Univision and Televisa announced this week that they are inking a new agreement to strengthen their alliance with regard to content production and Distribution. The two Spanish language broadcast giants are looking to expand their offerings as well as develop all new content. The two industry leaders are, in effect, combining their production and distribution forces. While all corporate operations, as well as the news departments, will remain independent entities, both broadcasters look to expand a single focus on the American Hispanic audience as well as the entire domestic viewing audience in Mexico.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. The company, a leading content creator in the U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the leading networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country available in approximately 92% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network available in approximately 86% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language entertainment cable network, as well as UDN (Univision Deportes Network), the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language sports cable network and Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to telenovelas.
The new structure will enhance Univision’s and Televisa’s ability to serve a combined audience of approximately 175 million viewers in the United States and Mexico, with an aggregate purchasing power of close to $2 trillion dollars. This announcement reflects both companies’ continued commitment to serve the growing U.S. Latino community, while enabling them to compete more effectively in their respective markets in an environment where the viewing habits of consumers are evolving rapidly and where competition is increasing, both from new content offerings and from traditional and emerging platforms.
Emilio Azcárraga Jean, President of Televisa, said of the strengthened alliance that,
“By unifying our production of content for distribution on multiple platforms in Mexico and the United States, we will take advantage of the unique opportunity that Televisa and Univision have to compete more effectively in an increasingly complex and fragmented industry. I welcome Isaac, whom I trust will maximize the value and success of our content, which we have been producing for over 60 years.”
Televisa is a leading media company in the Spanish-speaking world, an important cable operator in Mexico and an operator of a leading direct-to-home satellite pay television system in Mexico. Televisa distributes the content it produces through several broadcast channels in Mexico and in over 50 countries through 26 pay-tv brands, and television networks, cable operators and over-the-top or “OTT” services. In the United States.
As part of this initiative, Isaac Lee, who currently serves as the
Chief News, Entertainment & Digital Officer for Univision and Chief Executive Officer for Fusion, will assume the role of Chief Content Officer of both Univision and Televisa, effective immediately. His new role unifies the leadership and strategic direction of the production of content for consumers in the United States and Mexico.
Lee has been leading journalistic teams for nearly 20 years at prominent publications serving Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S. and Latin America and is widely recognized for his creativity, innovation and commitment to excellence. He joined Univision in December 2010 as President of News, and most recently held the position of Chief News, Entertainment & Digital Officer where he spearheaded the Company’s digital expansion and the creation of the Fusion Media Group, including the acquisition of the Gizmodo Media Group, and a strategic investment in The Onion Inc.
