Leveling the field. (Media).Azteca America has turned to the Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. for help in its fight to gain a foothold in the growing Spanish-language television market dominated by L.A.-based Univision Communications Inc. Mexico's Azteca International Corp., parent of the Azteca network, is seeking a waiver of the FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. regulation that prohibits networks from representing affiliate stations in the "spot sales" advertising market. Azteca's petition points to the fact that Univision and rival Telemundo Group Inc., which was recently purchased by General Electric Co.'s NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. network, have been granted such waivers. "This waiver is necessary in order to ensure a level playing field See net neutrality. in the U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television market," Azteca said in its petition. Azteca America was launched last year by TV Azteca TV Azteca is the second largest Mexican television network. It was established in 1968 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión ("Imevisión"), and was privatized under its current name in 1993. Its flagship program is the newscast Hechos. SA de CV and Visalia-based Pappas Telecasting Cos. with just one station, L.A.'s KAZA-TV (Channel 54). The network has since gained a few affiliates, including KTNC-TV (Channel 42) in Northern California. Staff reporter Claudia Peschiutta can be reached at (323) 549-5225 ext. 229, or at cpeschiutta@labusinessjournal.com. |
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