View Full Version : Univision to explore a possible sale


TMC
07-04-2019, 12:44 AM
https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/univision-for-sale-strategic-review-spanish-language-1203259599/

The Spanish-language network has been struggling in recent years and the decision to hang a "for sale" sign is not a surprise, reports Variety, which adds: "The once-dominant Spanish-language TV network in the U.S. has faced tougher competition for most of the past decade from Telemundo, which is part of NBCUniversal. Univision had pursued a public offering in 2017 but it had to be withdrawn because of the company’s underwhelming financials and the general turbulence in the traditional media sector."

Hawkee
07-04-2019, 01:49 AM
Out of all the Spanish language channels Univision has always been number one in TV and are known for high quality Spanish language programming ranging from Spanish language talk shows sitcoms reality shows game shows and soap operas and news programming Univision has been known for being one of the top rated Spanish language channels in TV and is the most watched network among Spanish speakers. But when Telemundo debuted in 1986 Univision sure had competition and by offering the exact same formula as Univision it was sure hard for Univision to keep up with another Spanish language network. But I think since the end of some of their popular shows such as Cristina and Sabado Gigante "which translates as giant Saturday in English" Univision was really hurt because those shows were huge ratings for the Spanish language market. But if you look at Univision today the quality of their shows has gone downhill and even their Spanish soap operas have gone downhill as well. My mom and I used to like Univision for their soap operas and we would practice our Spanish when we would watch it too but we haven't watched Univision since then. But I think what's causing Univision to be sold or go broke is that keep creating channels like Telefutura which translates as Telefuture in English and Unimas which in English means Unimore and even has a whole channel devoted to sports too. Also I think Univision wants to create a version of their channel in English because if you look at it there isn't any channels for the Spanish language market that are in English and an English version of Univision would work well. But I think CBS or ABC could buy Univision because the way I see it ABC and Univision would make a great English channel and Univision already has a tie-in with Disney by having Disney Junior do a Saturday morning hour with their cartoons in Spanish for preschoolers. But I don't expect Univision to go broke in the future but they'll still keep the quality programming that Univision is best known for
Bestie

AMackII
07-04-2019, 05:14 AM
I remember how great Univision was when not only it had plenty of well known on-air talent who worked with the network during its span but it also had variety of programming on their schedule for the most part of their existence just like most cable networks mostly were throughout the 1980s & the 1990s. The only reason for Univision to remain on-air is being acquired by a media group of choosing.

Heenan Fan
07-04-2019, 05:08 PM
I stopped watching Univision when they stopped airing AAA Lucha libre around 10 years ago.

bh7812
07-09-2019, 02:37 AM
That’s...going to be very VERY interesting for WGBO, the Univision affiliate here in Chicago that’s for damn sure! Right now they have their main and sub channels here set up like this:

66.1 main Univision feed
66.2 Laff
66.3 Grit
66.4 Justice TV

Laff. Grit, and Justice TV are all English language. I was extremely shocked when they agreed to pick up the 3 English language sub channel networks since Univision and Telemundo both have always had a strict no English language programming on any of their O&O’s. Both WGBO and WSNS, the Telemundo affiliate were English language Independent stations before the networks bought them so it’s kind of ironic Univision is left with no choice now but to sell. It gets more interesting here because Telefutura and UniMas are both on channel 60 which Univision also owns. Plus an English language Subchannel there too. It’ll be fascinating to see what happens to both channels in all this. If WGBO were to elect to go back to it’s English language independence that...would be something and for sure a disruptor in this market.