In 1974, the Anselmo family formed MagnaVerde in order to bring the World Cup Soccer matches to the United States via closed circuit television in large venues like Madison Square Garden, the San Antonio arena and the like. Later, the company focused on other large sports events that would be of interest to the public.

By 1975 the company had grown and so had its debts to the Azcarraga family and to their company for programming purchased and shown on the SICC stations. There were several loans outstanding and the economy in general was tight. Frank Fouce Jr., the son of one my Grandfathers (Raoul Cortez) original partners, Frank Fouce Sr. who owned Fouce Amusements in California, was unhappy with his family’s investment in SICC and wanted out. There were several discussions and several agreements all of which ended in disappointment for all involved.

In 1975, Emilio Nicolas had the idea to help the poor in his community and reached out to Archbishop Patricio Flores. The two launched the Teleton Navideno which aired on KWEX-TV. This fundraiser for the San Antonio community continues to be successful to this day.

In 1976 SIN becomes the first satellite interconnected network in the United States, beating out Ted Turner’s CNN. Emilio Nicolas installed the city’s first earth station in the parking lot of KWEX and christened the earth station in front of the Mayor, city council and numerous business people and dignitaries. On that day, San Antonio became the center of operations for the Spanish International Network and thus changed the cities dynamics. This monumental move put San Antonio on the map as an important player in the growing Hispanic community and their buying power across the country.

1976 was a pivotal year, not only did SIN became a full fledged Satellite interconnected network, but SICC was plunged into what would become an eleven year long lawsuit pitting old partners and friends against each other. It was also the year in which Anselmo, Nicolas and a group of investors including my brother Emilio Jr. launched Bahia De California Television Company which would own and operate SIN’s newest affiliate, KDTV, channel 14 in San Francisco. In this year of the bicentennial, Nicolas, Sr. would also start something that continues to this day and that is the first nationally televised Catholic mass live from San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas and beamed coast to coast on SIN as a service to its predominantly Catholic audience.

In 1981 San Antonio named the newest branch of the Library system after a great pioneer, Raoul Cortez. Mrs. Genoveva Cortez, daughter Irma, Mayor Lila Cockrell and other dignitaries were present at this momentous occasion. To this day the Cortez library serves the south San Antonio community with pride. I am presently embarking on a capital campaign with the San Antonio Library Foundation to raise funds to expand the library to further serve its community.

In 1986 a Federal Judge ruled against SICC and in favor of Mr. Fouce and the other plaintiffs. Mr. Anselmo was forced to resign his post as President of SIN and SICC and he would only do so if Emilio Nicolas, Sr. would take his place as the head of SICC.

Mr. Nicolas immediately took charge of the company and began cleaning things up. He then hired Bear Sterns in New York to look into selling the SICC station group. After what seemed to be the most difficult year ever, Nicolas was able to keep all of the different warring factions at bay and as happy as they could be under the circumstances. He cleaned up the company, raised sales and profitability to an SICC all time high and sold to Hallmark Greeting Cards of Kansas City, Kansas for a multiple of thirteen (13) times cash flow. At the time it was the highest multiple paid for any Television property.