Opposition to Univision sale

[davideduardo]

As we can see, this is developing into the biggest radio story of the year: the biggest radio deal in years being opposed as high up as by a state governor and a huge immigrant community.

 

[TheBigA]

As we can see, this is developing into the biggest radio story of the year: the biggest radio deal in years being opposed as high up as by a state governor and a huge immigrant community.

Unless the company does something, the buyers are fully justified to withdraw their offer.

 

[davideduardo]

As we can see, this is developing into the biggest radio story of the year: the biggest radio deal in years being opposed as high up as by a state governor and a huge immigrant community.

This story is well beyond the seller's ability to control. It is now in the hands of the Hispanic and Cuban communities in Miami as well as, even, state government and legislators in DC:

 

[davideduardo]

Unless the company does something, the buyers are fully justified to withdraw their offer.

Don't you think that is what the opposition wants?

Of course, this was not an "offer". It is a signed deal.

 

[TheBigA]

This story is well beyond the seller's ability to control. It is now in the hands of the Hispanic and Cuban communities in Miami as well as, even, state government and legislators in DC:

As FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said two years ago, sales of broadcasting should not be subjected to politics.

 

[TheBigA]

Of course, this was not an "offer". It is a signed deal.

I'm sure there are outs in the deal. This is a bad situation and the seller is not helping.

It almost appears that this deal was made by Univision specifically to lead to this result, and assist the re-election of Marco Rubio, who is milking this for all its worth.

 

[davideduardo]

I'm sure there are outs in the deal. This is a bad situation and the seller is not helping.

So, you want the seller to cease to cover Miami’s biggest news story of the year¿

 

[TheBigA]

So, you want the seller to cease to cover Miami’s biggest news story of the year¿

That's up to the seller. Here's how you addressed the role of a company in another thread:

My point is that management, whether directly by the owner, or through designated executives, can determine what each employee can publish or not.

Univision is responsible here.

 

[davideduardo]

As FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said two years ago, sales of broadcasting should not be subjected to politics.

But the deal can be opposed via massive public opinion. That has nothing to do with the FCC.

 

[TheBigA]

But the deal can be opposed via massive public opinion. That has nothing to do with the FCC.

The FCC has final say in approving the sale. Carr says there should be no public pressure on the FCC in making that decision.

FCC’s Brendan Carr Counters Democrats’ Move To Halt Sale Of Miami Radio Station.

The efforts by Democrats to have the FCC deny the sale of Spanish news/talk “Caracol 1260” WSUA Miami are being countered by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. The Republican Commissioner says

www.insideradio.com

 

[davideduardo]

The FCC has final say in approving the sale. Carr says there should be no public pressure on the FCC in making that decision.

FCC’s Brendan Carr Counters Democrats’ Move To Halt Sale Of Miami Radio Station.

The efforts by Democrats to have the FCC deny the sale of Spanish news/talk “Caracol 1260” WSUA Miami are being countered by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. The Republican Commissioner says

www.insideradio.com

That makes no difference here. It is the sale, not the regulatory body, that is being protested.

The community groups want to thwart the deal even before it gets to the Commission.

 

[TheBigA]

That makes no difference here. It is the sale, not the regulatory body, that is being protested.

Just read the title. It was about the sale. Same situation. Different politics.

Thwarting the deal means the loss of $60 million to Univision.

 

[davideduardo]

Just read the title. It was about the sale. Same situation. Different politics.

Yes, the sale, not the FCC approval process. The protest groups and community leaders are objecting to the sale based on the politics of the buyers. They are not objecting to FCC procedures; they want to stop the sale of WAQI even before a filing with the FCC.

Thwarting the deal means the loss of $60 million to Univision.

No, it just means finding a different buyer in the worst case or excluding WAQI from the sale in a different scenario. Or, even, hoping that the furor dies down in a few weeks.

And, if you look at the joint Univision and Televisa financials, $60 is small change. What they want is to get out of the small diary markets and away from AM. The advantage of selling is, as opposed to closing the AMs, is that transmitter leases and other commitments are assumed by the buyer and it's a clean separation of unwanted and unproductive assets.

 

[Mediafrog+]

What they want is to get out of the small diary markets and away from AM. The advantage of selling is, as opposed to closing the AMs, is that transmitter leases and other commitments are assumed by the buyer and it's a clean separation of unwanted and unproductive assets.

Have to wonder if LMN might just throw up their hands and renegotiate the deal to exclude WAQI and WQBA? I’m quite sure Univision could, through a separate transaction, sell both stations to an entity that would keep the current programming and political viewpoints in place. Might there be some other station in the Miami market that LMN could eventually go after?

 

[TheBigA]

No, it just means finding a different buyer in the worst case or excluding WAQI from the sale in a different scenario. Or, even, hoping that the furor dies down in a few weeks.

I don't see any possible way that LMN ever sits at a table with anyone from Univision again. This has been handled so badly and the company has used its own assets to kill their own deal.

If people think Soros is a brilliant financial mind, he needs to take his $60 million and walk away. Because this is a very bad deal. Anyone whoever thought that buying AM radio stations was a good idea needs to have his head examined.

Have to wonder if LMN might just throw up their hands and renegotiate the deal to exclude WAQI and WQBA?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. These people are convinced that LMN is the devil, and having them own radio will lead to everyone going to prison or being deported. That's how this has been presented. If it can happen in Miami, it can happen in Los Angeles.

 

[davideduardo]

Have to wonder if LMN might just throw up their hands and renegotiate the deal to exclude WAQI and WQBA? I’m quite sure Univision could, through a separate transaction, sell both stations to an entity that would keep the current programming and political viewpoints in place. Might there be some other station in the Miami market that LMN could eventually go after?

WQBA is not political. It is TUDN sports. They could exclude just WAQI

 

[ChannelFlipper]

The community is responsible for putting into question the sale of their most important anti-tyranny voice. This headlined the Miami Herald today, and is being covered non-stop by the other Spanish language radio and TV outlets.

The "community" sprang into action the moment they saw who the leaders of the buyer were and when they identified the sourcing of the financing.

The protests are not organized by current employees; many past employees, community leaders and nearly every "exilado" from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela is scared by the nature of the new owners.

It's always true that those who have lived under socialism will do everything the can to get away from it, and those that have not, like public radio employess and faculty lounge members, who will do everything they can to promote it. Of course the one thing they will never do is vounteer to go to to an existing socialist state. I have a feeling spending a year in Venezuela would change BigA's outlook significantly.

 

[TheBigA]

It's always true that those who have lived under socialism will do everything the can to get away from it, and those that have not, like public radio employess and faculty lounge members, who will do everything they can to promote it.

No one in public radio is promoting socialism. The father of public radio was Newton Minnow. Not a socialist.

The CEO of NPR previously worked for Donald Trump. The current CEO of the CPB was appointed by Donald Trump.

I have a feeling spending a year in Venezuela would change BigA's outlook significantly.

I'm a lifelong American. I have no interest in visiting Venezuela. I don't even buy BP gas.

 

[davideduardo]

I don't see any possible way that LMN ever sits at a table with anyone from Univision again. This has been handled so badly and the company has used its own assets to kill their own deal.

Televisa is not doing anything except covering the news story, just as everyone else is

If people think Soros is a brilliant financial mind, he needs to take his $60 million and walk away. Because this is a very bad deal. Anyone whoever thought that buying AM radio stations was a good idea needs to have his head examined.

They hunk the AM stations give them a voice in huge markets. They are not radio people.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. These people are convinced that LMN is the devil, and having them own radio will lead to everyone going to prison or being deported. That's how this has been presented. If it can happen in Miami, it can happen in Los Angeles.

And if family members were killed in Cuba or imprisoned or worse then this is the devil in person

 

[TheBigA]

Televisa is not doing anything except covering the news story, just as everyone else is

No it's not just as everyone else. They are putting a very personal spin on the story that is very different from the rest of the media.

The real question is the role of the company's management in this coverage.