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 Entertainment | April 2007 
Mexico Offers Local TV Licenses
 Michael O'Boyle - Variety.com
| | Telemundo puts pressure on rivals |
Mexico City - After previously quashing NBC-Universal owned Telemundo's hopes of entering big into Mexico, Mexican regulators said last week they would auction off some local broadcasting licenses.
Speaking in Orlando Thursday, telco regulator Cofetel commissioner Eduardo Ruiz Vega said the commission would not authorize a third national network, as Telemundo and groups of other Mexican investors had hoped.
The news was not a major surprise to Telemundo. Communications and Transport Minister Luis Tellez had indicated the same stance in December, but the final word was up to the independent Cofetel.
However, Ruiz did say broadcasting licenses for certain cities and regions would be offered as well as wireless broadband licenses.
So Telemundo could still score stations south of the border and pressure the local duopoly of Televisa and TV Azteca.
Telemundo formed a partnership last year with Mexican businessman Isaac Saba to seek broadcast licenses.
Telemundo said Friday that Cofetel's announcement was "an important step in opening the Mexican TV market to increased competition."
The web said it would have to wait to see locations and terms of licenses.
"We hope that the process truly will result in more choices for viewers," said Madelaine Girod, Telemundo's spokesperson in Mexico City. |
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