'Desperate' for more

'Housewives' comes to Latin America

By ANNA MARIE DE LA FUENTE

Local versions of 'Desperate Housewives' are poised to preem in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile.

"Desperate Housewives" is ready to roll out in Latin America: TV Azteca in Mexico, Rede TV in Brazil, Artear in Argentina, RCN in Colombia and Canal 13 in Chile will kick off their adaptations of the ABC hit starting this month.

Local versions are the first Buena Vista Intl. TV has initiated of its product, following the lead of Sony Pictures Television Intl., which has successfully reversioned "The Nanny," "Who's the Boss" and "Married... With Children" for webs in Latin America.

Each local version of "Housewives," with its own cast of telenovela thesps and writers, will lense in Buenos Aires, with production overseen by Pol-ka Producciones. Plans are to shoot two versions at a time over a six-month period.

BVI TV plans to unveil more details at a media event Wednesday in Miami.

Pol-ka has seen many of its formats remade in other countries but has no experience in reversioning formats itself. BVI execs will closely supervise production.

BVI benefits from a favorable exchange rate by lensing in Argentina. Company expects the skeins to generate ancillary biz, including sales in DVDs, CDs and merchandising tie-ins.

Original airs on feevee Sony Entertainment TV, which reaches some 13 million homes across the region. TV Azteca, which has an output deal with BVI, has already aired the U.S. version, which scored high ratings.

Rede TV has bought the U.S. series for free TV in Brazil. Participating webs are required to air the original either before or after the local version.