Twin ‘KidVid’ Violations Resolved As TelevisaUnivision Inks Consent Decree

First, it was Sinclair Inc. Now, the world’s largest creator and distributor of audio and video content en español has entered into a Consent Decree with the Acting Chief of the FCC’s Media Bureau that puts to a close the Commission’s investigation into “KidVid” rule violations on the company’s U.S. broadcast stations.

In an Order adopted and released by the FCC on Thursday, Acting Media Bureau Chief Erin Boone signed off on the decree that ends a probe into TelevisaUnivision.

But, it will not come without its costs to the company led by CEO Daniel Alegre, as TelevisaUnivision has agreed to make a “voluntary contribution” in the amount of $300,000 to the U.S. Treasury as part of the Consent Decree. This will allow the license renewal of certain TelevisaUnivision stations to proceed.

At issue was the compliance with section 73.670 of the Commission’s rules, which limits the amount of commercial matter that full power and Class A television stations may air during children’s programming to no more than to no more than 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and 12 minutes per hour on weekdays.

The Media Bureau also launched an inquiry into violations of section 73.670 of the FCC rules, which also places restrictions on the display of website addresses during children’s programming.

The matter is thanks to self-incrimination, with admission of a wrong connected to the former Univision Communications.

The problem was reported in the renewal applications for the TelevisaUnivision properties seeking new licensing that a total of 41 UniMás owned-and-operated broadcast TV stations aired the children’s program “Pokémon.” It aired weekdays from 4-4:30pm Eastern, and again from 4:30pm-5pm Eastern.

The Bureau and TelevisaUnivision agree the program meets the definition of “children’s programming.” With the airing of the program, TelevisaUnivision acknowledged that its broadcast contained commercial matter in excess of the amount permitted by the Commercial Limits Rule. Specifically, 15 minutes and 45 seconds of commercial matter per hour appeared each weekday.

All 41 UniMás stations began airing overages on November 15, 2017, with five doing so until December 3, 2017, with the remaining 36 doing so through January 24, 2018. As such, an excess 3 minutes and 45 seconds of commercial matter beyond the 12-minute per hour limit on Commercial Matter permitted during children’s weekday programming, with 36 stations doing so a total of 47 occasions each and five stations doing so on 35 occasions each, resulted.

The former Univision Communications discovered the overage, and on January 25, 2018 reformatted the program.

But, there’s more. On 48 occasions between June 2016 and March 2017, a combined 36 stations displayed a website address that contained commercial matter immediately following the closing credits of the children’s Program “Pocoyo.”

What, exactly was it? A URL for the website of Mundo Lanugo, which appeared for exactly three seconds. The website’s landing page features a link to the for-purchase Mundo Lanugo app and a “compra” button offering additional items for purchase. While Univision says it discovered the issue and took steps to fix it, it needed to come clean and tell the Commission — something that apparently took seven years to happen, based on today’s Order.

In all, the “Pocoyo” Commercial Limits Rule was violated by as much as 40 seconds across those 48 occurrences.

Signing off on the Consent Decree for TelevisaUnivision is Univision Television Networks Group President Ignacio “Nacho” Meyer.

Courtesy of