Case
2:05-cv-03444-PSG-MAN
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Document
242
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Filed
12/17/2007
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UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL
DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
LINK#170/ENTER
CIVIL
MINUTES - GENERAL
Case
No.
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CV
05-3444 PSG (MANx)
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Date
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December
17, 2007
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Title
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Televisa
S.A. de C.V. v. Univision Communications,
Inc.
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Present:
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The
Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez, United States District
Judge
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Deputy
Clerk
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Court
Reporter
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Tape
No.
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Attorneys
Present for Plaintiff(s):
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Attorneys
Present for Defendant(s):
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Not
Present
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Not
Present
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Proceedings:
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(In
Chambers) Order DENYING Defendant’s Partial Motion for Summary
Judgment
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Presently
pending before the Court is Defendant and Counterclaimant Univision
Communications, Inc.’s (“Univision”) Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. The
matter came for hearing on December 10, 2007. After considering the moving
and
opposing papers, as well as oral argument at the hearing, the Court DENIES
Univision’s Motion.
This
action concerns Plaintiffs Televisa, S.A. de C.V. and Grupo Televisa, S.A.
(collectively “Televisa”) and Defendant Univision’s respective rights and
obligations pursuant to a twenty-five year licensing agreement entered
into in
1992.
Defendant
Univision is Spanish-language media company in the United States, with
operations including the Univision, Galavision, and TeleFutura television
networks; a radio station; a music division including several record labels;
an
online division; and a home video and consumer products division. (Escalante
Dec., Ex. 2 at 38.) Televisa, S.A. de C.V. and Grupo Televisa, S.A.
(collectively “Televisa” or “Plaintiff”) is a Mexican media conglomerate which
licenses its programming to broadcasters worldwide, and which has substantial
film, music, home video, gaming and publishing businesses. (SAC, ¶
6.)
B.
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1992
Purchase of Univision
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In
1992,
Televisa, the Venevision television company and Jerry Perenchio purchased
Univision from the Hallmark Card, Inc. (Escalante Dec., Ex. 4 at 25.) As
part of
the deal, Televisa invested $33.3 million in return for an equity share
of
approximately 25% of the Univision Network and an indirect 12% interest
of
Univision’s Television Group. (Defendant’s UF, ¶ 5.) In December 1992, Televisa
and Univision also entered into a Program Licensing Agreement (“PLA”), the
principal contract at issue in this case. (Defendant’s UF, ¶ 3; Escalante Dec.,
Ex. 6, hereinafter referred to as “1992 PLA.”)
1.
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Program
Licensing Agreement
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Under
the
1992 PLA, Televisa agreed to provide its programming to Univision on an
exclusive basis for twenty-five years, or until December 2017. (1992 PLA,
§§
1.1, 9; Escalante Dec., Ex. 4 at 26.) In exchange, Televisa would receive
a
percentage of Univision’s advertising revenues - termed “combined net time
sales” - from nearly all the programs it broadcast, not just those supplied by
Televisa. (1992 PLA, § 5.) In 2001, the parties amended the 1992 PLA, but the
definition of the combined net time sales in both PLAs remained substantially
the same. (1992 PLA, § 5; Escalante Dec., Ex. 1 (Second Amended and Restated
PLA), hereinafter referred to as “2001 PLA,” § 4.1.) The 2001 PLA superseded the
1992 PLA.
The
2001
PLA defines combined net time sales as follows:
“Combined
Net Time Sales” means all sales by the Networks and the Stations (and with
respect to Other Outlets, to the extent solely related to the Networks),
including barter and trade and television subscription revenue (including,
without limitation, satellite subscription revenues), less, to the extent
related to the Stations and the Networks, without duplication, (i) advertising
commission, (ii) Special Event Revenue (iii) music license fees, (iv) outside
affiliate compensation, (v) time sales related to advertising sold to Televisa
or provided to Venevision as contemplated by Section 22(b)(1) of this Agreement
and the Venevision Agreement and included in time sales (vi) taxes (other
than
withholding taxes) paid by Licensee pursuant to Section 4.5 hereof and
similar
taxes paid by the stations, calculated in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Unless otherwise agreed in writing
between the parties, barter and trade sales shall be valued at the fair
market
value of the goods or services received by the network.
(2001
PLA, § 4.1(c)(iii).)
The
2001
PLA requires Univision to account for and pay the royalties to Televisa
for the
value of advertising time on “the Networks, the Stations, the Telefutura
Networks and the Telefutura Stations” (Id. at § 1.1(b)), and establishes
procedures for such calculations and payments. (Id. at § 4.3.) To ensure
compliance with the terms of the agreement, the PLA grants Televisa the
right to
receive once each year, from Univision’s independent certified public accounting
firm, a certificate attesting to the combined net time sales for that year.
(Id.
at § 4.4.) In addition, the 2001 PLA permits Televisa to retain certified public
accountants to audit Univision’s books and records with respect to Univision’s
calculations of the combined net time sales, and requires Univision to
cooperate
with such auditors:
[Univision]
agrees to provide any certified public accountants designated by [Televisa]
with
access to all business records of [Univision] related to the computation
of
Combined Net Time Sales or Telefutura Net Time Sales, as
applicable.
(Id.)
The
2001
PLA also addresses sales of advertising time, and requires Univision to
sell its
advertising time at arms-length value:
.
. .
sales of advertising time on the Networks, the Stations, the Telefutura
Networks
and the Telefutura Stations will be conducted at an arms-length basis vis-à-vis
one another and vis-à-vis other networks, stations and other media owned by
Licensee and its Affiliates.
(Id.
at §
1.1(b).)
Under
the
PLA, any unsold advertising time will either be used by Univision or its
subsidiaries, or made available to Televisa without charge:
Advertising
time on the Networks, the Stations, the Telefutura Networks and the Telefutura
Stations which is not sold to advertisers or used by Licensee or its
subsidiaries for their own purpose will be made available without charge
to
Televisa, Venevision and their Affiliates . . . .
(Id.
at §
22(a).)
Section
22(b) permits Televisa to purchase advertising time at favorable
rates:
Televisa
and its Affiliates will also (i) purchase an aggregate of $5,000,000 per
year in
advertising, and (ii) shall be permitted to purchase additional advertising
time
on the Univision network, the Galavision Network and the Telefutura Network
which cannot be preempted by [Univision] or its Affiliates which time shall
be
sold for the lowest spot rate then being offered for a non-preemptable
spot in
the program during which such time is sold.
(Id.
at §
22(b).)
On
December 19, 2001, Grupo Televisa and Univision entered into an agreement,
the
Guaranty, wherein Grupo Televisa agreed to guaranty the performance of
Televisa’s obligations under the PLA. (Escalante Dec., Ex. 1 at p.
28.)
C.
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The
Current Litigation
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In
early
2005, Univision management determined that it had for many years been
erroneously paying royalties on advertising sold in connection with certain
Univision produced special programs. (Hobson Dec. ¶ 24.) In March 2005,
Univision notified Televisa of the alleged mistake and informed Televisa
it
would no longer pay royalties on these special programs. (Id.) Consequently,
Univision withheld royalty payments for the awards show Premio Lo
Nuestro from the March 2005 royalty payment, but later paid the amount to
Televisa in June 2005. (Id.) Since then, Univision has paid approximately
$18
million of the disputed royalty amounts relating to Special Programs, albeit
“under protest.” (Id.)
On
May 9,
2005, Televisa filed a complaint against Univision alleging breach of contract
and copyright violations in connection with Univision’s allegedly unauthorized
editing of Televisa programs, and seeking declaratory relief regarding
the
parties’ respective rights and obligations pursuant to the PLA. (Complaint, ¶
28-29.) On August 15, 2005, Univision filed eight counterclaims against
Televisa
for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair
dealing.
In
late
2005, press reports indicated that Univision might soon be up for sale.
(Escalante Dec., Ex. 21.) In May 2006, Televisa announced that it had formed
a
consortium to bid for Univision. (Escalante Dec., Ex. 23.) The following
month,
the press reported that Univision’s board of directors had accepted the bid for
a rival consortium.
Meanwhile,
Televisa amended its complaint and on April 3, 2006, filed a Second Amended
and
Supplemental Complaint (“SAC”) containing seven causes of action: (1) breach of
contract - PLA; (2) declaratory judgment and injunctive relief relating
to
Univision’s obligations under the PLA; (3) breach of contract - the Soccer
Agreement;1 (4) declaratory
judgment and injunctive relief relating to Univision’s obligations under the
Soccer Agreement; (5) declaratory judgment relating to the PLA and the
Guaranty;
(6) declaratory judgment relating to the Soccer Agreement; and (7) copyright
infringement. Univision subsequently amended its counterclaims, adding
a ninth
claim for declaratory relief regarding the PLA and Soccer Agreement, and
a tenth
claim for declaratory relief regarding internet broadcasts. (Escalante
Dec., Ex.
19, ¶¶ 100-117.)
To
date,
Univision has paid Televisa approximately $18 million in disputed royalty
amounts. (SGI, ¶ 24.) Televisa contends the total amount of unpaid royalties
owed by Univision amounts to approximately $118 million. (Opp’n at
12.)
Univision
now moves for partial summary judgment on the fifth cause of action in
the SAC,
and the ninth claim for relief in its Second Amended Counterclaims. In
short,
Univision asks the Court to find, as a matter of law, that its breaches
are not
material.
II.
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LEGAL
STANDARD FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
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Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c) establishes that summary judgment is proper
only
when “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions
on
file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine
material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a
matter of
law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). The moving party has the burden of demonstrating
the absence of a genuine issue of fact for trial. See Anderson v. Liberty
Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986).
If the moving party satisfies the burden, the party opposing the motion
must set
forth specific facts showing that there remains a genuine issue for trial.
Id. at 257.
A
non-moving party who bears the burden of proving at trial an element essential
to its case must sufficiently establish a genuine dispute of fact with
respect
to that element or face summary judgment. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477
U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S. Ct. 2548 (1986). Such an issue of fact is a genuine
issue if it reasonably can be resolved in favor of either party.
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 250-51.
If
the
moving party seeks summary judgment on a claim or defense for which it
bears the
burden of proof at trial, the moving party must use affirmative, admissible
evidence. Admissible declarations or affidavits must be based on personal
knowledge, must set forth facts that would be admissible evidence at trial,
and
must show that the declarant or affiant is competent to testify as to the
facts
at issue. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).
Televisa’s
fifth cause of action in the SAC seeks a declaration that Univision has
materially breached the PLA, thus excusing it from any obligations or further
performance under the PLA. (SAC at 41-42.) Univision’s ninth claim for relief
requests a declaration that Univision has not substantially materially
breached
the PLA, and that Televisa may not suspend its performance under the PLA.
(Escalante Dec., Ex. 19, ¶ 107.)
In
California, courts allow termination of a contract only “if the breach can be
classified as ‘material,’ ‘substantial,’ or ‘total.’” Superior Motels, Inc.
v. Rinn Motor Hotels, Inc., 195 Cal.App.3d 1032, 1051 (1987) (citations
omitted). A material breach is one that “is so dominant or pervasive as in any
real or substantial measure to frustrate the purpose of the undertaking.”
Fantasy v. Fogerty, 984 F.2d 1525, 1530 (9th Cir. 1993), reversed
on other grounds (quoting Medico-Dental Bldg. Co. v. Horton & Converse,
21 Cal.2d 411, 132 P.2d 457, 470 (1942)). If a breach does not go “to the root
of the matter” and “can be readily compensated in damages,” a party may not
rescind. Id. (citation omitted). In Fogerty, the Ninth Circuit
considered five circumstances listed by the Restatement (Second) of Contracts,
as “significant” in determining whether a breach is material:
(a)
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the
extent to which the injured party will be deprived of the benefit
which he
reasonably expected;
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(b)
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the
extent to which the injured party can be adequately compensated
for the
part of that benefit of which he will be
deprived;
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(c)
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the
extent to which the party failing to perform or to offer to perform
will
suffer forfeiture;
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(d)
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the
likelihood that the party failing to perform or to offer to perform
will
cure his failure, taking account of all the circumstances including
any
reasonable assurances;
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(e)
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the
extent to which the behavior of the party failing to perform
or to offer
to perform comports with standards of good faith and fair
dealing.
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Id.
(citing Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 241 (1981).)
Generally,
the question of whether a breach is material depends on the facts and
circumstances of each particular case, see Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Air
Florida Sys., Inc., 822 F.2d 833, 840 (9th Cir. 1987), cert.
denied, 485 U.S. 987, 108 S.Ct. 1289, 99 L.Ed.2d 500 (1988), and thus is
“normally” a question for the jury. 6 Samuel Williston, A Treatise on the
Law of Contracts § 841, at 159 (3d ed. 1962). However, the question need
not be left to the trier of fact where the underlying facts are undisputed
and
only the legal conclusion to be drawn from those facts remains in doubt.
See
B.F. Goodrich Co. v. Vinyltech Corp., 711 F.Supp. 1513, 1520 (D.Ariz. 1989)
(granting summary judgment for plaintiff on breach of contract claim despite
defendant’s assertion of material breach); Boeing Airplane Co. v.
Aeronautical Indus. Dist.Lodge No. 751, 91 F.Supp. 596, 609
(W.D.Wash. 1950) (granting summary judgment based on material breach),
aff’d, 188 F.2d 356 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 342 U.S. 821, 72
S.Ct. 39, 96 L.Ed. 621 (1951); cf. Far West Fed. Bank v. Director, Office of
Thrift Supervision, 787 F.Supp. 952, 960 (D.Or. 1992) (granting rescission
on summary judgment based on frustration of purpose and impossibility of
performance).
Televisa
lists eleven breaches of the PLA which, it argues, in total warrant a finding
of
material breach by Univision. Univision responds that, even assuming it
accepts
the $100 million figure it expects Televisa to contend is the proper valuation
of unsold time used by Univision, its breaches cannot amount to a total
failure
of performance, or material breach, justifying rescission of the 25-year
PLA.2
Televisa
alleges the following breaches: First, since 2001, Univision has failed
to
include approximately $29 million of advertising revenue from DISA,3 a Spanish language record company
acquired by
Univision, in its combined net time sales payments to Televisa. (SGI, ¶¶ 30,
32.)
Second,
as far back as 1998, Univision has improperly been paying KORO, a television
station in Texas operated by Entravision, $50,000 per month. (SGI, ¶¶ 45-46.)
Univision owns a 14.8% interest in Entravision. (SGI, ¶¶ 45-46.) Televisa claims
Univision has made these improper payments because the PLA permits deductions
of
payments by Univision to affiliated stations as compensation for carrying
the
Univision signal. (SGI, ¶ 41.) Televisa contends that even though Univision’s
and Entravision’s 2002 agreement provides for termination of such payments,
Univision continued the payments and falsely identified them on royalty
payments
sent to Televisa as affiliate or station compensation. (SGI, ¶ 49.) According to
Televisa, Univision made these payments not for affiliate or station
compensation, but rather to reimburse Entravision for the $6 million difference
between what it was willing to pay to buy KORO and what it ultimately had
to
pay. (SGI, ¶ 50.)
Third,
Univision has failed to include any of the value of at least $700 million
in
advertising provided without charge to its non-television group subsidiaries.
(SGI, ¶ 63.) Although Univision may provide some advertising to Televisa without
charge, the PLA contains no provision to provide advertising to non-television
group subsidiaries without compensating Televisa in the combined net time
sales
payments. (SGI, ¶¶ 61-62.)
Fourth,
Univision has recorded barter sales at 50% of the actual contract price,
and not
at the “fair market value of the goods or services received by [Univision or its
stations],” as required by the PLA. (SGI, ¶¶ 69-70, 72.) According to
Univision’s Perenchio, the fair value of such ads is the rate card of the barter
partner, and amount higher than 50% of the contract price. (SGI, ¶
73.)
Fifth,
Televisa contends that Univision has improperly excluded revenues of several
“grandfathered” special programs, including the highest grossing special -
Premio Lo Nuestro - from its combined net time sales payments.
According to Televisa, since 1992, Univision and Televisa had shared in
the cost
of producing some programs via a Cost-Sharing Agreement. (SGI, ¶ 76.) When the
Cost-Sharing Agreement was terminated, the cost-shared programs were deemed
“grandfathered programs” and the parties’ cost-sharing was continued through the
reduction of combined net time sales payments in the PLAs. (SGI, ¶¶ 76, 81, 78,
80.) Now Univision is seeking to recoup over $100 million in royalties
it has
paid to Televisa “under protest” which it claims should have been excluded from
the combined net time sales as “Special Event Revenue.” (SGI, ¶
92.)
Sixth,
Univision has paid its own debts at Televisa’s expense through “make-ups” or
“ADU’s,”4 advertising Univision provides
without charge to advertisers to settle obligations resulting from failure
to
meet audience ratings guarantees promised to advertisers. (SGI, ¶ 97.) Instead
of satisfying these debts with ads during similar programs, as Univision
should
have done, Televisa contends that Univision paid these obligations with
advertising to which it assigned no value, aired during programming covered
by
the combined net time sales, and thus reduced the resulting royalties paid
to
Televisa. (SGI, ¶ 97.) Televisa claims that this shift of liabilities amounts to
over $1.5 million in royalties, only half of which have been paid by Univision
under protest. (SGI, ¶ 102.)
Seventh,
Univision has improperly excluded revenues from Vignettes (60-second
advertisements containing traditional advertising with clips from specials)
and
Shoulders (regular programming associated with major events such as pre
and post shows for World Cup games) in the combined net time sales.
Eighth,
in violation of Section 8.3 of the PLA, Univision has performed unauthorized
edits of Televisa programming. Section 8.3 authorizes Univision to edit
Televisa
programs in limited circumstances, such as to reduce the length of credits,
to
insert commercials, or to eliminate storylines and segments deemed in good
faith
to be unacceptable to U.S. audiences (e.g. strong sexual content), with
Televisa’s consent. (2001 PLA, § 3.8.) Televisa asserts it has identified
material editing in 163 episodes of its programs without its consent, including
one episode of Rollo, a late night show, in which Univision removed an
interview with Will Smith and twelve songs by a popular Hispanic performer,
Alejandro Fernandez. (SGI, ¶¶ 111, 113-114, 117.)
Ninth,
Univision has misapplied the generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”)
on over $100 million in advertising revenues, by using its consolidation
at the
parent company level to remove television group revenues entirely from
the
combined net time sales, and to thus avoid paying Televisa royalties. (SGI,
¶¶
119-120.)
Tenth,
Televisa contends that Univision’ s partial payments “under protest,” of only
$18 million of an estimated $118 million damage claim, are “wholly irrelevant”
since Televisa cannot recognize these payment as revenue until it prevails
in
this suit.
Lastly,
Televisa accuses Univision of breaching Televisa’s audit rights under the PLA,
by, among other things, refusing to provide audit certificates for the
years
2003 through 2006 upon request, withholding key information and denying
the
existence of key documents from Televisa’s outside auditors. (SGI, ¶¶ 139,
148-153, 157.)
Univision
contends that these alleged breaches, in total, cannot, as a matter of
law,
amount to a material breach justifying rescission. In order to make this
determination, the Court will consider each of the five Restatement
factors:
1.
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The
Extent to Which the Injured Party Will Be Deprived of the Benefit
Which He
Reasonably Expected
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Univision
contends that the alleged breaches, in total, cannot amount to a material
breach
because Televisa has and continues to receive the vast amount of the benefits
it
contracted for under the PLA. For example, it is undisputed that one of
Televisa’s objectives in entering into the PLA was to obtain royalty payments
from Univision (SGI, ¶ 1), and that since 1992, Televisa has received over $1
billion in royalty payments from Univision (SGI, ¶ 3.) While approximately $100
million of a total disputed $118 million remains unpaid, this sum is less
than
9% of the total royalties Televisa states it should have received. (Supp.
Escalante Dec. ¶ 7.) See, e.g., Nolan v. Sam Fox Publishing Co., 499
F.2d 1394, 1398-1399 (2d Cir. 1974) (failure to pay 74% of royalties due
over a
six-year period was not a material breach); Rano, 987 F.2d at 586
(defendant did not materially breach a licensing agreement despite failure
to
pay 14% of a disputed category of royalties in light of parties’ eight-year
harmonious relationship). Therefore, even though Televisa’s claims for unpaid
royalties, approximately $100 million worth, are no small sum; in comparison
to
the amount of royalties it has received thus far, it is undisputed that
the
claims represent only a small percentage of that total. Thus, the first
Restatement factor supports Univision’s argument that its breaches of the
royalty provisions are nonmaterial.
2.
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The
Extent to Which the Injured Party Can Be Adequately Compensated
for the
Part of That Benefit of Which He Will Be
Deprived
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With
respect to claims for unpaid royalties, there is no question that if Televisa
prevails at trial, it can be adequately compensated by a damages award.
However,
Televisa’s claims regarding Univision’s unauthorized editing of Televisa
programs is another matter.
Univision
argues that such breaches are not material. Televisa has identified only
163
improperly edited episodes, or approximately 33 hours of unauthorized edits,
from February 2005 through May 20007, out of thousands of hours of Televisa
programming that Univision has broadcast since 1992. (SGI, ¶ 14; Escalante Dec.,
¶¶ 37-38, Exs. 35-36.) The Guaranty requires Televisa to produce “at least 8,531
hours of Programs” per year from 2002 forward (Escalante Dec., Ex. 1 at 38, §
2), an obligation Televisa has admittedly met. (See Answer, ¶¶ 40-41.) Thus, the
33 hours of identified editing amounts to less than 0.2% of the programming
hours Televisa was required to provide Univision since 2002, and an even
smaller
percentage of the Televisa programming aired from 1992 to 2002.
Televisa
responds that these edits “go to the very artistic and creative content” of
Televisa programs, and often “emasculate the very heart of the episode’s
content” to suit Univision’s taste instead of that of the creators. (SGI, ¶¶
113-114, 117.) While parsing hours may make sense in the royalties context
to
determine whether a breach is material, this strategy is much less effective
where artistic creativity and content are issue. That Televisa has identified
less than 0.2% of edited programming aired since 1992 is certainly significant.
However, a reasonable jury also could find it equally, if not more significant,
that Univision unilaterally edited Televisa programming content, and that
such
edits dramatically changed the content of those programs so as to amount
to
material breach. Therefore, because a reasonable jury could find in favor
of
either party, a genuine issue of material fact remains as to the materiality
of
the breaches.
3.
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The
Extent to Which the Party Failing to Perform or to Offer to Perform
Will
Suffer Forfeiture
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If
Televisa is allowed to rescind the contract and cut off its supply programming,
Univision will lose a substantial portion of program lineups, including
more
than 40% of Univision Network’s non-repeat broadcast hours, most of its 7:00 -
10:00 p.m. weekday prime time programing, and substantially all of the
telenovelas broadcast on Galavision Network. (Hobson Dec., ¶¶ 9-11, Ex.
2 at 22.) Since Univision has all twenty top Spanish-language shows in
the
United States, sixteen of which are Televisa programs, the loss of these
programs would cause Univision to suffer forfeiture, in the form of disruption
and possible loss of viewership.
4.
|
The
Likelihood That the Party Failing to Perform or to Offer to Perform
Will
Cure His Failure, Taking Account of All the Circumstances Including
Any
Reasonable Assurances
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Univision
to date has paid $18 million in disputed royalties. (SGI, ¶ 24.) While this is
only a fraction of the amount Televisa claims, Univision argues that the
fact it
has paid this portion, coupled with its assertions that it will pay court
or
jury ordered damages, demonstrates its willingness to cure the breaches
in the
event the Court or jury finds in favor of Televisa.
Televisa,
on the other hand, contends it has good reason to no longer take Univision
at
its word. Univision has failed to repent or even acknowledge its many
transgressions of the PLA. According to Televisa, Univision’s breach of trust
goes to the “root” of the performance contemplated by the PLA, and “neither the
law nor a reasoned decision will require the current dysfunctional relationship
to continue.” (Opp’n at 22.) See In re Best Film & Video Corp., 46
B.R. 861, 874 (N.Y. 1985) (citing Corbin on Contracts: “The ‘continuing
sense of reliance and security’ which is always ‘an important feature of the
bargain’ . . . ha[s]been completely destroyed, and could not possibly [be]
reinstated”). Based on the record before the Court and the “bad faith”
motivations discussed in the next section, Televisa has adequately justified
it
doubts regarding future performance by Univision.
5.
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The
Extent to Which the Behavior of the Party Failing to Perform
or to Offer
to Perform Comports with Standards of Good Faith and Fair
Dealing
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As
for
the fifth Restatement factor, Televisa claims that many of Univision’s actions
regarding it calculations of combined net time sales were driven by spite
or
retaliation. (Opp’n at 19.) Whether or not “spite” or “retaliation” was a
motivating factor for Univision’s conduct, at minimum, the record supports the
contention that Univision’s actions failed to comport with standards of good
faith and fair dealing.
For
example, Univision does not dispute, for purposes of this motion, that
it failed
to include in the combined net time sale at least $700 million in advertising
provided without charge to its own subsidiaries. (SGI, ¶ 63.) Although Univision
claims these advertisements have no value, Univision values such advertising
on
a quarterly and annual basis. (SGI, ¶ 65.) Based on Univision’s royalty
statements to Televisa, Televisa did not know and could not have known
the
subsidiary advertising was not included in the combined net sales time
(SGI, ¶
66). Televisa only discovered the failure to attribute such advertising
to the
combined net time sales during the contractual audit (SGI, ¶ 67), thus
suggesting that Univision was keeping this information from Televisa. Such
evidence suggests that Univision was engaging in activities that could
be
construed as bad faith.
Another
example of Univision’s bad faith relates to the auditing provisions of the PLA.
Given that Univision maintains complete control over the receipt and accounting
of combined net sales time, Televisa’s rights to annual audit certifications
from outside auditors represents an important safeguard for Televisa. (SGI,
¶
146.) However, when Televisa attempted to exercise those rights, Univision
ignored Televisa’s request for the 2003 certificate for sixteen months, and
ignored the request for the 2004 certificate for three months. (SGI, ¶ 139.)
Indeed, Univision failed to inform its auditors of Televisa’s request for the
2003 certificate until a full year after the request was made. (SGI, ¶ 141.)
Again, on Televisa’s request for a certificate regarding combined net time sales
for 2006, an internal memo shows that Univision would not perform the audit
given the continuing litigation between the parties. (SGI, ¶ 143.) Additionally,
Univision management misled Televisa auditors about the availability of
documents in electronic format, incorrectly informing them that only paper
copies existed. (SGI, ¶ 257.)
These
are
just a few examples in a record replete with many evidencing the bad faith
motivations in Univision’s in conduct towards Televisa, and are sufficient to
defeat summary judgment.
Although
Univision argues that an otherwise immaterial breach cannot be made material
merely because they were committed in bad faith, it cites to no relevant
caselaw
for this proposition. Univision does cite to comment f, § 241 of the
Restatement, which provides that “non-adherence” to the standards of good faith
and fair dealing are not “conclusive, and other circumstances may cause a
failure not to be material in spite of such non-adherence.” Restatement (Second)
Contracts. However, this comment merely indicates that the fifth Restatement
factor is a less probative consideration than the others. See In re General
DataComm Industries, Inc., 407 F.3d 616, 628 (3d Cir. 2005). Comment
f in no way prohibits a finding of material breach where there is so
much
bad faith that the relationship between the parties is
dysfunctional.
Additionally,
Univision’s reference to Fogerty is unavailing. In analyzing the fifth
Restatement factor, the Fogerty court noted that simply asserting
another party acted in bad faith “does not create a disputed issue of material
fact precluding summary judgment.” Fogerty, 984 F.2d at 1531. There,
“Fogerty supplie[d] no factual basis beyond mere assertions that
[plaintiff]
ha[d] acted fraudulently or delinquently.” Id. at 1531. Here, by
contrast, Televisa has substantiated its allegations with ample evidence
of bad
faith conduct.
In
sum,
application of the five Restatement factors leads the Court to conclude
that
there are genuine issues of material fact regarding the materiality of
Univision’s breaches. In particular, Televisa has presented evidence raising
fact issues on the materiality issue based on Univision’s bad faith motivations
underlying its failure to account to Televisa for royalty payments, the
unauthorized editing of Televisa programming, and the obstruction of Televisa’s
attempts to obtain an independent audit. The Court finds such evidence
sufficient to withstand summary judgment.
For
the
reasons set forth above, the Court hereby DENIES partial summary
judgment.
IT
IS SO
ORDERED.
__________________
1 The
Soccer Agreement grants Univision the exclusive U.S. television broadcast
rights
to certain soccer games in the Mexican League. (SAC, ¶ 23.) Televisa and
Univision signed the Soccer Agreement in December 2001. (Id.)
2 Univision
does, in fact, accept Televisa’s calculations of the valuation of unsold air
time, for purposes of this motion only. (Motion at 12.)
3 Univision
acquired a 50% interest in DISA in 2001, and the remaining 50% interest
in 2006.
(SGI, ¶ 25.) In the 2001 deal, Univision was required to provide DISA with at
least $5 million of advertising each year. (SGI, ¶ 26.)
4 In
the television industry, the term ADU refers to audience deficiency units.
(Televisa’s Deposition Appendix, Cutler Depo. at 353:22-23.) When an advertiser
contracts with Univision for commercial airtime, Univision guarantees
a certain
number of viewers. (Id. at 354:1-7.)