Univision Taps Ad Exec as CEO

NEW YORK, February 28: OMD Worldwide’s president and CEO, Joe
Uva, will become CEO of Univision Communications following the completion of
the Hispanic broadcaster’s acquisition by a group of investors that includes
Haim Saban.

Broadcasting Media Partners Inc. (BMPI), which includes
Madison Dearborn Partners, Providence Equity Partners, Texas Pacific Group
(TPG), Thomas H. Lee Partners and Saban Capital Group, is in the process of
acquiring Univision for about $13.7 billion. That acquisition was approved by
Univision’s shareholders in September. At the time, BMPI’s lead competition for
Univision was Mexico’s Televisa, which supplies much of the broadcaster’s
content. Televisa currently owns 11.4 percent of Univision and had been hoping
to up that to 25 percent in a bid with several private investment firms. It is
not yet clear what Televisa plans to do with that minority interest. A number
of wire reports today indicated that Televisa does plan to offload the interest
and explore other opportunities within the U.S. market. Relations between Televisa
and Univision have been strained for some time over disputes about their
programming licensing agreement and the online rights to Televisa’s hit novelas
that air on Univision.

The 51-year-old Uva assumes his new duties at Univision on
April 1, following the expected completion of the acquisition in March. He will
be based in New York and will have overall responsibility for all aspects of
Univision’s operations, including its television, radio, music and online
divisions.

Over the past five years, Uva has led the growth of OMD into
the number-two ranked global media strategy and buying agency with more than
100 offices in 80-plus countries. Prior to joining OMD in 2002, Uva spent 17
years at Turner Broadcasting System, most recently as president of sales and
marketing for Turner Entertainment Group.

In announcing Uva’s appointment, BMPI said in a release:
“Univision has enormous growth opportunities ahead of it, and we are very
pleased that an executive with Joe Uva’s broad media experience, leadership
abilities, and entrepreneurial qualities will be driving our efforts to build
value and take the company to the next level. Joe has a proven track record of
achievement in a broad range of advertising-focused media businesses based on
his effective strategy development, team building, sales skills, creative
execution and new business expansion. While at OMD he structured the industry’s
first billion-dollar cross-media buying contract and attracted a stable of new
clients while solidifying a global network and working to establish best
practices around the world. He previously played a key role in the growth and
development of Turner Broadcasting over a 17-year period. We are delighted to
welcome him to Univision.”

Uva said he is “excited to have the opportunity to lead a
premier company that has redefined the American media landscape and is so
deeply embedded in the lives of its audience. This is a company with tremendous
strength that has fabulous growth opportunities. Its relationships with its
consumers are unparalleled in the media industry. I very much look forward to
working with Univision’s outstanding management team, programming and industry
partners, and leaders in the Hispanic community to build on the company’s
legacy of innovation and success.”