The Tail Wags the Dog: Mexicos Televisa Law Another Nail in the Coffin of Foxs Legacy
Reforms to Mexicos media laws will likely concentrate power (and additional billions) in the hands of the already dominant Televisa juggernaut
Despite wellfounded concerns over the potential effects that the changes could have on Mexican democracy, the Mexican Congress pushed the modifications through, and Fox signed off on the measure
The reckless manner in which the reforms were approved reveals that lingering apprehensions over the quality of Mexicos political institutions, even nearly six years after the end of the authoritarian system, are grounded in reality
On April 11, Mexican democracy experienced yet another setback when President Vicente Fox officially signed off on controversial reforms to the countrys Federal Radio and Television law. The changes, which have been derisively referred to as the Televisa Law because their chief beneficiaries will be the countrys already allpowerful media corporations like Televisa (which is a major shareholder in Univision), sped through the legislative process at an alarming rate before being approved by the Senate on March 30. The ratification came despite numerous objections from civic and human rights groups, and occurred with such rapidity that many questioned the lawmakers motivations and influences. In a country where the mass media currently wields tremendous political power, the possibility that an even greater degree of influence will be concentrated in Televisa, and the slightly smaller TV Azteca, can only be considered alarming, and potentially could seriously hamper its process of democratic consolidation.
More: politicalaffairs.net
Mexico's Televisa, Univision legal fight heats up
A legal dispute between Televisa and its U.S. partner, Univision, has escalated, with the Mexican broadcaster filing two more claims in a fight over royalties,
Televisa (TV.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (TLEVISACPO.MX: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it amended an existing suit against Univision to include new claims that the U.S. company aired sports programs from Televisa outside an existing programming deal and has refused to air Televisa advertising.
In May, Televisa filed suit against Univision Communications Inc. (UVN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California over royalties, and its
Mexico's Televisa replaces $600 mln in debt
Mexico's No. 1 broadcaster Televisa said on Wednesday it had successfully replaced $600 million in existing debt with identical new paper in a technical operation to comply with U.S. market regulations.
Televisa (TLVSCPO.MX: Quote, Profile, Research) (TV.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said its month-long offer to exchange debt with a coupon of 6.625 percent and maturing in 2025 for identical new paper closed on Tuesday.
"The total amount of old debt was exchanged for new bonds, corresponding to $600 million in new bonds issued today, September 7, 2005," Televisa said.
The operation was a purely technical one
UPDATE 3-Mexico's Televisa bids for Spanish TV license
Grupo Televisa, the world's top producer of Spanish-language programming, is bidding for a license to operate broadcast television in Spain, expanding its reach to tap a 2.7 billion euro ($2.24 billion) advertising market.
Televisa (TV.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (TLEVISACPO.MX: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it teamed with a group of investors for a concession granted by the Spanish government that would give them access to one analog and two digital channels with national coverage.
"Televisa will have a stake of 40 percent in the consortium, while a group of Spanish investors led by Grupo
UPDATE 3-Political ads boost Q2 profit at Mexico's Televisa
MEXICO CITY, July 14 (Reuters) - Mexican broadcaster Televisa's second-quarter net profit rose 165 percent, driven by rising political advertising and better results at its satellite business, the company said on Thursday.
It also increased its broadcast television sales outlook for the rest of the year.
Televisa (TV.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(TLEVISACPO.MX: Quote, Profile, Research) earned 1.277 billion pesos ($118.5 million) in the quarter to end-June compared with 482 million pesos a year earlier, when it had a one-time charge from losses at its Sky satellite unit.
More: today.reuters.com
Duane Dog Chapman Says Feds Sold Him Out to Mexico in Exchange for Drug Lord
Bounty hunter Duane Dog Chapman says U.S. officials may have sold him out to Mexico in exchange for a convicted drug lord.
Chapman, the star of A&Es Dog the Bounty Hunter, was arrested last week by U.S. marshals during an early morning raid on his Hawaii home on charges related to his 2003 capture of fugitive rapist Andrew Luster.
Mexico - where bounty hunting is illegal - claims Chapman jumped bail after being charged with illegally detaining Luster in June 2003.
But Dog and his family have suggested that
Mexicos Congress Legalizes Drugs for Personal Use
Mexicos Congress approved a bill Friday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin for personal use — a measure sure to raise questions in Washington about Mexicos commitment to the war on drugs.
The only remaining step was the signature of President Vicente Fox, whose office indicated he would sign it.
Supporters said the law would let police focus on drug smuggling, rather than on busting casual users. The bill also would stiffen many drug-related penalties: for trafficking, for possession near schools, and for possession of even small quantities by government
Mexico`s Televisa is branching out
Mexico`s Televisa studio is branching out in 2006 with its first ever cartoon, it was reported Tuesday.
The network will roll out an animated version of its successful 1970s children`s comedy 'El Chavo del ocho' during the National Association of Television Program Executives meeting in Las Vegas later this month, Daily Variety reported Tuesday.
The Mexico cartoon studio, Anima, is creating 26 half-hour episodes with the first season expected to be ready by late 2006, Variety said.
The original 'Chavo' is in syndication in every Spanish speaking country in Latin America as well as Spain, Brazil and the United
Mourning, gratitude in Mexico
As a mother and her children are laid to rest, family members brace themselves for the ordeal ahead
On an overcast day in a Mexican cemetery more than 2,000 miles from northeast Indiana, one chapter of a family’s anguish came to a peaceful end with the funeral of Ana Lilia Casas-Rios, 28, and her three children.
All were killed Dec. 13 in Fort Wayne.
Two hearses, one carrying a white coffin holding Ana and her baby, Thannya Carolina, another with the casket containing Liliana Karen and Catherine Guadalupe, snaked through the cemetery, the snowcapped Nevado de Toluca volcano in
Chavez slams Mexico's Fox over trade
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticized his Mexican counterpart as being the United States' "puppy dog," El Universal newspaper reported Thursday.
Chavez's comment was in reference to Mexican President Vicente Fox's support for the resumption of talks on the proposed hemispheric free trade bloc at last week's Summit of the Americas in Argentina.
At the meeting of 34 nations, President Bush pushed for talks on the Free Trade Area of the Americas to resume after months of stalling and complaints from several leaders who allege the proposal unfairly favors U.S. economic interests.
Fox was among the
Televisa, Grupo Mexico, Petrobras: Latin America Equity Preview
The following stocks may make significant gains or losses in Latin America today. Symbols are in parentheses after the company name and stock prices are from the last session.
Grupo Televisa SA (TLEVICPO MM): The world's largest producer of Spanish-language television programming said yesterday it hasn't made an agreement with a third party to buy Univision Communications Inc., contrary to media reports. The shares rose 96 centavos, or 2.3 percent, to 42.27 pesos.
Grupo Mexico SA (GMEXICOB MM): Copper rose for a third consecutive session in London yesterday after global inventories of
