MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Univision Communications Inc. (UCI), the leading media company serving Hispanic America, today announced that it has acquired The Root, the leading online news, opinion and culture destination for African-Americans. In joining UCI, The Root will leverage UCI's extensive digital production facilities and publishing infrastructure, while its editorial team will retain its voice and stay true to its mission, which has made it successful throughout its history.
“This bold new partnership between Univision and The Root underscores the ties that have long bound people of color together throughout the Western Hemisphere and is a sign of even greater levels of communication, collaboration and exchange between these culturally vital groups of people,” said Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University and chairman of The Root, who co-founded The Root along with Donald Graham, CEO and chairman of Graham Holdings Company, in January of 2008.
The Root reaches an average of 5 million unique users per month, according to ComScore. As the leading online source of news and commentary from an African-American perspective, The Root raises the profile of black voices in mainstream media and engages anyone interested in black culture around the world.
“Like Univision, The Root aims to serve a significant segment of America’s diverse population. Our diverse communities are continuing to define the fabric of the country, from buying power, to social influence, to elections,” said Isaac Lee, president of News and Digital for UCI and CEO of Fusion. “This game-changing union strengthens our ability to fulfill our shared missions of informing and empowering our communities.”
Donna Byrd, VP, Digital and Publisher of The Root, is joining the leadership team of Univision Digital, which recently added seasoned executives Mark Lopez (EVP, General Manager) and Joe Simon (Chief Technology Officer, Digital) in the past two months. Lyne Pitts will continue in her role as the managing editor of The Root.
“We are excited about our new relationship with Univision. The combination of our two companies strengthens our collective ability to engage the changing American population,” said Byrd. “In addition, it will provide The Root access to greater resources, as well as an opportunity to expand our reach and scale our business.”
“With The Root, we will serve a diverse, dynamic, young and influential audience with unique, innovative content across platforms while providing a voice to two of the most influential segments of the population,” said Lopez.
The partnership comes at a time when African-Americans amount to 12.3% of the population, and Hispanics and Latino Americans amount to 17.7% of the total population. The current Census also estimates that minorities will fuel all population growth among Adults 18-49 from 2015 through 2025. Moreover, African-American and Hispanic purchasing power combined is more than $2.3 trillion and together Hispanics and African-Americans make up 22% of the electorate.
Visit The Root at TheRoot.com, follow @TheRoot247 on Twitter and Instagram, and on Facebook/TheRoot.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey November Supplement 2012 Voting Registration Files. The Seling Center for Economic Growth, The Multicultural Economy 2013. U.S. Census Bureau 2014 National Projections based on 2015 and 2025 population estimates.
About The Root
The Root is the #1 news, opinion and analysis website for African-American influencers. The Root provides coverage of breaking news, thought-provoking commentary and gives voice to a changing, more diverse America. Lyne Pitts is Managing Editor. The Root is a subsidiary of The Slate Group which is owned by The Graham Holdings Company. Visit us at TheRoot.com, on Twitter @TheRoot247 and on Facebook.
About Univision News
Univision’s award-winning News division is committed to informing the country’s fastest growing segment across all media platforms, including TV, Radio, and Interactive. Hispanics count on the latest and most relevant content that impacts the community through: “Noticiero Univision,” the Network’s evening, late evening and weekend national newscast; Sunday public affairs program “Al Punto” (To The Point); newsmagazine shows “Aquí y Ahora” (Here and Now) and “Primer Impacto” (First Impact); as well as morning news segments on “Despierta América” (Wake Up America). Univision has strengthened its news team and expanded its news operations by adding Investigative and Documentary Units.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. The Company, a leading content creator in the U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country available in approximately 93% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network available in approximately 87% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language cable network, as well as UDN (Univision Deportes Network), the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language sports network, Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to telenovelas, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to international news, and an additional suite of cable offerings - De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit; Univision Television Group, which owns 61 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; digital properties consisting of online and mobile websites and apps, including Univision.com, the most visited Spanish-language website among U.S. Hispanics, UVideos, a bilingual digital video network and Uforia, a music application featuring multimedia music content; and Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group in the U.S. which owns and operates 67 radio stations including stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico. UCI’s assets also include a minority stake in El Rey Network, a 24-hour English-language general entertainment cable network and a joint venture with Disney/ABC Television Network for Fusion, a 24-hour English-language news and lifestyle TV and digital network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit Univision.net.
