Univision Communications’ Q2 revenues were $519.5 million, down 4% from $541.4 million in Q2 2008. The Television division was nearly flat at $414.4 million for the quarter, up slightly from $414.2 million in Q2 2008. Radio’s revenues fell some 19% in the quarter, down to $95.1 million from $117 million in Q2 2008. Interactive Q2 revenue was also nearly flat at $10 million, down from $10.2 million last year.
Univision Comm. President/CEO Joe Uva first commented on President/COO Ray Rodriguez’s decision to leave the company at the end of the year: “It is something we have been discussing on and off for the last several months. Now that we have our litigation behind us with Televisa; we have successfully restructured some of our finances and completed our retransmission consents, both he and I felt this was a good time to announce…he spent 20 years with this company and….it is easily said that Ray was the leading force behind the popularization of Spanish-language media in this entire country, and it is without question that his efforts and long-term vision for the company created the foundation for what Univision has become today.”
Television highlights
Underscoring its growing popularity, the Univision Network increased its Total Viewers 2+ audience by 3% in Q2, as compared to the second quarter last year. Said Uva: “It was the strongest quarter for Univision with a record total viewing average audience of nearly 4 million during primetime. We finished the season with an 11% increase in primetime viewership among total viewers 2+; while the major English-language broadcast networks on average finished the season with a 4% audience decline. Univision is the #3 television network in the U.S. during primetime among Adults 18-34 during the quarter. In the first half of 2009 we built a strong foundation from which to grow for the remainder of the year, including completing 140 multi-year retransmission agreements and generating revenues in excess of our expectations.”
Uva says the retrans agreements should bring in more than $175 million in additional sub fees for 2009, and upwards of $350 million annually in the next 3-5 years.
Locally, during Q2, Univision stations were ranked as the #1 station in any language in primetime in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, San Antonio, Fresno and Bakersfield among Adults 18-34 and in Miami, Houston, San Antonio (tie) and Fresno among Adults 18-49. In total day, Univision stations were ranked as the #1 station in any language among Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield and among Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Phoenix and Fresno.
TeleFutura Network
During the quarter, TeleFutura not only maintained its ranking as the #2 Spanish-language network among Adults 18-34 and Adults 18-49, behind only Univision, in early morning and M-F daytime, but also ranked as the #2 Spanish-language network among Total Viewers 2+ in the same dayparts. In addition, TeleFutura delivered more Total Viewers 2+ in primetime than any other Q2 in its history, increasing its primetime viewership by 18% as compared to the same quarter last year. Among Adults 18-34, TeleFutura increased its primetime audience by 12%, while among Adults 18-49 TeleFutura’s audience increased 8%, as compared to the same quarter last year.
Locally, during Q2, TeleFutura stations outdelivered Telemundo to rank as the #2 Spanish-language stations during primetime among Adults 18-34 and Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and Sacramento. In total day, TeleFutura claimed the #2 Spanish-language stations ranking among Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Chicago (tie), Phoenix, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno
and Tucson, and among Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Houston (tie), Phoenix, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno and Tucson (tie).
Galavisión Network
Galavisión maintained its ranking as the #1 Spanish-language cable network in ratings and distribution among Hispanic Adults 18-49 in total day and primetime in the quarter. In addition, Galavisión outdelivered all but one full-time English-language cable network, including USA, MTV and ESPN, to rank as the #2 cable network among Hispanics in total day. During the second quarter 2009, Galavisión delivered seven out of the top ten rated sports telecasts on Spanish-language cable. Galavisión also increased its Adult 18-49 audience in daytime by 59% and in early morning by 51% as compared to the same quarter last year.
Radio highlights
Throughout Q2, Univision Radio posted solid ratings in the markets measured by the Arbitron diary method. For the Spring 2009 book, Univision Radio had the #1 ranked station among all Adults 25-54 (Hispanic and Non-Hispanic) in San Antonio, Fresno and Puerto Rico. In addition, Univision Radio had the #1 ranked Spanish station among Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 in Austin, El Paso, Fresno, Las Vegas and McAllen-Brownsville-Harlingen. Univision Radio is not using Arbitron’s PPM data in non-accredited PPM markets due to issues with the PPM measurement process and sample and the company is not encoding in Miami, Phoenix and San Diego. PPM is currently accredited in Houston and Riverside-San Bernardino, CA.
Uva mentioned he was excited about their recent purchase of NY Times’ full signal WQXR-FM (96.3), where they will place WCAA-FM’s (105.9) signal. Classical WQXR will move to 105.9. “This transaction will allow us to increase the coverage area of WCAA and provide more Hispanics in the market access to Univision’s music, entertainment and news.”
Interactive media highlights
According to Univision.com’s Accredited Worldwide Traffic Analytics, prepared by Media Rating Council, Univision.com ad impressions and visits grew over 8% and 7% respectively in the quarter, as compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, Univision.com video streams grew to 39 million, a 10% increase over video streams in Q2 2008. Univision.com’s interactive coverage of “Nuestra Belleza Latina” received over 43 million page views on 2.8 million visits generating double-digit growth in both metrics, according to Univision.com’s MRC Accredited Worldwide Traffic Analytics. In addition, in June Univision.com unveiled a newly redesigned homepage.
Univision Móvil achieved record traffic on its mobile website which led to a 200% increase in page views in the quarter as compared to the same quarter last year, according to site host Quattro Wireless. In addition, “Nuestra Belleza Latina” generated highest-ever user interactivity in Q2, with SMS voting increasing 210% over the second quarter 2008, according to Telescope.
