Univision Communications Inc., the leading Spanish-language media company in the United States, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. For the first quarter, net revenue increased 5.8% to $458.8 million in 2008 from $433.7 million in 2007. Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization2 increased 2.8% to $150.9 million in 2008 from $146.8 million in 2007. The company’s music recording and publishing business3 as well as certain non-core assets have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented and are not included in the above results.
Joe Uva, Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am pleased that Univision achieved another period of positive results with both our Television and Radio businesses substantially outperforming the broadcast industry. The Univision Network attracted more young adults than CBS to rank as the #4 network for the entire quarter among young adults, Univision Radio continues to deliver exceptional audience share growth and improvement in rank in key markets, and Univision Online forged important partnerships with CNET, the NFL and Verizon Wireless to leverage and build on its unmatched popularity among U.S. Hispanics.”
Uva continued, “Looking to the 2008-2009 Upfront, we feel confident in our competitive position. We are excited to bring the new ROI tool developed with Nielsen to the market, which will provide marketers with valuable television viewing data fused with purchase information to help accurately target consumers, maximize their advertising spending and grow their businesses.”
Andrew W. Hobson, Chief Financial Officer, said, “Our Television and Radio businesses continued to grow in the first quarter with our revenue growth significantly outperforming the overall broadcast industry.”
The following tables set forth the Company’s unaudited financial performance for the three months ended March 31, 2008:
| Unaudited
In millions
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
Net Revenues |
|
OIBDA4
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Television |
|
$365.2 |
|
$340.9 |
|
$129.6 |
|
$119.4 |
| Radio |
|
85.8
|
|
83.4 |
|
22.0 |
|
26.4 |
| Internet |
|
7.8 |
|
9.4 |
|
(0.7) |
|
1.0 |
| Consolidated |
|
$458.8 |
|
$433.7 |
|
$150.9 |
|
$146.8 |
|
|
2007 amounts represent a predecessor basis of accounting.
|
TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS
Univision Network
The following table sets forth the total primetime audience and ranking of the country’s leading broadcast and cable television networks for the first quarter 2008, as measured by Nielsen’s National Television Index (NTI):
|
|
Total U.S. Primetime Network Audience |
|
|
1st Quarter 2008 |
|
|
|
| Rank* |
|
Network |
|
Adult 18-34
Avg. Audience (000)
|
|
Adult 18-49
Avg. Audience (000)
|
| 1 |
|
FOX |
|
3,232 |
|
7,161 |
| 2 |
|
ABC |
|
1,336 |
|
3,308 |
| 3 |
|
NBC |
|
1,284 |
|
3,339 |
| 4 |
|
UNIVISION |
|
1,163 |
|
1,990 |
| 5 |
|
CBS |
|
1,147 |
|
3,274 |
| 6 |
|
TBS |
|
692 |
|
1,176 |
| 7 |
|
CW |
|
639 |
|
1,153 |
| 8 |
|
USA |
|
556 |
|
1,229 |
| 9 |
|
MTV |
|
490 |
|
630 |
| 10 |
|
CMDY |
|
475 |
|
707 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Source: Nielsen Media Research, NTI, 12/31/07-03/30/08 Live+SD data.
Primetime defined as M-Sa 8-11p, Su 7-11p.
*By Adults 18-34
|
The Univision Network out delivered CBS to rank as the #4 network in the country in primetime among Adults 18-34 in the first quarter, as measured by Nielsen’s NTI. In the first quarter, Univision delivered more viewers than either ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX on nine out of every 10 nights – or more than 90% of the time – in primetime among Adults 18-34. Among Adults 18-49, Univision ranked as the #5 network in the country in primetime and delivered more 18-49 year old viewers than either ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX on one out of every three nights in the first quarter. Univision maintained its strong results on Friday nights in the first quarter, ranking as the #1 network for the entire night on more than 75% of the Fridays in the quarter among Adults 18-34.
During the first quarter, Univision’s blockbuster novela “Al Diablo con Los Guapos” (“Down With the Beautiful”) propelled the network to the #2 spot among all networks in the country during the highly competitive 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. weeknight hour among Adults 18-34. Univision also broadcast the most-watched “Premio Lo Nuestro” awards show in its history during the quarter, reaching 12 million total viewers and increasing Adult 18-34 viewership 11% over last year. In addition, underscoring the importance of Univision’s weeknight network news to Hispanic Americans, “Noticiero Univision” achieved a record-breaking audience level of 1.3 million Adults 18-49, representing a viewership increase of 5% over first quarter last year while the other major network evening news programs experienced an average decline in viewership of 7%.
Locally, during the 2008 first quarter, Univision stations were ranked as the #1 station in any language in primetime among Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Houston, Fresno and Bakersfield. Univision’s primetime novela block outdelivered the competition among Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Houston, Fresno and Bakersfield. In total day, Univision stations were ranked as the #1 station in any language in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Fresno, Austin and Bakersfield among Adults 18-34 and in Los Angeles, Houston, Fresno and Bakersfield among Adults 18-49.
TeleFutura Network
TeleFutura continued its viewership growth in the 2008 first quarter, increasing its primetime audience 6% among Adults 18-34 and 3% among Adults 18-49, and its total day audience 13% among Adults 18-34 and 5% among Adults 18-49, compared to first quarter last year. During the first quarter, TeleFutura was the #2 Spanish-language network, behind only Univision, in weekday daytime, weekend daytime, early morning and late fringe among Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49 and Persons 2+. Additionally, TeleFutura’s primetime movie block increased its popularity, growing its audience 11% among Adults 18-34 and 10% among Adults 18-49, compared to first quarter last year.
Locally, during the 2008 first quarter, TeleFutura stations were ranked as the #2 Spanish-language stations in primetime among Adults 18-34 in Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and Sacramento, and among Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles (tie), Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Sacramento and Tucson (tie). In total day, TeleFutura stations were ranked as the #2 Spanish-language station among Adults 18-34 in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Sacramento, Fresno (tie), Austin (tie), Tucson (tie) and Bakersfield, and among Adults 18-49 in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix (tie), Sacramento, Austin (tie), Tucson (tie) and Bakersfield (tie).
Galavisión Network
The Galavisión Network delivered its strongest ever first quarter performance in primetime and total day, achieving audience increases of 14% in primetime and 17% in total day among Adults 18-49 compared to first quarter last year. Galavisión remained the #1 Spanish-language cable network among U.S. Hispanics during the quarter, attracting nearly double the Adult 18-49 audience of its closest competitor among the other individually rated Spanish-language cable networks in primetime.
RADIO HIGHLIGHTS
Univision Radio’s net revenue grew 2.9% in the first quarter of 2008, compared to an average decline of 4.8% in the markets we operate in according to Miller Kaplan. In the Arbitron Winter 2008 book, Univision Radio’s outstanding programming and effective cross promotion with Univision’s local television stations resulted in audience share growth and improvement in rank among Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 in key markets. In Los Angeles, Univision Radio maintained its leadership position with KLVE and KSCA ranking as the #1 and #2 stations in the market respectively, among Adults 25-54. Univision Radio’s New York station cluster posted notable audience share increases of 14% among Adults 18-34 and 38% among Adults 25-54, compared to the same period last year. In San Francisco, KSOL maintained its #1 ranking in the market among Adults 18-34. Additionally, Univision Radio had the #1 station among Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54 in Dallas, Phoenix, and Puerto Rico.
INTERNET HIGHLIGHTS
Univision Online unique visits increased by 16% compared to the first quarter last year. In addition, video streams increased 68% in the quarter compared to a year ago, driven by streamlined usage features and the recent launch of the site’s new video portal. During the first quarter, Univision.com announced a partnership with CNET to provide Univision.com users with access to a special mini-site for product reviews, breaking news about technology and original videos to help Spanish-speakers navigate and learn about today’s digital world. Additionally, Univision Online announced a partnership with the National Football League to jointly manage and operate NFLatino.com, powered by Univision.com, the official Spanish-language website of the NFL.
“*