TelevisaUnivision, a leading force in Spanish-language media, has announced a significant leadership change, appointing Daniel Alegre as its new CEO. Alegre, who most recently served as CEO of non-fungible token firm Yuga Labs and previously held executive roles at Activision Blizzard and Google, succeeds Wade Davis. Davis, who played a key role in the 2022 merger of Televisa and Univision, will transition to the role of vice chairman while remaining on the company’s board.
This change comes as TelevisaUnivision faces ongoing challenges in boosting its profitability, particularly in the U.S. market. Despite launching the successful streaming platform ViX, which has attracted around 50 million monthly active users, the company has struggled to meet internal financial targets. In 2023, profits dropped to $1.61 billion from $1.69 billion the previous year. Additionally, the company still carries a substantial debt load of $9.8 billion, with minimal progress made in reducing it since the merger.
TelevisaUnivision has seen positive revenue growth in the Mexican market, where advertising and streaming have driven gains. However, the U.S. side of the business has lagged behind expectations, a key reason for the leadership transition. The company had hoped for stronger results under Davis, who had overseen Univision’s acquisition and subsequent merger with Televisa. His strategy focused heavily on digital transformation and streaming, drawing on his experience with Pluto TV during his time at ViacomCBS.
Alegre’s appointment is seen as a move to reignite growth, particularly in the U.S. market, where competition from giants like Netflix and Disney+ remains fierce. His extensive background in media, tech, and Latin America positions him to lead TelevisaUnivision through its next phase of development.
