Democrats Fight Hispanic Media Merger (Daschle:GOP ownership may lead to "less diverse programming")

The Washington Post ^ | 5/25/03 | Juliet Eilperin

[DPB101]

Concerned about Republican inroads into the Hispanic community, congressional Democrats are trying to fend off a proposed merger between Univision Communications Inc. and the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation.

More than 20 Democratic senators and representatives -- including Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) -- have urged Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell to block the planned corporate marriage between the two entities, which would create the nation's largest Spanish-language radio and TV company . . .

[Munson]

It is also noted that the owner of Univison is a staunch Republican.

[Mister Baredog]

More than 20 Democratic senators and representatives -- including Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) -- have urged Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell to block the planned corporate marriage between the two entities, which would create the nation's largest Spanish-language radio and TV company .

There's those DEMONCRATS taking care of their Hispanics as long as they stay on the Plantation and don't get too uppity. LOL!

[rvoitier]

"During the recent coverage of the judicial nomination fight over Miguel Estrada, they say, Univision barely covered Democratic opposition, instead painting Estrada in the most positive light."

I guess you have to perform ethical backflips and great integrity gymnastics to construe the ABA's highest rating as a positive thing.

---

"Perenchio has been allied with some Republicans since he gave $400,000 to then-Gov. Pete Wilson of California in the early 1990s."

I'm no lawyer and don't play one on tv (hell, I didn't even stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night), but either Mr. P. gave this money to the GOP (soft), wrote 200-$2,000.00 checks (illegal) or the writer has gone to the Maureen Dowd/Jayson Blair School of Journalism.

[rvoitier]

Maybe, but the veracity of the statement looks questionable.

[DPB101]

No wonder RATS are squealing, squirming, snarling and gnawing at A.J.'s ankles. Perenchio's donations to Democrats:

6/13/2000 $1,000.00
FEINSTEIN 2000

6/14/1999 $1,000.00
BILL BRADLEY FOR PRESIDENT INC

11/23/1999 $1,000.00
FRIENDS OF JOHN CONYERS

9/5/2002 $1,000.00
COMMITTEE TO ELECT LINDA SANCHEZ

5/23/2001 $1,000.00
FRIENDS OF MAX CLELAND FOR THE US SENATE INC

11/10/1999 $1,000.00
KENNEDY FOR SENATE 2000

3/18/1999 $1,000.00
GORE 2000 INC

Perenchio's donations to Republicans:

2/12/2002 $100,000.00
NRSC - NONFEDERAL

5/15/2000 $6,500.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

2/15/2001 $25,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

3/15/2000 $100,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

3/15/2000 $150,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

9/21/2000 $100,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

4/7/1999 $25,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

5/11/1999 $25,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

2/3/2000 $100,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

3/6/2002 $100,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

4/2/2002 $250,000.00
RNC REPUBLICAN NATIONAL STATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

Source: Political Money Line/Donor Name Look-up

However, Common Cause reports :

. . ."according to the Los Angeles Times, at least one donor, Univision Holdings Inc. President & CEO, A.J. Perenchio, does not appear on the list despite giving at least $1 million to the host committee (for the 2000 Democratic Party National Convention), according to the Times."

Probably just another example of the impartiality, accuracy and attention to fact checking for which the LA Times has developed the reputation it has.

[Political Junkie Too]

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), said Democrats are already worried about the coverage they receive on Univision, and that the proposed merger would further marginalize them politically. The merger, Sanchez said, would create "a major giant in the Hispanic community that doesn't really give a balanced perspective or the full range of discourse on issues."

"If the Univision merger is approved, there may be less diverse programming, news sources, and viewpoints available to Spanish-speaking audiences," Daschle wrote. "This could significantly impact public debate and lead to less local and community-oriented programming." Several weeks earlier, eight members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrote a similar letter, saying they were "concerned about the impact of consolidation on our constituents and the fact that Hispanic ownership and management of U.S. media has virtually vanished in recent years."

Funny, I seem to recall that the AOL-TimeWarner merger was supposed to broaden the diversity of content and access. I guess that only applies to white-owned Democrat-leaning media outlets.

-PJ

[DPB101]

Ingrateful RAT! Didn't list all the money Jerry Perenchio gave Sanchez but it comes to almost ten grand.

Of course he was writing out $100,000 checks to the GOP at the same time.

[Kuksool]

Where are the RATS showing their concern for political diversity in African-American media? A black radio station in my area is hardly fair and balanced. I hear talk radio hosts on that station refer to Bush as the selected president. Overall, the radio hosts parrot democRATic talking points.

[DPB101]

Black jazz radio station in my area was one big Algore ad for months leading up to the 2000 election. Every 15 minutes around the clock, there was a "Bush wants to drag blacks behind pickup trucks" spot.

Perenchio has a RAT side to him. In 1998, he spent a million and a half opposing Proposition 227--an initiative to replace bilingual education with English immersion. Univision has been losing its younger viewers as they learn English. According to those who drafted Prop 227, a 1% drop in ratings means Perenchio loses hundreds of millions.