Enrique Acevedo, contributor at CBS News, takes over as anchor of Televisa’s En Punto newscast in Mexico January 9. He joined CBS News in January 2020 as a correspondent and shifted to a contributor role late in 2022 when he signed on at En Punto.

Prior to his time at CBS, Acevedo was the anchor of Noticiero Univision's late-night newscast and a special correspondent for Univision's news division. He was also an anchor at KTFK Stockton, a UniMás affiliate.

He succeeds Denise Maerker, who moves to an executive producer role on En Punto. Maerker started at Televisa in 2005.

En Punto, a primetime newscast, translates to "O'clock."

The New York Times noted Maerker’s objectivity at a time when Mexico, and its media, is increasingly split in two. “Her defenders say it’s a loss for objectivity in a country that is increasingly divided,” it reported. “Her critics say that her approach is really too soft and that it no longer fits in the warlike media landscape of today’s Mexico.”

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has often criticized Maerker’s coverage, and is a frequent critic of media figures that do not agree with him and his policies. Mexico holds a presidential election in 2024. 

Acevedo had been a correspondent on 60 in 6, a 60 Minutes program on short-lived Quibi. ■

Univision Communications has named Michael Schwimmer to the new post of president, global platform strategy and revenue.

One of those platforms is the Spanish-language broadcaster’s new unified streaming service that is slated to launch later this year. Univision is in the process of merging with Mexico’s Televisa to form what the broadcasters say will be the world’s largest Spanish-language media company. 

Schwimmer will be responsible for extending the global reach of the combined Univision and Televisa libraries of more than 300,000 hours of content, including working on global app distribution for a new, unified, streaming service.

Before getting the new job, Schwimmer was group president of Sling TV and executive VP of parent Dish Network. 

His resume also includes a stint as president and CEO of Fuse Media. He is a board member of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE).

“Michael will complement our team by leading global distribution for the combined library of Televisa and Univision content, including all subscription and content licensing activities, and will oversee our efforts to ensure that thousands of hours of our Spanish-language content reaches valued audiences worldwide,” said Univision CEO Wade Davis, to whom Schwimmer will report. 

Televisa is merging its content and media assets with Univision to create what they call the world’s largest Spanish-language media company.

Televisa was already a big shareholder in Univision and its top programming provider. After the transaction closes, Televisa will have a 45% stake in Televisa-Univision. 

Wade Davis, who led a buyout of Univision last year, will lead the combined company, Televisa-Univision with Televisa’s co-chief executive officer Alfonso de Angoitia serving as executive chairman of the board. 

Also Read: Univision Launches Ad-Supported Streaming Service, PrendeTV

Marcelo Laure, CEO of SoftBank International will become vice chairman of the board. Softbank helped finance the translation, leading a $1 billion Series C preferred investment, with participation from Google, The Raine Group and ForgeLight.

Televisa is kicking in $4.8 billion assets worth $4.8 billion. In exchange, It will receive $3 billion in cash, $1.5 billion in Univision equity and $300 million from other sources.

“This transformative combination brings together the leading network serving U.S. Spanish-language audiences with the leading media platform in Mexico powered by the most powerful Spanish-language content engine in the world,” said Davis. “Televisa-Univision will emerge as the leading global Spanish-language multi-media company, uniquely positioned to capture the significant market opportunity for Spanish speakers worldwide.”

Also Read: Wade Davis, Donna Speciale Introduce New Univision to Madison Avenue

“This strategic combination generates significant value for shareholders of both companies and will allow us to more efficiently reach all Spanish-language audiences with more of our programming,” said Emilio Azcárraga, executive chairman of the Televisa Board of Directors. “Together, Televisa-Univision can more aggressively pursue innovation and growth through digital platforms as the industry continues to evolve. Our new investors at the SoftBank Latin America Fund, Google and The Raine Group are just as excited about the opportunities presented by this combination.”

The new company will have a large library of owned content and production capabilities to fuel its TV platforms including the Univision and UniMas broadcast networks, nine cable networks 61 television stations and the new PrendeTV streaming service.

Televisa will also contribute its four free-to-air channels, 27 pay-TV networks channels and stations, its Videocine movie studio and Blim TV subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, and the Televisa trademark. 

Televisa will retain ownership of Izzi Telecom, Sky, and other businesses, as well as the main real estate associated with the production facilities, the broadcasting licenses and transmission infrastructure in Mexico.

News content production for Mexico will be outsourced from a company owned by the Azcárraga family to keep the news business in Mexican hands and produced by Mexico. Televisa-Univision will retain assets and library related to Televisa’s news division. 

Univision has been hampered by a large debt load. As a result of the transaction, its net debt leverage ratio is expedited to decline to about 5 times earnings, including run-rate revenue and cost synergies of $200 million to $300 million. 

The company is expected to have an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization margin of 45%.

The transaction is expected to close in 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals in the United States and Mexico, and Televisa shareholder approval. The Board of Directors of both Televisa and Univision have already approved the combination.

“The SoftBank Latin America Fund is proud to invest in the combination of Televisa-Univision to help create a content powerhouse that can serve the nearly 600 million Spanish-language speakers globally. With the largest and most iconic original Spanish content library in the world and access to SoftBank’s global tech ecosystem, we will help transform the new company into the leading Spanish-language multi-platform digital media company and one of the most important OTT service providers in the world,” said Marcelo Claure, CEO of SoftBank Group International and board member of Univision. ■

Searchlight Capital Partners and Wade Davis’ ForgeLight LLC said they completed their acquisition of a controlling 64% stake in Univision Holding Inc.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Wall Street Journal reported that the companies paid $526 million and assumed the company’s debt.

Also Read: FCC Approves Univision Sale to SearchLight

Davis, a former CFO for Viacom, has become CEO of Univision, succeeding Vince Sadusky.

Televisa said it will maintain its 36% ownership in Univision and convert warrants it holds into common stock. Television will also continue to be a major supplier of programming to Univision.

“I am honored to be partnering with Searchlight and Televisa to begin this exciting new era for Univision,” said Davis.

Also Read: New Directors Join Univision Board Ahead of Takeover

“Televisa’s strategic insight and global content leadership, coupled with Searchlight’s tremendous experience as a long-term media investor, will help us fully realize Univision’s potential as the leading Hispanic content company in the United States. Univision’s recognized and trusted brand, its consistent performance, and its leadership serving an important and growing consumer audience give us an unmatched opportunity to achieve even greater success,” Davis said.

Univision was the dominant Spanish-language television company for years.
After going private in a  $13 billion deal led by Haim Saban in 2007, Univision was saddled by billions in debt.

Comcast’s Telemundo has turned the Spanish-language market into a horse race in recent years by poaching rights to big sports events including the World Cup and offering more current primetime programming versus Univision’s more traditional telenovelas.

“We are excited to be part of this new phase of Univision. Wade’s leadership and Searchlight’s support are the catalysts that Univision needs to solidify its position as the leading Spanish-language media organization in the United States in light of the rapid changes that the industry is facing,” said Bernardo Gomez and Alfonso de Angoitia, co-CEOs of Televisa.  

“We are looking forward to an even closer collaboration with Univision to help it implement the many transformational initiatives that Wade has set out to achieve. We would also like to thank Haim Saban for his leadership and dedication to Univision all these years,” the Televisa executives said.