Mumbai: Nickelodeon Latin America, a unit of Viacom, announced that it has inked a deal with Sony Pictures Television International for the co-production of Isa TKM (Te Quiero Mucho), the network’s first original "tele-novella" to be produced in Venezuela. The announcement was made by Nickelodeon Latin America vice president of programming Tatiana Rodriguez and Sony Pictures Television International senior vice president Brendan Fitzgerald.

Following the successful four season run of Skimo, Nickelodeon’s first original live action series co-produced with Macias Group in Mexico, the network furthers its commitment to local production and takes on the tele-novella genre for tweens. The novella will be produced in Spanish and customized in Portuguese for Nickelodeon Brazil. Nickelodeon’s Isa TKM marks the first time that a pay TV channel for children in Latin America produces and airs its own tele-novella format, as most tele-novellas have been produced and broadcast in region by open TV networks.

Isa TKM, written by Venezuelan playwright Mariela Romero combines humor, music and romance and centers around Isabella, a charismatic teenager on a verge of facing her first love, her first kiss and finding out who her real parents are.

"Nickelodeon is dedicated to continually offering its audience a variety of genres and styles, so we’re thrilled to have entered into this strategic partnership with Sony to bring our viewers this unique tele-novella experience," commented Rodriguez.

"Sony Pictures Television International has successfully produced high quality telenovelas in several countries around the world, and we’re excited to be working with Nickelodeon Latin America on Isa TKM" said Fitzgerald.

Production for Isa TKM is scheduled to begin in the month of August with a pan-regional premiere set for the winter of 2008.