Dish Signs Multi-Year Deal With Univision

Dish Network signed deals with the Spanish television giant Univision. Details of the respective agreements were not made public.  This solution at the eleventh hour by both Dish Network and Univision prevented what could have been a disastrous move by both sides as far as their futures in the US television spectrum. Despite a ratings drop for Spanish television, the network has seen a growth in viewership.

Univision said the that the network as gone against the current viewer trend acquiring one of the youngest broadcasting audiences in primetime in American television. These numbers were announced two days after Univision reported its fourth-quarter net loss widened on US$2.25 billion in write-downs as well as other charges, while television and radio revenue fell due to a drop in advertising moneys.

Univision has been hurt by an advertising slump that has affected nearly all media companies, and it is struggling to make payments on nearly $10 billion of debt, as cash flow falls precipitously and cash on hand declines. Much of the debt came from the company’s $12.3 billion leveraged buyout to a group of private investors. The Spanish television network was in danger of having a large number of their Dish Network viewership blacked out as of April 1st of sporting events such as the Mexican First Division and the Confederations Cup.

Univision Communications, Inc.  had also inked a multi-year deal with Time Warner in order market and distrbiute the Spanish networks in some markets.