In the first post-merger preview launch, TelevisaUnivision says streaming will add to the linear business which is “on fire”

Together with advertisers, as a joint venture, TelevisaUnivision provided a one-hour presentation to ad buyers on a balanced strategy at the Javits Center in New York.

“Here’s one thing you won’t hear this week: Our linear business is on fire,” said Donna Special, director of advertising sales and marketing. She pointed to a 7% increase in the company’s portfolio and an 18% increase in its flagship transmission network, saying that “everyone else is declining or shrinking”.

At the same time, TelevisaUnivision took some steps in streaming, acquired assets and positioned itself with a new two-tier service, Vix free and Vix + on subscription. “We didn’t need to go into broadcasting to save our television business,” she said. “We saw an opportunity.”

In January last year, Univision and Grupo Televisa concluded a $ 4.8 billion merger that brought television media assets under Univision’s control and attracted several major minority investors. Univision was privately owned in 2007, with a $ 13.7 billion deal in 2007 led by media billionaire Heim Saban.

Former Viacom CFO Wade Davis now runs TelevisaUnivision as CEO and led the winning bid for Univision, and has taken steps to stabilize the ship. Among the cable TV veterans hired into the new company’s executive ranks is Spezia, who previously handled sales at Turner.

The specialist received the warmest applause in the previous presentation, participating in a video segment in which he learned the game of salsa dancing on the screen by two professionals. “It shows you the ability to trust your partner,” she said.

Sebastian Yatra, best known for his song “Dos Oruguitas”, the best soundtrack of one of the hit lists of one of the Oscar-winning Disney animated films “Encanto”, closed the event in a mixed way.