TelevisaUnivision Ushers in New Leadership While Revenue Increases to $1.3 Billion

TelevisaUnivision is positioning itself for its next phase of growth with a leadership transition. On Wednesday, the Spanish-language media giant announced the appointment of Daniel Alegre as the new CEO, succeeding Wade Davis.

Davis, who led the company through the merger of Univision and Televisa in 2022, will transition to Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He will remain involved as a member of the Executive Committee, continuing to provide guidance to Alegre, who officially assumed the role on September 19.

Alegre’s appointment is part of a long-term succession plan aimed at guiding the company following its transformation and integration. Alegre, who most recently served as CEO of web3 company Yuga Labs and was previously the COO of Activision Blizzard, brings a wealth of experience in global operations. His tenure at Activision Blizzard, which lasted until 2023, saw him manage international gaming studios and lead the commercialization of major video game franchises. Before that, Alegre spent 16 years at Google, where he held key roles, including President of Global and Strategic Partnerships, President of Shopping and Payments, and President of Asia Pacific and Latin America. During his time at Google, he played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s footprint across Latin America and Asia.

The leadership change follows another recent shift at TelevisaUnivision, as Chief Financial Officer Carlos Ferreiro stepped down in July due to health concerns. As of September 1, Juan Pablo Newman Aguilar, the company’s Chief Growth Officer in Mexico, has taken over as interim CFO.

TelevisaUnivision Executive Chairman Alfonso de Angoitia, while announcing Alegre’s appointment, acknowledged Davis’s contributions to the company’s transformation. He expressed confidence in Alegre’s ability to lead the company forward, given his global operational experience in technology, digital platforms, and entertainment.

De Angoitia emphasized that the media landscape has been dynamic, and he credited Davis for his role in Univision’s turnaround and the merger that created TelevisaUnivision, now the world’s leading Spanish-language media company. He noted that Alegre’s experience, particularly in markets across the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America, made him the right choice to guide the company into its next growth phase.

Alegre, in turn, highlighted the immense potential in both the U.S. and Mexico for reaching Spanish-speaking audiences. He pointed out that these two regions represent the largest Spanish-language markets in the world, with a demographic that is growing in importance globally. Alegre also acknowledged the strong foundation that TelevisaUnivision has built, including its extensive content pipeline and ongoing investments in technology, positioning the company to continue its growth trajectory.

Davis also expressed his confidence in Alegre, praising the company’s achievements under his leadership. He noted that TelevisaUnivision has consistently outperformed in both the U.S. and Mexican advertising markets, with revenue growth that has exceeded market expectations. He pointed to the success of ViX, the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, which has become the largest Spanish-language streamer globally. Davis remarked that Alegre’s track record of operational and strategic execution made him the ideal candidate to lead the company’s next chapter.

TelevisaUnivision’s financial performance has reflected steady growth, with total revenue in the second quarter increasing by 3% year-over-year to $1.3 billion, driven by gains in both Mexico and the U.S. Advertising revenue grew by 6% year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA saw a 3% decline, although the decline showed improvement compared to the previous quarter.

The company has also made significant strides in streaming with the launch of its Spanish-language platform, ViX, in 2022. The service, which offers both paid and free tiers, expanded its offerings this summer with the introduction of a paid tier with ads. As of the second quarter, ViX boasted 50 million monthly active users on its free tier, further cementing TelevisaUnivision’s reach in the streaming space.

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