ABC News and Univision are moving forward with plans to jointly launch a 24-hour news channel, a venture which reportedly does not sit well with ABC’s affiliates. Broadcasting & Cable has details:
“Based on preliminary information, the ABC Affiliates Association’s Board of Governors is concerned about ABC News’ proposed news partnership with Univision,” said Bill Hoffman, ABC affiliates board chairman, in a statement. “The network has broadly discussed this new venture with the board. We hope to receive more information from ABC and an understanding and clarification of the implications of the use of local affiliate news content that is contributed by affiliates to the NewsOne co-op. Our goal is to promote and enhance the news product, the competitive performance, and brand of each affiliate’s local newscasts, and our focus, in consultation with the affiliate membership, will be on the effect ABC News’ partnership with Univision will have on that goal.”
An ABC News spokesperson tells B&C that there will be an “ongoing dialogue” with the stations as plans continue to move forward. “We greatly value our relationship with all our affiliates,” the spokesperson said. “As they learn more about this, I think that whatever concerns they have will be diminished.”