VOZ (media company)
 | |
| Company type | Spanish-language multimedia firm |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Internet |
| Founded | July 4, 2022 |
| Founders | Orlando Salazar and Pablo Kleinman |
| Headquarters | , |
| Owner | Voz Media Inc. |
Number of employees | ~30 |
| Website | voz |
Voz is an American conservative Spanish-language news media firm founded in 2022 by Orlando Salazar with Pablo Kleinman.[1][2][3] Its headquarters are in Las Colinas, Irving, Texas.[4][1][2][5]
History
[edit]Orlando Salazar, who founded Voz in 2022 and is its CEO, is also a commercial real estate developer and beef company owner.[1] He is a former vice chair of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.[1] He has described Voz Media's content as "right-of-center".[1][2]
His co-founder, Pablo Kleinman, the company's COO, was the host of a daily talk show on Univision Radio until early 2021. He previously founded several technology and media enterprises, and was a congressional candidate and member of the Executive Committee of the California Republican Party.[third-party source needed]
According to The Dallas Morning News, Voz aims to become a conservative rival to the dominant Spanish-language channels Univision and Telemundo.[1] Voz contributors include members of conservative Hispanic groups, former officials who served in Donald Trump's presidency, and members of the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank.[1]
In February 2023, Voz Media announced it would buy Mega TV, the Spanish Broadcasting System's (SBS) network television operation, for $64 million, but the deal fell through when Voz did not meet payment obligations.[6][7][1][4][2][3][5][8] SBS declared the deal terminated in September 2023 and said it would try to sell Mega TV to other buyers.[8] The deal, if it had been completed, would have quadrupled Voz's workforce and included Mega TV real estate in Florida and Puerto Rico.[1][3][4][2][9] A lawsuit by SBS against Voz, Salazar and his wife, Kleinman, and Ryan Morfin was settled in 2024 in what SBS described as a "multimillion-dollar agreement", though the exact amount was not disclosed.[7][6][10]
As of 2023, Voz had offices and studios in the Dallas area, Miami, and Madrid.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i Martin, Arcelia (February 13, 2023). "Conservative Dallas media firm strikes deal to become Spanish-speaking TV news competitor". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ a b c d e Viglucci, Andres (February 13, 2023). "Miami Spanish-language TV station to be sold for $64M — and there may be on-air changes". Miami Herald.
- ^ a b c Jacobson, Adam (February 13, 2023). "A Texas Entrepreneur Agrees To Purchase SBS's MegaTV". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ a b c d Raygoza, Isabela (February 13, 2023). "Spanish Broadcasting System Sells Mega TV Network to Voz Media for $64M". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ a b "SBS Hits A Snag In $64 Million Deal To Sell Mega TV". Inside Radio. 2023-09-11. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ a b "SBS Clinches Millions In Settlement Over Failed VOZ Media Deal". Radio Ink. March 18, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
- ^ a b Jacobson, Adam (2024-03-18). "SBS Settles With VOZ Media Over Failed Mega TV Deal". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
On October 10, the Raúl Alarcón Jr.-led Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) filed a lawsuit against a Texas entrepreneur who agreed to expand his website to broadcast television through the acquisition of Mega TV, only to fail to meet its payment obligations.
- ^ a b "SBS Holds Onto TV Division After Buyer Breach". Radio Ink. 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "SBS Sells TV Division For $64 Million". Inside Radio. February 13, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
- ^ "SBS Says Conspiracy, Deception, And A 'Vulture' Price For Mega TV Was Voz Media's Gameplan". Inside Radio. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2024-09-08.