Monday, February 26, 2007

FCC slaps Univision with massive fine

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) levied a record $24 million fine against Spanish-language network Univision for trying to pass off “telenovelas” as educational children’s programming. Though the penalty imposed by the FCC is almost triple the previous record, the fine against Univision allows it to continue its $12 billion sale to a group of private investors including ex-FCC chairman Michael Powell.

One of the programs Univision deemed as “educational” for children was from Mexican television giant Televisa called “Complices al Rescate” (“Friends to the Rescue”). Televisa’s website on Complices…” called it a “great telenovela for kids with music…adventures, and a positive message of friendship and family unity.” (Perhaps Univision’s programmers should have read that first).

Was it right for “Complices…” to pass itself off as educational children’s programming? Does the FCC fine make sense? Judge for yourself via the following YouTube clip of “Complices…”:


Links- USA TODAY, CBS News, CNNMoney.com, esmas.com, Wikipedia, YouTube

Image- CBS News

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