Univision Remains on U-Verse Over Weekend

Univision and AT&T have agreed to keep the Univision stations and network on U-Verse over the weekend, but apparently aren't taking the time off from efforts to strike a new carriage deal.

Univision Communications Inc. and AT&T agreed today to extend the access of the Univision network and stations until 5 p.m. ET on Monday, March 21, 2016," they said in a joint statement late Saturday after a series of 24-hour extensions.   "The two companies will continue to work to reach agreement on a new contract."

Univision stations and networks went off U-Verse March 4 amid acrimonius accusations on both sides, but the rhetoric cooled, the stations and Univision network went back on for the Univision-hosted Democratic debate and have remained on through a series of extensions of various lengths..

Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) last week urged a resolution ASAP for the sake of the Latino community, saying it "has an unprecedented opportunity this year to be a strong and decisive voice in our nation’s future."

While AT&T asked that the access be extended to Univision's other networks--UniMás, Galavisión, and Univision Deportes--that has not been the case.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.