Televisa & Clear Channel Entertainment Enter U.S. Hispanic Market.

Grupo Televisa, S.A. and Clear Channel Entertainment announced an agreement that extends their Mexico-focused live entertainment joint enterprise to include the U.S. Hispanic market.

Established by Televisa and Clear Channel Entertainment in 2001, the joint enterprise, called En Vivo in Mexico but not yet named in the U.S., will pursue worldwide tours of Spanish-speaking artists and other live events primarily targeting Spanish-speaking audiences.

Under the agreement, Televisa will acquire 50% of Cardenas-Fernandez & Associates, Inc. (CFA), producer in the U.S. and Caribbean, from founders Henry Cardenas and Ivan Fernandez. Clear Channel Entertainment already owns 50% of CFA. In 2000, CFA produced and promoted more than 200 events including soccer games, concerts, festivals, theatrical productions, corporate sponsorship programs and rodeos. Henry Cardenas and Ivan Fernandez will continue to work as senior executives in the company.

“The U.S. Hispanic audience is underserved in terms of the number of live entertainment events presented each year,” said Brian Becker, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment. “Under this pact with Televisa, we have brought together all the components necessary to replicate our success in Mexico, including the resources of our U.S. venue network, the promotional muscle provided by Televisa and the radio and outdoor divisions of Clear Channel Worldwide.”

Since its formation in early 2001, En Vivo has successfully presented numerous events in Mexico including *NSYNC, the Magic of David Copperfield, Elton John, Celia Cruz, Los Temerarios and Kabah. Earlier this year, En Vivo staged Luis Miguel’s 2002 tour which sold-out 17 shows including Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City with an attendance of 182,656 people. In October 2002, En Vivo will present the Cirque du Soleil in Mexico City. It will be the first time that the troupe has ever performed in Latin America.

“Today’s announcement is a natural extension of the successful relationship we have enjoyed with Clear Channel Entertainment in Mexico and immediately positions us as a leader in providing live entertainment to the U.S. Hispanic market,” said Jaime Davila, Executive Vice President of Televisa. “This new venture will benefit from the multiple distribution channels owned by Televisa in Mexico and will create added value to our library. Moreover, it is an important step for Televisa as we increase our presence in the U.S.”

Javier Prado, CEO of En Vivo, commented, “En Vivo has offered a better alternative in the Mexican live entertainment industry in a very short period. Extending the venture to capture a significant share of the U.S. Hispanic market makes strategic sense, and ultimately will result in bringing that growing audience the highest quality events possible.”