Federico Eberhardt, Global Sales Manager at Fabric Data, took the stage at Conecta to present an in-depth panel titled Latin America’s Love Affair with Unscripted Content on Tuesday, June 17 at the Spanish Auditorium in Cuenca
Fabric Data’s findings show that out of the 290,000+ titles available on streaming platforms in LATAM, more than 36,000 are classified as unscripted. Genres such as documentary, reality-TV, and biography dominate this offering, with documentaries alone representing over 23,000 titles.
This isn’t just a reflection of quantity but also performance. Platforms like Max, Globoplay, Apple TV+, and Netflix lead in terms of audience engagement for unscripted shows. Max, for instance, holds a 17% share of the most-viewed unscripted content, followed closely by its competitors. This aligns with broader global trends but is particularly amplified in LATAM, where non-scripted storytelling resonates deeply with local cultures.
Latin American audiences have always had a strong connection to emotionally charged narratives. From telenovelas to live sports, the appetite for content that feels “real” is longstanding. Unscripted TV—especially reality formats and documentaries—plays into this dynamic perfectly.
Shows like "Top Chef VIP Chile", "Drag Race México", and "Soltos no Carnaval" exemplify how regionalized formats gain traction by embedding local identity, humor, and societal themes. These are not generic copies of U.S. hits; they’re customized, emotionally intelligent adaptations. Viewers recognize themselves in these stories—and that recognition breeds loyalty.
Moreover, true crime and drama inspired by real events are breaking through the noise. Titles such as "The Lady of Silence", "The Asunta Case", and "Cromañon" reached the top of rankings across several platforms. They prove that storytelling rooted in real-world tragedies or mysteries creates a strong emotional imprint, elevating engagement and replay value.
The success of unscripted in LATAM is also a testament to the evolving strategies of streaming platforms. Increasingly, services are investing in local-first content and co-productions, recognizing that cultural specificity drives both discoverability and retention.
For example, BB Media’s analysis reveals a clear correlation between unscripted content volume and viewer engagement metrics such as HITS (Hybrid Impact Tracking Score), social buzz, and platform-specific ratings. In Argentina, these scores rose steadily throughout the first half of 2025, with unscripted formats contributing significantly to platform performance.
This data validates the industry’s pivot toward regional production hubs and genre experimentation. LATAM is no longer a passive content consumer but an active incubator of original ideas that can travel globally.
The rise of FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels offers another promising path for unscripted formats. These platforms, often criticized for low-budget programming, are finding gold in repurposed documentaries, reality marathons, and evergreen true-crime series. According to the report, FAST is emerging as a gateway format, particularly for first-time digital viewers who prefer lighter, on-demand viewing experiences.
Given the affordability and accessibility of FAST platforms, we can expect them to play a pivotal role in expanding the reach of unscripted content in lower-income households—a crucial demographic across LATAM.
