Univision Undecided on Latin Emmys

Univision Communications Inc. executives said they still haven't decided whether or not to support a Latin Emmy Awards for Spanish-language programming.

The programmer has yet to be contacted by those involved in putting such an effort together for next fall, Univision Entertainment president Mario Rodriguez told Multichannel News Day.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which runs most of the Emmy events, has approved the concept, while the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, organizers of the primetime Emmy Awards, isn't aboard yet.

NBC's Telemundo Communications Group Inc. unit, Univision's chief rival, has expressed interest in carrying such an event on a rotating basis with Univision and perhaps other Latino-focused services.

"It's premature to say what we'll decide," Rodriguez said. "There's some issues to be resolved about this event, the principal one being whether U.S.-produced programming in Spanish should be segregated from national Emmy presentations."