Right now broadcasting companies have a real opportunity. In the last ten years, the United States Hispanic population has increased by 45% and their dollars are talking. One of the few networks targeting the Hispanic population is Univision.
Univision made a splash in the news as it became number 5 in the top broadcasting networks. This has many in the field panicking as they see a trend they have yet to tap into. Their CEO confided that their 14% organic growth (the big four networks only had 3%) was due in part to their shifting of money from English based shows to Spanish ones.
For me, America is about change and competition. We suffer when a system in place too long, or one company dominates for too long. From a social criticism perspective, I believe Univision's rise is a good thing. I once heard our country compared to a salad. The more you add to a salad the more flavor it is, the more enjoyable.
We construct our own social reality. So why wasn't I aware of such a growth in the numbers of Hispanics in America? Probably because they aren't adequately represented on the established networks, giving Univision a place at the table.
Basically, I believe companies do best when they are sleek, adaptive, and humble in strategy. When I say humble, I point back to Ford Company. Even when they saw the hybrid market booming, they felt the American people wanted bigger SUV's, even if their reality didn't match up with the publics.
I believe though that Ford and others are learning from their mistakes, which is good for both the company and the consumer.
