Azteca America Chairman Available to Comment on Univision News and U.S. Hispanic Media Growth & Influence

Azteca America Chairman Available to Comment on Univision News and U.S. Hispanic Media Growth & Influence

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Luis J. Echarte, Chairman of Azteca America -- the fastest-growing Spanish language television network in the United States that reaches 77 percent of the Hispanic audience -- is available to comment on today's reports that Univision may announce plans to sell itself.

"The power and influence of Hispanic television networks in the U.S. is substantial -- and growing," Mr. Echarte said. "If true, the reports that Univision is up for sale is a watershed event and a crystal clear signal that U.S. advertisers recognize the power and promise that reaching 41 million Hispanics across the country holds."

Mr. Echarte pointed to the following key points:

* Representing 13 percent of the U.S. population, Hispanics' buying power
is estimated at $600 billion annually, with expectations for double
digit growth for years to come.

* Direct advertising expenditures toward the Hispanic Market lags behind
the general market. Hispanics represent 8 percent of the total
consumption (and growing), and receive only 3 percent of total
advertising expenditures.

* Hispanics represent more than 40 percent of the US population growth for
the last ten years, and their purchasing power is growing even faster.

* There are only three major Spanish-language television network operators
in the U.S. (Univision, Telemundo, and Azteca America), meaning that
companies will need to pay more to gain prominence in this critical
market.

* For integrated Hispanic television networks in the U.S., the
opportunities are especially promising. With product (novelas, news,
sports, etc.) that is produced in Mexico and available for immediate
broadcast in the U.S., networks like Azteca America do not have to rely
on others for their programming.

* U.S. political candidates will quickly recognize the immense value of
directing their messages to purely Hispanic audiences.

About Azteca America

Azteca America is the fastest-growing Hispanic network in the United States. The network is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TV Azteca S.A. de C.V., one of the two largest producers of Spanish language television content in the world. Azteca America currently has presence in 43 Hispanic markets, including: Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, San Antonio, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Phoenix, Brownsville-McAllen, Albuquerque, San Diego, Fresno-Visalia, Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, Denver, Orlando, Austin, Tampa, Corpus Christi, Tucson, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, Monterey-Salinas, Hartford, Salt Lake City, Bakersfield, West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Omaha, Yakima, Naples-Ft. Myers, Wichita, Reno, Boise, Victoria, Oklahoma City, Charleston, Chattanooga, Amarillo, Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro-Winston Salem, Wilmington, and Philadelphia.

Source: Azteca America

CONTACT: U.S. Media Contact: Michael W. Robinson, +1-202-973-1340
(office), or +1-202-321-4168 (mobile), mrobinson@levick.com, for Azteca
America; or Mexican and International Media Contact: Daniel McCosh of Azteca
America, 011 52 55 1720 0059 (office), dmccosh@aztecaamerica.com

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