TelevisaUnivision revenue rises 9% on World Cup boost

By Elena Vasquez

TelevisaUnivision reported 9% third-quarter revenue growth to $1.4 billion. FIFA World Cup telecasts in Mexico and Latin America, plus continued improvements at streaming service ViX, drove the increase.

What powered the 9% revenue increase?

TelevisaUnivision said subscription and licensing revenue rose 30% to $640 million. Approximately $90 million in revenue came from sublicensing FIFA World Cup rights across Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Expansion of ViX’s premium tier also lifted the segment, according to the company.

Advertising revenue fell 5% to $717 million. Within that total, $389 million came from advertising tied to World Cup telecasts in Mexico, TelevisaUnivision said.

In the United States, advertising revenue decreased 24% to $328 million. The company partly attributed the drop to comparisons with year-earlier activity that included the Gold Cup. Fox and NBCUniversal’s Telemundo had rights to show the World Cup in the United States, according to TelevisaUnivision.

World Cup sublicensing and a larger ViX premium tier increased subscription income, although TelevisaUnivision’s advertising comparison remained negative for the broadcaster in its reported results. The figures show higher subscription income offsetting weaker advertising.

Why did TelevisaUnivision post an operating loss?

TelevisaUnivision recorded an operating loss of $119 million for the third quarter. The company posted operating income of $265 million in the prior year. It also recorded a non-cash impairment loss of $372 million related to a write-down of television broadcast licenses.

The disclosed non-cash license charge accompanied a sharp reversal from profit, even though the broadcaster generated $1.4 billion in reported revenue during the same quarter. The quarter combined $1.4 billion in revenue with a $119 million operating loss.

Who is reshaping the company?

TelevisaUnivision said it had worked to bolster its balance sheet since Wade Davis, the former Viacom CFO. Davis orchestrated Univision’s buyout in 2020 before merging it with Mexico’s Grupo Televisa in 2022. He later ceded the CEO role to Daniel Alegre, a former senior executive at Activision Blizzard.

Since Alegre joined in 2024, TelevisaUnivision has streamlined operations previously divided by geographic region. The company owns media assets in both the United States and Mexico.

“Our performance in the third quarter reflected disciplined execution against our multiplatform strategy as we delivered exceptional results from the World Cup in Mexico while gaining momentum in the U.S. with increased engagement across our fall content slate and robust sports portfolio,” said Alegre in a prepared statement.

TelevisaUnivision described its Mexican operations as more durable in recent quarters. In the United States, advertising revenue fell 22%, while subscription and licensing revenue rose 5% during the period. The 22% figure differs from the 24% decline cited earlier; the company statement did not reconcile the two percentages.

The company’s two-country footprint now sits behind one leadership team, with Mexican operations proving steadier and U.S. performance still uneven in the latest company disclosures. Mexico provided the stronger base, while the United States remained the weaker growth area.

What will determine the next phase?

TelevisaUnivision’s stated priorities are a stronger balance sheet, continued operational streamlining and momentum from its fall content slate and sports portfolio. The company has also cited expansion of ViX’s premium tier as a source of subscription growth.

TelevisaUnivision’s next results will test whether this World Cup-assisted quarter can become steadier U.S. growth and durable premium streaming performance without relying on another exceptional football tournament. The next test is repeatable growth without a major football-event boost.