Profit Dips at TV Azteca

MEXICO CITY, October 24: With revenues flat at Ps. 2,432
million ($224.4 million) and a rise in costs and expenses, third-quarter profit
at TV Azteca fell 13 percent to Ps. 440 million ($40.6 million).

"We were able to match the sales level from the prior year,
despite the absence this quarter of revenue related to the final stage of the
soccer World Cup 2006, and Unefon sales," said Mario San Roman, the
company’s CEO. "On the strategic front, we further strengthened the
popularity of our programming grid, which generates superior audience levels
and places us in an outstanding position for the upcoming months, which have
high seasonal advertising demand."

The company’s U.S. Hispanic broadcasting arm, Azteca
America, saw revenues rise 7 percent to Ps. 137 million ($12.6 million), while
programming sales brought in Ps. 26 million ($2.4 million), double what was
recorded last year. Key drivers included Mientras Haya Vida in Latin America and Europe, and La Vida
es una Cancion in Central and South
America.

—By Mansha Daswani