Univision expands in 2 states

Company to have stations in North Carolina, California

By MARY SUTTER

MIAMI -- Spanish-lingo media group Univision Communications announced agreements to acquire full-powered stations that will extend the reach of its flagship net in North Carolina and of its second broadcast net, Telefutura, in north and central California.

Univision has purchased WKFT in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville area from Bahakel Communications. The station will be renamed WUVC on June 1, when it will begin carrying Univision programming.

It will be the first full-power Spanish-lingo station in North Carolina, which has one of the fastest-growing Hispanic populations in the country, Univision said.

With this purchase, the Univision net will be on 32 full-powered stations in 23 markets nationwide.

Univision also has reached an agreement with Family Stations to buy the full-powered station KFTL, which serves the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto area of California.

Once the acquisition closes, expected in the third quarter, KFTL will become a Telefutura station. The KFTL deal will expand the number of full-powered stations for Univision's second broadcast net to 17.

Telefutura currently reaches 75% of U.S. Hispanics, against 97% for the flagship net.

Financial terms were not disclosed for either purchase.