news is on and they want to know what is happening in their country. Those current content that are not on the platforms are still valid. Also, it’s a fact that people like to turn on the TV, channel and find something to watch without having to make a super complex decision and mulling over a menu for three hours. Television is still essential.

What do you think about the evolution that television productions have had in the last two decades?

The speed of the narrative and the approach to the execution of the narrative have changed a bit. Movies used to be long and slow… today people look for another kind of speed in storytelling. We have already gone from novels with 1000 chapters, to some that only have 100, 80, and even 50. It is a very different way of consuming nowadays, but there is something that does not change, and that is that if the story is good, the people get hooked

2023-07-06 00:20:03
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