Television

NBC Universal/Telemundo has requested that the FCC deny the renewal of the TV license of Pappas Telecasting’s KAZA-TV in Los Angeles. Alleging that Mexican TV giant TV Azteca has more than a 33% investment allowable by law and excises controlling interests in the operation.

Azteca America rebutted the allegations, stating that the agreement between Pappas Telecasting and TV Azteca is a legitimate Local Market Agreement (LMA).

This is being considered payback by NBC Universal/Telemundo for the encounter between TV Azteca and Telemundo that stopped production of a Telemundo show in Mexico.

The games continue ……….

According to Variety magazine, they reported today that a search is on for the next CEO of Univision Communications.

Among the list of key executives that are being interview, Jim McNamara ex-President and CEO of Telemundo who helped build the network and facilitate the sale to NBC is being considered a likely candidate for the position.

Following on the heels of Comcast’s announcement regarding its agreement to add ESPN Deportes to its channel line-up, HispanicAd.com sat down for an exclusive interview with Lino Garcia, general manager of ESPN Deportes.

Don Browne, President of Telemundo Communications Group, today announced that the network, a leading producer of innovative and high-quality content for Hispanics in the U.S., has acquired full ownership of Telemundo-RTI Productions to create Telemundo Studios Miami, LLC. The executive also announced Telemundo has agreed to purchase the operating assets of its current foreign distributor, Tepuy International Corp. and will create an in-house international division, called Telemundo Internacional.

Univision, in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, will air a half-hour special “Entérate… SIDA, 25 Años Después” (Get the Facts!…AIDS, 25 Years Later) hosted by award-winning news anchor Jorge Ramos on Saturday, December 2nd (check your local listings for time). As part of Univision’s Peabody award winning health initiative “Salud es Vida…! Entérate!” (Lead a Healthy Life…Get the Facts!), the special will explore AIDS among Hispanics in the United States.

Fox has made a script commitment to a one-hour legal/family drama to be written and executive produced by Alfonso Moreno (“The Practice”). Nuyorican Productions principals Jennifer Lopez and Simon Fields, as well as Ross Fineman through his deal with Fox Television Studios, will also executive produce along with Charles Glen and Barbara Cox.

ZGS Communications announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire six low-power television stations which will extend and enhance its already significant television operations. Five of the new stations are located in Florida, including WDYB-LP channel 53, WMVJ-LP channel 29, WPXG-LP channel 31, all Class A stations serving the Orlando market, as well as WWWF-LP channel 47 in Tallahassee and a construction permit for W22DB channel 22 in Gainesville. ZGS will also acquire WKYV-LP channel 45 in Richmond, Virginia.

Further cost cutting moves in anticipation of the upcoming acquisition of Univision has resulted in a layer of management being removed. Included in this latest round are Frank Donaldson, SVP Eastern Region National Sales and Melinda Maidhof, VP Marketing and Research.