Univision Deportes Ends 2016 with Record-Breaking Ratings
UDN is the Fastest-Growing Sports Network in Primetime, Regardless
of Language, and the Only Sports Network to Deliver +33 Percent
Year-Over-Year Ratings Growth in 2016
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Univision Deportes, the multimedia sports division of Univision
Communications Inc. (UCI) that also includes UDN (Univision Deportes
Network), the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network, delivered record
ratings and double-digit growth in key metrics for its sports content
across media platforms in 2016. Additionally, UDN, which launched in
2012 and will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2017, registered
year-over-year ratings gains for the fourth consecutive year and was the
only sports network to do so, broadcasting some of the most-watched
sporting events in the U.S. UDN saw a year-over-year increase of +33
percent – making it the fastest-growing of any TV network, regardless of
genre or language, in primetime – and averaged 124,000 Adults 18-49 in
2016.
“Our team’s continued dedication and commitment to deliver the
best-in-class sports content that our viewers have come to expect from
us led to a tremendous year for Univision Deportes,” said Juan Carlos
Rodriguez, president of Univision Deportes. “As we approach the fifth
anniversary of UDN, we plan to continue to deliver top-quality content
for fanáticos who are at the heart of what we do. Our goal at UD
has always been, and continues to be, to become the No. 1 destination
for soccer in America.”
In 2016, Univision Deportes delivered a record-shattering ratings for
Copa América Centenario which positioned UDN as the No. 1 sports network
in primetime in June among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Men 18-49 and Men
18-34, besting ESPN, FS1, NBCSN and all competitors, marking the first
time a Spanish-language sports network ranked as No. 1. Furthermore,
through 28 matches, Copa América Centenario tournament averaged 2.9
million Total Viewers 2+ and 1.6 million Adults 18-49 per match, beating
the World Cup by +9,000 among Total Viewers 2+ and +64,000 among Adults
18-49 and making it the most viewed Copa América tournament ever among
Total Viewers 2+. The final match between Argentina and Chile averaged
6.8 million Total Viewers 2+ and 3.8 million Adults 18-49, making it the
most-viewed Copa América final ever, on any network, regardless of
language. The tournament was a success on the social media front as
well, reaching the highest video views for Univision during the month of
June and resulted in 2.7 million unique visitors to the website – the
highest for the year.
Univision Deportes’ success in 2016 went well beyond Copa América. Liga
MX had a phenomenal year, as the Mexican fútbol league showed
that it was the most popular soccer in the U.S. with strong performances
during its most-watched year on UCI – including Univision Network,
UniMás and UDN.
-
Liga MX averaged 209,000 Adults 18-49 on UDN in 2016, +22 percent
better than the NBA on NBA TV and +15 percent better than NHL on NBCSN
among Adults 18-49. -
The most-watched Liga MX finals ever, with the first leg match between
Tigres and América – the most-viewed in Univision’s history –
outperforming the 2014 Liga MX Apertura final between the same two
teams. -
The highest-rated regular season club soccer match of the year was
Chivas versus América on Univision, averaging more than 3 million
Total Viewers 2+, which was +165 percent higher than the most-viewed
English Premier League match of the year on NBC Networks.
During a year that saw most networks decline in ratings, UDN was one of
only five sports networks (of 15 total) to grow as it continued to beat
MLB Network, NBA TV, Golf Channel, FS2, ESPNU, beIN SPORTS, among others.
ADDITIONAL TV HIGHLIGHTS
-
Mexican National Team – The 2016 World Cup qualifying match
between the USA and Mexico men’s teams simulcast on Univision Network
and UDN reached 7.7 million Total Viewers 2+, and averaged 4.6 million
Total Viewers 2+ and 2.5 million Adults 18-49. This marked the
best-rated World Cup qualifier match on any network since the USA
versus Mexico match in March 2013. -
MLS – The Toronto versus Seattle faceoff delivered 601,000
Total Viewers 2+ on Saturday, December 10, on UniMás: the second
largest audience of all time for an MLS final on Univision Deportes.
This included an increase of +19 percent year-over-year among Total
Viewers 2+ and +24 percent with Adults 18-49 (to 328,000). For the
season, MLS on Univision and UniMás averaged 262,000 Total Viewers 2+
and 143,000 Adults 18-49, up +7 percent and +3 percent from the prior
season, respectively – and showing stronger growth than MLS on any
other TV network, regardless of language. -
CONCACAF – The first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL)
final between Tigres and América on UniMás was the most-viewed CCL
Champions League match ever on any network, regardless of language,
with 804,000 Adults 18-49 and 1.23 million Total Viewers 2+. -
COPA MX – Univision Deportes’ broadcast of the Copa MX final on
November 2, 2016, between Queretaro and Guadalajara averaged 603,000
Adults 18-49 and 958,000 Total Viewers 2+, the most-viewed Copa MX
final ever. -
Expediente – Expediente Univision Deportes (“The Univision
Sports Files”) had its best year ever on UDN, averaging 158,000 Total
Viewers 2+ and 95,000 Adults 18-49, improving +34 percent and +41
percent, respectively, over 2015. -
“Premios Univision Deportes” (Univision Sports Awards) – In its
third year, the December 18, 2016, telecast of the sports awards show
on Univision Network and UDN reached 4.7 million Total Viewers 2+ who
tuned in to all or part of the broadcast, and grew its audience by +14
percent among Adults 18-49 year-over-year. It averaged 1.5 million
Total Viewers 2+ and 652,000 Adults 18-49, outperforming 2016’s ESPYs
among Hispanics by +109 percent. -
Sábado Futbolero – Univision Deportes transformed Saturday
nights for fútbol in 2016 with the launch of “Sábado
Futbolero,” which saw increased time period ratings on Univision by
+25 percent among Adults 18-49.
Source: Nielsen, NPM, L+SD data.
About Univision Deportes
Univision Deportes is the multimedia sports division of Univision
Communications Inc. (UCI) and includes UDN, the No. 1 Spanish-language
sports network in the U.S. Univision Deportes’ portfolio of rights
includes 11 of the 18 teams in Liga MX, the Mexican National Team, the
U.S. Men’s & Women’s National Teams, Major League Soccer, Copa MX, Copa
Centroamericana, Copa América, CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF Champions
League, international friendlies, select matches from Liga de Ascenso in
Mexico, Portuguese First Division, Dutch First Division, FC Barcelona TV
and Bayern Munich TV, Mexico’s Campeón de Campeones and SúperCopa, and
Formula 1. Univision Deportes is also the exclusive home to shows such
as Premios Univision Deportes, Solo Boxeo, Zona NBA, Republica Deportiva
and Contacto Deportivo, the highest-rated Spanish-language sports studio
show in the U.S., and delivers comprehensive coverage across platforms
on all the latest from the NBA, NFL, MLB, and world of boxing.
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company
serving Hispanic America. The Company, a leading content creator in the
U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the leading networks in the
U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language
broadcast television network in the country available in approximately
93% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading
Spanish-language broadcast television network available in approximately
87% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks,
including Galavisión, the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language
entertainment cable network, as well as UDN (Univision Deportes
Network), the most-watched U.S. Spanish-language sports cable network,
Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated
to telenovelas, Fusion, a 24-hour English-language news and lifestyle TV
and digital network, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network
dedicated to international news, and an additional suite of cable
offerings – De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and
Telehit; Univision Television Group, which owns 59 television stations
in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; digital properties
consisting of online and mobile websites and apps, including Univision.com,
the most visited Spanish-language website among U.S. Hispanics,
Univision Now, a direct to consumer video service, Uforia, a music
application featuring multimedia music content, The Root, the leading
online news, opinion, and culture destination for African-Americans and
a stake in The Onion, the nation’s leading comedy and news satire brand;
and Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group in the
U.S. which owns and operates 67 radio stations including stations in 16
of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico. UCI’s assets also
include a minority stake in El Rey Network, a 24-hour English-language
general entertainment cable network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI
has television network operations in Miami and television and radio
stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.
For more information, please visit Corporate.Univision.com.
Contacts
Univision Communications Inc.
Mercedes Diez, 212-455-5259
mdiez@univision.net
@UCIPRTeam