Fronteras

Univision had its share of ups and downs this week. For the fourth consecutive week the nation’s largest Spanish language television network has been the most popular TV network, beating out English language networks ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC among adults 18-49. Those are the viewers that advertisers lust after. This is the first time a Spanish-language network has led TV ratings for those demographics for an entire month.

It’s worth mentioning 51.9 million Latinos lived in the U.S. in 2011, an increase of 48 percent since 2000, according to Pew Research Hispanic Center.

The Spanish language network is known for its novelas (soap operas),  which led the network to the top position during prime time. “Porque El Amor Manda” ("Because Love Rules") had 4 million soap opera fans riveted by the nail biting finale. “Amores Verdaderos” ("True Love") and “Que Bonito Amor” ("Beautiful Love") are also very popular. My heart breaks for José Ángel.

It also helped that Univision had more than 2.2 million soccer fans watching Honduras beat Costa Rica in the Copa Oro semifinal on Sunday.

While Univision Communications executives no doubt celebrated their TV victory, they delivered bad news to their radio fans. The media company pulled the nationally syndicated “Piolín Por La Mañana.” The show’s irreverent host Eddie “Piolín” Sotelo had trouble competing with other Spanish radio programs. Apparently Piolín (tweety bird) couldn’t stand up to El Mandril (the baboon) or El Cucry (the boogeyman).

Univision TV ratings may leap again when the network along with ABC launch the bilingual channel called Fusion later this summer. (Fronteras Desk is a partner of Fusion.) A recent report shows more Latinos watch, listen and read the news in English.