Televisa & Univision defining Internet rights ‘Bout’.

Grupo Televisa, S.A. stated that a number of press reports over the last several weeks have quoted Univision’s President and Chief Operating Officer as saying that there is a “difference of opinion” as to whether Univision holds Internet rights to Televisa’s programming. If these press reports accurately reflect any such comment or view of Univision, it would be entirely without basis.

Televisa pointed out that the Program License Agreement (“PLA”) between Televisa and Univision specifically states: “Licensee [Univision] may not broadcast or otherwise transmit, or permit others to broadcast or otherwise transmit, any Program or any portion thereof over or by means of the Internet, or similar systems, now existing or hereafter developed.”

“The PLA is unequivocal in this regard. There is no room for any ‘difference of opinion’ by Univision or any other party as to this prohibition imposed upon Univision by the PLA,” Televisa stated.

Televisa further noted that a similar provision of the PLA presently, subject to certain exceptions, bars Televisa from distributing over the Internet in the United States programming otherwise subject to the PLA, but that as to it the prohibition expires on December 19 of this year.

Subsequent to that date, Televisa believes that, by the terms of the PLA,
it will then have the right to do so.

A previous statement ascribed to a Televisa executive in a news report yesterday suggesting that Televisa does not have the right to do so, was in reference only to the present time period before December 19 of this year.

Is this the beginning of the chess game to put potential bidders and the sellers how the future sale will do down?

With or without Televisa?