Univision earnings down for Q2
Details
Michelle Clancy
| 16 August 2019

Hispanic media giant Univision Communications posted lower earnings for the second quarter of the year, along with lower revenue and higher operating expenses.

Overall core revenue was down 3.5% to $694.5 million. Profit came in at $92 million, down 24% from $121.3 million a year ago. Quarterly revenue meanwhile declined 4% to $701.7 million, including a 1.1% drop in media networks unit core advertising revenue. Total networks unit advertising revenue declined 2% to $347.2 million. The company said declines in linear television ad revenue were to blame.

Media networks unit non-advertising revenue, including carriage fees and content licencing, also declined – by 6.2% to reach $292.8 million in the second quarter. Subscriber fee revenue was also down in the quarter, reaching $263.3 million, down from $279.6 million in the year-ago period.

Quarterly direct operating expenses rose 9% to $273.7 million. Expenses related to programming, excluding variable programme licence fees, increased 31% to $40 million. Buying Gold Cup and UEFA soccer rights and higher news programming costs were to blame, only partially offset by a decrease in entertainment programming costs.

In July, Univision said it was reviewing its strategic options, and would consider an acquisition by the right buyer.