2007-08-30 17:39:55
Next Month Univision television Al Punto (To the Point) the new Sunday
morning "newsmaker discussion program" hosted by our friend Jorge Ramos
the prolific author and
anchor of the network evening news program "Noticiero Univision." (I
know an intelligent, well-spoken and respected expert who'd be terrific
for a regular panel of discussants!)
Univision is hosting a bash
to launch the program which is likely to attract presidential
candidates and leading figures in Washington.
The promotional website has a nice promo video which I presumed was utilized during this year's up-front presentation in New York.
Univision
is scheduled to host a historic presidential forum series. The first is
with the Democratic candidates on Sunday, September 9th in Miami. The
Democratic candidates participating in the forum, in alphabetical order
are: Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd,
Senator John Edwards, Senator Mike Gravel, Congressman Dennis Kucinich,
Senator Barack Obama and Governor Bill Richardson.
The
Republican forum will be held Sunday, September 16. John McCain has
said he will particiate, though Univision has not announced the
participants yet.
Here's my analysis:
These events are
historic for Univision and for the nation. They are, more than anything
else, an opportunity for the Spanish-language juggernaut to flex it
corporate muscles, draw more attention to its value as a political advertising destination,
and of course provide the candidates with the best free connection to
the nation's Hispanic voters...well at least the segment that watches
Spanish-language television. There will also be a flood of mainstream
media attention that will likely help the candidates' messages reach
the English-dominant Hispanic voters who may be more likely to tune
into English media.