Until now, the concept of a late-night program on network television has involved celebrity interviews, sketch comedy and a musical performance. For Telemundo, a redefining of what airs at Midnight on broadcast TV is taking shape on March 10. It’s all about sports.
Introducing El Pelotazo, described by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises as “a dynamic and fast-paced late-night sports show.” It will air at Midnight ET and PT, starting Monday, and unlike the likes of Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel or Stephen Colbert, El Pelotazo will air live seven days a week. Viewers will receive the latest news and insightful analysis en español with special guests and “an unconventional format designed to engage today’s Hispanic sports fans. ”
Joaquin Duro, EVP of Sports for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, says El Pelotazo is “different from anything we’ve seen in Spanish-language television,” filling a void as preparation is already underway for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Serving as hosts of El Pelotazo are personalities Verónica Rodríguez, Pablo Mariño, and Diego Arrioja. Rodríguez serves as a host of Liga MX’s Chivas de Guadalajara pre- and post-game show, while Mariño is a noted Argentine sports journalist known across Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas. Arrioja is a noted Mexican sports journalist.
How will El Pelotazo be so unique and different from other televised sports highlights-focused programming? Telemundo turns to its PR team, which says the program will be “infused with captivating storytelling and insightful analysis,” while also featuring “innovative sports highlights, unconventional perspectives, and interactive segments that engage fans in fresh and unexpected ways.”
Segments will see celebrity guests share their passion for sports and discuss their favorite teams and moments; a nostalgic look at sports figures and where they are now as a retired pro; and “exclusive, never-heard-before” stories from top global atheletes.
Telemundo is also promising viewers and advertisers with “cutting-edge technology and multiple vibrant positions that mirror the energy of the show.”
El Pelotazo is produced by Telemundo Deportes and will originate from its studio in Miami at Telemundo Center, a 500,000+ square-feet state-of-the-art production and broadcast facility second to none in the industry.
