Spanish Broadcaster Open for Bidding

[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Steven Levingston, Ben White and Krissah Williams]
With the announcement that Univision, the largest Spanish-language TV broadcaster in the United States, has put itself up for sale, Hispanic advocacy groups expressed concern yesterday about the potential transfer of a Spanish-language company into the hands of a traditional American media organization. "Our polling does show that Hispanic media consumers view Spanish media as a more reliable barometer and a more accurate reflection than what is shown on mainstream media," said Thomas Oliver, executive director of the Washington-based National Association of Hispanic Publications. Hispanics rely more than ever on Spanish-language media for news, said John Trasvina, senior vice president for law and policy at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Los Angeles. Trasvina said the fund will monitor any potential sale as it undergoes the scrutiny of federal regulators. "Any future acquirer of this precious community asset should ensure that Univision's role in the growing Latino community is maintained and expanded," he said. In 2001, NBC bought the nation's second largest Spanish-language broadcaster, Telemundo. Lisa Navarrete, spokesman for National Council of La Raza, one of the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy groups, said the merger has allowed Telemundo access to NBC resources and has helped the broadcaster beef up its news and public affairs programming. Wall Street analysts are worried too about the ability of large media companies to buy Univision because of ownership restrictions. Mark Fratrik, a media analyst at Chantilly-based BIA Financial Network, said "I'm a little wary about who can actually buy the company. It's possible to ask for waiver from the FCC, but that would be a tough battle."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/08/AR200602...
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