Univision

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Univision
Univision.jpg
Basic facts
Location:New York, N.Y.
Type:News media
Top official:Randy Falco, President and CEO
Founder(s):Rene Anselmo
Year founded:1961
Website:Official website


Univision is the most watched Spanish-language television network in the United States. Univision is a subsidiary of Univision Communications Inc., a Spanish-language media company with a portfolio of television networks, radio stations, record labels and digital content.[1]

Background

Univision was established in 1961 by Rene Anselmo, who purchased the KWEX-TV television station in San Antonio, Texas, and founded the Spanish International Communications Corporation (SICC). The Spanish International Network (SIN) was established to manage marketing operations for SICC. By 1968, SIN had acquired an additional three television stations in the United States and five stations in Mexico. By 1982, SIN supplied content to 33 of the 35 Spanish-language television stations in the United States.[1][2]

In 1987, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that SIN violated the maximum 20 percent level of foreign ownership in a television network due to holdings by Mexican communications magnate Emilio Azcárraga Milmo and his family. As a result, the group of SICC television stations were sold to Hallmark Cards Inc. and its partner, First Chicago Venture Capital. The sale resulted in the establishment of Univision Holdings Inc. to manage the stations. SIN, rechristened the Univision Network, was charged with producing and distributing Univision programming.[1][2][3]

A. Jerrold Perenchio

During the late 1980s, Univision suffered financial losses due to low viewership and reduced advertising revenue. Hallmark sold Univision in 1992 to former investor Emilio Azcárraga Milmo and A. Jerrold Perenchio, who maintained majority ownership of the company in order to comply with foreign ownership laws. The sale allowed Univision to partner with Grupo Televisa, Azcárraga Milmo's Mexican television network, and Venevision, a Spanish-language network in Venzuela. Hispanic groups in the U.S., including the rival Spanish-language network Telemundo, expressed concerns regarding the potential loss of domestic content for Univision as a result of the sale. The concerns came to fruition when the U.S.-produced programming on Univision gradually decreased and the majority of the network's content was sourced from Grupo Televisa and Venevision. Nonetheless, Univision's audience grew from 57 percent of Spanish-language viewers in the United States in 1992 to 83 percent in 1997. The new business model and viewer success helped Univision rebound from its financial difficulties and become a publicly-traded company in 1996.[1][2][3]

Univision launched its website, univision.com, and digital media division in 1999. In 2002, the company's revenues exceeded $1 billion. Univision bought the Hispanic Broadcasting Company (HBC) in 2004 and acquired its collection of radio stations, record companies and television affiliates. However, the business and financial relationship between Univision and Mexico-based Grupo Televisa eroded and a group of investors purchased the Univision media group as an independent entity in 2005.[1][3]

Univision's programming includes a mix of news, entertainment, sports and telenovelas. Noticiero Univision, the network's evening newscast, is the highest rated Spanish-language newscast in the United States. Univision was rated number one according to Nielsen Company's rankings among the adult 18 to 49 and 18 to 34 primetime demographics during the 2013 and 2014 television seasons. Univision not only surpassed other Spanish-language networks in the rankings, but major English-language networks as well, including ABC, FOX, CBS and NBC.[4][5][6]

Leadership

The following individuals hold leadership positions with Univision:[7]

  • Randy Falco, President and chief executive officer
  • Francisco J. Lopez-Balboa, Executive vice president and chief financial officer
  • Tonia O’Connor, Chief commercial officer and president of content distribution
  • Jessica Rodriguez, Executive vice president and chief marketing officer
  • Jonathan Schwartz, Executive vice president, general counsel, head of government relations and secretary
  • Kevin Conroy, Chief strategy and data officer
  • John W. Eck, Chief local media officer and executive vice president of technology, operations and engineering
  • Keith Turner, President of advertising sales and marketing
  • Isaac Lee, Chief news and digital officer, CEO of Fusion
  • Juan Carlos Rodriguez, President, Univision Deportes
  • Mónica Talán, Executive vice president, corporate communications and public relations
  • Peter H. Lori, Executive vice president, finance, chief accounting officer and deputy chief financial officer

2016 presidential election

Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas

March 9, 2016 Democratic debate

See also: Univision Miami Democratic debate (March 9, 2016)

Univision and The Washington Post hosted the sixth and final Democratic presidential debate on March 9, 2016, at Miami-Dade College in Miami, Fla. The debate aired in Spanish on Univision and was simulcast in English on CNN and Univision's Fusion network. Univision also live streamed the debate at univision.com. The debate was moderated by Maria Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos of Univision as well as Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post. Facebook provided social media information throughout the debate, including comments and questions from viewers.[8][9][10][11]

Top influencers by state

See also: Top influencers by state
Influencers By State Badge-white background.jpg

Influencers in American politics are power players who help get candidates elected, put through policy proposals, cause ideological changes, and affect popular perceptions. They can take on many forms: politicians, lobbyists, advisors, donors, corporations, industry groups, labor unions, single-issue organizations, nonprofits, to name a few.

In 2016, Ballotpedia identified Univision as a top influencer by state. We identified top influencers across the country through several means, including the following:

  • Local knowledge of our professional staff
  • Surveys of activists, thought leaders and journalists from across the country and political spectrum
  • Outreach to political journalists in each state who helped refine our lists

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Univision'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

External links

Footnotes