Univision
| Univision | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | New York, N.Y. |
| Type: | News media |
| Top official: | Daniel Alegre, 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] According to their website, Univision " produces top original content in Spanish spanning news, sports and entertainment."[2]
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][3]
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][3][4]
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][3][4]
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][4]
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.[5][6][7]
According to their website, Univision's mission is to "help propel and empower the Latinx community through building bridges and fostering intercultural understanding through the creation of innovative charitable initiatives."[8]
Leadership
The following individuals hold leadership positions with Univision:[9]
- Daniel Alegre, Chief Executive Officer
- Mike Angus, EVP, Global Distribution and Partnerships
- Armando Martinez Benitez. EVP, Co-General Counsel
- Daniel Coronell, President, Univision News
- Rodrigo de Pedro Barreto, General Director, Videocine
- José Luis Fabila, Chief Content Officer
- John Farrell, EVP, Global Partnerships
- Ralf Jacob, EVP, Broadcast Operations and Global Engineering
- Olek Loewenstein, President of Global Sports
- Ignacio Meyer, President, Univision Networks Group
- Patricia Molina, President, Mexico Ad Sales and Marketing
- Jorge Eduardo Murguía, VP, Production
- Tim Natividad, President of U.S. Advertising Sales and Marketing
- Juan Pablo Newman, Chief Financial Officer
- Veronica Rodriguez, EVP, Co-General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
- Oscar Suris, EVP, Chief Communications Officer
- Jose Tomás, Chief Administrative Officer
- Rafael Urbina, President of Streaming and Digital
- Adam Waltuch, EVP, Global Distribution and Streaming Partnerships
Work and activities
2024 presidential election
- See also: Presidential debates, 2024
In 2024, Univision hosted the second Republican primary debate alongside Fox Business, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, and Rumble.[10] They also hosted two town halls with Kamala Harris (D) and Donald Trump (R).[11]
2020 presidential election
- See also: Presidential debates, 2020
In 2020, Univision hosted the third and eleventh Democratic primary debate alongside ABC News and CNN, respectively.[12][13]
2016 presidential election
March 9, 2016 Democratic debate
Univision and The Washington Post hosted the sixth and final Democratic presidential debate on March 9, 2016, at Miami-Dade College in Miami, Florida. 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.[14][15][16][17]
Finances
The following is a breakdown of Univision's revenues and expenses from 2014 to 2024. The information comes from their listed financial statements on their website
| Year | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $10.2 million | $10.9 million |
| 2015 | $10.1 million | $10.9 million |
| 2016 | $9.9 million | $10.4 million |
| 2017 | $9.6 million | $9.5 million |
| 2018 | $9.1 million | $9 million |
| 2019 | $9.3 million | $9 million |
| 2020 | $9.3 million | $9 million |
| 2021 | $14.1 million | $10.7 million |
| 2022 | $17.5 million | $12.6 million |
| 2023 | $17.3 million | $12.7 million |
| 2024 | $14.8 million | $11.7 million |
Affiliations and alliances
Partnership with ABC News to launch Fusion
In 2013, Univision and ABC News partnered to launch Fusion, a TV channel aimed at a young Hispanic audience.[18][19] In 2016, Univision bought ABC's shares in the network, making them full owners.[20]
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
- What is an influencer
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
- Univision Miami Democratic debate (March 9, 2016)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 International Directory of Company Histories, "Univision Communications Inc.," accessed March 3, 2016
- ↑ Televisia Univision, "Informing, empowering and entertaining for 90 years," accessed October 28, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Newcomb, Horace. (2014). Encyclopedia of Television. New York, NY: Routledge. (pages 2413-2414)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Funding Universe, "Univision Communications Inc. history," accessed March 3, 2016
- ↑ Univision, "Univision is the no. 1 network for the second consecutive July sweep Ahead of ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC among both adults 18-49 and adults 18-34," July 31, 2014
- ↑ Univision, "Home," accessed March 4, 2016
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "In taking on Jorge Ramos, Donald Trump may have tussled with the wrong media star," August 26, 2015
- ↑ Univision, "Our Mission," accessed October 28, 2025
- ↑ Univision, "Leadership," accessed October 27, 2025
- ↑ Republican Party, "RNC Announces FOX Business Republican Primary Debate with Partners Reagan Foundation, Univision, and Rumble," August 9, 2023
- ↑ Univision, "Tune In: Noticias Univision Town Halls with 2024 Presidential Candidates," October 9, 2024
- ↑ Univision, "Univision News and ABC News to Host Democratic Primary Debate Over Two Nights in September 2019," May 29, 2019
- ↑ CNN, "Watch the full CNN-Univision Democratic debate from Washington, DC," March 15, 2020
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Washington Post and Univision to host Democratic debate," October 8, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Univision/Washington Post Democratic debate to be held March 9," November 2, 2015
- ↑ CNN, "CNN to simulcast Democratic presidential debate," February 29, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Credentialing information now available for The Washington Post and Univision News DNC-Sanctioned Debate in Miami, Florida," March 2, 2016
- ↑ ABC News, "ABC and Univision Announce New Cable Network 'Fusion' Will Launch Later in 2013," February 11, 2013
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 demographic realities behind the creation of Univision/ABC News’ “Fusion” channel," October 28, 2013
- ↑ Business Insider, "ABC is ending its partnership with Fusion," April 21, 2016
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