Teetering giant: The unfolding drama of Univision

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/teetering-giant-unfolding-drama-univision/

The Debt load have been at play here.

 

[KML0224]

Here in Hartford/New Haven, we have full-powered WUVN-TV (UNI) channel 18 of Hartford and low-power WRDM-LD (TEL) channel 50 of Hartford, carried on Comcast cable channels 18 and 13, respectively. WUVN-TV is the sister station of WUNI-TV (UNI) channel 27 of Worcester, MA.

 

[TheBigA]

While the article was published today, it might have been written before Friday, because on that day, the FCC changed its rules for foreign ownership:

"The FCC will now allow a publicly traded U.S. company that owns radio or TV station licenses to seek approval to have as much as 100% of its stock held by unnamed foreign owners. Offshore investors would also be able to hold up to 49.99% of a company’s equity with agency clearance."

Of course, Univision is not yet a publicly traded company. But the rule change makes a foreign takeover by Televisa possible.

 

[Ccook55]

Atlanta has Univision on WUVG/channel 34 (Athens city of license) while Telemundo is on low-powered WKTB-CD/channel 47, which is repeated on a subchannel of Ion affiliate WPXA (digital 31.9, mapped to 47.1 as full power. WPXA is digital 31.3 and maps to 14).

 

[Mr Tony]

Ironically in Minneapolis both are on a LP station

WUMN-LD 17-1 Univision...owned by Media Vista Group out of Florida.
KJNK-LD 25-1 Telemundo..owned by DTV America (has Sonlife, HmongTV and Liquidation as subs)

Both have cable coverage in the Twin Cities but on Comcast NEITHER is carried in HD (yet both are HD OTA)

 

[FreddyE1977]

While the article was published today, it might have been written before Friday, because on that day, the FCC changed its rules for foreign ownership:

"The FCC will now allow a publicly traded U.S. company that owns radio or TV station licenses to seek approval to have as much as 100% of its stock held by unnamed foreign owners. Offshore investors would also be able to hold up to 49.99% of a company’s equity with agency clearance."

Of course, Univision is not yet a publicly traded company. But the rule change makes a foreign takeover by Televisa possible.

Which I suppose in turn also hinges on the outcome of this election.
It is hard to foresee such a policy proceeding under a Trump administration.

 

[only1moore]

Having read the article, I wouldn't be surprised if Televisa start making changes in the American television landscape once their goal of having more control in Univision becomes a reality. The only thing stands in their way is Mr. Trump and if he gets into the White House those plans will become a nightmare for Televisa.

 

[davideduardo]

Which I suppose in turn also hinges on the outcome of this election.
It is hard to foresee such a policy proceeding under a Trump administration.

The relaxing of foreign ownership requirements has been a Republican push.

 

[ChocoMingo]

I wonder how this affects the biggest private owner of Univision affiliates, which is obviously Entravision, because my local affiliate, WVEA is owned by them?

 

[TheBigA]

I wonder how this affects the biggest private owner of Univision affiliates, which is obviously Entravision, because my local affiliate, WVEA is owned by them?

There's an interrelationship in several ways, including the fact that Univision has a 10% stake in Entravision. So whoever owns Univision will own a piece of Entravision.

 

[ChocoMingo]

There's an interrelationship in several ways, including the fact that Univision has a 10% stake in Entravision. So whoever owns Univision will own a piece of Entravision.

Does that mean when Univision has a contract dispute with a cable or satellite company, does that also mean Entravision affiliates are included too?

What about the ones that are half-and-half owned by 50% Univision and 50% Entravision (Owned by Univision, but operated by Entravision), like my local UniMas affiliate, WFTT? When Univision is in a dispute, will the half-O&Os (operated by Entravision) be included in the dispute too?

This could mean unfair disputes in some markets, like Tampa, where WVEA-TV is still running, while WFTT isn't even though they are in the same building.

 

[davideduardo]

What about the ones that are half-and-half owned by 50% Univision and 50% Entravision (Owned by Univision, but operated by Entravision), like my local UniMas affiliate, WFTT? When Univision is in a dispute, will the half-O&Os (operated by Entravision) be included in the dispute too?

The ownership of WFTT is listed at the FCC as 100% Univision: it is under an LMA to Entravision.