Univision continues its gallant resistance against the seismic results of this election. As Donald Trump declares that "It is OK to say Merry Christmas again", Univision responds with a holiday video that bravely transcends "Merry Christmas" and even refuses to wish you "Happy Holidays".
First, a little history. The corporate holiday video is a traditional staple of Latin American television media. The local channel (or network) gathers its contract talent for a musical video, meticulously prepared with its best-available production values. The end result is edited down to 30 or 60 seconds and serves as the network's public Christmas card.
This is an easy way for the network to connect with its audience and show gratitude for their support during the past year. The Christmas season, with its traditionally heavy focus on family, gives the network an easy way to say "thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family"- and some variation on that theme usually makes its way to the corporate video.
But this is 2016, and we are talking about Univision. So bound is the network to political correctness that "Merry Christmas" is a non-starter, and "Happy Holidays" is an impossibly heavy lift. And so it is that we end up with the best that Univision can muster this year, "Mejores Deseos (Best Wishes)". The full subtitled video is available here, one minute and 43 seconds of anodyne ambiguous-holiday-flavored treacle that makes Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" look like Handel's Messiah in comparison. In fact, "Mejores Deseos" is what you'd probably be left with if you stripped Christmas out of "Wonderful Christmastime".
In and of itself, this video provides a perfect snapshot of the manner in which Univision continues to lose touch with its traditional audience while pursuing the clicks and page views of the "rising American majority".
P.S.: Politico reports that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler will resign on January 20th, when Donald Trump is inaugurated as President of the United States. In practical terms, this means an immediate 2-1 Republican advantage at the FCC, plus two open spots that will be filled by Trump. Looks like Univision got an early brick of coal in its Ambiguous-Holiday stocking.
Merry Christmas!
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