FCC Investigation Concludes with Univision Settling $300,000 Over Children's Programming Breaches
Univision Settles FCC Violations, Agrees to Compliance Plan and Financial Penalty
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has entered into a Consent Decree with Univision following investigations into violations of children’s programming advertising limits and impermissible display of URLs during programming.
According to the Consent Decree, Univision admitted that several of its stations aired children's shows with commercial matter exceeding the 12-minute per hour limit. Specifically, 41 stations aired Pokémon programs with commercials that exceeded the limit by 3 minutes and 45 seconds, while 36 stations aired Pocoyo programs with advertisements that exceeded the limit by 40 seconds. Furthermore, these Pocoyo broadcasts also displayed a URL on screen promoting a website where show-related products could be purchased, which is prohibited by FCC rules for children’s programming commercials.
As part of the settlement, Univision agreed to pay a $300,000 voluntary contribution to the U.S. Treasury. The company must also implement a compliance plan to ensure future adherence with FCC rules on children's programming advertising limits and content.
The FCC renewed licenses for 41 Univision TV stations as part of the settlement. Previously, the FCC had suspended processing the Renewal Applications of these stations due to the violations.
The violations pertained to the Kids' Television Programming Commercial Limits under the Children’s Television Act, which restricts the amount and nature of advertising during programs targeted to children to prevent over-commercialization and unfair marketing practices.
In some cases, Univision also did not comply with the URL Rule during the previous license term. The FCC is also investigating violations of rules that restrict the display of website addresses during children's programming.
The full Order and Consent Decree is available for review. The TV Tech Newsletter, the professional video industry's #1 source for news, trends, and product and tech information, reported on this development. The violations occurred between May 29, 2020, and March 31, 2023. Univision has agreed to implement and maintain a Compliance Plan to ensure future adherence to the Commercial Limits Rule and the URL Rule.
- The FCC fined Univision a voluntary contribution of $300,000 due to their violation of children’s programming advertising limits and impermissible display of URLs during programming.
- Univision admitted to airing Pokémon programs with commercials that exceeded the 12-minute per hour limit by 3 minutes and 45 seconds on 41 stations, and Pocoyo programs with advertisements that exceeded the limit by 40 seconds on 36 stations.
- The broadcaster also displayed a URL promoting a website where show-related products could be purchased during Pocoyo broadcasts, which is prohibited by FCC rules for children’s programming commercials.
- As part of the settlement, Univision must implement a compliance plan to ensure future adherence with FCC rules on children's programming advertising limits and content.
- The renewal of licenses for 41 Univision TV stations was part of the settlement, being previously suspended by the FCC due to the violations.
