History of Univision in Timeline
Univision is the largest Spanish-language television network in the United States, owned by TelevisaUnivision. Headquartered in New York City with major facilities in Doral, Florida, it provides content aimed at the Latino audience. Its programming includes telenovelas, drama series, sports, sitcoms, reality shows, variety series, news, and Spanish-language films. The network plays a significant role in shaping Latino culture and providing Spanish-language entertainment and information to the U.S. market.
1955: KCOR-TV Founded
In 1955, Raoul A. Cortez established KCOR-TV in San Antonio, Texas. It became the first Spanish-only TV station in the United States.
1961: KCOR-TV Sold to Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta's Group
In 1961, Raoul A. Cortez sold KCOR-TV, which was then renamed KWEX-TV, to a group led by Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, owner of Telesistema Mexicano. Emilio Nicolás Sr. retained a 20% stake and continued as general manager.
September 29, 1962: KMEX-TV Launched in Los Angeles
On September 29, 1962, Emilio Azcárraga and his partners launched KMEX-TV, a Spanish-language station, in Los Angeles.
1962: Children's Programming Start
From 1962, children's programming has played a role in Univision's programming since its initial roots as the Spanish International Network.
1962: KMEX Hollywood Studio
In 1962, the KMEX Hollywood studio started being used until March 1993.
1962: Sabado Gigante Originated in Chile
The variety show Sabado Gigante, hosted by Don Francisco, aired on Univision every Saturday night from April 12, 1986 to September 19, 2015 (its final episode was broadcast live in the U.S., Mexico and in Chile, where the program originated in 1962).
1963: SIN Managed by Rene Anselmo
From 1963, Rene Anselmo managed Spanish International Network (SIN) from New York, spearheading its expansion after working for Azcárraga in Mexico City.
1965: WXTV Licensed in Paterson, New Jersey
In 1965, WXTV was licensed in Paterson, New Jersey, as part of SIN's expansion.
1968: WXTV Launched in Paterson, New Jersey
In 1968, WXTV was launched in Paterson, New Jersey, as part of SIN's expansion.
1969: KFTV Licensed in Fresno, California
In 1969, KFTV was licensed in Fresno, California, as part of SIN's expansion.
1970: FIFA World Cup Rights
From 1970 until 2014, Univision held the Spanish language broadcast rights to the FIFA World Cup.
1971: WLTV Acquired in Miami
In 1971, SIN expanded by acquiring WLTV in Miami.
1972: KFTV Launched in Fresno, California
In 1972, KFTV was launched in Fresno, California, as part of SIN's expansion.
1972: Ownership Transfer to Emilio Azcárraga Milmo
In 1972, the Mexican ownership interest in SIN and SICC was transferred from Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta to his son, Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, following the father's death.
1975: Eduardo Quezada at KMEX
In 1975, Eduardo Quezada began working at KMEX, where he remained until 2003.
July 4, 1976: SIN Begins National Feed via Satellite
On July 4, 1976, SIN began distributing its national feed via satellite, initially as a superstation-type feed of San Antonio's KWEX-TV, before eventually switching to a direct programming feed of SIN.
1978: Teleton originated in Chile
In 1978, the Teleton originated in Chile. It was a televised benefit created by Don Francisco, which was modeled after the now-discontinued telethons benefitting the Muscular Dystrophy Association that were started by Jerry Lewis.
April 2, 1979: Launch of Galavisión as Premium Channel
On April 2, 1979, Galavisión was launched as a premium channel featuring classic and recent Spanish-language films, as well as Spanish-dubbed versions of American films.
1982: First reference to Univision name
In 1982, the first reference to the name Univision appeared in "América, esta es tu canción", a song interpreted by Lucerito on her album Te prometo.
1983: U.S. Broadcast Rights to Premios TVyNovelas
Since 1983, Univision has held the U.S. broadcast rights to Premios TVyNovelas through its programming agreement with Televisa.
1984: Galavisión Converts to General Entertainment Channel
In 1984, Galavisión transitioned into a general entertainment basic cable channel, featuring programming sourced from Televisa and SIN.
July 1985: SIN moves programming to WSNS-TV in Chicago
In July 1985, SIN moved its programming in Chicago from WCIU-TV to new full-time affiliate WSNS-TV.
April 12, 1986: Debut of Sabado Gigante on Univision
The variety show Sabado Gigante, hosted by Don Francisco, aired on Univision every Saturday night from April 12, 1986 to September 19, 2015.
1986: Pivotal year for SIN
1986 was a pivotal year for Spanish International Network and its owned-and-operated station group.
1987: Nicolas sells stake in SIN to Hallmark Cards and Televisa
In 1987, Emilio Nicolas sold his stake in Spanish International Network (SIN) to a partnership of Hallmark Cards and Televisa. This led to the formation of Univision Holdings Inc. to operate the network and its stations.
1987: End of Rene Anselmo's Management of SIN
In 1987, Rene Anselmo's management of SIN, which started in 1963, came to an end.
1987: Roberto FE Soto Appointed to Noticiero Univision
In 1987, Roberto FE Soto was appointed to produce a revamped Noticiero Univision, and Maria Elena Salinas was hired to co-anchor.
1987: Initial logo under Univision name
In 1987, the initial logo under the Univision name Spanish International Network, that was used from 1987 to 1989; the logo was similar in resemblance to Televisa's station logo. Televisa still uses this logo today.
1987: Liga MX Airs
Since 1987, soccer matches from Liga MX have aired on Univision.
1988: Univision institutes neutrality policy
In 1988, Univision began instituting a policy of maintaining neutrality with its use of Spanish dialects, slang, and humor to appeal to Hispanics and Latinos of all nationalities. They also ramped up production of American-based programs on Univision's lineup, reducing the share of programming imported from Latin America.
June 1989: Launch of Univision y Los Niños
In June 1989, Univision launched a weekday and Saturday morning block, Univision y Los Niños, in partnership with DIC Entertainment.
1989: Premiere of Premio Lo Nuestro Awards Show
In 1989, Univision started broadcasting Premio Lo Nuestro, an awards show to honor top artists in Latin music from the previous year. Nominees were initially selected by Univision and Billboard, with winners chosen by viewers.
1989: End of initial Univision logo usage
In 1989, the initial Univision logo usage was discontinued. This logo was similar to Televisa's station logo.
January 1990: Use of Previous Univision Logo
On October 17, 2012, Univision Communications unveiled an updated corporate logo. The new logo shares the multicolored quadrant design of the previous logo, which had been used since January 1990.
February 1, 1990: Univision Misses Interest Payment
On February 1, 1990, Univision Holdings disclosed that it had failed to make an interest payment of about $10 million as part of its efforts to restructure its debt, citing insufficient cash flow for the missed payments.
September 15, 1990: Discontinuation of Univision y Los Niños
On September 15, 1990, the block Univision y Los Niños was discontinued and replaced with Platavision.
1991: Introduction of Chispavision
In 1991, Univision introduced Chispavision, featuring the program El Show de Xuxa.
April 8, 1992: Hallmark Sells Univision to Investor Group
On April 8, 1992, Hallmark sold Univision to a group including A. Jerrold Perenchio, Emilio Azcárraga Milmo, and Ricardo and Gustavo Cisneros for $550 million. This was done to refocus television efforts on Cencom Cable Associates.
May 1992: Joaquin Blaya Resigns as President
In May 1992, Joaquin Blaya resigned from his role as Univision's president due to concerns that the new ownership would reduce domestically originated programming.
September 30, 1992: FCC Approves Univision Sale
On September 30, 1992, the FCC approved the sale of Univision to the Perenchio-Televisa-Venevision consortium, stating they were "unconvinced" it would dilute American programming.
1992: El Show de Xuxa Becomes Hit
In 1992, El Show de Xuxa became a hit in the U.S. after debuting on Univision.
1992: Debut of Noticias y Más
In 1992, Univision debuted Noticias y Más, anchored by Nespral, Ambrosio Hernandez, and Raúl Peimbert.
January 1993: Univision Cancels U.S.-Produced Programs
In January 1993, Univision canceled three U.S.-produced programs, which resulted in the layoffs of 70 production staffers. Two of the three programs were replaced by Televisa series.
March 1993: Studio Relocation
In March 1993, KMEX relocated from its Hollywood studio, which had been in use since 1962, to a new studio in Westchester.
1993: KMEX and Televisa Alliance
In 1993, KMEX and Televisa formed the "Media Hub Center Alliance" to share resources and increase market presence. The alliance included shared news bureaus and the leasing of two 24-hour transponders on Intelsat 601.
1993: Copa América Airs
In 1993, Univision began airing Copa América tournament matches.
1993: American Syndicated Version of El Show de Xuxa
In 1993, Xuxa would subsequently star in an American syndicated version of the program that aired for one season from 1993 to 1994.
1993: Children's block has hiatus
Since 1993, the children's block has a hiatus.
February 1994: Revamp of Noticias y Más to Primer Impacto
In February 1994, Univision revamped Noticias y Más, changing its name and theme music, and hired María Celeste Arrarás as a weekend reporter. The show became Primer Impacto.
1994: Billboard Creates Latin Awards Ceremony
In 1994, Billboard created its own Latin Awards ceremony, and the nominees and winners for Premio Lo Nuestro were then selected by a poll among program directors of Spanish-language radio stations across the United States.
1994: American Syndicated Version of El Show de Xuxa
In 1994, Xuxa would subsequently star in an American syndicated version of the program that aired for one season from 1993 to 1994.
December 31, 1994: WGBO-TV becomes an Univision-owned station
On December 31, 1994, WGBO-TV became an Univision-owned station after being purchased from English-language independent WGBO-TV. The purchase occurred because WCIU-TV turned down Univision's request to become a full-time affiliate.
April 1995: Test Marketing of Plaza Sésamo
In April 1995, Univision test-marketed Plaza Sésamo, the Spanish-language adaptation of Sesame Street, on its owned-and-operated stations in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami.
March 30, 1996: Debut of La Piñata Loca
On March 30, 1996, Univision debuted La Piñata Loca, hosted by George Ortuzar, featuring Spanish dubs of animated series programming through an agreement with Hanna-Barbera.
1996: John Lippman Joins Univision
In 1996, John Lippman became Senior Vice President for News and Operations at Univision Television.
1996: Univision Goes Public
In 1996, Univision Holdings went public for the first time. Mario Rodriguez was appointed as president of programming and developed a strategy to appeal to both Latino immigrants and native citizens. Univision also adopted the Latin American model of programming its prime-time telenovelas to appeal to different target audiences.
April 14, 1997: Launch of ¡Despierta América!
On April 14, 1997, Univision launched ¡Despierta América! as a Spanish-language competitor to morning news programs on other networks. The program coined the phrase "échate pa' acá".
April 1997: Children's Programming Relegated to Saturday Mornings
In April 1997, Univision relegated its children's programming exclusively to Saturday mornings to make room for ¡Despierta América!.
September 1998: New Shows Added
In September 1998, Univision added two new shows to its afternoon lineup: the game show El Bla-Blazo and the newsmagazine El Gordo y La Flaca, hosted by Raul De Molina and Lili Estefan.
April 1999: República Deportiva Debut
In April 1999, República Deportiva, a weekly sports talk program, debuted on Univision.
1999: FIFA Women's World Cup Rights
From 1999 until 2011, Univision held the Spanish language broadcast rights to the FIFA Women's World Cup.
February 27, 2000: Discontinuation of La Piñata Loca Blocks
On February 27, 2000, the blocks were discontinued after George "O" left Univision before the ending by the air.
October 7, 2000: Debut of ¡De Cabeza!
On October 7, 2000, ¡De Cabeza! debuted, featuring a mix of acquired programming from various provides, including Film Roman and MB Producciones, as well as some Japanese anime series.
2000: Henry Cisneros Resigns
In 2000, Henry Cisneros resigned as president and CEO of Univision to head American CityVista.
2000: CONCACAF Gold Cup Rights
In 2000, Univision assumed the rights to tournament matches from the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
June 2001: LMA with Raycom Media
In June 2001, Univision entered into a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Raycom Media to operate WLII in Caguas and WSUR in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
June 2001: Sale of Saban Entertainment to Disney
In June 2001, as part of News Corporation's sale of Fox Family Worldwide, Saban Entertainment was sold to The Walt Disney Company.
2001: CBS Cancels Latin Grammy Awards Broadcast
In 2001, CBS canceled the Latin Grammy Awards broadcast following the September 11 attacks.
January 14, 2002: Launch of TeleFutura
On January 14, 2002, TeleFutura, now known as UniMás, launched as a companion Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision Communications.
June 2002: Univision Acquires Hispanic Broadcasting Corp.
In June 2002, Univision acquired Dallas-based Hispanic Broadcasting Corp., owner of Spanish language radio stations, in a $3.5 billion transaction. The group was later renamed Univision Radio.
2002: Contacto Deportivo Debut
In 2002, Contacto Deportivo debuted on Telefutura.
2002: Plaza Sésamo Moves to TeleFutura
In 2002, Plaza Sésamo moved from Univision to its sister network TeleFutura as part of its "Mi Tele" block.
2002: Noticiero Univision Ultima Hora Debut
In 2002, Univision's late-evening newscast Noticiero Univision launched an in-depth, investigative program titled Noticiero Univision Ultima Hora, under anchor Enrique Gratas.
April 2003: Eduardo Quezada Leaves KMEX
In April 2003, KMEX news anchor Eduardo Quezada left for KVEA.
September 2003: Telemundo's English Subtitles
From September 2003, Telemundo carried English subtitles during its entire weeknight prime time schedule.
2003: Eduardo Quezada at KMEX
In 2003, Eduardo Quezada ended working at KMEX, where he had been working since 1975.
2003: Reduction of children's programming
In 2003, Univision reduced its children's programming, allocating weekend morning and Saturday early afternoon slots to youth-oriented telenovelas.
September 2004: Univision Aired Clásicos de Sábado Gigante
From September 2004 to May 2015, Univision aired Clásicos de Sábado Gigante, an early Sunday morning program consisting of condensed two-hour episodes of the series on an approximately one-year delay from their original broadcast.
2004: Educational Programming Violations
Between 2004 and early 2006 Univision was found in violation of Children's Television Act filings for 116 weeks for claiming the novelas as compliant educational programs.
2004: Launch of Premios Juventud Awards Show
In 2004, Univision launched Premios Juventud, a viewer-decided awards show honoring Hispanics and Latinos in film, music, sports, fashion, and pop culture.
2004: Publication of Edited Words List
In 2004, Univision published a list of words it edited from programs, mostly those acquired from Televisa, to comply with FCC broadcast decency standards. These words had varying connotations across different Spanish-speaking countries.
2004: Feud Begins Between Perenchio and Azcárraga Jean
In late 2004, a feud began between Univision's Jerry Perenchio and Televisa's Emilio Azcárraga Jean over Univision's editing of Televisa programming and failure to pay for broadcast rights.
2004: End of mainly Televisa-derived programming
Until 2004, SIN/Univision's children's programming was mainly derived of live-action and animated programming from Televisa and other content partners.
April 7, 2005: Selena ¡VIVE! Airs
On April 7, 2005, Univision aired Selena ¡VIVE!, a three-hour tribute concert in honor of Selena. The concert became the highest-rated program that night on all of network television and the most-watched Spanish-language program in American television history.
June 2005: Televisa Sues Univision
In June 2005, Grupo Televisa filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Univision, accusing the network of unauthorized editing of Televisa programming.
June 2005: Grupo Televisa Lawsuit
In June 2005, Grupo Televisa filed a lawsuit against Univision in a U.S. federal court, alleging "unauthorized editing" of Televisa programming.
August 24, 2005: Univision Acquires Rights to Latin Grammy Awards
On August 24, 2005, Univision acquired the rights to broadcast the Latin Grammy Awards, which aired on the network for the first time in Spanish on November 3 of that year, after CBS ended its relationship with the Latin Recording Academy.
2005: Agency investigation into children's programming
In 2005, An agency investigation was conducted following complaints by the United Church of Christ and the National Hispanic Media Coalition during license renewal proceedings for a Univision-owned television station.
2005: Univision Acquires WLII and WSUR
In 2005, Univision Communications outright purchased WLII in Caguas and WSUR in Ponce, Puerto Rico, after having an LMA with Raycom Media since 2001.
February 9, 2006: Univision Communications Put Up for Sale
On February 9, 2006, Univision Communications announced that it was putting itself up for sale. News Corporation, Grupo Televisa, Time Warner, CBS Corporation, Viacom, The Walt Disney Company, Bill Gates, and several private equity firms were expected to bid.
June 27, 2006: Acquisition of Univision Communications
On June 27, 2006, Univision Communications was acquired by Broadcasting Media Partners Inc., a consortium of investment firms, for $12.3 billion plus the assumption of $1.4 billion in debt.
September 2006: UPN and The WB Shut Down
In September 2006, UPN and The WB shut down and were replaced by The CW, which Univision also outranked in viewership.
2006: Educational Programming Violations
Between 2004 and early 2006 Univision was found in violation of Children's Television Act filings for 116 weeks for claiming the novelas as compliant educational programs.
2006: Eduardo Quezada Retires
In 2006, Eduardo Quezada retired after three years working as a news anchor for KVEA.
February 2007: FCC Fines Univision for Educational Programming Violations
In February 2007, the FCC fined Univision $24 million, the largest fine to that point, for circumventing guidelines requiring educational programming for children. The network claimed Televisa's "Cómplices Al Rescate" was compliant, despite adult themes, between 2004 and early 2006.
March 27, 2007: Univision Acquisition Consummated
On March 27, 2007, the sale of Univision Communications to Broadcasting Media Partners Inc. was formally consummated after receiving federal approval.
June 25, 2007: Univision Led U.S. Broadcast Networks
On June 25, 2007, with the finale of La Fea Más Bella, Univision led all U.S. broadcast networks with a 3.0 rating out of 9 share, placing as the second most-watched network television program that week.
2007: Reality Programming Focus with Nuestra Belleza Latina Debut
In 2007, Univision began focusing on reality programming for its Sunday primetime schedule with the debut of the beauty pageant competition series Nuestra Belleza Latina.
2007: Univision Sold for $13.7 Billion
In 2007, Univision was sold for $13.7 billion.
2007: Qubo Channel's Spanish Subtitles
In 2007, upon its launch, the now-defunct Qubo Channel included Spanish subtitles (CC3) for most of its programming, in addition to English subtitles.
2007: Primer Impacto Daily Broadcast Until 2007
Until 2007, Primer Impacto aired as a seven-day-a-week broadcast.
March 3, 2008: Launch of "Planeta U" Children's Programming Block
On March 3, 2008, Univision launched "Planeta U", a Saturday morning children's programming block featuring Spanish-dubbed versions of American shows like Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Pinky Dinky Doo, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, Inspector Gadget's Field Trip and Beakman's World.
May 2008: Univision Music Group Sold to Universal Music Group
In May 2008, Univision Music Group was sold to Universal Music Group and combined with the latter's Latin music label to become Universal Music Latin Entertainment.
October 2008: End of Telemundo's English Subtitles
In October 2008, Telemundo stopped carrying English subtitles during its weeknight prime time schedule.
2008: Noticiero Univision Ultima Hora Reverts Format
In 2008, the late-evening newscast Noticiero Univision Ultima Hora reverted to the format of its early evening edition.
2008: Reduced Presence of Sitcoms
Since 2008, Univision has seen a reduced presence of sitcoms on its schedule, acquiring rights to only two Televisa comedies since then.
March 2009: Return of Telemundo's English Subtitles
Since March 2009, Telemundo has carried English subtitles again during its weeknight prime time schedule.
September 2009: Shift from Variety Programs to Telenovelas
In September 2009, Univision began replacing its 10:00 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific Time) variety programming block with telenovelas.
2009: John Lippman Leaves Univision
In 2009, John Lippman ceased being Senior Vice President for News and Operations at Univision Television.
2009: Univision Sponsored Digital TV Transition Countdown
In 2009, Univision sponsored a countdown in Times Square to mark the shutdown of full-power analog television signals. On December 7 of that year, Univision announced it would launch Univision Studios.
2009: Launch of Univision Studios
Prior to 2009, Univision had also broadcast telenovelas and other programs produced by Venezuelan broadcaster Venevisión. Otherwise, Univision produces a moderate amount of original programming, including the reality competition series Nuestra Belleza Latina, La Banda and Mi Pongo Mi Pie.
January 1, 2010: High Definition Simulcast Feed Launch
On January 1, 2010, Univision launched its high definition simulcast feed at 12:02 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time on its East and West Coast flagship stations in New York City and Los Angeles, WXTV-DT and KMEX-DT. The Tournament of Roses Parade was the first Univision program to be televised in high definition.
January 18, 2010: Telenovela HD Debut
On January 18, 2010, Univision debuted its first telenovela to be broadcast in HD, Hasta que el Dinero nos Separe (Until Money Do Us Part). The telenovelas Un Gancho Al Corazón (A Hook to the Heart) and Sortilegio (Love Spell) also began airing in high definition on that date.
April 28, 2010: DirecTV Adds East Coast HD Feed
On April 28, 2010, DirecTV added the East Coast HD feed of Univision.
May 12, 2010: Dish Network Adds HD Feed
On May 12, 2010, Dish Network added the HD feed of Univision.
January 2011: Randy Falco becomes Executive Vice President and COO
In January 2011, Randy Falco was appointed as the Executive Vice President and COO of Univision.
April 2011: Joe Uva departs as President and CEO
In April 2011, Joe Uva resigned from his position as President and CEO of Univision.
September 2011: Univision Ranked #1 in Ratings
During the first week of September 2011, Univision earned its first #1 ranking in the ratings among all American broadcast television networks in the 18–49 age demographic.
October 2011: Televisa Acquires Ownership Stake in Univision
In October 2011, Televisa reached an agreement to acquire a 5% ownership stake in Univision and signed a long-term program licensing agreement with Univision through at least 2020.
2011: End of FIFA Women's World Cup Rights
In 2011, Univision ceased to have the Spanish language broadcast rights to the FIFA Women's World Cup.
2011: End of Teen Telenovelas on Saturday Afternoons
In 2011, Univision stopped airing telenovelas aimed at teen or pre-teen audiences on early Saturday afternoons.
January 30, 2012: Introduction of English Closed Captions
On January 30, 2012, Univision became the second Spanish-language network in the U.S. to offer English closed captions (CC3) to attract non-Spanish speakers, primarily during evening telenovelas.
March 1, 2012: Launch of Univision tlnovelas
On March 1, 2012, Univision launched Univision tlnovelas, a digital cable and satellite network that carries a mix of first-run and repeat broadcasts of telenovelas from Televisa's program library.
May 8, 2012: Univision and ABC News Announced Joint Venture
On May 8, 2012, Univision and ABC News announced that the two companies would jointly create an English-language digital cable and satellite news channel, later given the name Fusion in February 2013.
June 26, 2012: Latin Recording Academy extends Agreement with Univision
On June 26, 2012, the Latin Recording Academy extended its agreement with Univision to televise the Latin Grammys for six years.
July 4, 2012: Univision America Launch
On July 4, 2012, Univision Communications launched Univision America, a Spanish-language talk radio network, with affiliations with nine AM radio stations.
September 2012: Sabadazo Moved from TeleFutura to Univision
Univision had aired Sabadazo on Saturday afternoons since the show moved from sister network TeleFutura (now UniMás) in September 2012.
October 1, 2012: Creation of Fundación Teletón USA
On October 1, 2012, Univision and Fundación Teletón announced the creation of Fundación Teletón USA to benefit rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities, cancer, and autism in the United States.
October 17, 2012: Univision Unveiled Updated Corporate Logo
On October 17, 2012, Univision Communications unveiled an updated corporate logo. The new logo shares the multicolored quadrant design of the previous logo (which had been used since January 1990), but now resembles a three-dimensional heart to represent its new slogan, "El latido del corazón hispano de Estados Unidos".
October 29, 2012: Launch of UVideos Streaming Service
On October 29, 2012, Univision launched UVideos, a multi-platform streaming service with a user interface accessible to both Spanish and English speakers.
2012: Launch of Univision Deportes Network (UDN)
In 2012, Univision launched the Univision Deportes Network (UDN), a sports channel that served as an overflow channel for Univision's existing sports rights.
January 7, 2013: TeleFutura Rebrands as UniMás
On January 7, 2013, TeleFutura adopted its current name, UniMás. The network features programming aimed at young males between the ages of 18 and 35.
January 2013: Univision Adopted 164-hour Network Programming Schedule
In January 2013, Univision adopted a 164-hour network programming schedule.
February 2013: Fusion Name Given to Joint Venture
On May 8, 2012, Univision and ABC News announced that the two companies would jointly create an English-language digital cable and satellite news channel, later given the name Fusion in February 2013.
October 28, 2013: Fusion Launched
Fusion, the English-language digital cable and satellite news channel created jointly by Univision and ABC News, was launched on October 28, 2013.
2013: ¡Despierta América! Expands to Four Hours
In 2013, ¡Despierta América! expanded from three hours to four.
2013: Adoption of Updated Logo
On October 17, 2012, Univision Communications unveiled an updated corporate logo, which was adopted on-air by the Univision network during the broadcast of its New Year's Eve countdown program ¡Feliz 2013! ("Happy 2013!") on December 31.
2013: Editing of Telenovelas Due to Ratings
Since 2013, Univision has edited telenovelas in its prime time schedule if they do not garner sufficient ratings, sometimes condensing 1½ to 3 episodes into a one-hour timeslot.
January 28, 2014: Corus Entertainment Announces Relaunch
On January 28, 2014, Corus Entertainment announced it would relaunch TLN en Español as Univision Canada through a brand licensing agreement with Univision Communications.
May 5, 2014: Univision Canada Relaunch
On May 5, 2014, TLN en Español was relaunched as Univision Canada.
June 28, 2014: Debut of "Disney Junior en Univision" Sub-Block
On June 28, 2014, "Disney Junior en Univision" debuted within "Planeta U," featuring dubbed versions of Disney Junior series such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny. Handy Manny's dub incorporated basic instruction in English.
2014: Gala TV name
In 2014, Mexico-based Gala TV formerly went by the same name as the U.S. channel until 2014.
2014: Airing of Televisa Comedies
In 2014, Univision began airing two comedies produced by Televisa: Durmiendo con mi Jefe and Todo en Incluido.
2014: End of FIFA World Cup Rights
In 2014, Univision ceased to have the Spanish language broadcast rights to the FIFA World Cup.
January 2015: República Deportiva Late-Night Edition Premieres
In January 2015, a companion late-night edition of República Deportiva premiered.
March 2, 2015: Contacto Deportivo Moves to Univision
On March 2, 2015, Contacto Deportivo moved from Telefutura to the main Univision network.
May 2015: Univision Ended Airing Clásicos de Sábado Gigante
From September 2004 to May 2015, Univision aired Clásicos de Sábado Gigante, an early Sunday morning program consisting of condensed two-hour episodes of the series on an approximately one-year delay from their original broadcast.
August 2015: Debut of Sesame Amigos
In August 2015, the Univision network resumed its relationship with Sesame Workshop when it debuted the U.S.-based Spanish language spin-off Sesame Amigos.
September 2015: Sábado Gigante cancelled
In September 2015, Sábado Gigante, hosted by Don Francisco, was cancelled after airing on Univision for 29 years.
September 19, 2015: Final Episode of Sabado Gigante
The final episode of the variety show Sabado Gigante, hosted by Don Francisco, was broadcast live in the U.S., Mexico and in Chile on September 19, 2015.
October 2015: Univision America Affiliates Update
As of October 2015, Univision America has ten affiliates, all of which are owned by Univision Radio and is also distributed nationwide via iHeartRadio.
October 2015: HD Programming Expansion
As of October 2015, most of Univision's programming, including telenovelas, sports programs, news programs, and variety series, were broadcast in high definition.
October 17, 2015: Sabadazo Moved to Sabado Gigante's Former Time Slot
On October 17, 2015, Univision moved the Televisa-produced music and game show Sabadazo into part of Sabado Gigante's former time slot.
November 18, 2015: Launch of Univision NOW Streaming Service
On November 18, 2015, Univision launched Univision NOW, an over-the-top subscription video on demand streaming service featuring content from Univision and UniMás.
2015: Implementation of Further Content Edits
In 2015, Univision implemented further content edits, removing scenes involving physical violence, sexual content, or substance use involving minors, regardless of the plotline's integrity.
March 4, 2016: AT&T U-verse Drops Univision Channels
On March 4, 2016, AT&T U-verse dropped Univision, UniMás, Galavisión, Univision Deportes Network, and Univision tlnovelas due to a carriage dispute.
March 24, 2016: Univision Channels Return to AT&T U-verse
On March 24, 2016, all of Univision's channels and cable networks were returned to the U-verse lineup following resolution of the carriage dispute.
November 2016: Univision NOW Adds Exclusive Content
In November 2016, Univision NOW began adding exclusive content under the name Univision NOW Originals, including telenovelas like Sin rastro de ti, Corazón que miente, and Las amazonas.
January 27, 2017: Charter Spectrum Dispute Warning
On January 27, 2017, Charter Spectrum warned customers that Univision could be removed from Charter by January 31, 2017, due to a carriage dispute.
January 31, 2017: Charter Customers Lose Access to Univision Channels
On January 31, 2017, Charter customers lost access to all of Univision's channels, including UniMás, UDN, and Galavisión, due to a carriage dispute.
October 16, 2017: Verizon FiOS Pulls Univision Channels
On October 16, 2017, Verizon FiOS pulled Univision, UniMás, UDN, and Galavisión without warning, despite an agreement extension.
December 2017: María Elena Salinas Steps Down
In December 2017, María Elena Salinas stepped down from her position after 36 years of news service.
2017: Televisa and Venevision's program locked up.
In 2017, Univision locked up broad selection of programs from Televisa and Venevision until this year.
2017: Original Expiry date of Televisa Program Licensing Agreement with Univision
In October 2011, Televisa reached an agreement to acquire a 5% ownership stake in Univision and signed a long-term program licensing agreement with Univision that was set to expire in 2017, to give Univision rights to stream Televisa content via the internet and on mobile platforms and covers key rights to matches from Mexican soccer leagues.
March 2018: Randy Falco announces his retirement
In March 2018, Randy Falco announced his retirement as CEO of Univision, after serving in the role for seven years.
May 2018: Vincent L. Sadusky appointed as CEO
In May 2018, Vincent L. Sadusky succeeded Randy Falco as the CEO of Univision. Previously, Sadusky was the CEO of Media General Inc. and CFO and Treasurer of Telemundo Communications Inc.
June 2018: Univision's Reach and Affiliations
As of June 2018, Univision had 27 owned-and-operated stations and affiliation agreements with 37 additional stations, reaching 58.35% of U.S. households.
July 1, 2018: Dispute with Dish Network and Sling TV
On July 1, 2018, Univision entered into a dispute with Dish Network and Sling TV, resulting in subscribers losing access to Univision and UniMás channels, Galavision, Univision Deportes Network, ForoTV news channel and Univisíon tlnovelas channel.
October 1, 2018: Transition to 16:9 Presentation
On October 1, 2018, Univision and UniMás repositioned their on-screen graphics into a 16:9-orientation, marking a transition to fully broadcast in a 16:9 presentation.
April 1, 2019: Agreement Reached with Dish Network
On April 1, 2019, Univision Communications and Dish reached a new agreement, restoring the channels that had been removed from the lineup. This did not affect Sling TV subscribers.
July 20, 2019: Univision Deportes Network Rebrands as TUDN
On July 20, 2019, Univision Deportes Network officially rebranded as TUDN, a joint venture between Univision and Televisa signifying greater collaboration in studio programming and shared event rights.
February 2020: Searchlight Capital and ForgeLight acquire majority stake in Univision
In February 2020, Searchlight Capital Partners and ForgeLight acquired a 64% majority stake in Univision, with Televisa retaining a 36% minority stake.
February 2020: Searchlight Capital Partners and ForgeLight LLC Acquired Ownership Stake of Univision
In February 2020, Searchlight Capital Partners, LP and ForgeLight LLC acquired 64% ownership stake of Univision, with Televisa maintaining a 36% stake. Wade Davis was appointed as CEO.
December 2020: Wade Davis replaces Sadusky as CEO
In December 2020, Wade Davis, formerly the CFO of Viacom, replaced Vincent Sadusky as the CEO of Univision.
2020: Televisa Program Licensing Agreement with Univision
In October 2011, Televisa reached an agreement to acquire a 5% ownership stake in Univision and signed a long-term program licensing agreement with Univision through at least 2020.
April 2021: Televisa Increased Ownership Stake and Merged Assets with Univision
In April 2021, Televisa announced that their ownership stake in Univision would increase to 45% and would merge its media, content, and production assets with Univision, creating TelevisaUnivision as the new parent company.
November 2021: Univision Reacquired Local Stations
In November 2021, Univision reacquired local stations in Tampa, Florida, Orlando, Florida and Washington, D.C., from affiliate operator Entravision.
September 27, 2023: Univision Co-Hosted Republican Primary Debate
On September 27, 2023, Univision co-hosted the second Republican primary debate, alongside Fox Business and Rumble, from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, with its anchor, Ilia Calderón, serving as a moderator alongside Stuart Varney and Dana Perino.
November 7, 2023: TelevisaUnivision executives meet with Donald Trump
On November 7, 2023, TelevisaUnivision CEO Wade Davis, as well as TelevisaUnivision Mexico co-CEOs Bernardo Gómez Martínez and Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega, met with former President Donald Trump at his residence in Mar-a-Lago.
August 2024: Univision Welcomed New Affiliates
In August 2024, Univision welcomed two new affiliates, WHMB-TV in Indianapolis and WHME-TV in South Bend, both in Indiana.
December 2024: Jorge Ramos Steps Down
In December 2024, Jorge Ramos stepped down from his position after 40 years of news service.
2025: Televisa Program Licensing Agreement with Univision extended
In October 2011, Televisa reached an agreement to acquire a 5% ownership stake in Univision and signed a long-term program licensing agreement with Univision, with an option to extend it to 2025 or later.
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