The nation’s largest Spanish-language media company ended 2016 in unfamiliar territory, clawing to retain its audience and blunt the gains made by archrival Telemundo in the prime-time ratings race.
The drama unfolding behind the scenes at Univision has been as tumultuous as the stories that play out on the company’s two broadcast TV networks, Univision and UniMas. “People are in crisis mode,” acknowledged one executive.
There have been boardroom clashes as the private equity investors agonize over the ratings declines, according to the executive and three other high-level people familiar with the discussions who were not authorized to speak publicly about them.
Univision officials have expressed frustration with Mexico’s entertainment behemoth, Grupo Televisa, which holds a 10% equity stake in Univision and also provides the telenovelas to Univision in exchange for license fees. Univision pays Televisa about $350 million a year for the programming — a sore point given the flops.
“Telenovelas have dominated the ratings since Nielsen began tracking ratings,” said Ernest Bromley, a San Antonio marketing consultant. “They have been a staple of Spanish-language television for 50 years. But younger viewers are consuming media in a completely different way.”
Rival Telemundo, which is owned by NBCUniversal, responded to the changes more quickly — in part because Telemundo produces its own scripted shows.
“We are seeing made-in-the U.S. telenovelas doing better,” Orci said. “And Telemundo also has been improving the quality of its shows. … Telemundo is in [Spanish-language media] for the long term, so they have been investing in the product. Viewers recognize that Univision’s programming is inferior and not as interesting anymore.”
Univision lacks expansive production facilities in the U.S., making it almost entirely dependent on Televisa for its scripted programming. Three years ago, Univision Chief Executive Randy Falco began complaining about the fading performance of Televisa’s telenovelas, but Televisa executives, who serve on Univision’s board, rejected the criticism, saying the tried-and-true formula still was working in Mexico, where the programs are first televised. But then Televisa’s ratings in Mexico collapsed.
Univision Communications has been given a favorable ruling from the FCC on a foreign ownership question involving its partner Grupo Televisa.
The FCC granted Univision’s request for a waiver of the commission’s foreign ownership rule, which bars non-U.S. individuals and entities from holding more than a 25% interest in a company that owns broadcast TV stations.
The FCC ruling issued Tuesday allows Mexico’s Televisa and its affiliates to own up to 49% of the equity in Univision and up to 40% of the voting shares. Univision said the decision would allow for greater investment in the company by Televisa and through a possible IPO, a move that the commission determined was in the public interest. Televisa already owns 10% of Univision’s equity and 14.4% of voting shares.
“Univision has submitted information that grant of its Petition has the potential to encourage investment in the company from new sources and to encourage reciprocity in parts of Latin America,” FCC Media Bureau chief William Lake wrote in the ruling. “The Petitioners have also shown how grant of the application will further Univision’s service to the Hispanic community and other minority communities and advance its empowerment initiatives.”
Univision filed its petition for the decision on foreign ownership in late 2015. There had been speculation that if the approval dragged into the onset of the Trump administration, the decision might not have gone Univision’s way, given the past rancor between the company and President-elect Donald Trump.
2 Lazy 2 Bold. Basically, Univision is no longer a main pop girl.
She would rather go down with Televisa...Sad.
I don't get what the big deal about Televisa is. Like 70% of their programming is from Televisa anyway lol. And Televisa is going through a crisis too, it has been exposed as the fraud that it is. The owner uses that Teletón charity to avoid paying taxes in Mexico.
I don't watch novelas but I feel like Telemundo's risks are starting to pay off while univision is airing dusty mexican telenovelas Telemundo is experimenting with those series about drug dealers () and stuff like that and people really like that
those Mexicans novelas r crap honestly
how many times can u tell da same story of da poor girl who makes it rich
with Telemundo they make soaps in da US and in South America, include current issues like gays and drug dealing and prostitution,
plus there is a middle class
in Mexican soaps either u poor as **** living in a hit or super rich
those Mexicans novelas r crap honestly
how many times can u tell da same story of da poor girl who makes it rich
with Telemundo they make soaps in da US and in South America, include current issues like gays and drug dealing and prostitution,
plus there is a middle class
in Mexican soaps either u poor as **** living in a hit or super rich
I was afraid that this would happen . .. Telemundo will air the next 3 World Cups instead of Univision! This will increase Telemundo's viewership.
Televisa needs to bring back Adela Noriega, Victoria Ruffo, and Barbara Mori A.S.A.P. because they are the queens of ratings. I still remember when Rubi, La Madrastra, and Amor Real used to get huge ratings that would sometimes surpass American tv shows like American Idol!
those Mexicans novelas r crap honestly
how many times can u tell da same story of da poor girl who makes it rich
with Telemundo they make soaps in da US and in South America, include current issues like gays and drug dealing and prostitution,
plus there is a middle class
in Mexican soaps either u poor as **** living in a hit or super rich
Telemundo has a series that deals with gays, like actual kissing and stuff? What's it called?
From what I've seen, Telemundo and Univision both prefer to mainly hire lightskinned Latinos, no matter what part of Latin America they're from, so for that reason I don't consider one better over the other one. White/white-passing South Americans are finally getting representation, that's great I guess.
Quote:
Originally posted by LoKoPaNdA
I don't get what the big deal about Televisa is. Like 70% of their programming is from Televisa anyway lol. And Televisa is going through a crisis too, it has been exposed as the fraud that it is. The owner uses that Teletón charity to avoid paying taxes in Mexico.
I don't watch novelas but I feel like Telemundo's risks are starting to pay off while univision is airing dusty mexican telenovelas Telemundo is experimenting with those series about drug dealers () and stuff like that and people really like that
It's true that Univision is pretty much controlled entirely by Televisa already. I used to think Univision was the English word for Televisa for the longest time, nn.
@ people acting like what Telemundo offers is really any better. I wouldn't go that far but it's true that they take more risks than Univision. side note. Can someone tell me why that Gordo y La Flaca show is still on?
Good. All their telenovelas are ****ing trash.
Televisa monopolizing the Mexican tv market is literal pits.
All their telenovelas are the same and they reuse the same actors in every damn show.
@ people acting like what Telemundo offers is really any better. I wouldn't go that far but it's true that they take more risks than Univision. side note. Can someone tell me why that Gordo y La Flaca show is still on?
It's cheap to produce and all the Latin moms still flock to it.
I was afraid that this would happen . .. Telemundo will air the next 3 World Cups instead of Univision! This will increase Telemundo's viewership.
Televisa needs to bring back Adela Noriega, Victoria Ruffo, and Barbara Mori A.S.A.P. because they are the queens of ratings. I still remember when Rubi, La Madrastra, and Amor Real used to get huge ratings that would sometimes surpass American tv shows like American Idol!
I remember these three especially Rubi and Amor Real. ICONIC
Quote:
Originally posted by Chamoy
Telemundo has a series that deals with gays, like actual kissing and stuff? What's it called?
From what I've seen, Telemundo and Univision both prefer to mainly hire lightskinned Latinos, no matter what part of Latin America they're from, so for that reason I don't consider one better over the other one. White/white-passing South Americans are finally getting representation, that's great I guess.
It's true that Univision is pretty much controlled entirely by Televisa already. I used to think Univision was the English word for Televisa for the longest time, nn.
@ people acting like what Telemundo offers is really any better. I wouldn't go that far but it's true that they take more risks than Univision. side note. Can someone tell me why that Gordo y La Flaca show is still on?
True but Telemundo recently aired that Celia novela and the other one that was set in slavery days so I feel like they are trying. Ill just hope its not a one time thing
Also El gordo y la Flaca is iconic even if they are annoying (especially Raul) Maybe the ratings are going down because the latin community is starting to see how cringey Univision is.
This is surprising to me, actually. I assumed Telemundo & Univision were 50/50, but looks like they aren't. A lot of Univision personalities are heading to Telemundo. For instance, Don Francisco (famous for his family show called Sabado Gigante (Giant Saturday) on Univision which went off the air for some time ago) has his own show on Telemundo that airs on Sunday Nights, then Ana Maria Canseco (former host of Despierta America back in the day) is part of Un Nuevo Dia (Another Day). their morning show which is practically competition against Univision's Despierta America (Wake Up America) . Their primetime slots are really interesting: 8 pm is the fun/comedy hour (I'm referring to Silvana Sin Lana (Silvana Without Money) which is a show about a rich family moving to a poor neighborhood, based on the Chilean series, Pituca Sin Lucas. Then at 9 pm it's La Dona which is practically a drama, Then at 10 pm it's a spin-off of El Senor de Los Cielos, called El Chema. So every series during the 8 pm to 10 pm hour range is a different genre, every hour.
Univision's primetime slot is practically Televisa novela exports from Mexico since Televisa almost owns half of the equity of Univision (49% percent stated in the OP) then 8pm: Amo Despertar Contigo (Love Waking Up With You) about a guard who is looking for love of some girl or some ****, it's your typical love story. 9pm: Vino El Amor (Along came Love) takes place in a winery-type setting but somewhat has the immigration element tackled into it. 10pm: El color de la pasion (The color of passion) about a woman who is married to a factory owner.
I think Univision could get it together if they spice up the network a bit. If they bring La Candidata (The Candidate) soon enough to the US they could bring the rate back up? It's a novela with a center of politics and it's really popular right now in Mexico, good ratings for the network there. The Jenni Rivera bioseries is gonna premiere soon so that might help? But then again it isn't authorized by her family so it's gonna gain the L on them more probably.
True but Telemundo recently aired that Celia novela and the other one that was set in slavery days so I feel like they are trying. Ill just hope its not a one time thing
Also El gordo y la Flaca is iconic even if they are annoying (especially Raul) Maybe the ratings are going down because the latin community is starting to see how cringey Univision is.
Both networks should be aiming to be more inclusive. It's 2017.
EGYLF is not iconic, love yourself! Te lo digo con amor.
Quote:
Originally posted by Mellark
This is surprising to me, actually. I assumed Telemundo & Univision were 50/50, but looks like they aren't. A lot of Univision personalities are heading to Telemundo. For instance, Don Francisco (famous for his family show called Sabado Gigante (Giant Saturday) on Univision which went off the air for some time ago) has his own show on Telemundo that airs on Sunday Nights, then Ana Maria Canseco (former host of Despierta America back in the day) is part of Un Nuevo Dia (Another Day). their morning show which is practically competition against Univision's Despierta America (Wake Up America) . Their primetime slots are really interesting: 8 pm is the fun/comedy hour (I'm referring to Silvana Sin Lana (Silvana Without Money) which is a show about a rich family moving to a poor neighborhood, based on the Chilean series, Pituca Sin Lucas. Then at 9 pm it's La Dona which is practically a drama, Then at 10 pm it's a spin-off of El Senor de Los Cielos, called El Chema. So every series during the 8 pm to 10 pm hour range is a different genre, every hour.
Univision's primetime slot is practically Televisa novela exports from Mexico since Televisa almost owns half of the equity of Univision (49% percent stated in the OP) then 8pm: Amo Despertar Contigo (Love Waking Up With You) about a guard who is looking for love of some girl or some ****, it's your typical love story. 9pm: Vino El Amor (Along came Love) takes place in a winery-type setting but somewhat has the immigration element tackled into it. 10pm: El color de la pasion (The color of passion) about a woman who is married to a factory owner.
I think Univision could get it together if they spice up the network a bit. If they bring La Candidata (The Candidate) soon enough to the US they could bring the rate back up? It's a novela with a center of politics and it's really popular right now in Mexico, good ratings for the network there. The Jenni Rivera bioseries is gonna premiere soon so that might help? But then again it isn't authorized by her family so it's gonna gain the L on them more probably.
You're like the ATRL expert on novelas. Ever thought about making a thread for Latin novelas?
Help get those Univision ratings back up, sis. They need you.