MIAMI - After weeks of rumors, Univision laid off around 200 employees in several departments, including production, sports, digital, and communications, among others, including on-air personalities.
This move by Univision, a dominant force in the Hispanic media market and the leading Spanish-speaking TV network in the United States, was preceded by a similar decision by Telemundo in December and marks a significant shift in the media entertainment landscape.
"The evolution of the media landscape has required us to implement efficiencies and cost-cutting measures to meet existing demands and, in turn, strengthen our business for the future," said TelevisaUnivision in a statement sent to the Latin Times. "As a result, TelevisaUnivision has made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of positions in the U.S. across various business units. We deeply value the employees affected and their contributions, and we will assist and support them during this transition."
Univision's recent controversy
Univision's decision comes in the wake of a major scandal involving an interview with former President Donald Trump that was perceived as soft by many. The interview, conducted by Enrique Acevedo, was criticized for its gentle questioning and limited follow-ups.
According to a report from The Washington Post, the interview was witnessed by Trump's son in law Jared Kushner, and several Televisa executives. Leading Mexican anchor León Krauze quitted shortly after in what some analysts saw as protest.
@limousine2830 Univision Anchor León Krauze has left the Spanish-language network after a recent “softball” interview with former President Donald Trump received harsh criticism, both within the network and from viewers. The Nov. 10 interview was “not conducted by a Univision journalist, but by Enrique Acevedo, an anchor from Mexican network Televisa,” The Los Angeles Times reported. The hour-long interview reportedly raised concern among Univision journalists after the former president “went on at length with incorrect statements that received little pushback.” The journalists reportedly felt like the company was “no longer challenging Republican politicians” as it should. As Mediaite reported: In one exchange, Acevedo brought up the fraud trial as a way to ask Trump about his 91 felony counts, and whether he’s ” concerned that you might win the Republican nomination only to be forced to drop out of the race?”Trump quickly denied he’d drop out, then repeated some familiar points — including the baseless claim that President Joe Biden has been directing those prosecutions — in a lengthy response riddled with falsehoods. Trump has a reputation for not being a fan of Univision. During the 2016 campaign, he had anchor Jorge Ramos physically removed from a news conference after the journalist aggressively questioned him about his immigration policy.But that changed following Univision’s 2021 merger with the Mexico-based Grupo Televisa’s media, content and production assets. The Washington Post recently reported that executives now running the company have a comfortable relationship with Trump.
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The interview and its fallout raised concerns among critics, who perceive that Univision is veering to the right, especially after its merger with Televisa in a $4.8 billion deal. The merger brought together two major players in the Spanish-language media, with Televisa known for its influential role in Mexican politics.
The mood in Univision was somber
The layoffs at TelevisaUnivision have significantly impacted its Sports division, affecting personnel across various locations including Miami, the national U.S. offices, and Mexico City. Among those who have been let go in Mexico are notable figures such as the former referee Marco Antonio 'Chiquimarco' Rodríguez, Félix Fernández, Xavi Sol, Alonso Cabral, and Anselmo Alonso. In addition to these sports personalities, Sirey Morán, a former winner of 'Nuestra Belleza Latina', was also among those dismissed from the company. These layoffs reflect the ongoing restructuring and challenges faced by media companies in adapting to the changing landscape of broadcast and digital media.
An Univision employee described the distressing scene at the company, telling the Latin Times: "Everywhere you looked this morning, there was somebody crying. The atmosphere is terrible. There is a rumor that there will be more layoffs tomorrow. It's so disturbing. Nobody feels safe."
A broader trend
The layoffs at Univision are part of a broader trend within the media industry, which saw significant number of job cuts in 2023, with over 20,000 layoffs reported. This represents the highest number of layoffs since 2020, affecting various sectors including magazines, public radio, trade publications, and cable networks. Major news organizations like CNN, Gannett, The Washington Post, NBCUniversal, and ABC News also faced significant layoffs.
Telemundo, another key player in the Spanish-language media and part of NBCUniversal, has also been affected by similar challenges. In December, the network carried company-wide cuts across all departments, resulting in the loss of jobs for 60 to 70 people, including high-profile executives and on-air talent.
The recent layoffs in the Latino media and entertainment industry, particularly in Miami, have had a profound and devastating impact. Last week, Telemundo announced a significant strategic shift by pausing all plans to produce fiction products, including telenovelas and superseries. The network will only produce original realties, such as "La Casa de los Famosos."
Meanwhile, TelevisaUnivision is concentrating its production efforts in Mexico for both realities and telenovelas. This move represents a significant realignment of their content strategy. However, they have made an exception for their non-fiction shows such as "Despierta América," "El Gordo y La Flaca," and "Primer Impacto," as well as their news programming, which will continue production, as required by the FCC for a broadcast TV network.
These changes at Telemundo and TelevisaUnivision illustrate the broader trends affecting the media industry, particularly within the Latino market. This realignment could have long-term implications for the type of content that will be available to Latino audiences and how it's produced and distributed. It also reflects the broader challenges faced by media companies in adapting to new consumer preferences and technological changes in the industry.
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