TelevisaUnivision Adds 25 Million ViX Free Tier Users, Projects Profitability In 2023

TelevisaUnivision promoted the heck out of its new streaming service ViX prior to and after its 2022 launch, touting it as the only true global Spanish-language digital content platform.

It kicked off with a free ad-supported tier at the end of March, followed by the upgraded premium service in July, when it announced a deal offering a full year subscription of ViX+ to new and existing T-Mobile customers.

The company heavily publicized and cross-promoted its ViX programming across linear and digital platforms. And along the way, it also acquired Pantaya, the first U.S. Spanish-language streamer, absorbing its subscribers and original content – some already living in its library. Other projects that were in development premiered as Vix+ originals, such as thriller La Rebelión (The Rebellion).

It looks like those efforts have paid off for the company, which reported in its Q4 2022 results that it has surpassed 25 million active users on its free tier alone. TelevisaUnivision did not share how many paid subscribers it has for its premium service.

“ViX is now fully launched and is the definitive leader in Spanish-language streaming in less than a full year of operations,” said Wade Davis, CEO of TelevisaUnivision. “The growth and profitability of our core business more than offset the investments we made in ViX. The power of the combined assets in the U.S. and Mexico cause us to continue to expect ViX to reach profitability by the end of 2023.”

TelevisaUnivision’s fourth quarter revenue grew 22% to $1.5 billion. The company said that was driven by advertising revenue growth of 14% in the U.S. and a full quarter of ViX subscription revenue.

According to measurement company TVision’s new The State of CTV Advertising report, overall ad-supported connected TV app viewing rose 55% in the second half of 2022, compared to the same period in 2020. That report did not include newcomer ViX.

In its Q4 report, the company stated that its linear television market share expanded about 60% in both Mexico and U.S. Spanish language. But with audiences continuing to cut the cord, streaming opportunities will likely continue to grow, especially in ad-tier subscription platforms.

“Our content engine in Mexico continues to produce hits that resonate in both the U.S. and Mexico and is now powering our market-leading streaming platform as well as our linear networks,” said Wade.