Papás Por Conveniencia: A Prime-Time Partnership for Social Change

Actors, journalists, activists, influencers, and musicians gathered in Mexico City on October 15, 2024 at an exciting launch event, all eagerly anticipating the debut of a new prime-time telenovela, Papás Por Conveniencia. The scent of fresh tacos and tortas mingled with the lively chatter as cameras flashed and fans cheered outside.

Since then, Papás Por Conveniencia (“Family of Convenience”) has debuted on Las Estrellas in Mexico on October 21, 2024 — and audiences showed up immediately. Nearly 3 million people tuned in, beating the nearest prime-time competition by more than 1.5 million viewers. The show airs five nights a week in prime time and follows the Chamorro family as they navigate teen pregnancy, gender-based violence, sexually transmitted infections, and the challenge of talking to your kids about sex.

Produced by Rosy Ocampo — one of TelevisaUnivision’s most acclaimed showrunners — in partnership with PMC, Papás Por Conveniencia is now drawing more than 6 million viewers per night in Mexico City alone.

The partnership behind the show

Papás Por Conveniencia is built on a partnership model that reflects how PMC works: PMC conducted formative research, trained the creative team, and embedded evidence-based storylines into the narrative. TelevisaUnivision brought world-class production, distribution across its massive network, and the commercial instincts to make the show a hit.

But the partnership extends well beyond the production itself. The show is supported by a network of sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) partners, including MEXFAM (Mexico’s Planned Parenthood affiliate), Power To Decide, UNFPA, CONAPO, and The Boston Center. Resources and services are promoted across digital channels and on-screen after key episodes — connecting viewers to professional counselors and services for sexual and reproductive health needs. These SRHR partners advised on content and many will be launching complementary campaigns at key upcoming moments in the show.

“Papás Por Conveniencia demonstrates the power of storytelling to spark conversations and raise awareness about critical issues like teen pregnancy and sexual abuse,” said Alanna Armitage, UNFPA Representative in Mexico. “By tackling sensitive topics head-on and engaging audiences with compelling narratives, we can empower young people to understand their rights, make informed choices, and build a safer future.”

Why this show, why now

Mexico has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in Latin America, with over 11 percent of girls ages 15 to 19 experiencing pregnancy. More than 72 percent of girls in that age range have experienced some form of violence, often from people close to them. These aren’t just statistics — they’re the lived reality that Papás Por Conveniencia was designed to address.

As Rosy Ocampo put it: “I’m very enthusiastic about partnering with PMC because they believe, as I do, that stories can change lives — and they have their own methodology of mixing entertainment with real measurable impact.”

Beyond the screen

The show’s impact campaign includes epilogues after key episodes where cast members address the issues directly, social media campaigns amplifying the storylines, and numerous touchpoints connecting viewers to services. PMC is conducting rigorous evaluation research alongside the broadcast — impact data will follow as the show completes its broadcast.

Papás Por Conveniencia has set the stage, not only for a world-class television debut, but also for a nationwide conversation about the challenges facing Mexico’s youth.

HOW To Watch

You can tune in Monday through Friday from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Mexico’s Canal de las Estrellas, or catch it anytime on the streaming platform VIX Premium. Starting January 2025, it will also be available to viewers in the USA on Televisa Univision.