Univision exepcted to be fined $24 million
The FCC is expected to levy a record-breaking $24 million fine against Univision for violating children’s TV regulations, per a New York Times report over the weekend. Though the fine is still awaiting final approval by a majority of the FCC’s five commissioners, the Spanish-language broadcaster has reportedly signed on the dotted line agreeing to pay the fine as part of a consent decree in order to finalize the network’s $12.3 billion sale to Haim Saban’s investment group.
According to the kid’s TV rules, stations are required to air three-hours of kid-targeted educational programming each week. That said, complaints against Univision allege that between 2004 and the beginning of 2006, Univision and 24 of its stations labeled some of its programming as educational, but those shows included some adult-targeted telenovelas, such as Complices al Rescate with the adventures of 11-year-old identical twin girls.