Federal Communications Commission FCC 07-24 STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN Re: In the Matter of Shareholders of Univision Communications, Inc. (Transferor) and Broadcasting Media Partners, Inc. (Transferee) For Transfer of Control of Univision Communications, Inc., and Certain Subsidiaries, Licensees of KUVE-TV, Green Valley, Arizona et al., BTCCT-20060718AGO et al., NAL/Acct. No. 0741420022, FRN No. 0005794177 Today the Commission takes an important step in ensuring that broadcasters comply with their public interest obligations. This Order approves the transfer of Univision Communications Inc. (Univision) and resolves concerns about Univision’s compliance with its obligation to serve the educational and informational needs of children. Despite the enormous availability of video entertainment offered on cable, on satellite, and increasingly on the Internet, broadcast television still plays a unique role in our lives. It uses the public airways to deliver programming to every American home with a TV and is rooted in our local communities. Broadcasters also enjoy special privileges such as carriage on cable systems. In exchange for their use of the airwaves and these other rights, broadcasters are responsible for serving the public, including the children in their audience. Both Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have taken steps to ensure broadcasters are mindful of the unique needs and vulnerabilities of children. Indeed one of their greatest responsibilities is to show programming that serves to educate and inform children. Today’s action reminds all broadcasters of this responsibility and obligation. The Commission has said that broadcasters may fulfill this public interest obligation by airing three hours of programming each week that is primarily aimed at teaching children. During the review of the proposed transaction, it came to the Commission’s attention that the programs Univision had aired to meet this requirement on twenty-four of its stations for more than two years were telenovelas similar to teen soap operas and not educational in nature. To address the Commission’s concerns about whether it had fulfilled its children’s programming obligation, Univision has agreed make a contribution of $24 million to the U.S. Treasury. Univision has also committed to a compliance plan designed to ensure that the needs of the children and families in their audience are better served in the future. The contribution is significant and appropriate. It reflects the seriousness with which the Commission takes its public interest obligations. These requirements are not optional and we expect broadcasters to comply with them. With these commitments by Univision, I believe this transaction is in the public interest.