by Hannah Kim

Address: 605 3^rd Avenue #12, New York, NY 10158

Telephone: (212) 455-5200

Website: www.univision.com

Background

Univision Spanish-language broadcast television network in United States, which was launched in 1962 by Emilio Nicolas, Sr. and Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta. With studios and production facilities in Doral, FL, Univision broadcasts through cable and satellite in over 50 local and major markets in the United States and Puerto Rico. Formerly known as Spanish International Network (SIN), Univision has continuously grown to be the Spanish-language network with the largest audience. Today, Univision is considered to be the fastest-growing network in the United States and sits among the four major powers of the American broadcast networks, ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS. For the entire third quarter of 2012, Univision ranked number three in primetime among adults 18-34, out-delivering ABC and CBS, and had a dominant 91 percent live viewership among adults 18-49[1].

Major Competitors[2]

Telemundo, owned by NBC Universal

Estrella TV, owned by Liberman Broadcasting, Inc.

TeleFutura, owned by Univision Communications, Inc.

Azteca América, owned by Azteca International Corporation

 

Key Executives[3]

Randy Falco – Chief Executive Officer and President, Univision Communications, Inc.

Andrew W. Hobson – Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Cesar Conde – President of Univision Networks

Kevin Cuddihy – President, Univision Television Group

Beau Ferrari – Executive Vice President of Operations, Univision Networks

 

Latest Financials[4]

Univision Communications’ third-quarter financials presented bittersweet numbers as the quarter’s profit declined but revenue increased. While Univision’s earnings went from $290 million in 2011 to $10.6 million, revenues across the company’s TV, radio, and digital platforms for the third quarter increased 7.6 percent to $628.9 million. Income taxes and operating profit also decreased from $239 million to $5.2 million, and $180.6 million to $154.2 million, respectively. In the other hand, adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) increased to $276.5 million by 17.1 percent.

 

New Programming Overview Video

Univision Fall 2012 Programming (Video Courtesy of UVideos)

 

Recent News

August 2012

– IAB

Univision became the only Spanish-language network with Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) certification. Univision’s certification with the IAB seal, which gives greater reliability and efficacy in advertisement placement to buyers, indicates that the network will develop in its digital and interactive platforms in the coming years[5].

– “Amor Bravío” (“Fierce Love”)

Univision’s new primetime novela, “Amor Bravío”, starring Cristián de la Fuente and Silvia Navarro, premiered on August 13^th at 10P.M. ET. “Amor Bravío” is a love story with revenge and twists about a young and beautiful veterinarian who tries to recover from her depression after her fiancée’s death. The novela airs on Mondays-Fridays at 10P.M. ET[6].

September 2012

– “Meet the Candidates“

As presidential elections in the United States approached, Univision sponsored a two-day candidate forum, “Meet the Candidate”, with the participation of Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. This was the first time in history that both presidential candidates recorded individually with Univision. The forum was hosted in the University in Miami on September 19^th and 20^th, 2012. The network’s news anchors, Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas, interviewed both candidates. The interviews, which were one-hour long, started at 10P.M. on Wednesday with Romney, and resumed on the next day at the same time with Obama. Romney’s interview had 2.8 million viewers, against Obama’s 2.7 million, and Romney kept a similar advantage among adults18-49 [7]. Romney and Obama discussed about the Middle East and student loans, among many other matters, but mainly focused on immigration. (Complete “Meet the Candidate” interview with Barack Obama in English can be found here. Complete “Meet the Candidate” interview with Mitt Romney in English can be found here.)

– Alberto Ciurana as President of Programming

Former veteran at Mexico’s Televisa, Alberto Ciurana will be leading the programming and content departments at Univision networks. Ciurana was chief of programming at Televisa for 15 years and will now supervise programming for broadcast and cable television networks at Univision[8].

-“Fanaticos Del Frio”

Fanáticos Del Frio – Website from Leo Ehrlich on Vimeo.

Univision Deportes launched “Fanaticos Del Frio” (“Fans of the Cold”), the division’s first branded sports program sponsored by Coors Light. The program will update viewers on the latest news on Liga MX, Mexico’s premiere soccer league. The monthly show aired on Friday, September 28^th at 9P.M. ET[9].

October 2012

– Univision’s New Logo

On October 17^th, Univision updated the network’s logo, which had remained untouched since 1989. The newest logo done with the collaboration of Wolff Olins, revolves around similar concepts and shapes used by Tom Geismar in the former logo. Univision developed this three-dimensional and heart-shaped design to incorporate the company’s new tagline, “el latido del corazón hispano de Estados Unidos”, which means “the Hispanic heartbeat of America”. Senior VP of corporate marketing at Univision Communications, Ruth Gaviria, says that the joint colorful quadrants represent the unity of cultures and the vibrancy of the Hispanic community that the network represents. Gaviria further says that the three-dimensionality represents the greatness of Univision and the community. The new logo’s on-air debut will be on January 1^st, 2013[10].

– UVideos.com

Univision debuted its first digital network on October 29^th, UVideos. UVideos offers thousands-hours worth of programming content and 200 short clips daily for free. To reach greater audience, Univision has provided English subtitles on many of the Spanish-language shows. With eyes on the new and ever changing generation, UVideos’ goal is to always be available to the audience. UVideos showed the premiere for Univision’s fourth Web-only telenovela, “Te Presento a Valentín” (“I Introduce You To Valentin”), which consists of fifteen episodes of six minutes each. UVideos is available on mobile applications for smartphones, tablets, and online[11].

November 2012

– “Abismo de Pasíon” (“Abyss of Passion”)

Abismo de Pasíon (Trailer) (Video Courtesy of TVForum1 on YouTube.com)

On Monday, November 5th, finale of Univision’s “Abismo de Pasíon” reached 7.7 million viewers (all or part of two-hour novela), making Univision number one among adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Phoenix for the two hours of the finale[12].

-“Amores Verdaderos”

Amores Verdaderos (Trailer) (Video Courtesy of YouMaciel on Youtube.com)

Premiere of Univision’s “Amores Verdaderos” (“Ture Love”) had more than 5.5 million viewers, beating premieres of all time top two primetime novelas in key demos. The Wednesday November 7^th premiere has 2.4 million adults 18-49 and 1.3 million adults 18-34. “Amores Verdaderos” ranked Univision Stations number one for the hour-long premiere in Los Angeles, Miami and Houston. The premiere was ranked fifth program of the night for adults 18-34[13].

–Presidential Election

During presidential election week, Univision had 3.6 million prime-time viewer average, standing behind CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX. According to the American Journalism Review, there were nights when Univision outnumbered English-language channels amongst adult 18-34 in Los Angeles, New Yorks and Chicago. The Hispanic population set a new record of voters. From the 50 million citizens Hispanic community, 71 percent voted for Obama while 27 percent voted for Romney [14].

– “Feliz Navidad Con Los Nuestros… Tony Bennett y Sus Amigos“

Tony Bennett will be staging on Univision’s holiday special “Feliz Navidad Con Los Nuestros… Tony Bennett y Sus Amigos”. For the first time Univision invites a non-Latino celebrity to perform in the show. Bennett will be performing songs from his new CD, Viva Duets, in which Bennett sings with top Latin music artists. The holiday special event will be broadcasted on December 9^th at 10P.M. ET[15].

-“TeletónUSA”

Univision will gather more than 100 Hispanic starts for “TeletónUSA”, a 28-hour fundraiser for children with disabilities in the United States. The event will be broadcast on the Univision Network from December 14^th at 10P.M. ET to December 15 at 2A.M. ET, and will be live streamed at www.Univision.com/TeletonUSA[16].

 

Upcoming Projects

2014 FIFA World Cup

Univision networks, the official Spanish-language broadcasters of the U.S. and Mexico National teams, will be offering viewers previews, and pre-game and post-game analysis for major matches[17].

ABC Univision News Network

With the rapidly growing number of bilingual Hispanics, ABC News and Univision started working together on a joint venture for a new English-language news, information and lifestyle channel that will start in summer of 2013. Although the name of the channel remains a mystery, it has been revealed that the channel will be based in Miami, FL. The new channel is equally split in ventures and operating costs, and will generate 350 jobs in Miami[18]. ABC and Univision’s joint venture, which brings advertisers a new way to reach Hispanic consumers, also demonstrates recognition of the Hispanic buying power in the United States, which is estimated to grow to $1.5 trillion in 2015[19].