Univision (television network)
Univision is a prominent American Spanish-language television network, recognized as one of the largest and most profitable in the United States. Originating from the Spanish International Network (SIN) established in 1961, Univision has experienced significant growth, particularly reflecting the increasing Spanish-speaking population due to immigration from Latin America. The network offers a diverse array of programming, including popular telenovelas, game shows, sports shows, and news coverage. Notable programs include "Despierta América!," "Sábado Gigante," and "El Gordo y La Flaca."
Univision's viewership has consistently outperformed some major English-language networks, especially among younger audiences, highlighting its cultural relevance. The network has also launched initiatives like Fusion, targeting bilingual and younger demographics. However, Univision has faced criticism regarding its stance on immigration and accusations of racial bias within its content and workforce. Despite these challenges, it remains a vital platform for Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S., serving as a bridge between cultures and communities.
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Univision (television network)
Univision is one of the largest, most profitable, and highest-rated Spanish-language broadcasting television networks in the United States. Univision’s phenomenal growth in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries is directly related to the increase in US immigration from various Latin American nations. The network’s content includes a variety of telenovelas (Latino soap operas), game shows, sports programming, and news coverage. Notable programs that have aired on Univision include Despierta América! ("Wake Up, America!"), Sábado Gigante (a Saturday evening novelty show featuring a live studio audience), República Deportiva (a weekend sports program that showcased soccer games and boxing matches, as well as sports commentary and analysis), and El Gordo y La Flaca (an entertainment news program focusing on Latino musicians and actors).
Overview
Univision grew out of the Spanish International Network (SIN), which was established by entrepreneur Rene Anselmo in 1961 after he purchased a local television station in San Antonio, Texas. The station was the first exclusively Spanish-language television station in the United States. By the end of the 1960s, SIN had established Spanish-language stations in New York City, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. SIN owned thirty-three of the thirty-five Spanish-language television stations in the United States by the early 1980s. After the network was sold to Hallmark in 1987, SIN was renamed Univision. In 1990 Univision was on the brink of bankruptcy, but was saved by Hallmark and other shareholders.
Univision’s emergence during the 1980s reflected a massive growth in the Spanish-speaking population of the United States. The rise of Univision as a national, Spanish-language network in the 1980s occurred during a time of rising concern among some segments of the US-born population over large-scale immigration from Latin America and the growing presence of the Spanish language in the United States. Critics of Spanish-language media outlets in the United States have argued that such channels and stations allegedly undermine assimilation by encouraging Latino immigrants and Puerto Ricans who relocate to the US mainland to retain their native language and distinct ethnic identity.
A Pew Research Center study on Americans’ television viewing habits, conducted between June 24–July 27, 2013, found that Univision had significantly higher average weekly ratings for primetime viewing (between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m.) among viewers between the ages of eighteen and forty-nine than competitive English-language networks such as Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC. Among all viewers over the age of two, Univision’s ratings ranked fourth (after CBS, NBC, and ABC). The 2013 study marked the first time that Univision ranked first among major American networks in viewership in that key demographic group for marketers. The network has also proven to be more successful among bilingual Americans than its other Spanish-language competitors, such as Telemundo.
Later that same year, Univision and ABC announced the launch of a news and lifestyle network called Fusion, a primarily English language network aimed at Latin Americans in the United States that launched in October 2013. Univision has sparked controversy among the public for some of its programming content and the actions of some of its employees. Advocates of stricter immigration control and enforcement, such as former CNN news anchor Lou Dobbs, have criticized the network for promoting a staunchly pro-immigrants’ rights tone in its coverage of US immigration policy that sharply criticizes any opposition to illegal immigration. Another line of criticism, often emanating from Latino viewers themselves, has been allegations of anti-Black racial prejudice and discrimination at the network. Further, the station came under fire for appearing to align with Donald Trump in 2023, causing some to accuse the station of betraying the interests of its audience. The station denied these accusations. Viewership seemed to be affected though, for in 2025 Telemundo, another Spanish-language network, made history with its 'Noticias Telemundo' surpassing 'Noticiero Univision' in ratings among adults ages 18 to 49. Despite the controversy, Univision continues to flourish as one of the United States’ most successful Spanish-language television channels.
Bibliography
Civita, Alicia. "Telemundo Makes History As It Beats Univision Noticias' Ratings After the Departure of Jorge Ramos." The Latin Times, 28 Jan. 2025, www.latintimes.com/telemundo-makes-history-it-beats-univision-noticias-ratings-after-departure-jorge-ramos-573787. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Leguizamo, John. "Opinion: Cozying Up To Trump, Univision is Betraying Its Spanish-Speaking Viewers." Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023, www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-11-21/john-leguizamo-univision-trump-interview. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Lopez, Mark Hugo. "What Univision’s Milestone Says about US Demographics." Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, July 29, 2013. Web. 24 Aug. 2016.
Ramos, Jorge. Take a Stand: Lessons from Rebels. New York: Celebra, 2016. Print.
Soto, Ruben. Univision: America’s Largest Spanish-Language Television Network: How it Beat ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. Seattle: Amazon Digital Services, 2015. Print.
Stavans, Ilan. "Become a Great American, Watch Univision." Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 24 Aug. 2016.
Stepler, Renee and Anna Brown. "Statistical Portrait of Hispanics in the United States." Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, 19 Apr. 19, 2016. Web. 24 Aug. 2016.
Wilkinson, Kenton. Spanish-Language Television in the United States: Fifty Years of Development. New York: Routledge, 2015. Print.