Univision Ad Sales Steady in Q4, Subscription Revenue Rises 15%

variety.com:

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterTelevisaUnivision revealed Univision Communications fourth-quarter 2021 financial results Wednesday, saying the company held its ad sales steady compared to the prior year and increased its subscription revenue 15% versus Q4 2020.Per the privately owned company, ad sales were up 0.1% in the three-month period ended Dec.

31, at $435.2 million versus $434.8 million. Core advertising revenue, which is adjusted for political and advocacy ads, rose 12% to $407 million compared to $363 million in Q4 2020.Meanwhile, subscription fee revenue was up 15% ($294.5 million vs. $255.1 million).Overall, Univision revenue was up 4.1% over fourth quarter 2020.Click here to sign up for Variety‘s free Strictly Business newsletter covering earnings, financial and investment news, and more. “2021 was a remarkable year for Univision in which we turned around both revenue and EBITDA after more than 5 years of declines,” Univision CEO Wade Davis said in a prepared statement accompanying the financials. “Our business is firing on all cylinders across the board.

Ratings were up, defying the trend plaguing all other companies in the industry. Advertising revenue grew 22% sequentially, after a presidential election year.

Subscription revenue accelerated and most recently grew 15% in the fourth quarter. And, of course, last week we announced our upcoming, game-changing launch of ViX.”Davis continued: “In the face of all this progress, it is important to remember that the real transformation will be driven by our recently closed merger and the creation of our new company, TelevisaUnivision.