Univision Communications

Univision Communications Inc. (UCI, stylized as unıvısıon) is an American media company headquartered in Miami.[5] Since its founding in the early 1960s as Spanish International Network (SIN), the nation's first Spanish language television network, the company has catered to Hispanic and Latino Americans. Today it is a multimedia company with broadcast cable, digital and audio networks, including 65 television stations, online and mobile apps and products.[6][7][8][9]

Univision Communications Inc.
TypePrivate
NYSE: UVN (1996–2007)
IndustryMass Media and Entertainment
Predecessors
  • Spanish International Communications Corporation
  • Univision Holdings Inc.
FoundedLos Angeles, California in 1962 (1962)
FounderEmilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta of Televisa
Headquarters
Miami, Florida
,
U.S.[1]
Key people
Wade Davis (CEO)
Revenue US$2.7 Billion (2018)[2]
US$149.7 Million (2017)[2]
US$ 800,000 (2017)[2]
Total assets US$9.182 Billion (2017)[2]
Total equity US$90.7 Billion (2015)[3]
OwnerUnivision Holdings, Inc.
(Searchlight Capital, ForgeLight (each owning 64%, while Televisa of Mexico holds 36%)
Number of employees
4,008 (2016)[4]
DivisionsUnivision
Galavisión
UniMás
Univision Digital
Uforia Audio Network
Prende TV
TUDN
El Rey Network
Univision Television Group
Websitecorporate.univision.com

History
Former logo used until October 17, 2012.

Univision Communications Inc. was founded in 1962 (1962), as Spanish International Communications Corporation (parent of Spanish International Network) by Rene Anselmo, an American-Mexican TV executive of Cuban-Italian-American descent, Emilio Nicolas, Sr., owner of KUAL-TV (now KWEX-TV) in San Antonio, and Mexican radio-TV magnate Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, head of Telesistemas Mexicanos (now Televisa). They consolidated the operations of some independent Latino stations into a network. In 1987, Nicholas sold his part of the company to Hallmark Cards, and the name was changed to its current.

From September 1996 to April 2007, Univision Communications Inc. traded in the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UVN.

In 2001, Univision Communications Inc. acquired USA Broadcasting, the station group of USA Networks, which included 13 full-power television stations. Most of these stations became part of a new network called TeleFutura, which it launched in 2002, now UniMás.[10] Others joined Univision. In 2003, Univision completed the acquisition of Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation to form Univision Audio Network.[11]

Prior to 2007,[12] the headquarters was in the Century City neighborhood of Los Angeles.[13][14]

In March 2007, Univision Communications was sold to Broadcasting Media Partners, a group which included Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners., TPG Capital, L.P., Thomas H. Lee Partners, and Saban Capital Group.[15]

In May 2008, Univision Music Group was sold to Universal Music Group and combined with its Latin label to become Universal Music Latin Entertainment.

In 2009, Univision Interactive Media was formed to house Univision.com, Univision Móvil, and an array of digital offerings.[16] Univision On Demand also debuted in 2009, through distribution partners.[17] That same year Univision also created Univision Studios, a new production arm focused on producing and co-producing content for the company's platforms.[18]

Randy Falco became Univision's CEO in 2011.[19] Under Falco, the company began to expand its platforms, including launching new cable networks such as Univision Deportes Network and Univision Tlnovelas, as well as English-language properties targeting Hispanic audiences such as Flama (a YouTube channel featuring content aimed towards Hispanic young adults),[20] and Fusion, a news channel operated as a joint venture with Disney–ABC Television Group.[21][22][15]

In January 2013, TeleFutura rebranded as UniMás.[23][24] In May 2013, Univision announced an investment in Robert Rodriguez's new English-language cable channel El Rey Network.[25]

In 2014, UCI launched Univision Mobile, La Fabrica and TheFlama.com and also continued to increase the reach of Univision Deportes, Fusion and El Rey.[26][27][28][29] Also in 2014, UCI expanded its partnership with Hulu, building on its launch as the first Spanish-language offering on Hulu in 2012.[30]

On August 16, 2016, Univision Communications purchased Gawker Media for $135 million.[31] The sale included six Gawker blogs – Kotaku, Jalopnik, Lifehacker, Gizmodo (and its sub-site io9), Deadspin and Jezebel – but not the flagship Gawker site, which would be shut down in late August.[32] On September 21, 2016, the Gawker Media assets acquisition was completed and said assets were moved to Gizmodo Media Group.[33][34][15]

On May 30, 2018, Vincent Sadusky, formerly of Telemundo and the local station groups LIN Media and Media General, was appointed the new CEO of Univision, replacing the outgoing Randy Falco.[35] Under Sadusky, the company began to backpedal on its attempts to diversify into English-speaking markets, electing to focus more on its core Spanish-language properties targeting Hispanics. As part of this effort, Gizmodo Media Group was divested to private equity firm Great Hill Partners in April 2019.[15][36]

In July 2019, Univision rebranded its Univision Deportes Network cable channel as TUDN, as part of a collaboration with its content partner Televisa.[37][38][39]

On February 25, 2020, investment firms ForgeLight (launched by founder & CEO & ex-Viacom CFO Wade Davis) and Searchlight Capital agreed to acquire the 64% controlling stake in the company currently held by its investment group ownership, while minority owner Televisa will continue to hold its 36% stake. As a result, the company will be led by Davis as CEO, eventually replacing current CEO Vincent Sandusky. The sale was completed on December 29, 2020.[40][41]

Properties

Univision's portfolio of properties consists of broadcast cable and digital networks, including 123 local TV and Radio stations. Univision's properties also include consumer products and brand licensing.[42]

Television

Radio

Digital properties
  • Se Habla USA
  • Univision.com and Univision app
  • Uforia Musica app
  • TUDN app
  • Noticias Univision app
  • Univision now
  • La Fabrica UCI (digital content house)
  • Prende TV Streaming Service (Q1 2021 launch date) [45]

Consumer brands, products, and other services
  • Univision Contigo, Univision's social impact / community empowerment brand
  • Univision Farmacia
  • Univision Mastercard prepaid card[46]
  • El Chavo
  • Chapulín
  • Simplemente Delicioso[47]
  • Telenovelas
  • TUDN (co-owned with Televisa)
  • Despierta America
  • Nuestra Belleza Latina[48]
  • Antahkarana[49]

Other properties

Univision-owned television stations

Notes:

  • (**) – Indicates a station owned by Univision prior to the formation of Univision Communications in 1992.
  • (++) – Indicates a station owned by USA Broadcasting prior to its acquisition by Univision in 2001.
City of license / Market Station Channel TV (RF) Owned Since Affiliation
Phoenix KTVW-DT ** 33 (33) 1992 Univision
KFPH-DT 13 (13) 2001 UniMás
Tucson, AZ KUVE-DT
(semi-satellite of KTVW-DT)		 46 (34) 2003 Univision
KFTU-DT 3 (36) 2001 UniMás
Bakersfield, CA KABE-CD 39 (39) 2002 Univision
KTFB-CA 4 2002 UniMás
KBTF-CA **
(satellite of KTFB-CA)		 31 1992 UniMás
KUVI-DT 45 (45) 1997 Justice Network
Fresno, CA KFTV-DT ** 21 (20) 1992 Univision
KTFF-DT 61 (23) 2003 UniMás
Los Angeles KMEX-DT ** 34 (34) 1992 Univision
KFTR-DT ++ 46 (29) 2001 UniMás
Sacramento - Stockton - Modesto KUVS-DT 19 (18) 1997 Univision
KTFK-DT 64 (26) 2004 UniMás
San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose KDTV-DT ** 14 (51) 1992 Univision
KFSF-DT 66 (34) 2002 UniMás
Denver KCEC 1 14 (15) 2003 Univision
Washington, D.C. WFDC-DT 1 14 (15) 2001 Univision
Miami - Fort Lauderdale WLTV-DT ** 23 (23) 1992 Univision
WAMI-DT ++ 69 (24) 2001 UniMás
Orlando WVEN-TV ++ 1 43 (43) 2001 Univision
WRCF-CD 29 (35) 2017 Cheddar
Tampa - St. Petersburg WVEA-TV ++ 1 50 (47) 2001 Univision
Atlanta WUVG-DT ++ 34 (48) 2001 Univision
UniMás (DT2)
Chicago WGBO-DT 66 (38) 1995 Univision
WXFT-DT ++ 60 (50) 2001 UniMás
Boston WUNI ++ 1 66 (27) 2001 Univision
WWJE-DT 50 (27) 2017 Justice Network
Albuquerque, NM KLUZ-TV 1 14 (22) 2003 Univision
New York City WXTV-DT ** 41 (40) 1992 Univision
WFUT-DT ++ 68 (30) 2001 UniMás
WFTY-DT ++
(satellite of WFUT-DT)		 67 (23) 2001 Justice Network
Raleigh - Durham, NC WUVC-DT 40 (38) 2003 Univision
WTNC-LD 26 (19) 2003 UniMás
Cleveland WQHS-DT ++ 2 61 (34) 2001 Univision
UniMás (DT2)
Philadelphia WUVP-DT ++ 65 (17) 2001 Univision
WFPA-CA ** 28 1992 UniMás
WMGM-TV 40 (36) 2017 Justice Network
Austin, TX KAKW-DT 62 (13) 2002 Univision
KTFO-CD ** 31 (36) 1992 UniMás
KXLK-CD 29 (35) 2018 Justice Network
Dallas - Fort Worth KUVN-DT ** 23 (23) 1992 Univision
KSTR-DT ++ 49 (48) 2001 UniMás
Houston KXLN-DT 45 (30) 1994 Univision
KFTH-DT ++ 67 (36) 2001 UniMás
San Antonio KWEX-DT ** 41 (41) 1992 Univision
KNIC-DT 5 17 (18) 2006 UniMás
Salt Lake City, Utah KUTH-DT 4 32 (32) 2004 Univision
San Juan, Puerto Rico WSTE-DT2
(DTS facility of WSTE-DT)		 7 20023 Independent
Ponce, Puerto Rico WSTE-DT1
(DTS facility of WSTE-DT)		 7 (7) 20023 Independent

Footnotes:

  • 1 These stations are owned by Univision, but are operated by Entravision Communications under local marketing agreements.
  • 2 WQHS is the only network-owned station bordering Canada. It is also one of only two stations near the Canada–US border. The other station, KUNS-TV in Seattle, Washington, is third-party owned. However, neither the network nor either of the two stations are available on cable or satellite in Canada due to foreign broadcast restrictions established by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
  • 3 WSTE was taken over by Univision in 2002, but this was via WLII's local marketing agreement with Siete Grande Television (and in turn Univision's LMA with Raycom until 2005). Univision bought WSTE outright in 2007.
  • 4 KUTH is owned by Univision, but was operated by Equity Media Holdings under a local marketing agreement until Univision took full control of the station in 2009.
  • 5 KNIC is the only station to be built and signed-on by Univision Communications.

Awards

Univision and its executives have been recognized for their news, entertainment, humanitarian efforts and sports.

Univision News has been recognized with the Peabody, Walter Cronkite and Gracies awards for its special “Entre el abandono y el rechazo”; the King of Spain International (Digital) Journalism Award for “Niños de la Frontera” part of Univision Noticia's La Huella Digital; and GLAAD Media Awards in the categories Outstanding Local TV Journalism for “Cobertura de Spirit Day” by Noticias 34 (KMEX-Univision 34) and Outstanding Documentary for “Identidad sin fronteras” part of Panorámica, a Univision/Pivot co-production.[52][53][54][55][56] The Radio & Television News Association of Southern California (RTNA) also recognized Univision Noticias with eight Golden Mikes including the top honor, Broadcast Legend Award to Univision News anchor María Elena Salinas.[57] Univision News anchor Jorge Ramos, described as “one of the most aggressive and influential newsmen in America” by Michael Scherer in his profile of Ramos published November 20, 2014, was named to the 2015 TIME 100, the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[58][59]

Univision's former president and CEO, Randy Falco, has been recognized by National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) with Board of Trustees’ Award and by Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), with a Champion Award.[60][61] Univision is also the recipient of ReadyNation's 2015 Business Champion for Children Award.[62] The company's social impact initiative Univision Contigo has been recognized with a variety of awards, including Cynopsis Social Good Awards for its 2016 Vote For Your America campaign and its ongoing early childhood development initiaitve, Pequeños y Valiosos.[63][64]

Univision's sports network, Univision Deportes (TUDN) is recipient of two Sports Emmy Awards for Outstanding Live Sports Coverage in Spanish: 2014 FIFA World Cup and Outstanding Studio Show in Spanish: Fútbol Central by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS); additionally, UDNs’ President Juan Carlos Rodriguez has been bestowed the Sports Network Executive of the Year Navigator Award by Cynopsis, while UDN accepted awards in the categories ‘Tech Innovation’ and ‘Best Spot Over:30.’[65][66]

Corporate governance

Executive officers

  • Wade Davis, Chief Executive Officer
  • Jessica Rodriguez, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Entertainment
  • Peter H. Lori, Chief Financial Officer
  • Daniel Coronell, President, Univision News
  • Jonathan Schwartz, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer
  • Margaret Lazo, Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Juan Carlos Rodriguez, President of Sports Univision Deportes
  • Steve Mandala, President of Advertising Sales and Marketing
  • Christopher Furst, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
  • Diane Kniowski, President and Regional General Manager of Local Media
  • Friday Abernethy, Senior Vice President of Content Distribution and Partnerships
  • Sameer Deen, Chief Digital Officer
  • Rosemary Mercedes, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
  • David Rabinowitz, Executive Vice President of Operations and Tecnology
  • Jonathan Schwartz, General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Government relations[67]

Board of directors

See also
  • List of telenovelas of Univision

References
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