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Univision, a US giant of Hispanic media, recorded an 8.9% drop in its total business for the fourth quarter, to 688.5 million USD against 755.5 million USD the previous year.
Comparing the full year of 2018 to the previous year, total revenues decreased by 7.6% from $ 2,937.3 million to $ 2,713.8 million. Total basic revenues increased from $ 2,827.3 million to $ 2,674.2 million, a decrease of 5.4%.
Last year, the Company began the process of selling its discontinued English-language digital businesses, including Gizmodo Media Group, The Onion and Fusion Digital. According to Univision, the loss of the Gizmodo group during the quarter was $ 32.5 million, compared to $ 3.0 million for the same period last year. The Wall Street Journal reported that Univision had reduced the value of these digital badets to $ 15 million, up from $ 135 million.
"Univision serves a unique audience," said Vince Sadusky, CEO of Univision. "Hispanic America is driving growth in population and GDP and will continue to do so for decades," he said, adding, "Our strategic goal of serving this target audience has recently led to an increase in number of viewers. Since the third to the fourth quarter, our prime time ratings have increased in all key demographic data at a time when all other major networks have experienced declines. "
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Sadusky, in his second call for results since he took over the reins of Randy Falco, spoke about the "gangbusters ratings" of his adaptation "Dancing with the Stars," "Mira Quien Baila," which got the highest score among 18-24 year olds.
Sadusky noted that Univision is focused on strengthening its core business and has praised its long-time television provider, Televisa, Mexico, for revitalizing its programming. The company has also turned to more acquisitions of programs and canned formats, more football content, live broadcasts and local news to reinforce its programming.
Operating expenses increased due to its newly acquired UEFA football rights, the increase in matches of the Mexican Football League and the increase in Televisa's license fees. Direct operating expenses jumped 11% to $ 287.6 million, while selling, general and administrative expenses increased 11% to $ 176.5 million.
Sadusky agreed with Dish's president and CEO Erik Carlson a day earlier that the contractual dispute between the two companies was stalled.
"We continue to have discussions with Dish. It is clear that not reaching an agreement for both companies hurts businesses. It's just a matter of value, "said Sadusky who observed that subscribers were migrating to Dish's rival companies.
"Our other partners pay us a lot, we have a good relationship and believe we continue to benefit from the migration of Dish viewers," he said. Dish's satellite subspecies fell below $ 10 million for the first time in 15 years, in part due to Univision and HBO power outages.
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