The spanish language network Univision and Disney are reportedly in talks to create a 24-hour English language cable-news network before the November election.
Discussions about the proposal have been underway for more than a year, the Wall Street Journal first reported Monday.
A Univision spokeswoman wouldn’t comment on the talks, telling TPM the network doesn’t “comment on rumors.”
Univision is a massively successful network, long the most-watched Spnaish-language channel in the U.S. and fifth most-watched channel of any language in prime-time, as the Journal reports. If the deal goes through, Univision and Disney would appeal to a huge and growing Latino market. In the week of January 23 to January 29, Univision was the No. 2 network during primetime among adults ages 18-34, beating ABC, CBS and NBC in the demographic. Now, that’s not necessarily news coverage, but it speaks to the vast reach of the Spanish-language network. What remains unclear is whether the same market exists for English-language news broadcasts from a the broadcaster.
“This would go head-to-head with CNN,” a source with knowledge of the talks told the New York Times’ Brian Stelter. Indeed, if the networks teamed up, established outlets like MSNBC and Fox News would be targets. The Journal reports that one possible option would put Disney in charge of both advertising sales and distribution. ABC News — owned by Disney — and Univision have teamed up on polling and some of their reporters contribute to both networks.
ABC News did not respond to TPM’s requests for comment.
David Taintor
David Taintor is the Front Page Editor at TPM, where he contributes to TPM's Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com
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