Long-Anticipated Trial Between Spanish-Speaking Media Giants Finally Begins

The long delayed trial between Mexican Grupo Televisa and its U.S. television partner, Univision Communications, Inc., has finally started after being postponed four times.

Reuters reported that Univision breached its contract with the Mexican media giant by not paying more than $100 million in royalties. "Univision was secretly not paying everything it owed," said Marshall Grossman, an attorney representing Televisa.

Grossman also added that when Televisa dispatched auditors to check the books, Univision attempted to block them.

Televisa is hoping to part ways with Univision, which is a result that would deeply hurt the Spanish-speaking Univision channels as 80 percent of the prime-time content comes from the Mexican producer. According to the Los Angeles Times, Televisa is the world's largest producer of Spanish-language soap operas, which has been the most popular and lucrative product for both companies in the last 12 years.

If Televisa gets its way, they will be able to sell its shows to Univision's rival, Telemundo. If not, Televisa would have to fulfill its contract with Univision until 2017, when it will expire.