Univision Proposes Spanish-Language Presidential Forums

Univision wants the presidential candidates to speak to its TV, radio and online audience in Spanish -- simultaneous translation -- on issues affecting the Hispanic community.

Univision contacted the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates about participating in 90-minute TV forums in September on issues like health care and immigration.

The network pointed out that Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the electroate -- one that it said will play a "pivotal" role in the upcoming election.

All of the questions will be in Spanish, with simultaneous translations into English for the candidates -- though not viewers -- then the candidates' answers will be translated back into Spanish.

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.