TV & VIDEO - June 16, 1987

Gift and greeting card conglomerate Hallmark Cards Inc. is moving closer to acquiring 11 Spanish-language television stations in the United States, including KMEX-TV Channel 34 in Los Angeles, which serve an estimated 50% of the nation’s Spanish-speaking population. The Federal Communications Commission gave the Kansas City, Mo.-based corporation the green light last week to complete the acquisition. However, under FCC regulations, interested parties have 30 days to file an appeal of the decision. Several outside parties have previously protested the sale, charging Hallmark has no experience in the field or with the Spanish-speaking community. Hallmark, which has formed an advisory committee of 10 members, all but one of whom are Latino, would be required under terms of the transaction to maintain the same format on the stations for two years.