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 Technology News | July 2006 
Mexico's Televisa Sues Univision in Internet Spat
 Noel Randewich - Reuters
| | A man retrieves tapes from Televisa's climate controlled video library in an undated file photo. (Andrew Winning/Reuters) |
Leading Mexican broadcaster Televisa said on Wednesday it is suing U.S. partner Univision for the right to distribute soap operas and other programs over the Internet in the United States.
Televisa, known around the Spanish-speaking world for its often-steamy dramas, has been locked in a dispute with Hispanic broadcaster Univision Communications Inc. over rights to air Televisa content online in the United States.
A provision under a broad and long-term programming deal they share bars both from airing Televisa shows online in the United States.
But the provision relating to Internet broadcasting expires on December 19, after which Televisa, Mexico's largest media company by far, says it will have the right to broadcast programs and other content online.
With an army of actors, singers and musicians, Televisa is keen to reach younger Latino audiences in the United States with Internet services like music downloads and chat rooms as well as exclusive content.
Televisa suffered a major blow to its U.S. plans in June when a group of investors, including media mogul Haim Saban, edged it out with a $12.3 billion bid for Univision.
Televisa, which already owns 11 percent of Univision, has said it could make a new offer for the rest of the company but could also sell its stake, which it says would free it from obligations to share programming and businesses with the U.S. company.
Univision has insisted Televisa's potential sale would not have a bearing on its pipeline of hit Televisa television shows. |
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