Form 20-F
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
     
o   REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
     
þ   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
     
o   SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     
    Date of event requiring this shell company report
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                      TO                     
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-12610
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
United Mexican States
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Av. Vasco de Quiroga No. 2000
Colonia Santa Fe
01210 Mexico, D.F.
Mexico

(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
     
Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
     
A Shares, without par value (“A Shares”)   New York Stock Exchange (for listing purposes only)
B Shares, without par value (“B Shares”)   New York Stock Exchange (for listing purposes only)
L Shares, without par value (“L Shares”)   New York Stock Exchange (for listing purposes only)
Dividend Preferred Shares, without par value (“D Shares”)   New York Stock Exchange (for listing purposes only)
Global Depositary Shares (“GDSs”), each representing five Ordinary Participation Certificates   New York Stock Exchange
(Certificados de Participación Ordinarios) (“CPOs”)    
CPOs, each representing twenty-five A Shares, twenty-two   New York Stock Exchange (for listing purposes only)
B Shares thirty-five L Shares and thirty-five D Shares    
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None.
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None.
The number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of December 31, 2010 was:
111,058,270,615 A Shares
51,165,517,589 B Shares
81,399,628,851 L Shares
81,399,628,851 D Shares
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes þ No o
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). o Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
         
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
         
U.S. GAAP o   International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board o   Other þ
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 o Item 18 þ
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
 
 

 

 


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 Exhibit 4.19
 Exhibit 4.20
 Exhibit 4.21
 Exhibit 4.22
 Exhibit 4.23
 Exhibit 4.24
 Exhibit 4.25
 Exhibit 4.26
 Exhibit 4.27
 Exhibit 4.28
 Exhibit 4.29
 Exhibit 4.30
 Exhibit 4.31
 Exhibit 4.32
 Exhibit 4.33
 Exhibit 4.34
 Exhibit 4.35
 Exhibit 4.36
 Exhibit 4.37
 Exhibit 4.38
 Exhibit 4.39
 Exhibit 4.40
 Exhibit 8.1
 Exhibit 12.1
 Exhibit 12.2
 Exhibit 13.1
 Exhibit 13.2
 Exhibit 23.1
We publish our financial statements in accordance with Mexican Financial Reporting Standards (Normas de Información Financiera), or Mexican FRS, which differ in some significant respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, and accounting procedures adopted in other countries.
Unless otherwise indicated, (i) information included in this annual report is as of December 31, 2010 and (ii) references to “Ps.” or “Pesos” in this annual report are to Mexican Pesos and references to “Dollars,” “U.S. Dollars,” “U.S. dollars,” “$,” or “U.S.$” are to United States dollars.
In this annual report, “we,” “us,” “our” or “Company” refer to Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. and, where the context requires, its consolidated entities. “Group” refers to Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. and its consolidated entities.

 

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Part I
Item 1.   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2.   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.
Item 3.   Key Information
Selected Financial Data
The following tables present our selected consolidated financial information as of and for each of the periods indicated. This information is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and should be read together with, our audited consolidated year-end financial statements. The following data for each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 has been derived from our audited consolidated year-end financial statements, including the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and the accompanying notes appearing elsewhere in this annual report. Beginning on January 1, 2008, we discontinued recognizing the effects of inflation in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with Mexican FRS. Accordingly, our financial information through December 31, 2007 is stated in Mexican Pesos in purchasing power as of December 31, 2007. The financial information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 is not directly comparable to prior periods due to the recognition of inflation effects in financial information in prior periods. Our financial information for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 maintained the inflation adjustments recognized in prior years in our consolidated stockholders’ equity, and the inflation-adjusted amounts for nonmonetary assets and liabilities at December 31, 2007 became the accounting basis for those assets and liabilities beginning on January 1, 2008 and for subsequent periods. This data should also be read together with “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.
The exchange rate used in translating Pesos into U.S. Dollars for calculating the convenience translations included in the following tables is determined by reference to the interbank free market exchange rate, or the Interbank Rate, as reported by Banco Nacional de México, S.A., or Banamex, as of December 31, 2010, which was Ps.12.3576 per U.S. Dollar. This annual report contains translations of certain Peso amounts into U.S. Dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. The exchange rate translations contained in this annual report should not be construed as representations that the Peso amounts actually represent the U.S. Dollar amounts presented or that they could be converted into U.S. Dollars at the rate indicated.
Our consolidated year-end financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Mexican FRS, which differ in some significant respects from U.S. GAAP. Note 23 to our consolidated year-end financial statements provides a description of the relevant differences between Mexican FRS, the accounting and reporting standards used in Mexico as of December 31, 2010, and U.S. GAAP as they relate to us, and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of net income and other items for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2009 and 2010. Any reconciliation to U.S. GAAP may reveal certain differences between our stockholders’ equity, net income and other items as reported under Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP.
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2010  
    (Millions of Pesos or millions of U.S. Dollars)(1)  
(Mexican FRS)
                                               
Income Statement Data:
                                               
Net sales
  Ps. 39,358     Ps. 41,562     Ps. 47,972     Ps. 52,353     Ps. 57,857     U.S.$ 4,682  
Operating income
    14,266       14,481       15,128       15,157       15,583       1,261  
Integral cost of financing, net(2)
    1,141       410       831       2,973       3,029       245  
Consolidated net income
    9,519       9,018       8,731       6,583       8,516       689  
Controlling interest net income
    8,909       8,082       7,804       6,007       7,683       622  
Controlling interest net income per CPO(3)
    3.07       2.84       2.77       2.14       2.75        
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions)(3)(4)
    339,776       333,653       329,580       329,304       326,850        
Cash dividend per CPO(3)
    0.37       1.50       0.75       3.10              
Shares outstanding (in millions, at year end)(4)
    337,782       329,960       328,393       327,231       325,023        

 

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    Year Ended December 31,  
    2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2010  
    (Millions of Pesos or millions of U.S. Dollars)(1)  
(U.S. GAAP)(5)
                                               
Income Statement Data:
                                               
Net sales
  Ps. 39,358     Ps. 41,562     Ps. 47,972     Ps. 52,353     Ps. 57,857     U.S.$ 4,682  
Operating income
    14,068       14,322       14,492       13,008       14,531       1,176  
Consolidated net income
    8,917       9,167       9,049       5,561       8,623       698  
Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest
    609       934       919       575       833       67  
Net income attributable to the controlling interest
    8,308       8,233       8,130       4,986       7,790       630  
Net income attributable to the controlling interest per
CPO(3)
    2.76       2.86       2.89       1.77       2.79        
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions)(3)(4)
    339,776       333,653       329,580       329,304       326,850        
Shares outstanding (in millions, at year end)(4)
    337,782       329,960       328,393       327,231       325,023        
(Mexican FRS)
                                               
Balance Sheet Data (end of year):
                                               
Cash and temporary investments
  Ps. 16,405     Ps.     Ps.     Ps.     Ps.     U.S.$  
Cash and cash equivalents
          25,480       33,583       29,941       20,943       1,695  
Temporary investments
          1,825       8,321       8,902       10,447       845  
Total assets
    86,186       98,703       122,852       126,568       136,471       11,043  
Current portion of long-term debt and other notes
payable(6)
    1,023       489       2,270       1,433       1,469       119  
Long-term debt, net of current portion(7)
    18,464       25,307       36,631       41,983       46,496       3,763  
Customer deposits and advances
    17,807       19,810       18,688       20,913       19,083       1,544  
Capital stock issued
    10,507       10,268       10,061       10,020       10,020       811  
Total stockholders’ equity (including non-controlling interest)
    38,015       40,650       47,252       44,472       51,858       4,196  
(U.S. GAAP)(5)
                                               
Balance Sheet Data (end of year):
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  Ps. 15,461     Ps. 25,480     Ps. 33,583     Ps. 29,941     Ps. 20,943     U.S.$ 1,695  
Total assets
    91,806       103,728       127,966       131,344       142,725       11,550  
Current portion of long-term debt and other notes
payable(6)
    1,023       489       2,270       1,433       1,469       119  
Long-term debt, net of current portion(7)
    18,464       25,307       36,631       41,983       46,496       3,763  
Controlling interest stockholders’ equity
    35,799       36,580       41,539       37,357       44,283       3,583  
Non-controlling interest stockholders’ equity
    1,688       3,655       5,269       6,339       6,830       553  
Total stockholders’ equity
    37,487       40,235       46,808       43,696       51,112       4,136  
(Mexican FRS)
                                               
Cash Flow Data(15):
                                               
Net cash provided by operating activities
  Ps.     Ps.     Ps. 22,258     Ps. 15,136     Ps. 16,865     U.S.$ 1,365  
Net cash used in investing activities
                (12,884 )     (11,052 )     (27,274 )     (2,207 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
                (1,886 )     (7,641 )     1,435       116  
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
                7,620       (3,663 )     (9,018 )     (730 )
(U.S. GAAP)(5)
                                               
Cash Flow Data:
                                               
Net cash provided by operating activities
    11,542       12,107       19,851       12,328       13,862       1,122  
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (3,088 )     (1,395 )     522       (4,833 )     4,439       359  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (8,216 )     (294 )     (12,884 )     (11,052 )     (27,274 )     (2,207 )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    237       10,418       7,488       (3,558 )     (8,973 )     (726 )
(Mexican FRS)
                                               
Other Financial Information:
                                               
Capital expenditures(8)
  Ps. 3,346     Ps. 3,878     Ps. 6,627     Ps. 6,531     Ps. 12,494     U.S.$ 1,011  
Other Data (unaudited):
                                               
Average prime time audience share (TV broadcasting)(9)
    69.5 %     69.0 %     71.2 %     69.8 %     68.0 %      
Average prime time rating (TV broadcasting)(9)
    35.5       33.4       35.2       34.8       32.8        
Magazine circulation (millions of copies)(10)
    155       165       174       153       138        
Number of employees (at year end)
    16,200       17,800       22,500       24,300       24,700        
Number of Sky subscribers (in thousands at year end)(11)
    1,430       1,585       1,760       1,960       3,044        
Number of Cablevisión RGUs (in thousands at year
end)(12)
    583       695       844       1,016       1,159        
Number of Cablemás RGUs (in thousands at year
end)(12)(13)
                1,170       1,348       1,562        
Number of TVI RGUs (in thousands at year end)(12)(14)
                      425       555        
Notes to Selected Consolidated Financial Information:
(1)   Except per Certificado de Participación Ordinario, or CPO, average audience share, average rating, magazine circulation, employee, subscriber and Revenue Generating Units, or RGUs. Amounts in Mexican Pesos for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 are stated in Mexican Pesos in purchasing power as of December 31, 2007, in accordance with Mexican FRS. Beginning on January 1, 2008, we discontinued recognizing the effects of inflation in our financial information in accordance with Mexican FRS.
 
(2)   Includes interest expense, interest income, foreign exchange gain or loss, net, and through December 31, 2007, gain or loss from monetary position. See Note 18 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(3)   For further analysis of net income per CPO (as well as corresponding amounts per A Share not traded as CPOs), see Note 20 (for the calculation under Mexican FRS) and Note 23 (for the calculation under U.S. GAAP) to our consolidated year-end financial statements. In April and December 2009, our stockholders approved the payment of a dividend of Ps.1.75 and Ps.1.35 per CPO, respectively. No dividend payment was approved by our stockholders during 2010.

 

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(4)   As of December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, we had four classes of common stock: A Shares, B Shares, D Shares and L Shares. Our shares are publicly traded in Mexico, primarily in the form of CPOs, each CPO representing 117 shares comprised of 25 A Shares, 22 B Shares, 35 D Shares and 35 L Shares; and in the United States in the form of Global Depositary Shares, or GDSs, each GDS representing 5 CPOs. Before March 22, 2006, each GDS represented 20 CPOs.

The number of CPOs and shares issued and outstanding for financial reporting purposes under Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP is different than the number of CPOs issued and outstanding for legal purposes, because under Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP shares owned by subsidiaries and/or the trusts created to implement our Stock Purchase Plan and our Long-Term Retention Plan are not considered outstanding for financial reporting purposes.

As of December 31, 2010, for legal purposes, there were approximately 2,399.3 million CPOs issued and outstanding, each of which was represented by 25 A Shares, 22 B Shares, 35 D Shares and 35 L Shares, and an additional number of approximately 58,926.6 million A Shares and 2,357.2 million B Shares (not in the form of CPO units). See Note 12 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(5)   See Note 23 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(6)   See Note 8 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(7)   See “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Indebtedness” and Note 8 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(8)   Capital expenditures are those investments made by us in property, plant and equipment, which U.S. Dollar equivalent amounts set forth in “Information on the Company — Capital Expenditures” are translated into Mexican Pesos at the year-end exchange rate for convenience purposes only. The aggregate amount of capital expenditures in Mexican Pesos does not indicate the actual amounts accounted for in our consolidated financial statements.
 
(9)   “Average prime time audience share” for a period refers to the average daily prime time audience share for all of our networks and stations during that period, and “average prime time rating” for a period refers to the average daily rating for all of our networks and stations during that period, each rating point representing one percent of all television households. As used in this annual report, “prime time” in Mexico is 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week, and “weekday prime time” is 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Data for all periods reflects the average prime time audience share and ratings nationwide as published by the Mexican subsidiary of the Brazilian Institute of Statistics and Public Opinion, or Instituto Brasileño de Opinión Pública y Estadística, or IBOPE. The Mexican subsidiary of IBOPE is referred to as IBOPE AGB Mexico in this annual report. For further information regarding audience share and ratings information and IBOPE AGB Mexico, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Television — Television Broadcasting”.
 
(10)   The figures set forth in this line item represent total circulation of magazines that we publish independently and through joint ventures and other arrangements and do not represent magazines distributed on behalf of third parties.
 
(11)   Sky commenced operations in Mexico in 1996, and in Central America and the Dominican Republic in 2007. The figures set forth in this line item represent the total number of gross active residential and commercial subscribers for Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V., or Innova, at the end of each year presented. For a description of Innova’s business and results of operations and financial condition, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — DTH Ventures — Mexico and Central America”.
 
(12)   An RGU is defined as an individual service subscriber who generates recurring revenue under each service provided by Empresas Cablevisión, S.A.B. de C.V., or Cablevisión, Cablemás, S.A. de C.V., or Cablemás, and Televisión Internacional, S.A. de C.V., or TVI, (pay television, or pay-TV, broadband internet and digital telephony). For example, a single subscriber paying for cable television, broadband internet and digital telephony services represents three RGUs. We believe it is appropriate to use the number of RGUs as a performance measure for Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI given that these businesses provide other services in addition to pay-TV. See “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Total Segment Results — Cable and Telecom” and “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Cable and Telecom”.
 
(13)   Beginning June 2008, we started to consolidate Cablemás, a significant cable operator in Mexico, operating in 49 cities.

 

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(14)   Beginning October 2009, we started to consolidate TVI, a leading provider of triple-play services in northern Mexico.
 
(15)   Through December 31, 2007, under Mexican FRS, the changes in financial position for operating, financing and investing activities, were presented through the statements of changes in financial position. On January 1, 2008, Mexican FRS NIF B-2, “Statement of Cash Flows” became effective on a prospective basis. Therefore, we have included the statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Due to the adoption of Mexican FRS NIF B-2, “Statement of Cash Flows”, the 2008, 2009 and 2010 information is not directly comparable to 2007 and prior years. The criteria for determining net cash provided by, or used in, operating, investing and financing activities under the new Mexican FRS NIF B-2, “Statement of Cash Flows” is different from that used in prior years.
Dividends
Decisions regarding the payment and amount of dividends are subject to approval by holders of a majority of the A Shares and B Shares voting together, generally, but not necessarily, on the recommendation of the Board of Directors, as well as a majority of the A Shares voting separately. Emilio Azcárraga Jean indirectly controls the voting of the majority of the A Shares and, as a result of such control, both the amount and the payment of dividends require his affirmative vote. See “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions — The Major Stockholders”. The amounts in this section are presented in nominal historical figures and therefore have not been restated in constant currency units due to a change in Mexican FRS whereby beginning on January 1, 2008 we discontinued recognizing the effects of inflation on our results. On March 25, 2004, our Board of Directors approved a dividend policy under which we currently intend to pay an annual regular dividend of Ps.0.35 per CPO. On April 28, 2006 at a general stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders approved a cash distribution to stockholders for up to Ps.1,104 million, equivalent to Ps.0.00299145 per share, or Ps.0.35 per CPO. On April 27, 2007, at a general stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders approved a cash distribution to stockholders for up to Ps.4,401 million, which includes the payment of an extraordinary dividend of Ps.1.10 per CPO, which is in addition to our ordinary dividend of Ps.0.35 per CPO, for a total dividend of Ps.1.45 per CPO, equivalent to Ps.0.01239316239 per share. On April 30, 2008, at a general stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders approved a cash distribution to stockholders for up to Ps.2,276.3 million, which includes the payment of an extraordinary dividend of Ps.0.40 per CPO, which is in addition to our ordinary dividend of Ps.0.35 per CPO, for a total dividend of Ps.0.75 per CPO, equivalent to Ps.0.00641025641 per share. On April 30, 2009, at a general stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders approved a cash distribution to stockholders of up to Ps.5,204.6 million, which includes the payment of an extraordinary dividend of Ps.1.40 per CPO, which is in addition to our ordinary dividend of Ps.0.35 per CPO, for a total dividend of Ps.1.75 per CPO, equivalent to Ps.0.014957264957 per share. In addition to the dividend payment approved by our stockholders on April 30, 2009, and based on a proposal by our Board of Directors, on December 10, 2009, at a general stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders approved a cash distribution to stockholders for up to Ps.4.0 billion, which includes the payment of an extraordinary dividend of Ps.1.0 per CPO, which is in addition to our ordinary dividend of Ps.0.35 per CPO, for a total dividend of Ps.1.35 per CPO, equivalent to Ps.0.011538461538 per share. The dividend payment approved on December 10, 2009 would have generally been paid in April 2010. We did not make a payment of any additional dividends during 2010. On April 29, 2011, at a general stockholders’ meeting, our stockholders approved a cash distribution to stockholders for up to Ps.1,036.7 million, which represents the payment of our ordinary dividend of Ps.0.35 per CPO, equivalent to Ps.0.002991452991 per share. All of the recommendations of the Board of Directors related to the payment and amount of dividends were voted on and approved at the applicable general stockholders’ meetings. The agreements related to some of our outstanding indebtedness contain covenants that restrict, among other things, the payment of dividends, under certain conditions.
Exchange Rate Information
Since 1991, Mexico has had a free market for foreign exchange and, since 1994, the Mexican government has allowed the Peso to float freely against the U.S. Dollar. There can be no assurance that the government will maintain its current policies with regard to the Peso or that the Peso will not depreciate or appreciate significantly in the future.

 

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The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high, low, average and period end Mexican Official FIX Rate, or FIX Rate, published by the Mexican Central Bank, expressed in Pesos per U.S. Dollar. The rates have not been restated in constant currency units and therefore represent nominal historical figures.
                                 
Period   High     Low     Average(1)     Period End  
2006
    11.4809       10.4303       10.9034       10.8116  
2007
    11.2676       10.6639       10.9274       10.9157  
2008
    13.9183       9.9180       11.1455       13.8325  
2009
    15.3650       12.5969       13.4983       13.0659  
2010
    13.1819       12.1575       12.6287       12.3496  
2011 (through June 24, 2011)
    12.2619       11.5023       11.8966       11.8822  
January
    12.2619       12.0239       12.1258       12.1519  
February
    12.1900       11.9937       12.0703       12.1062  
March
    12.0981       11.9084       11.9992       11.9084  
April
    11.8533       11.5278       11.7184       11.5278  
May
    11.7660       11.5023       11.6533       11.5780  
June (through June 24, 2011)
    11.9591       11.6277       11.8057       11.8822  
(1)   Annual average rates reflect the average of the daily exchange rate during the relevant period.
The above rates may differ from the actual rates used in the preparation of the financial statements and the other financial information appearing in this Form 20-F.
In the past, the Mexican economy has had balance of payment deficits and decreases in foreign exchange reserves. While the Mexican government does not currently restrict the ability of Mexican or foreign persons or entities to convert Pesos to U.S. Dollars, we cannot assure you that the Mexican government will not institute restrictive exchange control policies in the future, as has occurred from time to time in the past. To the extent that the Mexican government institutes restrictive exchange control policies in the future, our ability to transfer or to convert Pesos into U.S. Dollars and other currencies for the purpose of making timely payments of interest and principal of indebtedness, as well as to obtain foreign programming and other goods, would be adversely affected. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Currency Fluctuations or the Devaluation and Depreciation of the Peso Could Limit the Ability of Our Company and Others to Convert Pesos into U.S. Dollars or Other Currencies, Which Could Adversely Affect Our Business, Financial Condition or Results of Operations”.
On June 24, 2011 the FIX Rate was Ps.11.8822 per U.S.$1.00.

 

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Risk Factors
The following is a discussion of risks associated with our company and an investment in our securities. Some of the risks of investing in our securities are general risks associated with doing business in Mexico. Other risks are specific to our business. The discussion below contains information, among other things, about the Mexican government and the Mexican economy obtained from official statements of the Mexican government as well as other public sources. We have not independently verified this information. Any of the following risks, if they actually occur, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or the price of our securities.
Risk Factors Related to Mexico
Economic and Political Developments in Mexico May Adversely Affect Our Business
Most of our operations and assets are located in Mexico. As a result, our financial condition, results of operations and business may be affected by the general condition of the Mexican economy, the devaluation or appreciation of the Peso as compared to the U.S. Dollar, Mexican inflation, interest rates, regulation, taxation, social instability and other political, social and economic developments in or affecting Mexico over which we have no control.
Mexico Has Experienced Adverse Economic Conditions, Which Could Have a Negative Impact on Our Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Mexico has historically experienced uneven periods of economic growth. Mexican gross domestic product, or GDP, increased 1.2% in 2008, decreased by 6.1% in 2009 and increased by an estimated 5.4% in 2010. Mexican GDP growth surpassed Mexican government forecasts in 2010 and, according to Mexican government forecasts, Mexican GDP is expected to increase by approximately 3.8% in 2011. We cannot assure you that these estimates and forecasts will prove to be accurate.
Mexico was adversely affected by the global economic crisis that started in the summer of 2007. The country’s main economic indicators were negatively affected, including a rise in unemployment, decline of interest rates, higher inflation and a devaluation of the Peso against the U.S. Dollar. This global economic downturn and/or any future economic downturn, including downturns in the United States and Europe, could affect our financial condition and results of operations. For example, demand for advertising may decrease both because consumers may reduce expenditures for our advertisers’ products and because advertisers may reduce advertising expenditures and demand for publications, cable television, direct-to-home, or DTH, satellite services, pay-per-view programming, telecommunications services and other services and products may decrease because consumers may find it difficult to pay for these services and products.
Developments in Other Emerging Market Countries or in the U.S. May Adversely Affect the Mexican Economy, the Market Value of Our Securities and Our Results of Operations
The market value of securities of Mexican companies, the economic and political situation in Mexico and our financial condition and results of operations are, to varying degrees, affected by economic and market conditions in other emerging market countries and in the United States. Although economic conditions in other emerging market countries and in the United States may differ significantly from economic conditions in Mexico, investors’ reactions to developments in any of these other countries may have an adverse effect on the market value or trading price of securities of Mexican issuers, including our securities, or on our business.
Our operations, including the demand for our products or services, and the price of our securities, have also historically been adversely affected by increases in interest rates in the United States and elsewhere. Economic downturns in the United States often have a significant adverse effect on the Mexican economy and other economies globally, which in turn, could affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our profitability is affected by numerous factors, including changes in viewing preferences, priorities of advertisers and reductions in advertisers’ budgets. Historically, advertising in most forms of media has correlated positively with the general condition of the economy and thus, is subject to the risks that arise from adverse changes in domestic and global economic conditions, consumer confidence and spending. The demand for our products and services in Mexico, the U.S. and in the other countries in which we operate may be adversely affected by the tightening of credit markets and economic downturns. As a global media company, we depend on the demand from customers in Mexico, the U.S. and the other countries in which we operate, and reduced consumer spending that falls short of our projections could adversely impact our revenues and profitability.

 

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Uncertainty in Global Financial Markets Could Adversely Affect Our Financing Costs and Exposure to Our Customers and Counterparties
The global financial markets continue to be uncertain, and many companies have limited access to funding. This risk has been exacerbated by concerns over the higher levels of public debt, wider fiscal deficit and recent credit rating downgrades on public debt of European countries such as the Republic of Ireland, Greece, Portugal, and Spain and the risk of a potential downgrade and credit deterioration of the U.S. economy. It is uncertain how long the effects of this global financial stress in the markets will persist and what impact it will have on the global economy in general, or the economies in which we operate, in particular, and whether slowing economic growth in any such countries could result in decreased consumer spending affecting our products and services. If access to credit tightens further and borrowing costs rise, our borrowing costs could be adversely affected. Difficult financial markets may also adversely affect some of our customers. In addition, we enter into derivative transactions with large financial institutions, including contracts to hedge our exposure to interest rates and foreign exchange, and we could be affected by severe financial difficulties faced by our counterparties.
Currency Fluctuations or the Devaluation and Depreciation of the Peso Could Limit the Ability of Our Company and Others to Convert Pesos into U.S. Dollars or Other Currencies, Which Could Adversely Affect Our Business, Financial Condition or Results of Operations
A significant portion of our indebtedness and a significant amount of our costs are U.S. Dollar-denominated, while our revenues are primarily Peso-denominated. As a result, decreases in the value of the Peso against the U.S. Dollar could cause us to incur foreign exchange losses, which would reduce our net income.
Severe devaluation or depreciation of the Peso may also result in governmental intervention, or disruption of international foreign exchange markets. This may limit our ability to transfer or convert Pesos into U.S. Dollars and other currencies for the purpose of making timely payments of interest and principal on our indebtedness and adversely affect our ability to obtain foreign programming and other imported goods. The Mexican economy has suffered current account balance payment of deficits and shortages in foreign exchange reserves in the past. While the Mexican government does not currently restrict, and for more than 15 years has not restricted, the right or ability of Mexican or foreign persons or entities to convert Pesos into U.S. Dollars or to transfer other currencies outside of Mexico, there can be no assurance that the Mexican government will not institute restrictive exchange control policies in the future. To the extent that the Mexican government institutes restrictive exchange control policies in the future, our ability to transfer or convert Pesos into U.S. Dollars or other currencies for the purpose of making timely payments of interest and principal on indebtedness, including the notes, as well as to obtain imported goods would be adversely affected. Devaluation or depreciation of the Peso against the U.S. Dollar or other currencies may also adversely affect U.S. Dollar or other currency prices for our debt securities or the cost of imported goods.
High Inflation Rates in Mexico May Decrease Demand for Our Services While Increasing Our Costs
Mexico historically has experienced high levels of inflation, although the rates have been lower for more than 20 years. The annual rate of inflation, as measured by changes in the Mexican National Consumer Price Index, or NCPI, was 6.5% in 2008, 3.6% in 2009, 4.4% in 2010 and is projected to be 3.9% in 2011. An adverse change in the Mexican economy may have a negative impact on price stability and result in higher inflation than its main trading partners, including the United States. High inflation rates can adversely affect our business and results of operations in the following ways:
    inflation can adversely affect consumer purchasing power, thereby adversely affecting consumer and advertiser demand for our services and products; and
 
    to the extent inflation exceeds our price increases, our prices and revenues will be adversely affected in “real” terms.
High Interest Rates in Mexico Could Increase Our Financing Costs
Mexico historically has had, and may continue to have, high real and nominal interest rates. The interest rates on 28-day Mexican government treasury securities averaged 7.7%, 5.5%, and 4.4% for 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. High interest rates in Mexico could increase our financing costs and thereby impair our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

 

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Political Events in Mexico Could Affect Mexican Economic Policy and Our Business, Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The Mexican Federal Congress is not controlled by any specific political party. Therefore, Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and his party, the Partido Acción Nacional, or the PAN, have faced opposition in Congress during the first four and a half years of his term.
Changes in laws, public policies and government programs may occur in the future. Such changes may have a material adverse effect on the Mexican economic and political situation, which in turn, may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In July 2009, new members were elected to the Cámara de Diputados, or the Chamber of Representatives, local Congress of some states, and Governors of six states, among other offices. As a result of these elections, the Partido Revolucionario Institucional or PRI, acquired a significant majority in the Chamber of Representatives. The lack of party alignment between the Chamber of Representatives and the President could result in deadlock and prevent the timely implementation of political and economic reforms, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on Mexican economic policy. It is also possible that political uncertainty may adversely affect Mexico’s economic situation. The new members of Congress have focused on important legal reforms, which have not been and may not be approved, including labor reforms. See “— Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”. The effects on the social and political situation in Mexico could adversely affect the Mexican economy, including the stability of its currency. We cannot ascertain, at this time, how any material adverse effect on Mexican economic policy, Mexico’s economic situation, the stability of Mexico’s currency or market conditions may affect our business or the price of our securities.
Mexico has Experienced a Period of Increased Criminal Activity and Such Activities Could Adversely Affect Our Financing Costs and Exposure to Our Customers and Counterparties
Mexico has experienced a period of increased criminal activity and violence, primarily due to organized crime. These activities, their escalation and the violence associated with them could in the future have a negative impact on the business environment in which we operate, and therefore on our financial condition and results of operations.
Mexican Antitrust Laws May Limit Our Ability to Expand Through Acquisitions or Joint Ventures
Mexico’s Ley Federal de Competencia Económica, or Mexico’s Federal Antitrust Law, and related regulations may affect some of our activities, including our ability to introduce new products and services, enter into new or complementary businesses or joint ventures and complete acquisitions. See “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Investments — Alvafig”.
In addition, Mexico’s Federal Antitrust Law and related regulations or conditions imposed by the Comisión Federal de Competencia, CFC, or Mexican Antitrust Commission, may adversely affect our ability to determine the rates we charge for our services and products or the manner in which we provide our products or services. Approval of the Mexican Antitrust Commission is required for us to acquire certain businesses or enter into certain joint ventures. There can be no assurance that in the future the Mexican Antitrust Commission will authorize certain acquisitions or joint ventures related to our businesses, the denial of which may adversely affect our business strategy, financial condition and results of operations.
The Mexican Antitrust Commission may also impose conditions that could adversely affect some of our activities, our business strategy, our financial condition and results of operations.
See “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Mexican Antitrust Law”.
Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue
Existing laws and regulations, including among others, tax laws, could be amended, the manner in which laws and regulations are enforced or interpreted could change, and new laws or regulations could be adopted. Such changes could materially adversely affect our operations and our revenue.

 

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Certain amendments to the existing Ley Federal de Radio y Televisión, or Radio and Television Law, and the Ley Federal de Telecomunicaciones, or Telecommunications Law, have been enacted. In May 2006, several members of the Senate of the Mexican Federal Congress filed a complaint before the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico, seeking a declaration that such amendments were unconstitutional and therefore null and void. This complaint was resolved by the Supreme Court of Justice in June 2007, declaring several provisions of the amendments to the Radio and Television Law and to the Telecommunications Law unconstitutional and therefore null and void. Among the provisions declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Justice are the ones referred to in former Article 28 of the Radio and Television Law, pursuant to which holders of concessions had the ability to request authorization to provide additional telecommunications services within the same spectrum covered by a current concession without having to participate in a public bid to offer such services pursuant to a concession and Article 16 of the Radio and Television Law, pursuant to which concessions were granted for a fixed term of 20 years with the possibility to renew such concessions by obtaining from the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, or SCT, a certification of compliance with the obligations under the concession. As a result of the Supreme Court of Justice’s ruling, once the transition to digital television and digital radio broadcasting is completed, if we want to provide additional telecommunications services within the same spectrum granted for digital television or digital radio broadcasting, respectively, we will have to follow the provisions of Article 24 of the Telecommunications Law to obtain the concession therefor. Also, there is uncertainty as to how radio and television concessions will be renewed in the future, since the Supreme Court of Justice’s ruling has resulted in requiring the renewal of the concessions to be subject to a public bid process, with a right of preference over other participating bidders given to the incumbent concessionaire. Additionally, some members of the Mexican Federal Congress have expressed their intent to propose a new Radio and Television Law, which could affect, among other things, the framework for granting or renewing concessions.
In September 2010, Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, published through the SCT in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, or the Official Gazette of the Federation, a decree establishing the actions to be taken to expedite the transition to digital television and digital radio broadcasting, which intends to end analog broadcasting at some point between 2011 and 2015 (referred to in this annual report as the 2010 Decree).
The 2010 Decree modifies the release published by the SCT in July 2004 which established procedures and set forth other applicable provisions for the transition to digital television. The constitutionality of the 2010 Decree has been challenged before the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico by the Mexican Federal Congress, alleging that Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, pursuant to the Radio and Television Law, overstepped his authority when issuing the 2010 Decree, and that the 2010 Decree therefore is unconstitutional. The dispute is currently pending resolution by the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico.
In 2007, the Mexican Federal Congress passed an amendment to the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, or Mexican Constitution, pursuant to which, among other things, the Federal Electoral Institute (Instituto Federal Electoral, or IFE) has, during certain periods, the exclusive right to manage and use the Official Television Broadcast Time and the Official Radio Broadcast Time (jointly referred to in this annual report as Official Broadcast Time). For a description of Official Television Broadcast Time and Official Radio Broadcast Time, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Business Strategy — Maintaining our Leading Position in the Mexican Television Market — Advertising Sales Plan” and “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Other Businesses — Radio Stations”. The IFE has the exclusive right to use the Official Broadcast Time for its own purposes and for the use of political parties in Mexico (as provided in the Mexican Constitution) for self promotion and, when applicable, to promote their electoral campaigns during election day, pre-campaign and campaign periods (referred to in this annual report as the Constitutional Amendment).
The IFE and the political parties must comply with certain requirements included in the Constitutional Amendment for the use of Official Broadcast Time. During federal electoral periods, the IFE will be granted, per the Constitutional Amendment, 48 minutes per day in each radio station and television channel, to be used during pre-campaign periods in two and up to three minutes per broadcast hour in each radio station and television channel, of which all the political parties will be jointly entitled to use one minute per broadcast hour. During campaign periods, at least 85% of the 48 minutes per day shall be allocated among the political parties, and the remaining 15% may be used by the IFE for its own purposes. During non-electoral periods, the IFE will be assigned with up to 12% of the Official Broadcast Time, half of which shall be allocated among the political parties. In the event that local elections are held simultaneously with federal elections, the broadcast time granted to the IFE shall be used for the federal and the local elections. During any other local electoral periods, the allocation of broadcast time will be made pursuant to the criteria established by the Constitutional Amendment and as such criteria are reflected in applicable law.
In addition to the foregoing, pursuant to the Constitutional Amendment, political parties are prohibited from purchasing or acquiring advertising time, directly or through third parties, from radio or television stations; likewise, third parties shall not acquire advertising time from radio or television stations for the broadcasting of advertisements which may influence the electoral preferences of Mexican citizens, nor in favor or against political parties or candidates to offices elected by popular vote.
We believe we have been operating our business in compliance with the provisions of the Constitutional Amendment; however, we have filed legal actions contesting certain provisions of the Constitutional Amendment.

 

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At this time, the Constitutional Amendment has not had an impact on the results of our radio and television businesses, however we are unable to predict what impact, if any, the Constitutional Amendment may have on our operating results in the future. We cannot predict the outcome of the legal actions brought by the Company against the Constitutional Amendment. A decrease in paid advertising of the nature described above could lead to a decrease in our television or radio revenues.
Article 15-A of the Ley del Seguro Social, or the Social Security Law, could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Such Article 15-A, amended in July 2009, provides that a company that obtains third party personnel services from personnel services providers and which receives such personnel services on any of the company’s premises is jointly bound to comply with the obligations related to social security that have to be fulfilled by such personnel services providers for the benefit of their respective employees. Such Article 15-A, as amended, also establishes the obligation that the Company sends a list to the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, or the Social Security Mexican Institute, of all agreements entered into with personnel services providers.
In December 2009, the Mexican Government enacted certain amendments and changes to the Mexican tax laws related to income tax, value added tax and excise tax that became effective as of January 1, 2010. The main provisions of these amendments and changes are as follows: (i) the corporate income tax rate was increased from 28% to 30% for the years 2010 through 2012, and will be reduced to 29% and 28% in 2013 and 2014, respectively; (ii) under certain circumstances, the deferred income tax benefit derived from tax consolidation of a parent company and its subsidiaries is limited to a period of five years; therefore, the resulting deferred income tax has to be paid starting in the sixth year following the fiscal year in which the deferred income tax benefit was received; (iii) the payment of this tax has to be made in installments of 25% in the first and second year, 20% in the third year and 15% in the fourth and fifth year; (iv) taxpayers paid in 2010 the first installment of the cumulative amount of the deferred tax benefits determined as of December 31, 2004; (v) revenues from telecommunications and pay-TV services (except access to Internet services, interconnection services between public networks of telecommunications and public telephone services) became subject to a 3% excise tax; (vi) the excise tax rate on gaming (including bets and drawings) was increased from 20% to 30%; and (vii) the general value added tax rate was increased from 15% to 16%, and the rate on the border region was increased from 10% to 11%. We believe that the new provisions for the tax consolidation regime have a retroactive application and we are therefore challenging the constitutionality of these new provisions.
Risk Factors Related to Our Major Stockholders
Emilio Azcárraga Jean has Substantial Influence Over Our Management and the Interests of Mr. Azcárraga Jean may Differ from Those of Other Stockholders
We have four classes of common stock: A Shares, B Shares, D Shares, and L Shares. Until June 17, 2009, approximately 45.6% of the outstanding A Shares, 2.7% of the outstanding B Shares, 2.8% of the outstanding D Shares and 2.8% of the outstanding L Shares of the Company were held through a trust, or the Stockholder Trust, including shares in the form of CPOs. On June 17, 2009, the Stockholder Trust was terminated and the shares and CPOs which were formerly held through such trust, were delivered to the corresponding beneficiaries. The largest beneficiary of the Stockholder Trust was a trust for the benefit of Emilio Azcárraga Jean, or the Azcárraga Trust. Such trust currently holds 44.3% of the outstanding A shares, 0.1% of the outstanding B shares, 0.1% of the outstanding D shares and 0.1% of the outstanding L shares of the Company. As a result, Emilio Azcárraga Jean controlled until June 17, 2009, the voting of the shares held through the Stockholder Trust, and currently controls the vote of such shares through the Azcárraga Trust. The A Shares held through the Azcárraga Trust constitute a majority of the A Shares whose holders are entitled to vote because non-Mexican holders of CPOs and GDSs are not permitted by law to vote the underlying A Shares. Accordingly, and so long as non-Mexicans own more than a minimal number of A Shares, Emilio Azcárraga Jean will have the ability to direct the election of 11 out of 20 members of our Board of Directors, as well as prevent certain actions by the stockholders, including dividend payments, mergers, spin-offs, changes in corporate purpose, changes of nationality and amendments to the anti-takeover provisions of our bylaws. See “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions — The Major Stockholders”.
As Controlling Stockholder, Emilio Azcárraga Jean Will Have the Ability to Limit Our Ability to Raise Capital, Which Would Require Us to Seek Other Financing Arrangements
Emilio Azcárraga Jean has the voting power to prevent us from raising money through equity offerings. Mr. Azcárraga Jean has informed us that if we conduct a primary sale of our equity, he would consider exercising his pre-emptive rights to purchase a sufficient number of additional A Shares in order to maintain such power. In the event that Mr. Azcárraga Jean is unwilling to subscribe for additional shares and/or prevents us from raising money through equity offerings, we would need to raise money through a combination of debt or other forms of financing, which we may not obtain, or if so, possibly not on favorable terms.

 

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Risk Factors Related to Our Business
The Operation of Our Business May Be Terminated or Interrupted if the Mexican Government Does Not Renew or Revokes Our Broadcast or Other Concessions
Under Mexican law, we need concessions from the SCT to broadcast our programming over our television and radio stations, cable and DTH satellite systems and to provide telephony services. In July 2004, in connection with the adoption of a release issued by the SCT for the transition to digital television, all of our television concessions were renewed until 2021. The expiration dates for the concessions for our radio stations range from 2015 to 2016 except for the concessions of 3 radio stations, which renewal applications were timely filed before the SCT but are still pending due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the amendments to the Radio and Television Law. (See “— Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”). We are unable to predict when we will obtain the renewal to such concessions. The expiration dates of our Cable and Telecommunications concessions range from 2013 to 2038 and our DTH concessions expire in 2020 and 2026. The expiration dates for the concessions for our telephone services range from 2018 to 2026. Cablevisión obtained a telecommunications concession, which expires in 2029, and its concession to transmit an over-the-air UHF restricted television service through channel 46 which expired on November 17, 2010 (the “Channel 46 Concession”). We filed for a renewal of the Channel 46 Concession and in February 2010 the SCT notified Cablevisión that it would not be renewed; however, we are contesting the resolution of the SCT. In the past, the SCT has typically renewed the concessions of those concessionaires that comply with the requisite procedures set forth for renewal under Mexican law and on the respective concession title; however, in connection with our television and radio concessions, there is uncertainty as to how radio and television concessions will be renewed in the future, since the Supreme Court ruling has resulted in requiring the renewal of the concessions to be subject to a public bid process, with a right of preference over other participating bidders given to the incumbent concessionaire.
Under Mexican law, we need a permit, or Gaming Permit, from the Secretaría de Gobernación, or Mexican Ministry of the Interior, to operate our gaming business. The operation of our gaming business may be terminated or interrupted if the Mexican Government does not renew or revokes our Gaming Permit. The Gaming Permit was granted to us on May 25, 2005 and the expiration date is May 24, 2030. We are unable to predict if we will obtain a renewal of the Gaming Permit.
See “— Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”.
We Face Competition in Each of Our Markets That We Expect Will Intensify
We face competition in all of our businesses, including television advertising and other media businesses, as well as our strategic investments and joint ventures. In particular, we face substantial competition from TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V., or TV Azteca. See “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Television — Television Industry in Mexico” and “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Television — Television Broadcasting”. In addition, the entertainment and communications industries in which we operate are changing rapidly because of evolving distribution technologies, including online and digital networks. Our principal competitors in the gaming industry are Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, S.A.B. de C.V., or CIE, and Grupo Caliente S.A. de C.V., or Grupo Caliente.
The telecommunications industry in Mexico has become highly competitive and we face significant competition. Cable operators, who were already authorized to provide bidirectional data and internet broadband services and who have been recently authorized by the Mexican government to also provide voice services, including Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, pose a risk to us. As the cable operators’ telephony income may be seen as incremental revenue, the price reduction and the vast coverage may prevent us from growing.
In October 2006, the Mexican federal government enacted a new set of regulations known as Convergence Regulations, or Acuerdo de Convergencia de Servicios Fijos de Telefonía Local y Televisión y/o Audio Restringidos que se Proporcionan a Través de Redes Públicas Alámbricas e Inalámbricas. The Convergence Regulations allow certain concessionaires of telecommunications services to provide other services not included in their original concessions. Cable television providers may be allowed to provide internet and telephone services if certain requirements and conditions are met. In addition, telephone operators, such as Teléfonos de México, S.A.B. de C.V. or Telmex, may be allowed to provide cable television services if certain requirements and conditions are met. We believe that we may face significant competition from new entrants providing telephony services or cable television services, including cable television providers and telephone operators. See “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Cable and Telecom”.
At the end of 2008, DISH, a competitor in the DTH market, launched its services in Mexico.

 

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At the beginning of 2009, TV Azteca began offering HiTV, a television service which consists of the transmission of digital television channels through the technology known as Digital Terrestrial Television, or DTT, in Mexico City and its metropolitan area using the radioelectric spectrum in the mirror concessions granted to them pursuant to the release issued by the SCT for the transition to digital television. HiTV currently offers approximately 20 channels and charges for the decoder box, a fact which we believe constitutes a pay-TV service. The Mexican Fiscal Court, or the Tribunal Federal de Justicia Fiscal y Administrativa, is currently reviewing the legality of this service since the mirror concessions should be used to replicate the analog channel signals. We are uncertain as to how this service may affect our pay-TV business in the event it is considered legal. In addition, the decoder box that TV Azteca is utilizing to allow viewers to access its HiTV channels also allows the viewers access to our digital over-the-air networks without our permission.
Our future success will be affected by these changes, which we cannot predict. Consolidation in the entertainment, telecommunications and broadcast industries could further intensify competitive pressures. As the pay-TV market in Mexico matures, we expect to face competition from an increasing number of sources, including emerging technologies that provide new services to pay-TV customers and require us to make significant capital expenditures in new technologies and exclusive content. Developments may limit our access to new distribution channels and exclusive content, may require us to make significant capital expenditures in order to have access to new digital and other distribution channels or may create additional competitive pressures on some or all of our businesses.
The Seasonal Nature of Our Business Affects Our Revenue and a Significant Reduction in Fourth Quarter Net Sales Could Impact Our Results of Operations
Our business reflects seasonal patterns of advertising expenditures, which is common in the television broadcast industry, as well as cyclical patterns in periodic events such as the World Cup, the Olympic Games and political elections. We typically recognize a disproportionately large percentage of our television broadcasting advertising net sales in the fourth quarter in connection with the holiday shopping season. For example, in 2008, 2009 and 2010 we recognized 31.3%, 31.3%, and 30.3% respectively, of our net sales in the fourth quarter of the year. Accordingly, a significant reduction in fourth quarter advertising revenue could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
DIRECTV Has Certain Governance and Veto Rights Over Some Operations of Innova
We own a 58.7% interest in Innova, our DTH venture in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic. The balance of Innova’s equity is indirectly owned by The DIRECTV Group, Inc., or DIRECTV, through its subsidiaries DTH (Mexico) Investment, LTD, DIRECTV Latin America Holdings, Inc., or DIRECTV Holdings, and DIRECTV Latin America LLC, or DTVLA. Although we hold a majority of Innova’s equity and designate a majority of the members of Innova’s Board of Directors, DIRECTV has certain governance and veto rights in Innova, including the right to block certain transactions between us and Innova.
Loss of Transmission or Loss of the Use of Satellite Transponders Could Cause a Business Interruption in Innova, Which Would Adversely Affect Our Net Income
Media and telecom companies, including Innova, rely on satellite transmissions to conduct their day-to-day business. Any unforeseen and sudden loss of transmission or non-performance of the satellite for Innova can cause huge losses to Innova’s business. The unforeseen loss of transmission may be caused due to the satellite’s loss of the orbital slot or the reduction in the satellite’s functional life.
The size of the business interruption impact for Innova in the case of a satellite loss exceeds the insurance we have acquired to cover this risk. In order to reduce the possibility of financial consequences resulting from an unforeseen loss of transmission, Innova entered into an agreement to launch a backup satellite jointly with Sky Brasil Servicos Ltda., or Sky Brasil, which was launched in the first quarter of 2010. We cannot predict the extent of losses to Innova in the case of current or new satellite loss or the effectiveness of any alternative strategy.

 

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The Results of Operations of Broadcasting Media Partners, Inc. and GSF Telecom Holdings, S.A.P.I. de C.V., May Affect Our Results of Operations and the Value of Our Investments in Those Companies
In December 2010, we made a substantial investment in Broadcasting Media Partners, Inc., or BMP, the parent company of Univision Communications, Inc., or Univision. However, we do not control and do not consolidate the results of BMP. Most of our investment in BMP is currently held in the form of convertible debentures. Our conversion of the debentures into shares of common stock of BMP is subject to certain conditions, and any delay in such conversion could materially affect the value of the debentures. After the conversion, we will remain a minority equity holder of BMP. The results of operations of BMP and Univision may affect the value of our investment in BMP and our results of operations. The business, financial condition and results of operations of Univision could be materially and adversely affected by risks including, but not limited to: (i) failure to service debt, (ii) cancellation, reductions or postponements of advertising, (iii) possible strikes or other union job actions, (iv) changes in the rules and regulations of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, (v) an increase in the cost of, and decrease in the supply or quality of, programming, (vi) an increase in the preference among Hispanics for English-language programming, (vii) competitive pressures from other broadcasters and other entertainment and news media and (viii) the impact of new technologies.
In April 2011, we made a substantial investment for the acquisition of equity and convertible debentures issued by GSF Telecom Holdings, S.A.P.I. de C.V., or GSF, which indirectly owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Grupo Iusacell, S.A. de C.V., or Iusacell. However, we do not control and do not consolidate the results of GSF. Most of our investment in GSF is currently held in the form of debentures mandatorily convertible into shares of stock of GSF. The conversion of the GSF convertible debentures is subject to regulatory approval, and any delay in the issuance of such approval would give rise to increased conversion costs and a prolonged conversion timeframe, which could materially affect the value of the debentures. After the mandatory conversion, we will still not be a majority owner of GSF and will share governance rights with the other owner. The results of operations of GSF and Iusacell may affect the value of our investment in GSF and our results of operations. The business, financial condition and results of operations of Iusacell could be materially and adversely affected by risks including, but not limited to: (i) technology becoming obsolete, (ii) the inability to renew concessions and existing arrangements for roaming and other services, (iii) litigation being resolved against Iusacell, (iv) the dependence on revenues from subsidiaries to repay debt, (v) the loss of subscribers as a result of changes in the telecommunications industry and (vi) changes in the regulatory environment.
There can be no assurance that the results of operations of BMP, GSF and their respective subsidiaries will be sufficient to maintain or increase the value of our investments in such companies, or that such results will not materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Risk Factors Related to Our Securities
Any Actions Stockholders May Wish to Bring Concerning Our Bylaws or the CPO Trust Must Be Brought in a Mexican Court
Our bylaws provide that a stockholder must bring any legal actions concerning our bylaws in courts located in Mexico City. The trust agreement governing the CPOs provides that a stockholder must bring any legal actions concerning the trust agreement in courts located in Mexico City. All parties to the trust agreement governing the CPOs, including the holders of CPOs, have agreed to submit these disputes only to Mexican courts.
Non-Mexicans May Not Hold A Shares, B Shares or D Shares Directly and Must Have Them Held in a Trust at All Times
Non-Mexicans may not directly own A Shares, B Shares or D Shares, but may hold them indirectly through a CPO trust, which will control the voting of the A Shares and B Shares. Under the terms of the CPO Trust, a non-Mexican holder of CPOs or GDSs may instruct the CPO Trustee to request that we issue and deliver certificates representing each of the shares underlying its CPOs so that the CPO Trustee may sell, to a third party entitled to hold the shares, all of these shares and deliver to the holder any proceeds derived from the sale.
Non-Mexican Holders of Our Securities Forfeit Their Securities if They Invoke the Protection of Their Government
Pursuant to Mexican law, our bylaws provide that non-Mexican holders of CPOs and GDSs may not ask their government to interpose a claim against the Mexican government regarding their rights as stockholders. If non-Mexican holders of CPOs and GDSs violate this provision of our bylaws, they will automatically forfeit the A Shares, B Shares, L Shares and D Shares underlying their CPOs and GDSs to the Mexican government.
Non-Mexican Holders of Our Securities Have Limited Voting Rights
Non-Mexican holders of GDSs are not entitled to vote the A Shares, B Shares and D Shares underlying their securities. The L Shares underlying GDSs, the only series of our Shares that can be voted by non-Mexican holders of GDSs, have limited voting rights. These limited voting rights include the right to elect two directors and limited rights to vote on extraordinary corporate actions, including the delisting of the L Shares and other actions which are adverse to the holders of the L Shares. For a brief description of the circumstances under which holders of L Shares are entitled to vote, see “Additional Information — Bylaws — Voting Rights and Stockholders’ Meetings”.

 

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Our Antitakeover Protections May Deter Potential Acquirors and May Depress Our Stock Price
Certain provisions of our bylaws could make it substantially more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us. These provisions in our bylaws may discourage certain types of transactions involving the acquisition of our securities. These provisions may also limit our stockholders’ ability to approve transactions that may be in their best interests and discourage transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their Shares over the then current market price, and could possibly adversely affect the trading volume in our equity securities. As a result, these provisions may adversely affect the market price of our securities. Holders of our securities who acquire Shares in violation of these provisions will not be able to vote, or receive dividends, distributions or other rights in respect of these securities and would be obligated to pay us a penalty. For a description of these provisions, see “Additional Information — Bylaws — Antitakeover Protections”.
GDS Holders May Face Disadvantages When Attempting to Exercise Voting Rights as Compared to Other Holders of Our Securities
In situations where we request that The Bank of New York Mellon, the depositary for the securities underlying the GDSs, ask GDS holders for voting instructions, the holders may instruct the depositary to exercise their voting rights, if any, pertaining to the deposited securities. The depositary will attempt, to the extent practical, to arrange to deliver voting materials to these holders. We cannot assure holders of GDSs that they will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that they can instruct the depositary how to vote the deposited securities underlying their GDSs, or that the depositary will be able to forward those instructions and the appropriate proxy request to the CPO Trustee in a timely manner. For stockholders’ meetings, if the depositary does not receive voting instructions from holders of GDSs or does not forward such instructions and appropriate proxy request in a timely manner, if requested in writing from us, it will provide a proxy to a representative designated by us to exercise these voting rights. If no such written request is made by us, the depositary will not represent or vote, attempt to represent or vote any right that attaches to, or instruct the CPO Trustee to represent or vote, the shares underlying the CPOs in the relevant meeting and, as a result, the underlying shares will be voted in the manner described under “Additional Information — Bylaws — Voting Rights and Stockholders’ Meetings — Holders of CPOs”. For CPO Holders’ meetings, if the depositary does not timely receive instructions from a Mexican or non-Mexican holder of GDSs as to the exercise of voting rights relating to the underlying CPOs in the relevant CPO holders’ meeting, the depositary and the custodian will take such actions as are necessary to cause such CPOs to be counted for purposes of satisfying applicable quorum requirements and, unless we in our sole discretion have given prior written notice to the depositary and the custodian to the contrary, vote them in the same manner as the majority of the CPOs are voted at the relevant CPOs holders’ meeting.
This means that holders of GDSs may not be able to exercise their right to vote and there may be nothing they can do if the deposited securities underlying their GDSs are not voted as they request.
The Interests of Our GDS Holders Will Be Diluted if We Issue New Shares and These Holders Are Unable to Exercise Preemptive Rights for Cash
Under Mexican law and our bylaws, our stockholders have preemptive rights. This means that in the event that we issue new Shares for cash, our stockholders will have a right to subscribe and pay the number of Shares of the same series necessary to maintain their existing ownership percentage in that series. U.S. holders of our GDSs cannot exercise their preemptive rights unless we register any newly issued Shares under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or qualify for an exemption from registration. If U.S. holders of GDSs cannot exercise their preemptive rights, the interests of these holders will be diluted in the event that we issue new Shares for cash. We intend to evaluate at the time of any offering of preemptive rights the costs and potential liabilities associated with registering any additional Shares. We cannot assure you that we will register under the Securities Act any new Shares that we issue for cash. In addition, although the Deposit Agreement provides that the depositary may, after consultation with us, sell preemptive rights in Mexico or elsewhere outside the U.S. and distribute the proceeds to holders of GDSs, under current Mexican law these sales are not possible. See “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Long-Term Retention Plan” and “Additional Information — Bylaws — Preemptive Rights”.
The Protections Afforded to Minority Stockholders in Mexico Are Different From Those in the U.S.
Under Mexican law, the protections afforded to minority stockholders are different from those in the U.S. In particular, the law concerning fiduciary duties of directors is not well developed, there is no procedure for class actions or stockholder derivative actions and there are different procedural requirements for bringing stockholder lawsuits. As a result, in practice, it may be more difficult for our minority stockholders to enforce their rights against us or our directors or major stockholders than it would be for stockholders of a U.S. company.

 

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The Ley del Mercado de Valores, or the Mexican Securities Market Law, provides additional protection to minority stockholders, such as (i) providing stockholders of a public company representing 5% or more of the capital stock of the public company, an action for liability against the members and secretary of the Board and relevant management of the public company, and (ii) establishing additional responsibilities on the audit committee in all issues that have or may have an effect on minority stockholders and their interests in an issuer or its operations.
It May Be Difficult to Enforce Civil Liabilities Against Us or Our Directors, Executive Officers and Controlling Persons
We are organized under the laws of Mexico. Substantially all of our directors, executive officers and controlling persons reside outside the U.S., all or a significant portion of the assets of our directors, executive officers and controlling persons, and substantially all of our assets, are located outside of the U.S., and some of the parties named in this annual report also reside outside of the U.S. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons or to enforce against them or us in U.S. courts judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the U.S. We have been advised by our Mexican counsel, Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C., that there is doubt as to the enforceability, in original actions in Mexican courts, of liabilities predicated solely on U.S. federal securities laws and as to the enforceability in Mexican courts of judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report and the documents incorporated by reference into this annual report contain forward-looking statements. We may from time to time make forward-looking statements in reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on Form 6-K, in annual reports to stockholders, in prospectuses, press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by our officers, directors or employees to analysts, institutional investors, representatives of the media and others. Examples of these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
    projections of operating revenues, net income (loss), net income (loss) per CPO/share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items or ratios;
    statements of our plans, objectives or goals, including those relating to anticipated trends, competition, regulation and rates;
    our current and future plans regarding our online and wireless content division, Televisa Interactive Media, or TIM;
    statements concerning our current and future plans regarding our investment in the Spanish television channel Gestora de Inversiones Audiovisuales La Sexta, S.A., or La Sexta;
    statements concerning our current and future plans regarding our investment in Grupo de Telecomunicaciones de Alta Capacidad, S.A.P.I. de C.V., or GTAC;
    statements concerning our current and future plans regarding our gaming business;
    statements concerning our current and future plans regarding the fixed telephony service provided by Empresas Cablevisión, S.A.B. de C.V., or Cablevisión;
    statements concerning our transactions with Univision and our current and future plans regarding our investment in BMP, the parent company of Univision;
    statements concerning our current and future plans regarding our investment in GSF, the controlling company of Iusacell;
    statements concerning our series of transactions with DIRECTV, and News Corporation, or News Corp.;
    statements concerning our transactions with NBC Universal’s Telemundo Communications Group, or Telemundo;
    statements concerning our plans to build and launch a new transponder satellite;
    statements about our future economic performance or statements concerning general economic, political or social conditions in the United Mexican States, or Mexico, or other countries in which we operate or have investments; and
    statements or assumptions underlying these statements.

 

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Words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “target”, “estimate”, “project”, “predict”, “forecast”, “guideline”, “may”, “should”, “will” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in these forward-looking statements. These factors, some of which are discussed under “Key Information — Risk Factors”, include economic and political conditions and government policies in Mexico or elsewhere, inflation rates, exchange rates, regulatory developments, customer demand and competition. We caution you that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and that other risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. You should evaluate any statements made by us in light of these important factors.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or other factors.

 

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Item 4.   Information on the Company
History and Development of the Company
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. is a sociedad anónima bursátil, or limited liability stock corporation, which was organized under the laws of Mexico in accordance with the Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles, or Mexican Companies Law. Grupo Televisa was incorporated under Public Deed Number 30,200, dated December 19, 1990, granted before Notary Public Number 73 of Mexico City, and registered with the Public Registry of Commerce in Mexico City on Commercial Page (folio mercantil) Number 142,164. Pursuant to the terms of our estatutos sociales, or bylaws, our corporate existence continues through 2105. Our principal executive offices are located at Avenida Vasco de Quiroga, No. 2000, Colonia Santa Fe, 01210 México, D.F., México. Our telephone number at that address is (52) (55) 5261-2000.
Capital Expenditures
The table below sets forth our actual capital expenditures, permanent investments and acquisitions for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and our projected capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2011. For a discussion of how we intend to fund our projected capital expenditures, investments and acquisitions for 2011, as well as a more detailed description of our capital expenditures, investments and acquisitions in prior years, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Liquidity” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Capital Expenditures, Acquisitions and Investments, Distributions and Other Sources of Liquidity”.
                                 
    Year Ended December 31,(1)  
    2008     2009     2010     2011  
    (Actual)     (Actual)     (Actual)     (Forecast)  
    (Millions of U.S. Dollars)  
Capital expenditures(2)
  U.S.$ 478.8     U.S.$ 499.3     U.S.$ 1,011.0     U.S.$ 850.0  
La Sexta(3)
    63.4       49.0       29.2        
BMP(4)
                1,255.0        
GTAC(5)
                33.3       38.3  
Iusacell(6)
                      1,602.5  
Other acquisitions and investments(7)
    137.0       10.5             390.9  
Total capital expenditures and investments
  U.S.$ 679.2     U.S.$ 558.8     U.S.$ 2,328.5     U.S.$ 2,881.7  
(1)   Amounts in respect of some of the capital expenditures, investments and acquisitions we made in 2008, 2009 and 2010 were paid for in Mexican Pesos. These Mexican Peso amounts were translated into U.S. Dollars at the Interbank Rate in effect on the dates on which a given capital expenditure, investment or acquisition was made. As a result, U.S. Dollar amounts presented in the table immediately above are not comparable to: (i) data regarding capital expenditures set forth in “Key Information — Selected Financial Data”, which is presented in Mexican Pesos and, in the case of data presented in U.S. Dollars, is translated at a rate of Ps.12.3576 to one U.S. Dollar, the Interbank Rate as of December 31, 2010, and (ii) certain data regarding capital expenditures set forth under “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Capital Expenditures, Acquisitions and Investments, Distributions and Other Sources of Liquidity”.
 
(2)   Reflects capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment, in all periods presented. Includes U.S.$183.3 million in 2008, U.S.$239.0 million in 2009 and U.S.$438.5 million in 2010 for the expansion and improvement of our Cable and Telecom segment; U.S.$114.0 million in 2008, U.S.$128.8 million in 2009 and U.S.$436.6 million in 2010 for the expansion and improvement of our Sky segment and, U.S.$39.6 million in 2008, U.S.$17.5 million in 2009 and U.S.$12.5 million in 2010 for our Gaming business; and U.S.$141.9 million in 2008, U.S.$114.0 million in 2009, and U.S.$123.4 million in 2010 for our Broadcasting Television segment and other businesses. The actual amount for 2010 includes an accrual of U.S.$111.0 million related to our investment in a new 24-transponder satellite that was launched in the first quarter of 2010, which was paid in cash in the first quarter of 2011. The forecast amount for 2011 totalling U.S.$850 million includes capital expenditures of U.S.$435 million and U.S.$270 million for the expansion and improvements of our Cable and Telecom and Sky segments, respectively, and the remaining U.S.$145 million is for our Television Broadcasting segment and other segments.

 

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(3)   In 2008 and 2009 we made capital contributions related to our interest in La Sexta (40% in 2008 and 40.5% in 2009) in the amount of U.S.$63.4 million (€44.4 million) and U.S.$49 million (€35.7 million), respectively. In 2010, we made short-term loans related to our 40.5% in La Sexta in the principal amount of U.S.$29.2 million (€21.5 million). In the first quarter of 2011, we made a capital contribution related to our interest in La Sexta with the principal amount of the short-term loans made by us in 2010, and our interest in La Sexta increased from 40.5% to 40.8%. Currently, we do not have commitments for additional capital contributions in La Sexta.
 
(4)   In 2010, we made investments of U.S.$1,255.0 million in cash in BMP, the parent company of Univision, in exchange for a 5% equity stake of the outstanding common stock of BMP and U.S.$1,125 million aggregate principal amount of debentures due 2025 bearing interest at an annual rate of 1.5%, that are initially convertible at our option into additional shares currently equivalent to a 30% equity stake in the common stock of BMP, subject to certain conditions and regulations.
 
(5)   In 2010, we made a capital contribution related to our 33.3% interest in GTAC in the amount of U.S.$4.3 million (Ps.54.7 million). Additionally, in 2010, we provided long-term financing to GTAC in the principal amount of U.S.$29.0 million (Ps.372.1 million) under a credit facility related to our interest in GTAC. In 2011, we have commitments to make additional capital contributions related to our 33.3% interest in GTAC in the amount of U.S.$13.4 million (Ps.159 million) and provide additional long-term financing to GTAC in the principal amount of U.S.$24.9 million (Ps.296.1 million) under a credit facility related to our interest in GTAC.
 
(6)   In the second quarter of 2011, we made an investment of U.S.$37.5 million in equity and U.S.$1,565 million in convertible debt of Iusacell as described in the following sentences. Upon conversion of the debt, which is subject to the approval of the Mexican Antitrust Commission, our equity participation in Iusacell will be 50%. The convertible debt of Iusacell was divided into two tranches, the Series 1 Debentures and the Series 2 Debentures. The Series 1 Debentures are the 364,996 registered unsecured debentures of GSF, par value U.S.$1,000 each, representing in the aggregate U.S.$365.0 million, issued against the payment we made in cash on April 7, 2011. The Series 2 Debentures are the 1,200,000 registered unsecured debentures of GSF, par value U.S.$1,000 each, representing in the aggregate U.S.$1,200.0 million, payable in cash by us no later than October 31, 2011 (in a single up-front installment or in multiple installments). As of June 28, 2011, U.S.$600.0 million of the amount payable in respect of the Series 2 Debentures had been paid, and U.S.$600.0 million remains to be paid no later than October 31, 2011.
 
(7)   In 2008, we invested U.S.$100.0 million in an additional issuance of long-term notes of Alvafig, which proceeds were used by Alvafig to acquire shares representing approximately 11% of Cablemás’ aggregate capital stock, and made additional capital contributions in Volaris, the low-cost carrier airline in Mexico, in the amount of U.S.$12.0 million, among others. In 2009, we made investments in Volaris, for an aggregate amount of U.S.$5.0 million, and in other companies in which we hold a non-controlling interest for an aggregate amount of U.S.$5.5 million. In the first half of 2011, we agreed with the other stockholders of Cablemás the terms for us to acquire all of their equity interest in Cablemás for an aggregate amount of U.S.$390.9 million (Ps.4,603.0 million), which was paid with cash and 24.8 million CPOs issued by us on April 29, 2011.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010, we relied on a combination of operating revenues, borrowings and net proceeds from dispositions to fund our capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments. We expect to fund our capital expenditures in 2011 and potential investments and/or acquisitions going forward through a combination of cash from operations, cash on hand and/or borrowings. The amount of borrowings required to fund these cash needs in 2011 will depend upon the timing of cash payments from advertisers under our advertising sales plan.
Business Overview
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world based on its market capitalization and a major participant in the international entertainment business. We operate broadcast channels in Mexico and complement our network coverage through affiliated stations throughout the country. In 2010, our broadcast television channels had an average sign-on to sign-off audience share of 69.6%. We produce pay-TV channels with national and international feeds, which reach subscribers throughout Latin America, the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific. We export our programs and formats to television networks around the world. In 2010, we exported 74,209 hours of programming to approximately 58 countries, excluding the United States.
We believe we are the most important Spanish-language magazine publisher in the world, as measured by circulation, with an annual circulation of approximately 138 million magazines publishing 165 titles in approximately 20 countries.

 

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We own 58.7% of Sky, a DTH satellite television provider in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic. We are also a shareholder in three Mexican cable companies, Cablevisión, Cablemás and Televisión Internacional, S.A. de C.V. and its subsidiaries, collectively TVI. We own 51% of Cablevisión and 50% of TVI. We also owned 58.3% of Cablemás. As of June 17, 2011, we own 100% of Cablemás. See “Business Strategy — Continue Building Our Pay Television Platforms — Cable”.
We also own Esmas.com, one of the leading digital entertainment web portals in Latin America, a gaming business which includes bingo parlors, a 50% stake in a radio company that as of December 31, 2010 reached 75% of the Mexican population, a feature film production and distribution company, soccer teams and a stadium in Mexico.
We also own an unconsolidated equity stake in La Sexta, a free-to-air television channel in Spain, and in OCESA, one of the leading live entertainment companies in Mexico.
In December 2010, we made a substantial investment in BMP, the parent company of Univision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the United States.
In April 2011, we made a substantial investment for the acquisition of equity and convertible debentures issued by GSF, which indirectly owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Iusacell. Iusacell is a provider of telecommunications services primarily engaged in the provision of mobile services throughout Mexico.
Business Strategy
We intend to leverage our position as the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world to continue expanding our business while maintaining profitability and financial discipline. We intend to do so by maintaining our leading position in the Mexican television market, by continuing to produce high quality programming and by improving our sales and marketing efforts while maintaining high operating margins. We were able to withstand the economic downturn as well as the depreciation of the Mexican Peso of 2008 as a result, in part, of our cost cutting plan, which we put into effect in the last quarter of 2008. For more information on our cost cutting plan, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.
By leveraging all our business segments and capitalizing on their synergies to extract maximum value from our content, we also intend to continue expanding our pay-TV networks business, increasing our international programming sales worldwide and strengthening our position in the growing U.S.-Hispanic market. We also intend to continue developing and expanding Sky, our DTH platform. We will continue to strengthen our position in the cable and telecommunications industry in accordance with the consolidation of the cable market in Mexico, and we will also continue developing our publishing business and become an important player in the gaming industry.
We intend to continue to expand our business by developing new business initiatives and/or through business acquisitions and investments in Mexico, the United States and elsewhere.
Maintaining Our Leading Position in the Mexican Television Market
Continuing to Produce High Quality Programming. We aim to continue producing the type of high quality television programming that has propelled many of our programs to the top of the national ratings and audience share in Mexico. In 2009 and 2010, our networks aired 68% and 67%, respectively, of the 200 most-watched television programs in Mexico, according to IBOPE AGB Mexico. We have launched a number of initiatives in creative development, program scheduling and on-air promotion. These initiatives include improved production of our highly rated telenovelas, new comedy and game show formats and the development of reality shows and new series. We have improved our scheduling to be better aligned with viewer habits by demographic segment while improving viewer retention through more dynamic on-air graphics and pacing. We have enhanced tune-in promotion both in terms of creative content and strategic placement. In addition, we plan to continue expanding and leveraging our exclusive Spanish-language video library, exclusive rights to soccer games and other events, as well as cultural, musical and show business productions.

 

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In April 2008, we began broadcasting more than 1,000 hours per year of NBC Universal’s Telemundo’s original programming on Channel 9. We currently, and through December 2011, pay Telemundo a fixed license fee for the broadcast of Telemundo’s programming on our Channel 9 Network. Beginning January 2012, we will pay Telemundo a license fee based on a percentage of all revenues generated from sales related to Telemundo programming. In addition, since 2010 we distribute, via Sky and Cablevisión, a new pay-TV channel in Mexico produced by Telemundo principally featuring Telemundo branded content. See “— Television — Programming — Foreign-Produced Programming”. As a result of the strategic alliance agreement entered into with Telemundo, we distribute Telemundo content in Mexico on an exclusive basis across multiple platforms including broadcast television, pay television and our emerging digital platforms. In October 2008, we entered into license agreements to distribute Telemundo’s original content through digital and wireless platforms in Mexico. As part of the agreements, Telemundo provides us with Telemundo’s original content, including its highly popular telenovelas currently broadcast on our Channel 9, on all of our digital platforms including Esmas.com. Moreover, we also offer mobile wall papers, ring tones and text messaging services based on Telemundo branded content to mobile phone subscribers in Mexico through our mobile business unit Esmas Móvil, the leading mobile premium content provider in Mexico. The agreements complement and are part of the strategic alliance to distribute Telemundo’s original content in Mexico across multiple platforms, including broadcast television, pay-TV and emerging digital platforms.
Improving Our Sales and Marketing Efforts. Over the past few years we have improved our television broadcasting advertising sales strategy by: (i) introducing a cost per rating point basis pricing system; (ii) implementing differentiated pricing by quarter, by channel and by time of day; (iii) reorganizing our sales force into teams focusing on each of our divisions; (iv) emphasizing a compensation policy for salespeople that is performance-based, with variable commissions tied to year-end results for a larger portion of total compensation; and (v) continuing to provide our customers with increased opportunities for product integration.
Maintaining High Operating Segment Income Margins. Our television broadcasting operating segment income margins for 2009 and 2010 were 47.9% and 47.1%, respectively. We intend to continue maintaining high television broadcasting operating segment income margins by increasing revenues and controlling costs and expenses.
Advertising Sales Plan. Our sales force is organized into separate teams, each of which focuses on a particular segment of our business. We sell commercial time in two ways: upfront and scatter basis. Advertisers that elect the upfront option lock in prices for the upcoming year, regardless of future price changes. Advertisers that choose the upfront option make annual prepayments, with cash or short-term notes, and are charged the lowest rates for their commercial time, given the highest priority in schedule placement, and given a first option in advertising during special programs. Scatter advertisers, or advertisers who choose not to make upfront payments but rather advertise from time to time, risk both higher prices and lack of access to choice commercial time slots. We sell advertising to our customers on a cost per rating point basis, whereby our television advertisers are billed for actual minutes used, and the amount billed per minute is based on the price per rating point and actual ratings delivered. This pricing alternative allows an advertiser to purchase advertising time based on the actual ratings of the television programs during which its advertisements are aired. We do not have commitments with advertisers to achieve a certain rating upon broadcast and therefore do not provide any future price adjustments if a certain rating is not met. For a description of our advertising sales plan, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Total Segment Results — Advertising Rates and Sales”.
We currently sell a significant portion of our available television advertising time. We use the remaining portion of our television advertising time primarily to satisfy our legal obligation to the Mexican government to provide up to 18 minutes per day of our broadcast time between 6:00 a.m. and midnight for public service announcements and 30 minutes per day for public programming (referred to in this annual report as Official Television Broadcast Time), and our remaining available television advertising time to promote, among other things, our products. We sold approximately 62%, 57%, and 63% of total available national advertising time on our networks during prime time broadcasts in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and approximately 49%, 47%, and 50% of total available national advertising time during all time periods in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. See “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Total Segment Results — Television Broadcasting”.
Continue Building Our Pay Television Platforms
DTH. We believe that Ku-band DTH satellite services offer an enhanced opportunity for expansion of pay television services into cable households seeking to upgrade reception of our broadcasting and in areas not currently serviced by operators of cable or multi-channel, multi-point distribution services. We own a 58.7% interest in Innova, or Sky, our venture with DIRECTV. Innova is a DTH company with services in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic with approximately 3.04 million subscribers, of which 149,899 were commercial subscribers as of December 31, 2010.
Intelsat, our primary satellite service provider, has reported that its satellite IS-9 is estimated to have its end of life reduced to October 2012, and that it anticipates a replacement satellite, IS-21, to start service in the third quarter of 2012.
In December 2007, Sky and Sky Brasil reached an agreement with Intelsat Corporation and Intelsat LLC to build and launch a new 24-transponder satellite, IS-16, for which service will be dedicated to Sky and Sky Brasil over the satellite’s estimated 15-year life. The satellite will provide back-up for both platforms, and will also double Sky’s current capacity. Sky plans to use this extra capacity for High Definition, or HD, and other value-added services. The satellite was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation and was launched in the first quarter of 2010. For a description of our satellites, see “— Property, Plant and Equipment — Satellites”.

 

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The key components of our DTH strategy include:
    offering high quality programming, including rights to our four over-the-air broadcast channels, exclusive broadcasts of sporting events, such as the World Cup, selected matches of the Mexican Soccer League and the Spanish Soccer League, including La Liga and La Copa del Rey, the NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA Pass, MLB Extra Innings, the NHL, WTA, bullfighting from Spain, world equestrian games, marathons, diamond league, XFL, Carling Cup and Rolex World Cup Jumping;
 
    capitalizing on our relationship with DIRECTV and local operators in terms of technology, distribution networks, infrastructure and cross-promotional opportunities;
 
    capitalizing on the low penetration of pay-TV services in Mexico;
 
    expanding our DTH services in Central America and the Caribbean;
 
    providing superior digital Ku-band DTH satellite services and emphasizing customer service quality;
 
    providing competitive HD experience and expanding our programming offer; and
 
    continuing to leverage our strengths and capabilities to develop new business opportunities and expand through acquisitions.
Pay Television Networks. Through our 16 pay-TV brands and 30 national and international feeds, we reached more than 26 million subscribers throughout Latin America, the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific in 2010. Our pay-TV channels include, among others, three music, four movie, seven variety and entertainment channels, one 24-hour news channel, Foro TV, and one sports channel, Televisa Deportes Network, or TDN, which offers 24-hour-a-day programming 365 days a year. TDN features more than eight hours a day of proprietary content, including editorial content, story coverage, commentary and transmission of national and international soccer tournaments, basketball, golf, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and extreme sports. The content is available in standard definition and includes the exclusive transmission and retransmission of certain matches of the Mexican first division soccer tournament, as well as additional matches broadcast simultaneously; the Spanish soccer cup, including exclusive transmission of two matches per week; Noticiero Televisa Deportes; the 2010 soccer World Cup; the UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship; and much more. This pay-TV sports channel resulted from a licensing agreement that Televisa has entered into with Barra Deportiva, S.A. de C.V., the new independent producer formed from the association of Televisa and Deportes y Medios Panamericana, S.A. de C.V. owned by Estadio W. We hold a 49% full voting stake in Barra Deportiva, S.A. de C.V. In addition to our investment in BMP in December 2010, we sold to Univision our entire interest in TuTv, LLC, or TuTv, our former venture with Univision through which we distributed pay-TV channels within the United States, which represented 50% of TuTv’s capital stock, for an aggregate cash amount of U.S.$55 million. See “— Univision”.
Cable. We are a shareholder in two Mexican cable companies, Cablevisión and TVI, and we have recently merged Cablemás into the Company. With a subscriber base of over 668,985 cable television, or video subscribers (all of which were digital subscribers), as of December 31, 2010 and over 2.21 million homes passed as of December 31, 2010, Cablevisión, the Mexico City cable system in which we own a 51% interest, is one of the most important cable television operators in Mexico. Cablevisión’s strategy aims to increase its subscriber base, average monthly revenues per subscriber and penetration rate by:
    continuing to offer high quality programming;
 
    continuing to upgrade its existing cable network into a broadband bidirectional network;
 
    maintaining its 100% digital service in order to stimulate new subscriptions, substantially reduce piracy and offer new value-added services;
 
    increasing the penetration of its high-speed and bidirectional internet access and other multimedia services as well as providing a platform to offer internet protocol, or IP, and telephony services;
 
    continuing the roll out of advanced digital set-top boxes which allow the transmission of high definition programming and recording capability; and
 
    continuing to leverage our strengths and capabilities to develop new business opportunities and expand through acquisitions.

 

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Cablevisión has introduced a variety of new multimedia communications services over the past few years, such as interactive television and other enhanced program services, including high-speed internet access through cable modem as well as IP telephony. As of December 31, 2010, Cablevisión had 299,157 cable modem, or broadband subscribers compared to 250,550 at December 31, 2009. The growth we have experienced in Cablevisión has been driven primarily by the conversion of our system from analog to digital format. Accordingly, Cablevisión has concluded its plan to switch its analog subscriber base to the digital service. In addition, Cablevisión introduced video on demand, or VOD, services and, in May 2007, received governmental approval to introduce telephony services. In July 2007, Cablevisión began to offer IP telephony services in certain areas of Mexico City, and as of December 31, 2010, it had 190,441 IP telephone lines in service, or voice subscribers. As of December 31, 2010, Cablevisión offers the service in every area in which its network is bidirectional.
Cablemás operates in 49 cities. As of December 31, 2010, the Cablemás cable network served 997,239 cable television, or video subscribers, 360,049 high-speed internet, or broadband subscribers and 205,180 IP-telephony lines, or voice subscribers, with approximately 2.89 million homes passed. In May 2008, we converted all of our convertible long-term notes into 99.99% of the capital stock of Alvafig, the holding company of a 49% interest in the voting stock of Cablemás. The conversion was authorized by the Mexican Antitrust Commission subject to compliance with certain conditions. The initial two conditions that have already been met, and that going forward must be complied with on a continuous basis, are: (1) to make available, subject to certain conditions, our over-the-air channels to pay-TV operators on non-discriminatory terms (“must offer”) and (2) that our pay-TV platforms carry, upon request and subject to certain conditions, over-the-air channels operating in the same geographic zones where such pay-TV platforms provide their services (“must carry”). There are other conditions that have been met as confirmed by the Mexican Antitrust Commission, including the termination of the Stockholder Trust which took place on June 17, 2009.
On April 1, 2011, we announced an agreement reached with the minority stockholder of Cablemás to obtain the 41.7% equity interest in Cablemás that we did not own. The acquisition of that equity stake resulted from a series of capital distributions, the capitalization of certain debt and receivables, and the subsequent merger of Cablemás into the Company in exchange for 24.8 million CPOs which were issued in connection with that transaction. The execution of the merger agreement between Cablemás and the Company was authorized at our stockholders’ meeting held on April 29, 2011, and regulatory approvals for the merger were obtained on February 24, 2011 and June 17, 2011.
In March 2006, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Corporativo Vasco de Quiroga, S.A. de C.V., or CVQ, acquired a 50% interest in TVI. TVI is a telecommunications company offering pay-TV, data and voice services in the metropolitan area of Monterrey and other areas in northern Mexico. As of December 31, 2010, TVI had 1.40 million homes passed, served more than 301,698 cable television, or video subscribers, 147,268 high-speed internet, or broadband subscribers and 106,129 telephone lines, or voice subscribers.
CVQ notified the Mexican Antitrust Commission of its intent to acquire a 50% interest in TVI, and after appealing the decision of such authority at the first stage of the process, in February 2007, the Mexican Antitrust Commission authorized the intended acquisition, subject to compliance with certain conditions related to our ability to determine the rates we charge for our services and products, and the manner in which we provide these services and products. We believe that as of this date, CVQ has complied on a regular basis with all of such conditions. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Mexican Antitrust Laws May Limit Our Ability to Expand Through Acquisitions or Joint Ventures”.
The cable market in Mexico continues to consolidate. We have and will continue to be interested in making further investments and/or acquisitions, directly or indirectly of assets that will complement our telecommunications strategy, either through debt or equity instruments.
Expanding Our Publishing Business
With a total approximate circulation of 138 million magazines during 2010, we believe our subsidiary, Editorial Televisa, S.A. de C.V., or Editorial Televisa, is the most important Spanish-speaking publishing company in the world in number of magazines distributed. Editorial Televisa publishes 165 titles; 104 are wholly-owned and produced in-house and the 61 remaining titles are licensed from world renowned publishing houses, including Spanish language editions of some of the most prestigious brands in the world. Editorial Televisa distributes its titles to approximately 20 countries, including Mexico, the United States and countries throughout Latin America.
We believe that Editorial Televisa leads at least 18 of the 20 markets in which we compete in terms of readership.

 

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Increasing Our International Programming Sales Worldwide and Strengthening Our Position in the Growing U.S.-Hispanic Market
We license our programs to television broadcasters and pay-TV providers in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Excluding the United States, in 2010, we licensed 74,209 hours of programming in approximately 58 countries throughout the world. We intend to continue exploring ways of expanding our international programming sales.
In November 2005, the government of Spain granted a concession for a nationwide free-to-air analog television channel and two nationwide free-to-air digital television channels to La Sexta, a consortium that includes Televisa, which holds a 40.7680% equity interest therein; Grupo Globomedia and the Mediapro Group, which control a 51.978% equity interest, indirectly, through their interest in GAMP Audiovisual, S.A., or GAMP; and since November 2006, Gala Desarrollos Comerciales, S.L. or Gala, which holds a 7.254% equity interest which it acquired from GAMP. La Sexta began broadcasting in March 2006. Through our investment in La Sexta, we believe we are able to capitalize on the size of Spain’s advertising market, as well as the potential synergies between the country’s entertainment market and our current markets. For a description of our arrangements with La Sexta, see “— Investments — La Sexta”.
The U.S.-Hispanic population, estimated to be 50.5 million, or approximately 16% of the U.S. population, according to U.S. Census estimates published in March 2011, is currently one of the fastest growing segments in the U.S. population, with the growth among Hispanics responsible for over half of the U.S. population gains between 2000 and 2010. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the Hispanic population will be approximately 21% of the U.S. population by the year 2025. Hispanics are expected to account for U.S.$1.5 trillion of U.S. consumer spending, or 10.5% of the U.S. total disposable income, by 2015, outpacing the expected growth in total U.S. consumer expenditures.
We intend to leverage our unique and exclusive content, media assets and long-term associations with others to benefit from the growing demand for entertainment among the U.S.-Hispanic population.
We supply television programming for the U.S.-Hispanic market through Univision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the United States. In exchange for this programming, during 2008, 2009 and 2010, Univision paid us U.S.$146.5 million, U.S.$143.0 million and U.S.$156.1 million, respectively, in royalties. In December 2010, we completed a net cash investment of U.S.$1.2 billion in Univision and certain other transactions related to that investment and to the Program License Agreement, or PLA, between Televisa Internacional, S.A. de C.V. and Univision. For a description of our arrangements with Univision, see “— Univision”.
Until December 2010, we maintained a joint venture, TuTv, with Univision through which we operated and distributed a suite of Spanish-language television channels for digital cable and satellite delivery in the United States. In addition to our investment in BMP in December 2010, we sold to Univision our entire interest in TuTv, our former venture with Univision, which represented 50% of TuTv’s capital stock, for an aggregate cash amount of U.S.$55 million. See “— Univision”.
Developing New Businesses and Expanding through Acquisitions
We plan to continue growing our gaming business which consists of bingo and sports books halls, and a national lottery. As of December 31, 2010, we had 23 bingo and sports books halls in operation, under the brand name “Play City”. In accordance with our permit, we plan to continue opening bingo and sports books halls over the course of the next three years. In addition, during 2007 we launched Multijuegos, an online lottery with access to a nationwide network of approximately 4,700 electronic terminals. The bingo and sports books halls and Multijuegos are operated under the Gaming Permit obtained from the Mexican Ministry of the Interior, to establish, among other things, up to 65 bingo and sports books halls and number draws throughout Mexico.
On August 30, 2009, we entered into a strategic alliance agreement with Genomma Lab Internacional, S.A.B. de C.V., or Genomma Lab, to sell and distribute personal care and over the counter pharmaceuticals in the United States and Puerto Rico. The strategic alliance operates through Televisa Consumer Products USA, or TCP, a company owned 51% by Televisa and 49% by Genomma Lab. The sale and distribution of Genomma Lab’s products is an integral part of the activities of TCP. As part of this alliance, on October 8, 2009, TCP entered into, among others, a commercial supply agreement with Genomma Lab. We make available our different media platforms in the United States and Puerto Rico to TCP, which provides Genomma Lab’s brands with significant advertising in the targeted markets corresponding to Genomma Lab’s business model. This will enable Genomma Lab to expand the extensive success of its brands beyond Mexico and Latin America by accessing a Hispanic market of approximately 50 million consumers with an estimated purchasing power of over $870 billion annually while leveraging Televisa’s reach and name recognition in the Hispanic market. The transaction closed on October 8, 2009 and we launched operations in March 2010. During 2010, TCP sold and distributed Genomma Lab’s products such as over-the-counter, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, and certain commemorative coins of Mexico’s 200 years as an independent nation.
On February 15, 2010, we entered into an Investment and Securities Subscription Agreement, or Investment Agreement, with NII pursuant to which we agreed to invest U.S.$1.44 billion in cash for a 30% equity interest in Comunicaciones Nextel de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., or Nextel Mexico. Our investment and other transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement were conditioned upon the consortium formed by Nextel Mexico and the Group being awarded licenses to use specified amounts of spectrum in the spectrum auctions held in Mexico during 2010, and other customary closing conditions. In October 2010, we and NII announced that we had mutually agreed to terminate the Investment Agreement and other related agreements.

 

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On March 18, 2010, Grupo de Telecomunicaciones Mexicanas, S.A. de C.V., or Telefónica, Editora Factum, S.A. de C.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Mega Cable, S.A. de C.V., or Megacable, agreed to jointly participate, through a consortium, in the public bid for a pair of dark fiber wires held by the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad). On June 9, 2010, the SCT granted the consortium a favorable award in the bidding process for a 20 year contract for the lease of approximately 19,457 kilometers of dark fiber-optic capacity, along with a corresponding concession, granted on July 5, 2010, to operate a public telecommunications network using dense wavelength division multiplexing, or DWDM, technology. The consortium, through GTAC, in which each of Telefónica, Editora Factum and Megacable has an equal equity participation, paid Ps.883.8 million as consideration for the concession. GTAC plans to have the network ready to offer commercial services around the end of 2011. The total investment in GTAC made by the consortium in 2010 was Ps.1.3 billion and there will be further investments in 2011, in an approximate amount of Ps.700 million. This new fiber optic network will represent for us a new alternative to access data transportation services, increasing competition in the Mexican telecommunications market and therefore improving the quality of the services offered. The fiber optic network will aim to increase broadband internet access for businesses as well as households in Mexico.
On April 7, 2011, we entered into a transaction pursuant to which CVQ, our wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired (i) the trust beneficiary rights to 1.093875% of the outstanding shares of GSF, which indirectly owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Iusacell for an aggregate purchase price of approximately U.S.$37.5 million; and (ii) Unsecured Convertible Debentures 2010 issued by GSF, or the GSF convertible debentures, which are mandatorily convertible into shares of stock of GSF, in an aggregate principal amount of approximately U.S.$365 million of the Series 1 tranche thereof and U.S.$1,200 million of the Series 2 tranche thereof, for an aggregate investment in the GSF convertible debentures of approximately U.S.$1,565 million. The trust beneficiary rights and the Series 1 Debentures were paid in cash on April 7, 2011. The Series 2 Debentures are payable in cash by us no later than October 31, 2011 (in a single up-front installment or in multiple installments). As of June 28, 2011, U.S.$600.0 million of the amount payable in respect of the Series 2 Debentures had been paid, and U.S.$600.0 million remains to be paid no later than October 31, 2011. The trust beneficiary rights and the GSF convertible debentures were transferred to CVQ by México Media Investments S.L., or MMI, a single-stockholder corporation (sociedad unipersonal) organized in Spain.
We also agreed to make an additional payment of U.S.$400 million to Iusacell if cumulative earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of Iusacell reaches U.S.$3,472 million any time from January 1, 2011 and up to December 31, 2015. Upon conversion of the GSF convertible debentures, CVQ will own 50% of the outstanding shares of stock of GSF and, indirectly, 50% of the outstanding shares of Iusacell, and we and Grupo Salinas Telecom, S.A. de C.V., or GSTelecom, the beneficial owner of the remaining 50% of the GSF stock, will have equal corporate governance rights. The mandatory conversion of the GSF convertible debentures is only subject to the approval of the Mexican Antitrust Commission.
Iusacell is a provider of telecommunications services primarily engaged in the provision of mobile services throughout Mexico. As of December 5, 2010, Iusacell had just over 3.95 million mobile wireless subscribers. In addition, Iusacell holds and operates concessions for the 800 MHz band, which allow it to provide wireless cellular services in five adjacent regions in Central and Southern Mexico, and for the 1900 MHz band, which allow it to provide PCS wireless services nationwide. Iusacell also provides other telecommunications services, such as fixed-line telephony, broadband services and links leasing to corporate customers.
Iusacell offers mobile telephony services using the CDMA technology, which is the highest capacity digital technology available for the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency bands. In 2007 and 2008, Iusacell upgraded its network in certain regions through the implementation of the EVDO-3G Rev A technology, which enables users to transfer data signals at high speeds of up to 3.1 megabits per second. In addition to its basic wireless mobile services, Iusacell also offers a broad range of other telecommunications services, including long distance telephony, wireless local telephony, and data transmission. In 2010, Iusacell completed the installation of a GSM/HSDPA+ network, which enables it to provide mobile telephony and high-speed data transmission services in Mexico’s nine cellular/PCS regions. As a result, Iusacell became the only mobile provider in Mexico to operate both CDMA2000 and GSM/HSPA+ technology networks.
Within its primary line of business, which is the provision of mobile telephony services, Iusacell competes with other cellular telephony and personal communication service providers in each of the markets in which it operates. Iusacell competes nationwide with Radiomóvil Dipsa, S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V., which operates under the brand name “Telcel”. Telcel holds spectrum concessions and provides services throughout Mexico, and is the largest wireless operator in the country. Iusacell also competes nationwide with Telefónica Móviles de México, S.A. de C.V., which is the second largest wireless operator in Mexico and offers wireless services under the brand name “Movistar”, and with Comunicaciones Nextel de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which offers wireless services under the “Nextel” brand name.

 

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We plan to continue leveraging our strengths and capabilities to develop new business opportunities and expand through acquisitions in Mexico, the United States and elsewhere. Any such acquisition or investment could be funded using cash on hand, our equity securities and/or the incurrence of debt, and could be substantial in size. We are constantly seeking investment opportunities that complement our telecommunications strategy. We may identify and evaluate opportunities for strategic acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies or companies. We may also consider joint ventures and other collaborative projects and investments.
Television
Television Industry in Mexico
General. There are ten television stations operating in Mexico City and approximately 468 other television stations elsewhere in Mexico. Most of the stations outside of Mexico City retransmit programming originating from the Mexico City stations. We own and operate four of the ten television stations in Mexico City, Channels 2, 4, 5 and 9. These stations are affiliated with 220 repeater stations and 33 local stations outside of Mexico City. See “— Television Broadcasting”. We also own an English-language television station in Mexico on the California border. Our major competitor, TV Azteca, owns and operates Channels 7 and 13 in Mexico City, which we believe are affiliated with 84 and 92 stations, respectively, outside of Mexico City. Televisora del Valle de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., or Televisora del Valle de Mexico, owns the concession for CNI Channel 40, a UHF channel that broadcasts throughout the Mexico City metropolitan area. The Mexican government currently operates two stations in Mexico City, Channel 11, which has 18 repeater stations, and Channel 22. There are three local television stations affiliated with Channel 28, outside of Mexico City. There are also 17 independent stations outside of Mexico City which are unaffiliated with any other stations. See “— Television Broadcasting”.
We estimate that approximately 23.5 million Mexican households have television sets, representing approximately 91.2% of the total households in Mexico as of December 31, 2010. We believe that approximately 97.5% of all households in Mexico City and the surrounding area have television sets.
Ratings and Audience Share. All television ratings and audience share information included in this annual report relate to data supplied by IBOPE AGB Mexico, a privately owned market research firm based in Mexico City. IBOPE AGB Mexico is one of the 15 global branch offices of IBOPE. IBOPE AGB Mexico conducts operations in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and 25 other Mexican cities with a population over 500,000, and the survey data provided in this annual report covers data collected from national surveys. IBOPE AGB Mexico reports that its television surveys have a margin of error of plus or minus 5%.
As used in this annual report, “audience share” for a period means the number of television sets tuned into a particular program as a percentage of the number of households watching over-the-air television during that period without regard to the number of viewers. “Rating” for a period refers to the number of television sets tuned into a particular program as a percentage of the total number of all television households. “Average audience share” for a period refers to the average daily audience share during that period, and “average rating” for a period refers to the average daily rating during that period with each rating point representing one percent of all television households. “Prime time” is 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week, “weekday prime time” is 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and “sign-on to sign-off” is 6:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The average ratings and average audience share for our television networks and local affiliates and programs relate to conventional over-the-air television stations only; cable services, multi-channel, multi-point distribution system and DTH satellite services, videocassettes and video games are excluded.
Programming
Programming We Produce. We produce a significant part of the Spanish-language television programming in the world. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, we produced approximately 72,900 hours, 71,300, and 74,900 hours, respectively, of programming for broadcast on our network stations and through our cable operations and DTH satellite ventures, including programming produced by our local stations.
We produce a variety of programs, including telenovelas, newscasts, situation comedies, game shows, reality shows, children’s programs, comedy and variety programs, musical and cultural events, movies and educational programming. Our telenovelas are broadcast either dubbed or subtitled in a variety of languages throughout the world.

 

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Our programming also includes broadcasts of special events and sports events in Mexico promoted by us and others. Among the sports events that we broadcast are soccer games and professional wrestling matches. See “— Other Businesses — Sports and Show Business Promotions”. In 2008, we broadcast the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing, China, and the 2008 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. In 2009, we broadcast the 2009 Confederations Cup, the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. In 2010, we broadcast the UEFA Champions League, the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the 2010 FIFA Under-17 Women World Cup, the 2010 FIFA Under-20 Women World Cup and the 2010 UEFA Super Cup. We acquired the rights to broadcast the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brasil for the territory of Mexico and the rights to broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar for Mexico and other territories in Latin America.
Our programming is produced primarily at our 30 studios in Mexico City. We also operate 18 fully equipped remote control units. Some of our local television stations also produce their own programming. These local stations operate 43 studios and 35 fully equipped remote control units. See “— Television Broadcasting — Local Affiliates”.
Foreign-Produced Programming. We license and broadcast television programs produced by third parties outside Mexico. Most of this foreign programming is from the United States and includes television series, movies and sports events, including coverage of Major League Baseball games and National Football League games. Foreign-produced programming represented approximately 45%, 44%, and 37% of the programming broadcast on our four television networks in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. A substantial majority of the foreign-produced programming aired on our networks was dubbed into Spanish and was aired on Channels 4 and 5, with the remainder aired on Channel 9.
Talent Promotion. We operate Centro de Educación Artística, a school in Mexico City, to develop and train actors and technicians. We provide instruction free of charge, and a substantial number of the actors appearing on our programs have attended the school. We also promote writers and directors through a writers’ school as well as various contests and scholarships.
Television Broadcasting
We operate four television networks that can be viewed throughout Mexico on our affiliated television stations through Channels 2, 4, 5 and 9 in Mexico City. The following table indicates the total number of operating television stations in Mexico affiliated with each of our four networks, as well as the total number of local affiliates, as of December 31, 2010.
                                                 
    Wholly                                
    Owned                                
    Mexico City     Wholly     Majority     Minority              
    Anchor     Owned     Owned     Owned     Independent     Total  
    Stations     Affiliates     Affiliates     Affiliates     Affiliates     Stations  
Channel 2
    1       123       2             1       127  
Channel 4
    1                               1  
Channel 5
    1       62                   4       67  
Channel 9
    1       15                   13       29  
Subtotal
    4       200       2             18       224  
Border Stations
          1                         1  
Local (Stations) Affiliates
          18             1       14       33  
 
                                   
Total
    4       219       2       1       32       258  
 
                                   
The programs shown on our networks are among the most watched television programs in Mexico. Based on IBOPE AGB Mexico surveys during 2008, 2009 and 2010, our networks aired 137, 136, and 134, respectively, of the 200 most watched television programs throughout Mexico and produced 17, 16, and 17, respectively, of the 25 most watched television programs in Mexico. Most of the remaining top 25 programs in those periods were soccer games and special feature films that were not aired on our networks.
The following charts compare the average audience share and average ratings during prime time hours, weekday prime time hours and from sign-on to sign-off hours, of our television networks as measured by the national audience, from January 2008 through December 2010, shown on a bimonthly basis.

 

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Average Audience Share
January 2008 — December 2010(1)
(BAR GRAPH)
(1)   Source: IBOPE AGB Mexico.

 

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Average Ratings
January 2008 — December 2010(1)
(BAR GRAPH)
(1)   Source: IBOPE AGB Mexico.
Channel 2 Network. Channel 2, which is known as “El Canal de las Estrellas”, or “The Channel of the Stars”, together with its affiliated stations, is the leading television network in Mexico and the leading Spanish-language television network in the world, as measured by the size of the audience capable of receiving its signal. Channel 2’s programming is broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 127 television stations located throughout Mexico. The affiliate stations generally retransmit the programming and advertising transmitted to them by Channel 2 without interruption. Such stations are referred to as “repeater” stations. We estimate that the Channel 2 Network reaches approximately 23.1 million households, representing 98.5% of the households with television sets in Mexico. The Channel 2 Network accounted for a majority of our national television advertising sales in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010.
According to the Política Nacional para la Introducción de los Servicios de Televisión Digital Terrestre or the National Policy for the Introduction of Terrestrial Digital Television Services in Mexico dictated by the SCT, in May 2005, Mexico City’s Channel 2 obtained a license to transmit DTV services on Channel 48 as its second channel throughout the transition period from analog to digital television, which is estimated to end by the year 2021. Also, 11 repeaters of the Channel 2 Network located outside of Mexico City and along the border with the United States have obtained similar licenses. Since December 2005, these DTV stations have been in place and fully operational.
The following table shows the average audience share of the Channel 2 Network during prime time hours, weekday prime time hours and sign-on to sign-off hours for the periods indicated:
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008(1)     2009(1)     2010(1)  
Prime time hours
    34.1 %     33.9 %     33.3 %
Weekday prime time hours
    38.3 %     36.6 %     37.9 %
Sign-on to sign-off hours
    32.1 %     31.7 %     30.8 %
(1)   Source: IBOPE AGB Mexico.

 

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The Channel 2 Network targets the average Spanish-speaking family as its audience. Its programs include soap operas (telenovelas), news, entertainment, comedy and variety programs, movies, game shows, reality shows and sports. The telenovelas make up the bulk of the prime time lineup and consist of romantic dramas that unfold over the course of 120 to 200 half-hour episodes. Substantially all of Channel 2’s programming is aired on a first-run basis and virtually all of it, other than Spanish-language movies, is produced by us.
Channel 5 Network. In addition to its anchor station, Channel 5 is affiliated with 66 repeater stations located throughout Mexico. We estimate that the Channel 5 Network reaches approximately 21.5 million households, representing approximately 91.7% of households with television sets in Mexico. We believe that Channel 5 offers the best option to reach the 18-34 year old demographic, and we have extended its reach into this key group by offering new content.
According to the National Policy for the Introduction of Terrestrial Digital Television Services in Mexico dictated by the SCT, in September 2005, Mexico City’s Channel 5 obtained a license to transmit DTV services in Channel 50 as its second channel during the transition period estimated to end by the year 2021. Also, seven repeaters of the Channel 5 Network have obtained a similar license. Since December 2005, these DTV stations have been in place and fully operational.
The following table shows the average audience share of the Channel 5 Network during prime time hours, weekday prime time hours and sign-on to sign-off hours during the periods indicated:
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008(1)     2009(1)     2010(1)  
Prime time hours
    18.1 %     18.6 %     16.9 %
Weekday prime time hours
    16.1 %     17.1 %     13.8 %
Sign-on to sign-off hours
    19.6 %     20.3 %     19.4 %
(1)   Source: IBOPE AGB Mexico.
We believe that Channel 5 has positioned itself as the most innovative television channel in Mexico with a combination of reality shows, sitcoms, dramas, movies, cartoons and other children’s programming. The majority of Channel 5’s programs are produced outside of Mexico, primarily in the United States. Most of these programs are produced in English. In 2010, we aired 29 of the 50 top-rated movies.
Channel 4 Network. Channel 4 broadcasts in the Mexico City metropolitan area and, according to our estimates, reaches over 5.3 million households, representing approximately 22.5% of television households in Mexico in 2010. As described above, as part of our plan to attract medium-sized and local Mexico City advertisers, we focused the reach of this network throughout Mexico and revised the format of Channel 4 to create 4TV in an effort to target viewers in the Mexico City metropolitan area. We currently sell local advertising time on 4TV to medium-sized and local advertisers at rates comparable to those charged for advertising on local, non-television media, such as radio, newspapers and billboards. However, by purchasing local advertising time on 4TV, medium-sized and local advertisers are able to reach a wider audience than they would reach through local, non-television media.
According to the National Policy for the Introduction of Terrestrial Digital Television Services in Mexico dictated by the SCT, in September 2005, Mexico City’s Channel 4 obtained a license to transmit DTV services in Channel 49 as its second channel during the analog to digital transition period estimated to end by the year 2021. Since December 2005, this DTV station has been fully operational.
The following table shows the average audience share of the Channel 4 Network during prime time hours, weekday prime time hours and sign-on to sign-off hours during the periods indicated, including audience share for local stations:
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008(1)     2009(1)     2010(1)  
Prime time hours
    7.2 %     6.2 %     5.8 %
Weekday prime time hours
    8.4 %     7.5 %     6.5 %
Sign-on to sign-off hours
    9.0 %     8.3 %     8.0 %
(1)   Source: IBOPE AGB Mexico.

 

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4TV targets young adults and stay-at-home parents. Its programs consist primarily of news, comedy, sports, and entertainment shows produced by us, as well as a late night home shopping program, foreign-produced series, mini-series and movies, which are dubbed or subtitled in Spanish. 4TV has succeeded in attracting a larger share of the Mexico City television audience by broadcasting two local newscasts relating to the Mexico City metropolitan area.
Channel 9 Network. In addition to its anchor station, Channel 9 is affiliated with 28 repeater stations, approximately 38% of which are located in central Mexico. We estimate that Channel 9 reaches approximately 17.1 million households, representing approximately 72.8% of households with television sets in Mexico. Channel 9 broadcasts in 26 of the 27 cities other than Mexico City that are covered by national surveys.
According to the National Policy for the Introduction of Terrestrial Digital Television Services in Mexico dictated by the SCT, in October 2006, Mexico City’s Channel 9 obtained a license to transmit DTV services in Channel 44 as its second channel during the transition period estimated to end by the year 2021. In addition, four repeaters of the Channel 9 Network have obtained a similar license. Since January 2007, this DTV station has been operational. Also, as disclosed above, in April 2008, we began broadcasting Telemundo’s original programming on Channel 9.
The following table shows the average audience share of the Channel 9 Network during prime time hours, weekday prime time hours and sign-on to sign-off hours during the periods indicated:
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008(1)     2009(1)     2010(1)  
Prime time hours
    11.8 %     11.2 %     12.0 %
Weekday prime time hours
    11.1 %     11.1 %     12.3 %
Sign-on to sign-off hours
    11.7 %     10.6 %     11.3 %
     
(1)   Source: IBOPE AGB Mexico.
The Channel 9 Network targets families as its audience. Its programs principally consist of movies, sports, sitcoms, game shows, telenovelas produced by third parties, news and re-runs of popular programs from Channel 2. In April 2008, we began broadcasting more than 1,000 hours per year of Telemundo’s original programming on Channel 9. See “Business Strategy — Maintaining Our Leading Position in the Mexican Television Market — Continuing to Produce High Quality Programming”.
Local Affiliates. There are currently 33 local television stations affiliated with our networks, of which 18 stations are wholly owned, one station is minority owned and 14 stations are independent affiliated stations. These stations receive part of their programming from Channels 4 and 9. See “— Channel 4 Network”. The remaining programs aired consist primarily of programs licensed from our program library and locally produced programs. The locally produced programs include news, game shows, musicals and other cultural programs and programs offering professional advice. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, the local television stations owned by us produced 49,500 hours, 48,600 hours, and 48,900 hours, respectively, of programming. Each of the local affiliates maintains its own sales department and sells advertising time during broadcasts of programs that it produces and/or licenses. Generally, we pay the affiliate stations that we do not wholly own a fixed percentage of advertising sales for network affiliation.
According to the National Policy for the Introduction of Terrestrial Digital Television Services in Mexico dictated by the SCT, nine of the 18 local stations wholly owned and the television station on the California border have obtained licenses to transmit DTV services in their service area during the transition period estimated to end by year 2021. These ten DTV stations are in place and fully operational.
Border Stations. We currently own XETV, or the Border Station, a Tijuana based television station which operates under a concession from the SCT from Mexico on the Mexico/U.S. border and broadcasts English-language programs pursuant to a permit granted by The Ministry of the Interior, which is renewed annually. The Border Station is affiliated with the Tijuana/San Diego market, under an affiliation agreement with The CW Network LLC, or CW Network. CW Network was formed as a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation. The Border Station broadcasts under renewable permits issued by the FCC to the station and to CW Network, which authorize electronic cross-border programming transmissions. The Border Station is operated through a station operating agreement with Bay City Television, a U.S. corporation indirectly owned by us. The Border Station’s FCC cross-border permit was renewed on June 30, 2008 for a five-year term expiring on June 30, 2013. CW Network’s cross-border FCC permit became effective on August 8, 2008 for a five-year term and will expire on August 8, 2013.

 

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Pay Television Networks. We produce or license a suite of Spanish and English-language television channels for pay-TV systems in Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. These channels include programming such as general entertainment, telenovelas, movies and music-related shows, interviews and videos. Some of the programming included in these channels is produced by us while other programming is acquired or commissioned from third parties. As of December 2010, we had over 26 million subscribers worldwide.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010, we produced approximately 13,200 hours, 13,300 hours, and 15,700 hours, respectively, of programming and videos, for broadcast on our pay-TV channels. The names and brands of our channels include: Telehit, Ritmoson Latino, Bandamax, De Película, De Película Clásico, Unicable, Cinema Golden Choice 1 & 2, Cinema Golden Choice Latinoamérica, Canal de Telenovelas, American Network, Canal de las Estrellas Latinoamérica, Canal de las Estrellas Europa, Canal 2 Delay-2hrs, Clasico TV, TDN and Foro TV.
TuTv operates and distributes a suite of Spanish-language television channels in the United States. See “— Univision”. In addition to our investment in BMP in December 2010, we sold to Univision our entire interest in TuTv, our former venture with Univision, which represented 50% of TuTv’s capital stock, for an aggregate cash amount of U.S.$55 million. See “— Univision”.
Programming Exports. We license our programs and our rights to programs produced by other television broadcasters and pay-TV providers in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa. We collect licensing fees based on the size of the market for which the license is granted or on a percentage of the advertising sales generated from the programming. In addition to the programming licensed to Univision, we licensed approximately 64,803 hours, 65,449 hours, and 74,209 hours of programming in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. See “— Univision” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Total Segment Results — Programming Exports”. As of December 31, 2010, we had 232,233 half-hours of television programming in our library available for licensing.
Expansion of Programming Reach. Our programs can be seen in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa. We intend to continue to expand our sales of Spanish-language programming internationally through pay-TV services.
Publishing
We believe we are the most important publisher and distributor of magazines in Mexico, and of Spanish-language magazines in the world, as measured by circulation.
With a total circulation of approximately 138 million copies in 2010, we publish 165 titles that are distributed in approximately 20 countries, including the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Panama, among others. See “— Other Businesses — Publishing Distribution”. Our main publications in Mexico include a weekly entertainment and telenovelas magazine, TV y Novelas, Vanidades, a popular bi-weekly magazine for women; Caras, a monthly leading lifestyle and socialite magazine; Eres, a bi-weekly magazine for teenagers; Conozca Más, a monthly science and culture magazine; and Furia Musical, a bi-weekly musical magazine that promotes principally Banda and Onda Grupera music performers. Our other main publications in Latin America and the United States include Vanidades, TV y Novelas U.S.A. and Caras.
We publish the Spanish-language edition of several magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, and Popular Mechanics through a joint venture with Hearst Communications, Inc.; PC Magazine, pursuant to a license agreement with Ziff-Davis Media, Inc.; Maxim, pursuant to a license agreement with Alpha Media Group, Inc.; Marie Claire, pursuant to a license agreement with Marie Claire Album; Men’s Health and Prevention, Women’s Health, Runner’s World, pursuant to a license agreement with Rodale Press, Inc.; Sport Life and Automóvil Panamericano, as well as other special editions of popular automotive magazines, through a joint venture with Motorpress Iberica, S.A.; Muy Interesante and Padres e Hijos pursuant to a joint venture with GyJ España Ediciones, S.L.C. en C.; and Disney Princesas, Disney Winnie Pooh, Disney Hadas, Power Rangers and Playhouse Disney, pursuant to a license agreement with Disney Consumer Products Latin America, Inc. We also publish a Spanish-language edition of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler and of National Geographic Kids in Latin America and in the United States through a licensing agreement with National Geographic Society. In addition, we publish a Spanish-language edition of OK! pursuant to a license agreement with Northern & Shell Luxembourg Branch as well as several comics pursuant to a license agreement with Marvel Characters, B.V.
During 2007, we acquired Editorial Atlántida, a leading publishing company in Argentina. Editorial Atlántida publishes a total of 11 magazines and operates a book publishing business, interactive websites, and numerous brand-extension projects.
During 2009, we launched three new titles, Atrévete a Soñar, a telenovela-themed licensed magazine, Poder y Negocios Venezuela and Poder y Negocios Perú, which are wholly owned business titles.

 

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Cable and Telecom
Cablevisión
The Cable Television Industry in Mexico. Cable television offers multiple channels of entertainment, news and informational programs to subscribers who pay a monthly fee. These fees are based on the package of channels they receive. See “— Digital Cable Television Services”. According to the SCT and Cofetel, there were approximately 1,467 cable concessions in Mexico as of December 31, 2010, serving approximately 5.3 million subscribers.
Mexico City Cable System. We own a 51% interest in Cablevisión, one of the most important cable television operators in Mexico, which provides cable television services to subscribers in Mexico City and surrounding areas. As of December 31, 2010, Cablevisión had 668,985 cable television, or video subscribers all of which were digital subscribers. On March 27, 2009, the shareholders of Cablevisión approved the issuance of an additional 657,467,502 common shares and an increase in its capital stock for an amount of Ps.328,733,751.00 for which Ps.3,371,266,237.00 was paid as premium for the subscription of such capital increase. As of November 29, 2010 the shareholders of Cablevisión approved the issuance of an additional 573,132,441 common shares and an increase in its capital stock for an amount of Ps.286,566,220.50 for which Ps.2,713,433,779.50 was paid as premium for the subscription of such capital increase. These capital increases did not change our percentage ownership in Cablevisión. CPOs, each representing two series A shares and one series B share of Cablevisión, are traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CABLE”.
Digital Cable Television Services. Cablevisión was the first multi-system operator in Mexico to offer an on-screen interactive programming guide, video on demand, high definition channels as well as Motorola and TiVo® DVR services throughout Mexico City. Along with its digital cable service, Cablevisión also offers high speed internet and a competitive digital telephone service in a 100% bundled portfolio. Through its world class network, Cablevisión is able to distribute high quality video content, unique video services, last generation interactivity with “Cablevisión On Demand”, 1080i high definition, impulse and order pay-per-view, a-la-carte programming, among other products and services, with added value features and premium solutions for consumers. Cablevisión’s 100% digital cable service offers six main programming packages which as of March 31, 2011 ranged in price from Ps.189.00 to Ps.679.00 (VAT included), and included up to 290 linear channels: 215 video channels (including 10 over-the-air channels, Fox, ESPN, CNN International, HBO, Disney Channel, TNT, and others), 56 audio channels and 21 pay-per-view channels.
Video-on-Demand and Pay-Per-View Channels. Cablevisión currently offers its Video-On-Demand platform as well as 21 pay-per-view cable television channels in each of its digital service packages. The Video-On-Demand Service and the pay-per-view channels show films and special events programs, including sports and musical events among other content.
Cablevisión Television Revenues. Cablevisión’s revenues are generated from subscriptions for its cable services and from sales of advertising to local and national advertisers. Subscriber revenues come from monthly service and rental fees and, to a lesser extent, one-time installation fees. As of March 31, 2011, its current monthly service fees range in price from Ps.189.00 to Ps.679.00. See “— Digital Cable Television Services”. The Mexican government does not currently regulate the rates Cablevisión charges for its basic and digital premium service packages, although we cannot assure you that the Mexican government will not regulate Cablevisión’s rates in the future. If the SCT were to determine that the size and nature of Cablevisión’s market presence was significant enough so as to have an anti-competitive effect, then the SCT could regulate the rates Cablevisión charges for its various services.
Cablevisión Television Initiatives. Cablevisión plans to continue offering the following multimedia communications services to its subscribers:
    enhanced programming services, including video games, video on demand, high definition, impulse pay per view;
 
    Broadband internet services; and
 
    IP telephony services.
In May 2007, Cablevisión received a concession to offer fixed telephony services through its network. In July 2007, Cablevisión began to offer IP telephony services in certain areas of Mexico City and by the end of 2010 offered the service in every area in which its network is bidirectional, which represents 90.3% of its total network.

 

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In order to provide these multimedia communications services, Cablevisión requires a cable network with bi-directional capability operating at a speed of at least 750 MHz and a digital set-top box. In order to provide these new services, Cablevisión is in the process of upgrading its existing cable network. Cablevisión’s cable network currently consists of more than 17,100 kilometers with over 2.2 million homes passed. In 2010, Cablevisión expanded its network by over 3,644 kilometers. As of December 31, 2010, 8.98% of Cablevisión’s network runs at 450 MHz, approximately 0.81% of Cablevisión’s network runs at 550 MHz, approximately 5.46% of Cablevisión’s network runs at 750 MHz, approximately 22.5% runs at 870 MHz, approximately 62.34% of Cablevisión’s network runs at 1 GHz, and approximately 90.34% of Cablevisión’s network has bidirectional capability.
Cablemás.
Cablemás Cable System. Cablemás operates in 49 cities. As of December 31, 2010, the Cablemás cable network served 997,239 cable television, or video subscribers, 360,049 high-speed internet, or broadband subscribers and 205,180 IP-telephony lines, or voice subscribers, with approximately 2.89 million homes passed.
As of December 31, 2010, Cablemás’ cable network consisted of 17,302 kilometers of cable. Cablemás is in the final stage of converting its existing cable network into a broadband bidirectional network, operating from 550MHz to 860MHz with the ability to transmit video, data and voice at high-speeds. Currently, 93% of Cablemás’ cable network has bidirectional capability, of which 94.7% was operating at or greater than 550 MHz and 87% was operating at or greater than 750 MHz.
Cablemás Revenues. Cablemás has experienced strong organic growth due to successful implementation of its business strategy, introduction of new products and services and wide acceptance of its bundling offerings.
Cablemás’ overall strategy is to increase its penetration levels in each of its markets, through greater value-added services in pay TV, in its active participation in the consolidation of the industry, and through the continued and successful roll-out of Triple-Play services. Cablemás considers itself one of the fastest growing cable television companies in Mexico. Its installed network and its access to subscribers’ homes provide opportunities to achieve sales of inter-related services, including video, data (internet) and telephony, as demand for value-added packages develops.
Cablemás’ investments to increase its networks’ bandwidth and make them bidirectional have allowed it to provide additional products which have enhanced its product offerings. These include:
    Digital signal, Video-on-Demand, and high-definition programming among others, for cable television;
 
    Broadband internet services; and
 
    IP telephony services.
These additional products have allowed Cablemás to increase the average revenue generated per subscriber at no substantial incremental cost and at an economic advantage to consumers.
Cablemás Services. Since its beginning as a cable system concessionaire Cablemás has grown to offer cable television services, high-speed internet access and telephony services. As of March 2011, Cablemás offers three types of video packages to its customers, which include: “Minibasic” (U.S.$14), “Basic” (U.S.$27) and “Premium” (basic rate plus up to U.S.$25). Cablemás packages include up to 80 video channels. In addition, Cablemás offers high speed internet services ranging from 1.1 Mbps (U.S.$26) to 4 Mbps (U.S.$36) and telephony services, which are offered in 100 minute packages (U.S.$14) up to 800 minute packages (U.S.$29).
TVI. In March 2006, our subsidiary CVQ acquired a 50% interest in TVI, a telecommunications company offering pay-TV, data and voice services in the metropolitan area of Monterrey and other areas in northern Mexico.
As of December 31, 2010, TVI had 1.40 million homes passed, served more than 301,698 cable television, or video subscribers, 147,268 high-speed internet, or broadband subscribers and 106,129 telephone lines, or voice subscribers.
Bestel. In December 2007, our indirect majority-owned subsidiary, Cablestar, completed the acquisition of shares of companies owning the majority of the assets of Letseb, S.A. de C.V. and its subsidiaries and Bestel USA, Inc., collectively Bestel, a privately held, facilities-based telecommunications company in Mexico, for U.S.$256.0 million in cash plus an additional capital contribution of U.S.$69.0 million. In connection with the financing of the acquisition of the majority of the assets of Bestel, Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI, which as of December 2007, held 69.2%, 15.4% and 15.4% of the equity stock of Cablestar, respectively, each entered into five year term loan facilities for U.S.$225.0 million, U.S.$50.0 million and U.S.$50.0 million, respectively. In June 2009, the Company acquired TVI’s indebtedness under the above mentioned term loan facility. In July 2009, the Company exchanged its loan balance in connection with such credit facility for the 15.4% interest TVI held in Cablestar. In November 2010 and March 2011, Cablemás and Cablevisión prepaid in full the oustanding balance of the U.S.$50.0 million and U.S.$225.0 million term loan facilities, respectively. Bestel focuses on providing voice, data, and managed services to domestic and international carriers and to the enterprise, corporate, and government segments in both Mexico and the United States. Bestel owns a fiber-optic network of approximately 8,000 kilometers that covers several important cities and economic regions in Mexico and has direct crossing of its network into Dallas, Texas, Nogales, Arizona, and San Diego, California in the United States. This enables the company to provide high capacity connectivity between the United States and Mexico.

 

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Other Businesses
Publishing Distribution. We estimate that we distribute approximately 45%, in terms of volume, of the magazines circulated in Mexico through our subsidiary, Distribuidora Intermex, S.A. de C.V., or Intermex. We believe that our distribution network reaches over 300 million Spanish-speaking people in approximately 20 countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Panama. We also estimate that our distribution network reaches over 30,000 points of sale in Mexico and over 75,000 points of sale outside of Mexico. We also own publishing distribution operations in six countries. Our publications are also sold in the United States, the Caribbean and elsewhere through independent distributors. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, 63.9%, 62.2%, and 63.3%, respectively, of the publications distributed by our company were published by our Publishing division. In addition, our distribution network sells a number of publications published by joint ventures and independent publishers, as well as DVD’s, calling cards, sticker albums, novelties and other consumer products.
Televisa Interactive Media. TIM is the Company’s online and wireless content division. This venture includes Esmas, our Spanish-language horizontal internet portal; Esmas Móvil, our mobile value added service unit; and Tvolucion.com, our online video on demand streaming service. TIM leverages the Company’s and third party premium and extensive Spanish-language content, including news, sports, business, music and entertainment, editorials, life and style, technology, health, kids and an opinion survey channel, and offers a variety of services, including search engines, chat forums, and news bulletins.
With a wide range of content channels, online and mobile services, and more than 400 million page views per month and more than 27.8 million monthly unique users in 2010, we believe that TIM has positioned itself as one of the leading digital entertainment portals in Mexico and Hispanic territories. Currently, 72% of TIM’s page views come from Mexico and the rest comes from the U.S. and Latin America.
In October 2008, we entered into license agreements to distribute Telemundo’s original content through digital and wireless platforms in Mexico. As part of the agreements, Telemundo provides us with original content, including its highly popular telenovelas currently broadcast on our Channel 9, on all of our digital platforms including Esmas.com. Moreover, Televisa also offers mobile wall papers, ring tones and text messaging services based on Telemundo branded content to mobile phone subscribers in Mexico through our mobile business unit Esmas Móvil, the leading mobile premium content cell phone provider in Mexico. The agreements complement and are part of the strategic alliance to distribute Telemundo’s original content in Mexico across multiple platforms, including broadcast television, pay-TV and emerging digital platforms.
Since April 2004, Esmas.com has been offering premium content service to mobile phones while leveraging the cell phone networks in Mexico, the U.S. and Latin America. In 2010, Esmas Móvil sent more than 18 million premium messages to approximately 5 million mobile subscribers. Most of the content demanded by users consists of news and sports text alerts, interactive TV promotions, lotteries, wallpapers games and music. We believe that due to the Mexican public’s affinity for the high quality and wide range of our programming content, TIM has become one of the leading premium content mobile service providers in Mexico and in Latin America.
Sports and Show Business Promotions. We actively promote a wide variety of sports events and cultural, musical and other entertainment productions in Mexico. Most of these events and productions are broadcast on our television stations, cable television system, radio stations and DTH satellite services. See “— Television — Programming”, “— Cable and Telecom — Digital Cable Television Services”, “— Cable and Telecom — Pay-Per-View Channels”, “— Radio Stations”, and “— DTH Ventures — Mexico and Central America”.
Soccer. We have title to some of Mexico’s professional soccer teams. These teams currently play in the Mexican First Division and are among the most popular and successful teams in Mexico. Each team plays two 17 game regular seasons per year. The best teams of each regular season engage in post-season championship play.

 

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We own the Azteca Stadium which has a seating capacity of approximately 105,000 people. Azteca Stadium has hosted two World Cup Soccer Championships. In addition, América and the Mexican National Soccer team generally play their home games at this stadium. We have exclusive rights to broadcast the home games of certain Mexican First Division soccer teams.
Promotions. We promote a wide variety of concerts and other shows, including beauty pageants, song festivals and nightclub shows of popular Mexican and international artists.
Feature Film Production and Distribution. We produce first-run Spanish-language feature films, some of which are among Mexico’s top films based on box office receipts. We co-produced four feature films in 2008, one in 2009, and none in 2010. We have previously established co-production arrangements with Mexican film production companies, as well as with major international companies such as Miravista, Warner Bros., Plural Entertainment and Lions Gate Films. We will continue to consider entering into co-production arrangements with third parties in the future, although no assurance can be given in this regard.
We distribute our films to Mexican movie theaters and later release them on video for broadcast on cable and network television. In 2008 we released two feature films through movie theaters, in 2009 we released Cabeza de Buda, one of our coproduced feature films, through movie theaters, and in 2010 we did not release any feature films. We also distribute our feature films outside of Mexico.
We distribute feature films produced by non-Mexican producers in Mexico. Under an agreement with Warner Bros., we were the exclusive distributor in Mexico of their feature films from January 1, 1999, until December 31, 2009. As of January 1, 2010, Warner Bros decided to grant the distribution rights of its films in Mexico to Universal Pictures. In 2008, 2009, 2010 and up to April 2011 we distributed 43, 40, 19 and 7 feature films, respectively, including several U.S. box office hits. We also distribute independently produced non-Mexican and Mexican films in Mexico, the United States and Latin America.
At December 31, 2010, we owned or had rights to approximately 25 Spanish-language films and 110 movies on video titles. Many of these films and titles have been shown on our television networks, cable system and DTH services.
Gaming Business. In 2006, we launched our gaming business which consists of bingo and sports books halls, and a national lottery. As of December 31, 2010, we had 23 bingo and sports books halls in operation, under the brand name “Play City”. In accordance with our Gaming Permit, we plan to continue opening bingo and sports books halls over the course of the next three years. In addition, during 2007 we launched Multijuegos, an online lottery with access to a nationwide network of approximately 4,700 electronic terminals. The bingo and sports books halls and Multijuegos are operated under the Gaming Permit obtained from the Mexican Ministry of the Interior, to establish, among other things, up to 65 bingo and sports books halls and number draws throughout Mexico.
Radio Stations. Our radio business, Sistema Radiópolis, S.A. de C.V., or Radiópolis, is operated under a joint venture with Grupo Prisa, S.A., a leading Spanish communications group. Under this joint venture, we hold a controlling 50% full voting stake in this subsidiary and we have the right to appoint the majority of the members of the joint venture’s board of directors. Except in the case of matters that require unanimous board and/or stockholder approval, such as extraordinary corporate transactions, the removal of directors and the amendment of the joint venture’s organizational documents, among others, we control the outcome of most matters that require board of directors and/or stockholder approval. We also have the right to appoint Radiópolis’ Chief Financial Officer. The election of Radiópolis’ Chief Executive Officer requires a unanimous vote from the joint venture’s board of directors.
Radiópolis owns and operates 17 radio stations in Mexico, including three AM and three FM radio stations in Mexico City, five AM and two FM radio stations in Guadalajara, one AM station in Monterrey, one FM radio station in Mexicali, one AM station in San Luis Potosí and one AM station in Veracruz. Some Radiópolis stations transmit powerful signals which reach beyond the market areas they serve. For example, XEW-AM and XEWA-AM transmit signals that under certain conditions may reach the southern part of the United States. XEW-AM may also reach most of southern Mexico. In June 2004, Radiópolis entered into an agreement with Radiorama, S.A. de C.V., or Radiorama, one of Mexico’s leading radio networks, which added 50 affiliate stations (27 AM, 17 FM and 6 combination stations) to Radiópolis’ existing network, expanding its total network, including owned and operated and affiliate stations, to 117 stations (including 13 combination stations). After giving effect to the transaction with Radiorama, we estimate that Radiópolis’ radio stations reach 16 states in Mexico. Our programs aired through our radio stations network reach approximately 75 percent of Mexico’s population. We plan to continue to explore ways to expand the reach of our radio programming and advertising through affiliations with third parties and through acquisitions.
According to Investigadores Internacionales Asociados, S.C., or INRA, in 2008, 2009 and 2010, XEW-AM ranked, on average, thirteenth, thirteenth, and thirteenth, respectively, among the 31 stations in the Mexico City metropolitan area AM market, XEQ-FM, ranked, on average, sixth, seventh, and third, respectively, among the 28 stations in the Mexico City metropolitan area FM market, and XEBA ranked, on average, second, second, and second, respectively, among 24 stations in the Guadalajara City metropolitan FM market. INRA conducts daily door-to-door and automobiles interviews in the Mexico City metropolitan area to determine radio listeners’ preferences. Outside Mexico City, INRA conducts periodic surveys. We believe that no other independent surveys of this nature are routinely conducted in Mexico.

 

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Our radio stations use various program formats, which target specific audiences and advertisers, and cross-promote the talent, content and programming of many of our other businesses, including television, sports and news. We produce some of Mexico’s top-rated radio formats, including W Radio (News-talk), Estadio W (Sports), Ke Buena (Mexican music), 40 Principales (Pop music) and Besame Radio (Spanish ballads). W Radio, Ke Buena and 40 Principales formats are also broadcast through the internet.
The successful exclusive radio broadcasting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup and 2008 Olympic Games placed Radiópolis among the highest rating sports-broadcasting radio stations in Mexico.
During the last five years, Radiópolis has organized 20 massive live musical events with leading artists in both musical formats, gathering a record attendance of approximately 130,000 people during the last two events, which were performed at the Zocalo and the Angel de la Independencia, both in Mexico City. The events organized by Radiópolis have become among the most popular music-related events among the musical radio stations in Mexico.
We sell both national and local advertising on our radio stations. Our radio advertising sales force sells advertising time primarily on a scatter basis. See “— Television — Television Broadcasting — Advertising Sales Plan”. In addition, we use some of our available radio advertising time to satisfy our legal obligation to the Mexican government to provide up to 35 minutes per day of our broadcast time, between 6:00 a.m. and midnight for public service announcements, and 30 minutes per day for official programming (referred to in this annual report as “Official Radio Broadcast Time”).
Investments
OCEN. We own a 40% stake in Ocesa Entretenimiento, S.A. de C.V., or OCEN, a subsidiary of CIE, which owns all of the assets related to CIE’s live entertainment business unit in Mexico. OCEN’s business includes the production and promotion of concerts, theatrical, family and cultural events, as well as the operation of entertainment venues, the sale of entrance tickets (under an agreement with Ticketmaster Corporation), food, beverages and merchandising, and the booking and management of Latin artists. In June 2010, OCEN sold its 51% interest in As Deporte, S.A. de C.V. (the principal triathlon and athletic competition producer in Mexico, and promoter of other sporting events in Mexico, such as the Ironman competition).
During 2008, 2009 and 2010, OCEN promoted more than 3,721, 4,497 and 3,891 events, respectively, and managed 15 entertainment venues in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, providing an entertainment platform that established OCEN as a principal live entertainment company in Mexico.
Additionally, during 2010, OCEN continued the promotion of shows in Central America and Colombia, including a successful run of Cirque Du Soleil, Quidam in Bogotá, looking to expand its regional participation in live entertainment over new territories. An important component of OCEN’s business strategy for the last three years has been the increased on-line presence through the internet site www.ocesa.com.mx, pursuing a reduction of marketing costs, better understanding of the consumer and direct communication with OCEN’s user base through social networks and digital contents.
Mutual Fund Venture. On June 22, 2010, we sold our 40.84% interest in Más Fondos to Profie Mexicana, S.A. de C.V., our former partner in this venture. On March 24, 2011, the Mexican Bank and Securities Commission, or Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, or CNBV, authorized that sale.
Volaris. In October 2005, we acquired a 25% interest in Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A. de C.V. and in Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A. de C.V., (jointly, “Vuela”). In July 2010, we sold our equity stake in Vuela, which in the aggregate represented a participation interest of 25% in Volaris, the company that operates the airline “Volaris”.
La Sexta. In November 2005, the government of Spain granted a concession for a nationwide free-to-air analog television channel and two nationwide free-to-air digital television channels to La Sexta, a consortium that includes the Company, which holds a 40.7680% equity interest therein; Grupo Globomedia and the Mediapro Group, which control a 51.978% equity interest, indirectly, through their interest in GAMP; and as of November 2006, Gala, which holds a 7.254% equity interest which it acquired from GAMP. La Sexta began broadcasting in March 2006.

 

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With the investment in La Sexta, we expect to capitalize on the size and growth trends in Spain’s advertising market, as well as the potential synergies between the country’s entertainment market and our current markets.
During 2008, we made additional capital contributions of €44.4 million. During 2009, we made additional capital contributions of €35.7 million. During 2010, we made loans to La Sexta of €21.5 million which were capitalized on January 31, 2011.
There is no commitment to make additional capital contributions to La Sexta and we do not expect to do so, we cannot assure that La Sexta will be able to continue operations without additional third party financing or capital contributions by its shareholders.
Alvafig. In November 2006, we invested U.S.$258.0 million in long-term notes convertible, at our option and subject to regulatory approval, into 99.99% of the equity of Alvafig, the holding company of a 49% interest in the voting stock of Cablemás. In February 2008, we invested U.S.$100.0 million in an additional issuance of long-term notes convertible into 99.99% of the equity of Alvafig, which proceeds were used by Alvafig to increase its interest in Cablemás. In May 2008, we converted all of the convertible long-term notes into 99.99% of the capital stock of Alvafig. The conversion was authorized by the Mexican Antitrust Commission subject to compliance with certain conditions. The initial two conditions imposed by the Mexican Antitrust Commission that have already been met, and that going forward must be complied with on a continuous basis, are: (1) to make available, subject to certain conditions, our over-the-air channels to pay-TV operators on non-discriminatory terms (“must offer”) and (2) that our pay-TV platforms carry upon request and subject to certain conditions, over-the-air channels operating in the same geographic zones where such pay-TV platforms provide their services (“must carry”). There are other conditions that have been met as confirmed by the Mexican Antitrust Commission, including the termination of the Stockholder Trust which took place on June 17, 2009.
On April 1, 2011, we announced an agreement reached with the minority stockholder of Cablemás to obtain the 41.7% equity interest that we did not own in Cablemás. The acquisition of such equity stake resulted from a series of capital distributions, the capitalization of certain debt and receivables, and the subsequent merger of Cablemás into the Company. On April 29, 2011, our stockholders approved the merger of Cablemás into the Company, as surviving company. As a result of this merger, a capital increase was approved by our stockholders, and consequently 24.8 million CPOs were issued in favor of Cablemás non-controlling stockholders. Regulatory approvals for the transaction were obtained on February 24, 2011 and June 17, 2011. Cablemás operates in 49 cities.
Grupo de Telecomunicaciones de Alta Capacidad, S.A.P.I. de C.V. On March 18, 2010, Telefónica, Editora Factum, S.A. de C.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Megacable agreed to jointly participate, through a consortium, in the public bid for a pair of dark fiber wires held by the CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad). On June 9, 2010, the SCT granted the consortium a favorable award in the bidding process for a 20 year contract for the lease of approximately 19,457 kilometers of dark fiber-optic capacity, along with a corresponding concession, granted on July 5, 2010, to operate a public telecommunications network using DWDM technology. The consortium, through GTAC, in which each of Telefónica, Editora Factum and Megacable has an equal equity participation, paid Ps.883.8 million as consideration for the concession. GTAC plans to have the network ready to offer commercial services around the end of 2011. The total investment in GTAC made by the consortium in 2010 was Ps.1.3 billion and there will be further investments in 2011, in an approximate amount of Ps.700 million. This new fiber optic network will represent for us a new alternative to access data transportation services, increasing competition in the Mexican telecommunications market and therefore improving the quality of the services offered. The fiber optic network will aim to increase broadband internet access for businesses as well as households in Mexico.
We have investments in several other businesses. See Notes 2 and 5 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
DTH Ventures
Background. We own a 58.7% interest in Innova, a DTH company with services in Mexico, Central America, and the Dominican Republic. The remaining 41.3% of Innova is owned by DIRECTV.
For a description of capital contributions and loans we have made to Innova, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Capital Expenditures, Acquisitions and Investments, Distributions and Other Sources of Liquidity” and “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Capital Contributions and Loans”.
We have also been developing channels exclusively for pay-TV broadcast. Through our relationship with DIRECTV, we expect that our DTH satellite service will continue to negotiate favorable terms for programming rights with both third parties in Mexico and with international suppliers from the United States, Europe and Latin America and elsewhere.
Innova’s Social Part Holders Agreement provides that neither we nor News Corp. nor DIRECTV may directly or indirectly operate or acquire an interest in any business that operates a DTH satellite system in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic (subject to limited exceptions).

 

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In connection with our investment in Innova, we guarantee a share of Innova’s transponder lease obligations to Intelsat Corporation equal to our percentage ownership of Innova.
Sky. We operate “Sky”, our DTH satellite venture in Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic, through Innova. We indirectly own 58.7% of this venture. As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, Innova’s DTH satellite pay-TV service had approximately 1,759,801, 1,959,700, and 3,044,000 gross active subscribers, respectively. Innova primarily attributes its successful growth to its superior programming content, its exclusive transmission of sporting events such as soccer tournaments and special events such as reality shows, its high quality customer service and its nationwide distribution network with approximately 1,500 points of sale. In addition to the above, Innova also experienced growth during 2008, due to continuing growth in Central America and the Dominican Republic, and during 2009 and 2010 due to the success of VeTV, our low-end package in Mexico. Sky continues to offer the highest quality and exclusive content in the Mexican pay-TV industry. Its programming packages combine our over-the-air channels with other DTH exclusive channels produced by News Corp.
During 2010, Sky offered exclusive content such as one out of every five soccer matches from the Mexican First Division 2010 Tournament, the widest coverage of the Spanish soccer league, the NFL Sunday Ticket, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and NBA PASS. Sky also added new channels to its lineup, such as NTN 24, Foto TV, Baby First, TRUTV, ISAT, enlace, management TV and Fox sports. In addition to new programming contracts, Sky continues to operate under arrangements with a number of third party programming providers to provide additional channels to its subscribers. Sky also has arrangements with the major studios.
Starting in 2010, Sky added to its lineup an HD Package comprised of 19 channels, we transmitted all the World Cup matches, the Spanish League, Carling Cup, Berlin Marathon, Bullfights from Spain, NHL, XFL and some WTA games among other HD transmissions. We expect to continue broadening our HD offering in the coming years.
Until 2008, Sky offered 238 digital channels through five programming packages: Basic (87 video channels, 50 audio channels and 29 pay-per-view); Fun (133 video channels, 50 audio channels and 29 pay-per-view); Movie City (142 video channels, 50 audio channels and 29 pay-per-view); HBO/Max (146 video channels, 50 audio channels and 29 pay-per-view); and Universe (159 video channels, 50 audio channels and 29 pay-per-view) for a monthly fee of Ps.228.00, Ps.302.00, Ps.428.00, Ps.478.00 and Ps.618.00, respectively. The subscriber receives a “prompt payment” discount if the monthly subscription payment is made within 12 days after the billing date.
As of 2009, Sky also broadened its product offering by launching MiSky and VeTV, two new, lower-priced packages that are highly attractive to customers with lower budgets. MiSky is the first modular offering in Mexico that enables our clients to add thematic packages to a base package that includes 25 of the most watched channels. VeTV, a prepaid basis product, offers a low-cost package that includes the free-to-air channels as well as other pay-TV channels that appeal to the whole family.
As of March 2011, programming package monthly fees for residential subscribers, net of a prompt payment discount if the subscriber pays within 12 days of the billing date, are the following: Basic Ps.151.00, Fun Ps.267.00, Movie City Ps.381.00, HBO/Max Ps.431.00 and Universe Ps.571.00. Monthly fees for each programming package do not reflect a monthly rental fee in the amount of Ps.161.00 for the decoder necessary to receive the service (or Ps.148.00 if the subscriber pays within 12 days of the billing date) and a one-time installation fee which depends on the package and payment method.
Sky devotes 21 pay-per-view channels to family entertainment and movies and eight channels are devoted to adult entertainment. In addition, Sky assigns five extra channels exclusively for special events, known as Sky Events, which include concerts and sports. Sky provides some Sky Events at no additional cost while it sells others on a pay-per-view basis.
In order to more effectively compete against cable operators in the Mexican pay-TV market, in September 2005, Sky launched the “Multiple Set-Top Box” concept, which allows its current and new subscribers to have up to four set-top boxes in their homes with independent programming on each TV. Sky also launched SKY+, a PVR set-top box, which enables its subscribers to record up to 120 hours of their favorite programs by programming dates and hours or selecting the program directly from the program guide. In 2010, SKY launched two new set-top box for HD programming, SKY+ HD, a personal video recorder, or PVR, set-top box that allows up to 400 hours of standard definition, or SD, programming or 100 hours of HD programming recorded on its 500 GB drive, and SKY HD, a set-top box designed to view HD and SD programming. Both set-top boxes come with our new and enhanced programming guide and new functionalities.
The installation fee is based on the number of set up boxes and the method of payment chosen by the subscriber. The monthly cost consists of a programming fee plus a rental fee for each additional box.

 

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Programming. We are a major source of programming content for our DTH venture and have granted our DTH venture DTH satellite service broadcast rights to all of our existing and future program services (including pay-per-view services on DTH), subject to some pre-existing third party agreements and other exceptions and conditions. Through its relationships with us and DIRECTV, we expect that the DTH satellite service in Mexico will be able to continue to negotiate favorable terms for programming both with third parties in Mexico and with international suppliers from the United States, Europe and Latin America. At the end of 2008, DISH, a new competitor in the DTH market, launched its services in Mexico. At the beginning of 2009, HiTV, a television service which consists of the transmission of digital television channels through the technology known as DTT, started operating in Mexico City and its metropolitan area. HiTV currently offers approximately 20 channels, including Televisa’s digital over-the-air networks. The Mexican Fiscal Court is currently reviewing the legality of this service. We are uncertain as to how this service may affect our pay-TV business. Since 2010, there is a fiber to the home, or FTTH, pay-TV service called Total Play, which offers 220 channels, Video on Demand, HD and other applications. This service also includes bundle discounts for their internet and voice services.
Univision
We have a number of arrangements with Univision, the leading Spanish-language media company in the United States, which owns and operates the Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language television network in the United States, the TeleFutura broadcast and Galavision satellite/cable television networks, and the Univision.com website and other Univision-branded online experiences. Historical information regarding Univision’s business which appears in this annual report has been derived primarily from public filings made by Univision with the SEC and the FCC.
Prior to March 29, 2007, we owned shares and warrants representing an approximate 11.3% equity interest, on a fully diluted basis, in Univision. On that date, Univision was acquired by a group of investors, and, as a result, all of our shares and warrants in Univision were converted into cash in an aggregate amount of approximately U.S.$1,094.4 million.
On December 20, 2010, Univision, we, Univision’s parent company, and other parties affiliated with the investor groups that own Univision’s parent company entered into various agreements and completed certain transactions previously announced in October 2010. As a result, in December 2010, we (1) made a cash investment of U.S.$1,255 million in BMP, the parent company of Univision, in exchange for an initial 5% equity stake in BMP, and U.S.$1,125 million aggregate principal amount of 1.5% Convertible Debentures of BMP due 2025 which are convertible at our option into additional shares currently equivalent to a 30% equity stake of BMP, subject to existing laws and regulations in the United States and other conditions, (2) acquired an option to purchase at fair value an additional 5% equity stake in BMP, subject to existing laws and regulations in the United States, and other terms and conditions, and (3) sold to Univision our 50% equity interest in TuTv, previously our joint venture with Univision engaged in satellite and cable pay-TV programming distribution in the United States, for an aggregate cash amount of U.S.$55 million. In connection with this investment, (1) we entered into an amended program license agreement, or PLA, with Univision, pursuant to which Univision has the right to broadcast certain Televisa content in the United States for a term that commenced on January 1, 2011 and ends on the later of 2025 or seven and one-half years after we have sold two-thirds of our initial investment in BMP, (2) we entered into a new program license agreement with Univision, the Mexico License Agreement, or MLA, under which we have the right to broadcast certain Univision content in Mexico for the same term as that of the PLA and (3) three representatives of the Company joined Univision’s Board of Directors, which was increased to 20 members.
In connection with this transaction, we and Univision terminated the prior program license agreement as of December 31, 2010.
Under the new PLA, we have granted Univision exclusive Spanish-language broadcast and digital rights to our audiovisual programming (subject to certain exceptions) in the United States and all territories and possessions of the United States, including Puerto Rico, which includes the right to use our online, network and pay-television programming in all Spanish-language media (with certain exceptions), including Univision’s three current Spanish television networks (the Univision, Telefutura and Galavision television networks), future Spanish- language networks owned or controlled by Univision and current and future Univision Spanish-language online and interactive platforms (such as Univision.com). Univision also has rights under the new PLA to broadcast in the United States Mexican soccer games for which we own or control the United States rights, beginning with select teams in 2011 and expanding in 2012 to all teams to which we own or control United States rights.
Under the terms of the new PLA, Univision’s royalty payments to us increased, effective as of January 1, 2011, from 9.36% of television revenue, excluding certain major soccer events, to 11.91% of substantially all of Univision’s audiovisual and online revenues through December 2017, at which time royalty payments to us will increase to 16.22%. Additionally, we will receive an incremental 2% in royalty payments on any Univision audiovisual revenues above U.S.$1.65 billion. The royalty base generally includes all Univision revenues from the exploitation or operation of its Spanish-language audiovisual platforms, sublicensing arrangements, licenses of content to network affiliates or multichannel video programming distributors, and Univision-branded online platforms, whether those revenues are derived on an advertising, subscription, distribution, interactive media, or transactional basis. We have agreed to provide Univision with at least 8,531 hours of programming per year for the term of the PLA.

 

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In connection with the December 20, 2010 transactions with Univision, we and Univision entered into the MLA, under which we have received the exclusive Spanish-language broadcast and digital rights to Univision’s audiovisual programming (subject to certain exceptions) in Mexico during the term of the new PLA.
We have an international program right agreement, or IPRA, with Univision that previously required Univision to grant us and Venevision International Corporation, or Venevision, the right to broadcast outside the United States programs produced by Univision for broadcast on the Univision Network or the Galavision Network under this agreement. On December 20, 2010, we and Univision entered into an amendment to the IPRA pursuant to which, subject to the MLA, our broadcast rights over Univision programs reverted back to Univision without affecting Venevision’s rights under the IPRA. We also entered into an international sales agency agreement with Univision, pursuant to which Univision grants us the right to act as Univision’s sales agent during the term of the MLA to sell or license worldwide outside the United States and Mexico (and with respect to certain programming, outside of Venezuela and certain other territories) Univision’s Spanish-language programming, to the extent Univision makes such programming available in other territories and Univision owns or controls rights in these territories, and subject to limited exceptions.
Competition
We compete with various forms of media and entertainment companies in Mexico, both Mexican and non-Mexican.
Television Broadcasting
Our television stations compete for advertising revenues and for the services of recognized talent and qualified personnel with other television stations (including the stations owned by TV Azteca) in their markets, as well as with other advertising media, such as radio, newspapers, outdoor advertising, cable television and a multi-channel, multi-point distribution system, or MMDS, and DTH satellite services. We generally compete with 199 channels throughout Mexico, including the channels of our major competitor, TV Azteca, which owns and operates Channels 7 and 13 in Mexico City, which we believe are affiliated with 178 stations outside of Mexico City. Televisora del Valle de Mexico owns the concession for Channel 40, a UHF channel that broadcasts in the Mexico City metropolitan area. Based upon IBOPE AGB Mexico surveys, during 2008, 2009 and 2010 the combined average audience share throughout Mexico of both the Channel 7 and 13 networks was 28.8%, 30.2%, and 32.0%, respectively, during prime time, and 27.7%, 29.2%, and 30.4%, respectively, during sign-on to sign-off hours. See “— Television — Television Industry in Mexico”.
In addition to the foregoing channels, there are additional operating channels in Mexico with which we also compete, including Channel 11, which has 9 repeater stations, and Channel 22 in Mexico City, which are operated by the Mexican government. Our television stations are the leading television stations in their respective markets. See “— Television — Television Broadcasting”.
Our English and Spanish-language border stations compete with English and Spanish-language television stations in the United States, and our Spanish-language productions compete with other English and Spanish-language programs broadcast in the United States.
We are a major supplier of Spanish-language programming in the United States and throughout the world. We face competition from other international producers of Spanish-language programming and other types of programming.
Publishing
Each of our magazine publications competes for readership and advertising revenues with other magazines of a general character and with other forms of print and non-print media. Competition for advertising is based on circulation levels, reader demographics and advertising rates.
Cable and Telecom
According to the most recent information from the SCT and Cofetel, there were approximately 1,467 cable concessions in Mexico as of December 31, 2010 serving approximately 5.3 million subscribers. Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI compete with Innova, our DTH venture. See “— DTH Satellite Services”. Cablevisión also faces competition from Dish Mexico, a joint venture between MVS Comunicaciones and set-top provider EchoStar. Dish Mexico is a new DTH operator and competes in some segments against Cablevisión in Mexico City and the surrounding areas mainly driven by its Ps.149 basic package. Dish Mexico has been in operation for more than two years and offers 37 channels to its subscribers. Furthermore, since Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI operate under non-exclusive franchises, other companies may obtain permission to build cable television systems, DTH, IPTV and MMDS systems in areas where they presently operate. In addition, pursuant to the Telecommunications Law, Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI are required to provide access to their cable network to the extent they have available capacity on their respective networks.

 

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In addition, in connection with internet access services and other new products and multimedia communications services, cable operators, who were already authorized to provide bidirectional data and internet broadband services, have been authorized by the Mexican government to also provide voice services, including VoIP services.
In October 2006, the Mexican federal government enacted a new set of regulations known as the Convergence Regulations. The Convergence Regulations allow certain concessionaires of telecommunications services to provide other services not included in their original concessions. Cable television providers may be allowed to provide internet and telephone services. In addition, telephone operators, such as Telmex, may be allowed to provide cable television services if certain requirements and conditions are met. We believe that we may face significant competition from new entrants providing telephony services, including cable television providers. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to our Business — We Face Competition in Each of Our Markets That We Expect Will Intensify”.
As a result of the aforementioned, Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI will face competition from several media and telecommunications companies throughout Mexico, including internet service providers, DTH services and other personal communications and telephone companies, including us and our affiliates.
Radio
The radio broadcast business is highly competitive in Mexico. Our radio stations compete with other radio stations in their respective markets, as well as with other advertising media, such as television, newspapers, magazines and outdoor advertising. Among our principal competitors in the radio broadcast business are Grupo Radio Centro, S.A. de C.V., which owns or operates approximately 135 radio stations throughout Mexico, 11 of which are located in Mexico City, and Grupo Acir, which owns or operates approximately 175 radio stations in Mexico, six of which are located in Mexico City.
Competition for audience share in the radio broadcasting industry in Mexico occurs primarily in individual geographic markets. Our radio stations are located in highly competitive areas. However, the strength of the signals broadcast by a number of our stations enables them to reach a larger percentage of the radio audience outside the market areas served by their competitors.
Feature Film Production and Distribution
Production and distribution of feature films is a highly competitive business in Mexico. The various producers compete for the services of recognized talent and for film rights to scripts and other literary property. We compete with other feature film producers, Mexican and non-Mexican, and distributors in the distribution of films in Mexico. See “— Other Businesses — Feature Film Production and Distribution”. Our films also compete with other forms of entertainment and leisure time activities.
DTH Satellite Services
Innova presently competes with, or expects to compete with, among others, cable systems (including Cablevisión), MMDS systems, national broadcast networks (including our four networks), regional and local broadcast stations, other DTH concessions, unauthorized C-band and Ku-band television signals obtained by Mexican viewers on the gray market, radio, movie theaters, video rental stores, internet and other entertainment.
Consolidation in the entertainment and broadcast industries could further intensify competitive pressures. As the pay-TV market in Mexico matures, and as the offering of bundled services that include internet, data and telephony increases, Innova expects to face competition from an increasing number of sources. Emerging technologies that provide new services to pay-TV customers as well as new competitors in the DTH field or telecommunication players entering into video services would require us to make significant capital expenditures in new technologies.
In October 2008, DISH Mexico, a joint venture between MVS and DISH, a U.S. based DTH company operating with certain arrangements with Telmex, started operations in Mexico through a DTH concession. DISH currently operates nationwide.
At the beginning of 2009, HiTV, a television service which consists of the transmission of digital television channels through the technology known as DTT, started operating in Mexico City and its metropolitan area. HiTV currently offers approximately 20 channels, including Televisa’s digital over-the-air networks. The Mexican Fiscal Court is currently reviewing the legality of this service. We are uncertain as to how this service may affect our pay-TV business.

 

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As of 2010, there is a FTTH pay-TV service called Total Play, which offers 220 channels, Video on Demand, HD and other applets. This service also includes bundle discounts for their internet and voice services.
Gaming Business
Our principal competitors in the gaming industry are, with respect to bingo and sports halls, CIE and Grupo Caliente, and, with respect to Multijuegos, the governmental lotteries of Pronósticos and Lotería Nacional.
Regulation
Our business, activities and investments are subject to various Mexican federal, state and local statutes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures, which are constantly subject to change, and are affected by the actions of various Mexican federal, state and local governmental authorities. The material Mexican federal, state and local statutes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures to which our business, activities and investments are subject are summarized below. Station XETV, Tijuana, which broadcasts CW Network television programming in the San Diego television market, is also subject to certain regulatory requirements of the FCC, including the obligation to obtain permits for cross-border transmission of programming broadcast to the United States and to obtain licenses to operate microwave and/or satellite earth station transmitting equipment within the U.S. These summaries do not purport to be complete and should be read together with the full texts of the relevant statutes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures described therein.
Television
Mexican Television Regulations
Concessions. Certain amendments to the existing Radio and Television Law and the Telecommunications Law have been enacted. In May 2006, several members of the Senate of the Mexican Federal Congress filed a complaint before the Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico, seeking a declaration that such amendments were unconstitutional and therefore null and void. This complaint was resolved by the Supreme Court of Justice in June 2007, declaring several provisions of the amendments to the Radio and Television Law and to the Telecommunications Law unconstitutional and therefore null and void. Among the provisions declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Justice are the ones referred to in former Article 28 of the Radio and Television Law, pursuant to which holders of concessions had the ability to request authorization to provide additional telecommunications services within the same spectrum covered by a current concession without having to participate in a public bid therefor and Article 16 of the Radio and Television Law, pursuant to which concessions were granted for a fixed term of 20 years with the possibility to renew such concessions by obtaining from the SCT a certification of compliance with the obligations of the concessionaire under the concession. As a result of the Supreme Court of Justice’s ruling, once the transition to digital television and digital radio broadcasting is completed, if we want to provide additional telecommunications services within the same spectrum granted for digital television or digital radio broadcasting, respectively, we will have to follow the provisions of Article 24 of the Telecommunications Law to obtain the concession therefor. Also, there is uncertainty as to how radio and television concessions will be renewed in the future, since the Supreme Court of Justice ruling has resulted in requiring the renewal of the concessions to be subject to a public bid process, with a right of preference over other participating bidders given to the incumbent concessionaire. Additionally, some members of the Mexican Federal Congress have expressed their intent to propose a new Radio and Television Law, which could affect, among other things, the framework for granting or renewing concessions. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Our Business — The Operation of Our Business May Be Terminated or Interrupted if the Mexican Government Does Not Renew or Revokes Our Broadcast or Other Concessions”. Also, either the SCT or the Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones, or Federal Telecommunications Commission, shall provide notice in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, or the Official Gazette of the Federation, of the call for bids and the available television frequencies, and make available the prerequisites for bids from interested parties for a maximum of 30 days.

 

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The bidders shall comply with the following requirements:
    proof of Mexican nationality;
 
    submission of a business plan;
 
    submission of technical specifications and descriptions;
 
    submission of a plan for coverage;
 
    submission of an investment program;
 
    submission of a financial program;
 
    submission of plans for technical development and actualization;
 
    submission of plans for production and programming;
 
    receipt of a guaranty to ensure the continuation of the process until the concession is granted or denied; and
 
    a request for a favorable opinion from the Mexican Antitrust Commission.
Before granting the concession, the Federal Telecommunications Commission shall review the plans and programs submitted and the goals expressed by the bidder for consistency, as well as the results of the call for bids through the public auction. Within 30 days of the determination of a winning bid, such bidder has to provide proof of the required payment.
Television concessions may be granted for a term of up to 20 years.
If the SCT determines (i) that the bidders’ applications do not guarantee the best conditions for the rendering of radio and television services, or (ii) that the offered payment proposals are not sufficient, or (iii) that the submitted applications do not fulfill the requirements established under the bidding call or the bidding bases, it may terminate the bidding process and not grant the concession to any of the applicants.
The SCT may void the grant of any television concession or terminate or revoke the concession at any time, upon the occurrence of, among others, the following events:
    failure to construct broadcasting facilities within a specified time period;
 
    changes in the location of the broadcasting facilities or changes in the frequency assigned without prior governmental authorization;
 
    direct or indirect transfer of the concession, the rights arising therefrom or ownership of the broadcasting facilities without prior governmental authorization;
 
    transfer or encumbrance, in whole or in part, of the concession, the rights arising therefrom, the broadcasting equipment or any assets dedicated to the concessionaire’s activities, to a foreign government, company or individual, or the admission of any such person as a partner in the concessionaire’s business;
 
    failure to broadcast for more than 60 days without reasonable justification;
 
    any amendment to the bylaws of the concessionaire that is in violation of applicable Mexican law; and
 
    any breach to the terms of the concession title.
None of our concessions has ever been revoked or otherwise terminated.
We believe that we have operated our television concessions substantially in compliance with their terms and applicable Mexican law. If a concession is revoked or terminated, the concessionaire could be required to forfeit to the Mexican government all of its assets or the Mexican government could have the right to purchase all the concessionaire’s assets. In our case, the assets of our licensee subsidiaries generally consist of transmitting facilities and antennas. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Our Business — The Operation of Our Business May Be Terminated or Interrupted if the Mexican Government Does Not Renew or Revokes Our Broadcast or Other Concessions”.

 

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In July 2004, in connection with the adoption of a release issued by the SCT for the transition to digital television, all of our television concessions were renewed until 2021. DTH concessions expire in 2020 and 2026. The expiration dates for the concessions for our telephone services range from 2018 to 2026. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”. We are unable to predict when we will obtain the renewal to such concessions. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Our Business — The Operation of Our Business May Be Terminated or Interrupted if the Mexican Government Does Not Renew or Revokes Our Broadcast or Other Concessions”.
Supervision of Operations. The SCT regularly inspects the television stations and the companies to which concessions have been granted must file annual reports with the SCT.
Television programming is subject to various regulations, including prohibitions on foul language and programming which is offensive or is against the national security or against public order. Under Mexican regulations, the Mexican Ministry of the Interior reviews most television programming and classifies the age group for which the programming is acceptable for viewing. Programs classified for adults may be broadcast only after 10:00 p.m.; programs classified for adults and teenagers over 15 years old may be broadcast only after 9:00 p.m.; programs classified for adults and teenagers under 15 years old may be broadcast only after 8:00 p.m.; and programs classified for all age groups may be shown at any time.
Television programming is required to promote Mexico’s cultural, social and ideological identity. Each concessionaire is also required to transmit each day, free of charge, up to 30 minutes of programming regarding cultural, educational, family counseling and other social matters using programming provided by the Mexican government. Historically, the Mexican government has not used a significant portion of this time.
Networks. There are no Mexican regulations regarding the ownership and operation of a television network, such as the Channel 2, 4, 5 and 9 networks, apart from the regulations applicable to operating a television station as described above.
Restrictions on Advertising. Mexican law regulates the type and content of advertising broadcast on television. Concessionaires may not broadcast misleading advertisements. Under current law, advertisements of alcoholic beverages (other than beer and wine) may be broadcast only after 10:00 p.m. and advertisements for tobacco products are prohibited. Advertising for alcoholic beverages must not be excessive and must be combined with general promotions of nutrition and general hygiene. The advertisements of some products and services, such as medicine and alcohol, require approval of the Mexican government prior to their broadcast. Moreover, the Mexican government must approve any advertisement of lotteries and other games.
No more than 18% of broadcast time may be used for advertisements on any day. The SCT approves the minimum advertising rates. There are no restrictions on maximum rates. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”.
Broadcast Tax. Since 1969, radio and television stations have been subject to a tax which may be paid by granting the Mexican government the right to use 12.5% of all daily broadcast time. In October 2002, the 12.5% tax was replaced by the obligation to the Mexican government to provide up to 18 minutes per day of our television broadcast time and 35 minutes per day of our radio broadcast time between 6:00 a.m. and midnight, in each case distributed in an equitable and proportionate manner. Any time not used by the Mexican government on any day is forfeited. Generally, the Mexican government uses all or substantially all of the broadcast time available under this tax.
Foreign Ownership. Non-Mexican ownership of shares of Mexican enterprises is restricted in some economic sectors, including broadcast television, cable television, radio and DTH satellite services and certain telecommunications services. Under Mexico’s Ley de Inversión Extranjera, or Foreign Investment Law, the Radio and Television Law, and the Reglamento de la Ley de Inversión Extranjera, or the Foreign Investment Law Regulations, foreign investors may not vote the capital stock of Mexican broadcasting companies (other than through “neutral investment” mechanisms, such as through the CPOs held by certain of our stockholders). See “— Satellite Communications — Mexican Regulation of DTH Satellite Services”.

 

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Radio
The regulations applicable to the operation of radio stations in Mexico are identical in all material respects to those applicable to television stations. The expiration dates of our radio concessions range from 2015 to 2016 except for the concessions of 3 radio stations, which renewal applications were timely filed before the SCT but are still pending due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the amendments to the Radio and Television Law. (See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”). We are unable to predict when we will obtain the renewal to such concessions. See “— Television”, “— Other Businesses — Radio Stations” and “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Our Business — The Operation of Our Business May Be Terminated or Interrupted if the Mexican Government Does Not Renew or Revokes Our Broadcast or Other Concessions”.
Cable Television
Concessions. Cable television operators now apply for a public telecommunications network concession from the SCT in order to operate their networks and provide cable television services and other multimedia communications services. Applications are submitted to the SCT and, after a formal review process, a public telecommunications network concession is granted for an initial term of up to 30 years. Cablevisión obtained a telecommunications concession, which expires in 2029, and its Channel 46 Concession, which expired on November 17, 2010. We have filed for a renewal of the Channel 46 Concession and in February 2010, the SCT notified Cablevisión that the Channel 46 Concession will not be renewed. We have initiated legal actions against SCT’s notice seeking to obtain the renewal of such concession. Pursuant to its public telecommunications concession, Cablevisión can provide cable television, limited audio transmission services, specifically music programming, bidirectional internet access and unlimited data transmission services in Mexico City and surrounding areas in the State of Mexico (Estado de México), and on October 21, 2010 the SCT granted Cablevisión authorization to provide the aforementioned services in 13 additional municipalities of the State of Mexico. In addition, in May 2007 the SCT granted Cablevisión a concession allowing Cablevisión to provide local telephony services using the telephony public network. The scope of Cablevisión’s public telecommunications concession is much broader than the scope of its former cable television concession, which covered only cable television services and audio programming.
Cablemás operates under 49 concessions which cover 14 Mexican states. Through these concessions, Cablemás provides cable television services, internet access and bidirectional data transmission. Each concession granted by the SCT allows Cablemás to install and operate a public telecommunications network. The expiration dates for Cablemás’ concessions range from 2013 to 2039.
TVI operates under 7 concessions, which cover four Mexican states. Through these concessions, TVI provides cable television services, bidirectional data transmission and internet and telephony services. Each concession granted by the SCT allows TVI to install and operate a public telecommunications network. The expiration dates for TVI’s concessions range from 2015 to 2028.
A public telecommunications concession may be renewed upon its expiration, or revoked or terminated prior to its expiration in a variety of circumstances including:
    unauthorized interruption or termination of service;
 
    interference by the concessionaire with services provided by other operators;
 
    noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the public telecommunications concession;
 
    the concessionaire’s refusal to interconnect with other operators;
 
    loss of the concessionaire’s Mexican nationality;
 
    unauthorized assignment, transfer or encumbrance, in whole or in part, of the concession or any rights or assets;
 
    the liquidation or bankruptcy of the concessionaire; and
 
    ownership or control of the capital stock of the concessionaire by a foreign government.
In addition, the SCT may establish under any public telecommunications concession further events which could result in revocation of the concession. Under current Mexican laws and regulations, upon the expiration or termination of a public telecommunications concession, the Mexican government has the right to purchase those assets of the concessionaire that are directly related to the concession, at market value.
Cable television operators, including Cablevisión and Cablemás, are subject to the Telecommunications Law and, since February 2000, have been subject to the Reglamento del Servicio de Televisión y Audio Restringidos, or the Restricted Television and Audio Services Regulations. Under current Mexican law, cable television operators are classified as public telecommunications networks, and must conduct their business in accordance with Mexican laws and regulations applicable to public telecommunications networks which, in addition to the Telecommunications Law and the Restricted Television and Audio Services Regulations, includes the Radio and Television Law and the Reglamento de la Ley Federal de Radio y Televisión.

 

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Under the applicable Mexican law, the Mexican government, through the SCT, may also temporarily seize or even expropriate all of a public telecommunications concessionaire’s assets in the event of a natural disaster, war, significant public disturbance or threats to internal peace and for other reasons related to preserving public order or for economic reasons. The Mexican government is obligated by Mexican law to compensate the concessionaire, both for the value of the assets seized and related profits.
Supervision of Operations. The SCT regularly inspects the operations of cable systems and cable television operators must file annual reports with the SCT.
Under Mexican law, programming broadcast on Cablevisión and Cablemás networks is not subject to judicial or administrative censorship. However, this programming is subject to various regulations, including prohibitions on foul language, programming which is against good manners and customs or programming which is against the national safety or against public order.
Mexican law also requires cable television operators, including Cablevisión and Cablemás, to broadcast programming that promotes Mexican culture, although cable television operators are not required to broadcast a specified amount of this type of programming.
In addition to broadcasting programming that promotes Mexican culture, cable television operators must also set aside a specified number of their channels, which number is based on the total number of channels they transmit, to transmit programming provided by the Mexican government.
Restrictions on Advertising. Mexican law restricts the type of advertising which may be broadcast on cable television. These restrictions are similar to those applicable to advertising broadcast on over-the-air Channels 2, 4, 5 and 9. See “— Regulation — Television — Mexican Television Regulations — Restrictions on Advertising”.
Government Participation. Pursuant to the terms of cable concessions, cable television operators through September 23, 1999, were required to pay, on a monthly basis, absent a waiver from the Mexican government, up to 15% of revenues derived from subscriber revenues and substantially all other revenues, including advertising revenues, to the Mexican government in exchange for use of the cable concession. Most cable concessionaires, including Cablevisión, obtained a waiver on an annual basis to pay 9% of their revenues as participation to the Mexican government, as opposed to 15%. Under the Federal Telecommunications Law and accompanying regulations, cable television operators with public telecommunications network concessions, including Cablevisión, no longer have to pay the Mexican government any percentage of their revenues.
Forfeiture of Assets. Under Mexican regulations, at the end of the term of a public telecommunications concession, assets of concessionaires may be purchased by the Mexican government at market value.
Non-Mexican Ownership of Public Telecommunications Networks
Under current Mexican law, non-Mexicans may currently own up to 49% of the outstanding voting stock of Mexican companies with a public telecommunications concession. However, non-Mexicans may currently own up to all of the outstanding voting stock of Mexican companies with a public telecommunications concession to provide cellular telephone services, provided, that the requisite approvals are obtained from the Comisión Nacional de Inversiones Extranjeras, or the Foreign Investment Commission.
Application of Existing Regulatory Framework to Internet Access and IP Telephony Services
Cablevisión, TVI and Cablemás may be required, under Mexican law, to permit other concessionaires to connect their network to its network in a manner that enables its customers to choose the network by which the services are carried.
To the extent that a cable television operator has any available capacity on its network, as a public telecommunications network, Mexican law requires the operator to offer third party providers access to its network. Cablevisión and Cablemás currently do not have any capacity available on their networks to offer to third party providers and do not expect that they will have capacity available in the future given the broad range of services they plan to provide over their networks.
Satellite Communications
Mexican Regulation of DTH Satellite Services. Concessions to broadcast DTH satellite services are for an initial term of up to 30 years, and are renewable for up to 30 years. We received a 30-year concession to operate DTH satellite services in Mexico utilizing SatMex satellites on May 24, 1996. On November 27, 2000, we received an additional 20-year concession to operate our DTH satellite service in Mexico using the PAS-9 satellite system, a foreign-owned satellite system.

 

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Like a public telecommunications network concession, a DTH concession may be revoked or terminated by the SCT prior to the end of its term in certain circumstances, which for a DTH concession include:
    the failure to use the concession within 180 days after it was granted;
 
    a declaration of bankruptcy of the concessionaire;
 
    failure to comply with the obligations or conditions specified in the concession;
 
    unlawful assignments of, or encumbrances on, the concession; or
 
    failure to pay to the government the required fees.
At the termination of a concession, the Mexican government has the preemptive right to acquire the assets of a DTH satellite service concessionaire. In the event of a natural disaster, war, significant public disturbance or for reasons of public need or interest, the Mexican government may temporarily seize and expropriate all assets related to a concession, but must compensate the concessionaire for such seizure. The Mexican government may collect fees based on DTH satellite service revenues of a satellite concessionaire.
Under the Telecommunications Law, DTH satellite service concessionaires may freely set customer fees but must notify the SCT of the amount, except that if a concessionaire has substantial market power, the SCT may determine fees that may be charged by such concessionaire. The Telecommunications Law specifically prohibits cross-subsidies.
Non-Mexican investors may currently own up to 49% of full voting equity of DTH satellite system concessionaires; provided that Mexican investors maintain control of the operation. Foreign investors may increase their economic participation in the equity of a concessionaire through neutral investment mechanisms such as the CPO trust.
Regulation of DTH Satellite Services in Other Countries. Our current and proposed DTH ventures in other countries are and will be governed by laws, regulations and other restrictions of such countries, as well as treaties that such countries have entered into, regulating the delivery of communications signals to, or the uplink of signals from, such countries. In addition, the laws of some other countries establish restrictions on our ownership interest in some of these DTH ventures as well as restrictions on programming that may be broadcast by these DTH ventures.
Mexican Gaming Regulations
Pursuant to Mexico’s Federal Law of Games and Draws, or Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos, or Gaming Law, and its accompanying regulations, the Reglamento de la Ley Federal de Juegos y Sorteos, or Gaming Regulations, the Mexican Ministry of the Interior has the authority to permit the operation of all manner of games and lotteries that involve betting. This administrative authorization is defined as a permit under the Gaming Regulations. Under the Gaming Regulations, each permit establishes the terms for the operation of the respective activities authorized under the permit and the specific periods for operation of those activities. Permits for games and lotteries that involve betting have a maximum term of 25 years. The holder of the relevant permit must comply with all the terms provided in the permit, the Gaming Law and the Gaming Regulations. We were granted a Gaming Permit on May 25, 2005, which expires on May 24, 2030.
Mexican Antitrust Law
Mexico’s Federal Antitrust Law and the accompanying regulations, the Reglamento de la Ley Federal de Competencia Económica, may affect some of our activities, including our ability to introduce new products and services, enter into new or complementary businesses and complete acquisitions or joint ventures. In addition, Mexico’s Federal Antitrust Law and the accompanying regulations may adversely affect our ability to determine the rates we charge for our services and products. In addition, approval of the Mexican Antitrust Commission is required for us to acquire certain businesses or enter into certain joint ventures. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Mexican Antitrust Laws May Limit Our Ability to Expand Through Acquisitions or Joint Ventures” and “— Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”.
The most recent amendments to Mexico’s Federal Antitrust Law are in full force since May 11, 2011.

 

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Under these recent amendments, the review process of mergers and acquisitions by the Mexican Antitrust Commission has been modified to allow reporting parties to request a “fast track” review for a specific transaction when it is evident that the transaction does not restrain competition. It is considered evident that a transaction does not restrain competition when:
  (i)   the acquirer does not have any participation in any market related to the relevant market; and
 
  (ii)   the acquirer is not an actual or potential competitor of target; and
 
  (iii)   any of the following circumstances are met:
  (x)   the acquirer is a new participant in the relevant market;
 
  (y)   the acquirer does not have control over target before or after the transaction; or
 
  (z)   the acquirer has control over target before the transaction.
The Mexican Antitrust Commission must resolve within 5 business days from the date of filing if the fast track review process is available. Once admitted, it must resolve within 15 business days whether it is evident that the transaction does not restrain competition.
In addition, pursuant to these last amendments, the following reportable transactions, among others, are exempt from being reviewed by the Mexican Antitrust Commission:
  (i)   Corporate restructurings.
 
  (ii)   Transactions where the acquirer has control over target from its incorporation or from the date the last reported transaction was approved by the Mexican Antitrust Commission.
 
  (iii)   Transactions that have effect in Mexico involving non-Mexican participants, if the participants will not take control of Mexican legal entities, or acquire assets in Mexico, in addition to those previously controlled or owned by such participants.
 
  (iv)   Acquisitions of equity securities (or convertible securities) through stock markets that represent less than 10% of such securities, and the acquirer is not entitled to (w) appoint board members; (x) control a shareholders meeting decision; (y) vote more than 10% of voting rights of the issuer; or (z) direct or influence the management, operation, strategy or principal policies of the issuer.
Additionally, the amendments also provide for a significant enhancement of the Mexican Antitrust Commission’s authority:
(a) The Mexican Antitrust Commission has been granted authority to request written evidence, request testimonies, and perform verification visits in any premises of the party being investigated where it is presumed that evidence related to the commission of violations of the law may exist, without the need of a judicial subpoena.
(b) If, after an investigation is terminated, the Mexican Antitrust Commission resolves that there is evidence to presume the existence of a monopolistic practice or illegal merger, it must summon the defendant. In connection with or after such summon, if it believes that the presumed illegal conduct could irreversibly restrain competition, it could issue a temporary suspension order of such conduct until a final resolution is issued.
(c) The Mexican Antitrust Commission has also been empowered to file with the Mexican Federal Attorney General a criminal complaint against any individual that participates, orders or executes any per se practice (price fixing, output restriction, market allocation and bid rigging) and only when a non-appealable decision is issued confirming such conduct. All the criminal investigation and process will be handled by the Mexican Federal Attorney General.
The amendments have also increased monetary fines significantly and provide for changes in the actions to be taken by the Mexican Antitrust Commission with respect to illegal conduct.

 

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Mexican Electoral Amendment
In 2007, the Mexican Federal Congress published an amendment to the Mexican Constitution, pursuant to which, among other things, the IFE has the exclusive right to manage and use the Official Broadcast Time. For a description of Official Television Broadcast Time and Official Radio Broadcast Time, see “Information of the Company — Business Overview — Business Strategy — Maintaining Our Leading Position in the Mexican Television Market — Advertising Sales Plan” and “Information of the Company — Business Overview — Other Businesses — Radio Stations”. The IFE has the exclusive right to use the Official Broadcast Time for its own purposes and for the use of political parties in Mexico (as provided in the Mexican Constitution) for self promotion and, when applicable, to promote their electoral campaigns during election day, pre-campaign and campaign periods.
The IFE and the political parties must comply with certain requirements included in the Constitutional Amendment for the use of Official Broadcast Time. During federal electoral periods, the IFE will be granted, per the Constitutional Amendment, 48 minutes per day in each radio station and television channel, to be used during pre-campaign periods in two and up to three minutes per broadcast hour in each radio station and television channel, of which all the political parties will be jointly entitled, to use one minute per broadcast hour. During campaign periods, at least 85% of the 48 minutes per day, shall be allocated among the political parties, and the remaining 15% may be used by the IFE for its own purposes. During non-electoral periods, the IFE will be assigned with up to 12% of the Official Broadcast Time, half of which shall be allocated among the political parties. In the event that local elections are held simultaneously with federal elections, the broadcast time granted to the IFE shall be used for the federal and the local elections. During any other local electoral periods, the allocation of broadcast time will be made pursuant to the criteria established by the Constitutional Amendment and as such criteria is reflected in applicable law.
In addition to the foregoing, pursuant to the Constitutional Amendment political parties are forbidden to purchase or acquire advertising time directly or through third parties, from radio or television stations; likewise, third parties shall not acquire advertising time from radio or television stations for the broadcasting of advertisements which may influence the electoral preferences of Mexican citizens, nor in favor or against political parties or candidates to offices elected by popular vote.
We believe we have been operating our business in compliance with the provisions of the Constitutional Amendment; however, we have filed legal actions contesting certain provisions of such Constitutional Amendment. We cannot predict the outcome of the legal actions brought by the Company against the Constitutional Amendment.
The IFE ruled that some of our subsidiaries infringed the Federal Code of Electoral Institutions and Procedures (Código Federal de Instituciones y Procedimientos Electorales). As a consequence thereof, the IFE imposed fines to such subsidiaries in an approximate amount of Ps.21 million. The relevant subsidiaries challenged the resolutions and the fines before the Federal Electoral Court (Tribunal Federal Electoral). The Federal Electoral Court confirmed the rulings and the fines. Although we continue to disagree with the determination of the IFE and the Federal Electoral Court and have challenged the constitutionality of the Electoral Law, our subsidiaries paid such fines.
At this time, the Constitutional Amendment has not had an impact upon the results of our radio and television businesses, however we cannot predict what impact, if any, the Constitutional Amendment may have on our operating results in the future. A decrease in paid advertising of the nature described above could lead to a decrease in our television or radio revenues.

 

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Significant Subsidiaries
The table below sets forth our significant subsidiaries and Innova, a consolidated variable interest entity, as of December 31, 2010.
             
    Jurisdiction of      
    Organization or   Percentage  
Name of Significant Subsidiary   Incorporation   Ownership(1)  
Corporativo Vasco de Quiroga, S.A. de C.V.(2)(3)(4)
  Mexico     100.0 %
CVQ Espectáculos, S.A. de C.V.(2)(3)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Editora Factum, S.A. de C.V.(3)(4)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Empresas Cablevisión, S.A.B de C.V.(3)(5)
  Mexico     51.0 %
Editorial Televisa, S.A. de C.V.(3)(6)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Factum Más, S.A. de C.V.(7)(8)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Sky DTH, S. de R.L. de C.V.(7)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Innova Holdings, S. de R.L. de C.V.(7)
  Mexico     58.7 %
Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Innova)(9)
  Mexico     58.7 %
Grupo Distribuidoras Intermex, S.A. de C.V.(2)(3)(10)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Grupo Telesistema, S.A. de C.V.(11)
  Mexico     100.0 %
G-Televisa-D, S.A. de C.V.(12)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Televisa, S.A. de C.V.(13)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Televisión Independiente de México, S.A. de C.V.(3)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Multimedia Telecom, S.A. de C.V.(14)
  Mexico     100.0 %
Sistema Radiópolis, S.A. de C.V.(2)(3)(15)
  Mexico     50.0 %
Televisa Juegos, S.A. de C.V.(2)(3)(16)
  Mexico     100.0 %
     
(1)   Percentage of equity owned by us directly or indirectly through subsidiaries or affiliates.
 
(2)   One of five direct subsidiaries through which we conduct the operations of our Other Businesses segment, excluding Internet operations.
 
(3)   While this subsidiary is not a significant subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, we have included this subsidiary in the table above to provide a more complete description of our operations.
 
(4)   One of two direct subsidiaries through which we own equity interests in and conduct the operations of our Cable and Telecom segment.
 
(5)   One of the indirect subsidiaries through which we conduct the operations of our Cable and Telecom segment.
 
(6)   Direct subsidiary through which we conduct the operations of our Publishing segment.
 
(7)   One of three subsidiaries through which we own our equity interest in Innova.
 
(8)   Direct subsidiary through which we own equity interests in and conduct our Internet business.
 
(9)   Consolidated variable interest entity through which we conduct the operations of our Sky segment. We currently own a 58.7% interest in Innova.
 
(10)   Direct subsidiary through which we conduct the operations of our Publishing Distribution segment.
 
(11)   Direct subsidiary through which we conduct the operations of our Television Broadcasting, Pay Television Networks and Programming Exports segments.
 
(12)   Indirect subsidiary through which we conduct certain operations of our Television Broadcasting segment.
 
(13)   Indirect subsidiary through which we conduct the operations of our Television Broadcasting, Pay Television Networks and Programming Exports segments.
 
(14)   Direct subsidiary through which we maintain 5% of the capital stock of BMP and our investment in 1.5% Convertible Debentures issued by BMP.
 
(15)   Direct subsidiary through which we conduct the operations of our Radio business.
 
(16)   Direct subsidiary through which we conduct the operations of our Gaming business.

 

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Property, Plant and Equipment
Broadcasting, Office and Production Facilities. Our properties consist primarily of broadcasting, production facilities, television and reporter stations, technical operations facilities, workshops, studios and office facilities, most of which are located in Mexico. We own most of our properties or lease offices and facilities through indirect wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. There are no major encumbrances on any of our properties, and we currently do not have any significant plans to construct any new properties or expand or improve our existing properties. Our principal offices, which we own, are located in Santa Fe, a suburb of Mexico City. Each of our television stations has individual transmission facilities located in Mexico, substantially all of which we own. Our television production operations are concentrated in four locations in Mexico City, 14 studios in San Angel, 12 studios located in Chapultepec, 3 studios in Santa Fe and 1 studio in Rojo Gomez. We own substantially all of these studios. The local television stations wholly or majority owned by us have in the aggregate 43 production studios. We own other properties used in connection with our operations, including a training center, technical operations facilities, studios, workshops, television and repeater stations, and office facilities. We beneficially own Azteca Stadium, which seats approximately 105,000 people, through a trust arrangement that was renewed in 1993 for a term of 30 years and that may be extended for additional periods. In the aggregate, these properties, excluding Azteca Stadium, currently represent approximately 5.2 million square feet of space, of which over 3.7 million square feet are located in Mexico City and the surrounding areas, and approximately 1.5 million square feet are located outside of Mexico City and the surrounding areas.
Our cable television, radio, publishing and Mexican DTH satellite service businesses are located in Mexico City. We also own the transmission and production equipment and facilities of our radio stations located outside Mexico City.
We also own or lease over a total of 546,510 square feet in properties in the United States, Latin America, Spain and Switzerland in connection with our operations there. We own or lease all of these properties through indirect wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. The following table summarizes our real estate and lease agreements in the United States, Latin America, Spain and Switzerland.
             
    Number of      
Operations   Properties     Location
Television and news activities
           
Owned properties
    2     Buenos Aires, Argentina(1)
 
          San Diego, California(1)
Leased properties
    4     Madrid, Spain(2)
 
          San Diego, California(1)
 
          Zug, Switzerland(1)
Publishing activities
           
Owned properties
    8     Miami, Florida(1)
 
          Santiago, Chile(1)
 
          Quito, Ecuador(1)
 
          Guayaguil, Ecuador(1)
 
          Caracas Venezuela (1)
 
          Buenos Aires, Argentina(2)
 
          Bogota, Colombia(1)
Leased properties
    8     Beverly Hills, California(1)
 
          Miami, Florida(1)
 
          New York, New York(1)
 
          Medellín, Colombia(1)
 
          Bogota, Colombia(2)
 
          Quito, Ecuador(1)
 
          San Juan, Puerto Rico(1)

 

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    Number of      
Operations   Properties     Location
Publishing distribution and other activities
           
Owned properties
    2     Lima, Peru(1)
 
          Guayaquil, Ecuador(1)
Leased properties
    79     Quito, Ecuador(2)
 
          Guayaquil, Ecuador(1)
 
          Buenos Aires, Argentina(2)
 
          Panamá, Panamá(2)
 
          Santiago, Chile (44)
 
          Barranquilla, Colombia(2)
 
          Bogota, Colombia(5)
 
          Bucaramanga, Colombia(1)
 
          Cali, Colombia(5)
 
          Cartagena, Colombia(1)
 
          Colombia, Colombia(2)
 
          Ibage, Colombia(1)
 
          Manizales, Colombia(1)
 
          Medellín, Colombia(3)
 
          Pasto, Colombia(1)
 
          Pompayan, Colombia(1)
 
          Pereira, Colombia(1)
 
          Santa Martha, Colombia(1)
 
          Sincelejo, Colombia,(1)
 
          Villavicencio, Colombia(1)
 
          Lima, Peru(1)
DTH
           
Leased properties
    7     San José Costa Rica(1)
 
          Guatemala (1)
 
          Nicaragua (1)
 
          Panama (1)
 
          Salvador (1)
 
          Honduras (1)
 
          Dominicana (1)
Telephony
           
Leased properties
    8     San Antonio, Texas(3)
 
          Dallas, Texas (2)
 
          Laredo, Texas (1)
 
          McAllen, Texas (1)
 
          Mission, Texas (1)
Satellites. We currently use transponder capacity on seven satellites: Satmex V, which reaches Mexico, the United States, Latin America, except Brazil, and the Caribbean; Solidaridad II, which reaches only Mexico; Intelsat IS-11, replacement of PAS 3-R (renamed in February 2007 IS-3R) started operations in July 2009, Intelsat IS-11 reaches North America, Western Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean; Galaxy 16 (formerly Galaxy IVR), which reaches Mexico, the U.S. and Canada; IS-905 which reaches Western and Eastern Europe; IS-9 which reaches Central America, Mexico, the Southern United States and the Caribbean and IS-16 which reaches Central America, Mexico, the Southern United States and the Caribbean. The Intelsat IS-9 (formerly PAS-9) satellite is currently in operation. Intelsat reported that IS-9’s estimated end of life has been reduced to October 2012. In March 2010, Sky reached an agreement with a subsidiary of Intelsat to lease 24 transponders on Intelsat IS-21 satellite which will be mainly used for signal reception and retransmission services over the satellite’s estimated 15-year service life. IS-21 satellite intends to replace Intelsat IS-9 as Sky’s primary transmission satellite and is currently expected to start service in the third quarter of 2012. On April 1, 2010 Intelsat released IS-16 satellite, where Sky has additional twelve transponders to deliver new DTH-HD channels and more DTH SD channels; also this satellite is a back-up satellite for our DTH venture operations. For a description of guarantees related to our DTH venture transponder obligations, see Note 11 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
In 1996, PanAmSat (now Intelsat), our primary satellite service provider, agreed to provide U.S. transponder service on three to five PAS-3R Ku-band transponders, at least three of which were intended to be for the delivery of DTH satellite services to Spain. Under the PAS-3R transponder contract, as amended, we were required to pay for five transponders at an annual fee for each transponder of U.S.$3.1 million. We currently have available transponder capacity on two 36 MHz C-band transponders on Galaxy 16 (formerly, Galaxy IVR), which reaches Mexico, the United States and Canada, due to an exchange with three of the five 54 MHz Ku-band transponders on PAS-3R described above. Until April 2010, for each of the 36 MHz C-band transponders we paid an annual fee of approximately U.S.$3.7 million. Subsequent to April 2010, the annual fee for the 36 MHz C-band transponders is approximately U.S.$1.3 million.

 

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In December 2005, we signed an extension with PanAmSat, for the use of three transponders on PAS-3R satellite until 2009 and 2012 and two transponders in Galaxy IVR (replaced by Galaxy 16) satellite until 2016.
On February 1, 2007, Intelsat renamed some of its satellite fleet recently acquired with its 2006 merger with PanAmSat: current names for PAS-9 and PAS-3R are IS-9 and IS-3R, respectively. Intelsat kept the name of Galaxy 16. In December 2007, Sky and Sky Brasil reached an agreement with Intelsat Corporation and Intelsat LLC to build and launch a new 24-transponder satellite, IS-16, for which service will be dedicated to Sky and Sky Brasil over the satellite’s estimated 15-year life. The satellite was manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation and was successfully launched in February 2010 and started operations in April 2010.
On August 3, 2009, the contract on two remaining transponders of the IS-3R satellite expired (end of life of the satellite). Televisa negotiated a new contract for a new transponder on the IS-905 satellite until August 31, 2012, for the distribution of our content in Europe.
With several new domestic and international satellites having been launched recently, and with several others scheduled for launch in the next few years, including those scheduled for launch by the new Intelsat company, we believe that we will be able to secure satellite capacity to meet our needs in the future, although no assurance can be given in this regard.
Insurance. We maintain comprehensive insurance coverage for our offices, equipment and other property, subject to some limitations, that result from a business interruption due to natural disasters or other similar events, however, we do not maintain business interruption insurance for our DTH business in case of loss of satellite transmission.

 

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Item 5.   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
You should read the following discussion together with our consolidated year-end financial statements and the accompanying notes, which appear elsewhere in this annual report. This annual report contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this annual report, particularly in “Key Information — Risk Factors”. In addition to the other information in this annual report, investors should consider carefully the following discussion and the information set forth under “Key Information — Risk Factors” before evaluating us and our business.
Preparation of Financial Statements
Our consolidated year-end financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Mexican FRS, which differ in some significant respects from U.S. GAAP. Note 23 to our consolidated year-end financial statements describes certain differences between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP as they relate to us through December 31, 2010 and provides a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of net income and total stockholders’ equity. Note 23 to our consolidated year-end financial statements also presents all other disclosures required by U.S. GAAP, as well as condensed financial statement data.
As required by Mexican FRS, beginning on January 1, 2008, we discontinued recognizing the effects of inflation in our financial information. Accordingly, our financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are comparable in this respect. Our financial information for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 maintained the inflation adjustments recognized in prior years in our consolidated stockholders’ equity, and the inflation-adjusted amounts for nonmonetary assets and liabilities at December 31, 2007 became the accounting basis for those assets and liabilities beginning on January 1, 2008 and for subsequent periods.
Results of Operations
The following tables set forth our results of operations data for the indicated periods as a percentage of net sales:
                         
    Year Ended December 31,(1)  
    2008     2009     2010  
Segment Net Sales
                       
Television Broadcasting
    43.7 %     40.3 %     38.5 %
Pay Television Networks
    4.5       5.1       5.3  
Programming Exports
    5.0       5.3       5.2  
Publishing
    7.5       6.3       5.5  
Sky
    18.7       18.7       19.0  
Cable and Telecom
    13.5       17.3       20.0  
Other Businesses
    7.1       7.0       6.5  
 
                 
Total Segment Net Sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Intersegment Operations
    (2.3 )     (2.2 )     (2.1 )
 
                 
Total Consolidated Net Sales
    97.7 %     97.8 %     97.9 %
 
                 
Net Sales
                       
Cost of Sales(2)
    44.9 %     45.4 %     45.4 %
Selling Expenses(2)
    8.2       8.9       8.3  
Administrative Expenses(2)
    6.4       7.3       8.0  
Depreciation and Amortization
    9.0       9.4       11.4  
Consolidated Operating Income
    31.5       29.0       26.9  
 
                 
Total Net Sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
                 
     
(1)   Certain segment data set forth in these tables may vary from certain data set forth in our consolidated year-end financial statements due to differences in rounding. The segment net sales and total segment net sales data set forth in this annual report reflect sales from intersegment operations in all periods presented. See Note 22 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(2)   Excluding depreciation and amortization.

 

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Summary of Business Segment Results
The following table sets forth the net sales and operating segment income (loss) of each of our business segments and intersegment sales, corporate expenses and depreciation and amortization for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2003, we adopted the provisions of Bulletin B-5, “Financial Information by Segments” issued by the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants, or MIPA. This standard requires us to look to our internal organizational structure and reporting system to identify our business segments. In accordance with this standard, we currently classify our operations into seven business segments: Television Broadcasting, Pay Television Networks, Programming Exports, Publishing, Sky, Cable and Telecom, and Other Businesses. See “— Recently Issued Mexican Financial Reporting Standards” and Note 1(s) to our consolidated year-end financial statements. Our results for 2008, 2009 and 2010, include Cablemás, a significant cable operator in Mexico, in the “Cable and Telecom” segment. Effective June 1, 2008 and October 1, 2009, we began consolidating the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Cablemás and TVI, respectively, in our consolidated financial statements. See Note 2 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
                         
    Year Ended December 31,(1)  
    2008     2009     2010  
    (Millions of Pesos)  
Segment Net Sales
                       
Television Broadcasting
  Ps. 21,460.7     Ps. 21,561.6     Ps. 22,750.1  
Pay Television Networks
    2,212.5       2,736.6       3,146.2  
Programming Exports
    2,437.2       2,845.9       3,074.8  
Publishing
    3,700.4       3,356.1       3,229.6  
Sky
    9,162.2       10,005.2       11,248.2  
Cable and Telecom
    6,623.4       9,241.8       11,814.2  
Other Businesses
    3,498.5       3,771.4       3,812.3  
 
                 
Total Segment Net Sales
    49,094.9       53,518.6       59,075.4  
Intersegment Operations
    (1,122.6 )     (1,166.1 )     (1,218.6 )
 
                 
Total Consolidated Net Sales
  Ps. 47,972.3     Ps. 52,352.5     Ps. 57,856.8  
 
                 
Operating Segment Income (Loss)
                       
Television Broadcasting
  Ps. 10,504.9     Ps. 10,323.9     Ps. 10,714.3  
Pay Television Networks
    1,378.2       1,660.4       1,622.0  
Programming Exports
    1,076.8       1,437.2       1,503.6  
Publishing
    648.6       190.7       425.3  
Sky
    4,416.8       4,478.8       5,074.5  
Cable and Telecom
    2,134.8       2,971.9       3,907.2  
Other Businesses
    (242.9 )     (318.2 )     (184.0 )
 
                 
Total Operating Segment Income(2)
    19,917.2       20,744.7       23,062.9  
Corporate Expenses(2)
    (478.3 )     (658.2 )     (901.0 )
Depreciation and Amortization
    (4,311.1 )     (4,929.6 )     (6,579.3 )
 
                 
Total Consolidated Operating Income(3)
  Ps. 15,127.8     Ps. 15,156.9     Ps. 15,582.6  
 
                 
     
(1)   Certain segment data set forth in these tables may vary from certain data set forth in our consolidated year-end financial statements due to differences in rounding. The segment net sales and total segment net sales data set forth in this annual report reflect sales from intersegment operations in all periods presented. See Note 22 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(2)   The total operating segment income data set forth in this annual report do not reflect corporate expenses and depreciation and amortization in any period presented, but are presented herein to facilitate the discussion of segment results.
 
(3)   Total consolidated operating income reflects corporate expenses and depreciation and amortization in all periods presented. See Note 22 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
Seasonality
Our results of operations are seasonal. We typically recognize a disproportionately large percentage of our overall advertising net sales in the fourth quarter in connection with the holiday shopping season. For example, in 2008, 2009 and 2010, we recognized 30.2%, 29.0% and 28.5%, respectively, of our net sales in the fourth quarter of the year. Our costs, in contrast to our revenues, are more evenly incurred throughout the year and generally do not correlate to the amount of advertising sales.

 

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Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2010
Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2009
Total Segment Results
Net Sales
Our net sales increased by Ps.5,504.3 million, or 10.5%, to Ps.57,856.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.52,352.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was attributable to revenue growth across all our business segments with the exception of Publishing which underwent a restructuring process. Growth was especially strong in our Cable and Telecom and Sky segments.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales increased by Ps.2,526.4 million, or 10.6%, to Ps.26,294.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.23,768.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was due to higher costs in our Cable and Telecom, Television Broadcasting, Sky, Pay Television Networks and Programming Exports segments. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the costs of our Publishing and Other Businesses segments.
Selling Expenses
Selling expenses increased by Ps.125.6 million, or 2.7%, to Ps.4,797.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.4,672.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was attributable to higher selling expenses in our Cable and Telecom, Pay Television Networks, Programming Exports and Television Broadcasting segments. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in selling expenses in our Publishing, Sky and Other Businesses segments.
Administrative Expenses
Administrative expenses increased by Ps.776.9 million, or 20.3%, to Ps.4,602.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.3,825.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase reflects increased administrative expenses in all our segments, especially in our Cable and Telecom and Sky segments, as well as an increase in corporate expenses due to higher share-based compensation expense, which amounted to approximately Ps.560.6 million in 2010, compared with Ps.375.7 million in 2009.
Television Broadcasting
Television Broadcasting net sales are derived primarily from the sale of advertising time on our national television networks, Channels 2, 4, 5 and 9, and local stations, including our English language station on the Mexico/U.S. border. The contribution of local stations net sales to Television Broadcasting net sales was 12.8% in 2009 and 11.8% in 2010. No Television Broadcasting advertiser accounted for more than 10% of Television Broadcasting advertising sales in any of these years.
Television Broadcasting net sales, representing 40.3% and 38.5% of our total segment net sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, increased by Ps.1,188.5 million, or 5.5%, to Ps.22,750.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.21,561.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our content continued to perform well. For example the final episode of the telenovela “Soy tu Dueña” was the highest rated program transmitted in Mexico through broadcast television during the year, and nine of the top-ten rated shows on over-the-air television in Mexico were transmitted by us. The sales of the broadcast and transmission of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa also contributed to the increase in net sales.
Television Broadcasting operating segment income increased by Ps.390.4 million, or 3.8%, to Ps.10,714.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.10,323.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was due to the increase in net sales and was partially offset by an increase in cost of sales related to the transmission during the year of programs produced in connection with the 2010 Soccer World Cup, including the soccer matches, and an increase in operating expenses, primarily in personnel expenses.

 

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Advertising Rates and Sales
We sell commercial time in two ways: upfront and scatter basis. Advertisers that elect the upfront option lock in prices for the upcoming year, regardless of future price changes. Advertisers that choose the upfront option make annual prepayments, with cash or short-term notes, are charged the lowest rates for their commercial time, are given the highest priority in schedule placement, and are given a first option in advertising during special programs. Scatter advertisers, or advertisers who choose not to make upfront payments but rather advertise from time to time, risk both higher prices and lack of access to choice commercial time slots. We sell advertising to our customers on a cost per rating point basis. Under cost per rating point pricing, we are not committed with advertisers to achieve a certain rating upon broadcast, and therefore, we do not have to provide any future price adjustments if the rating is not met.
The Mexican government does not restrict our ability to set our advertising rates. In setting advertising rates and terms, we consider, among other factors, the likely effect of rate increases on the volume of advertising sales. We have historically been flexible in setting rates and terms for our television advertising. Nominal rate increases have traditionally varied across daytime hours, and the same price increases have not been implemented for all programs, with higher increases in certain programs as a result of high demand for advertising during certain hours.
During 2009 and 2010, we increased our nominal advertising rates. During prime time broadcasts, we sold an aggregate of 1,368 hours of advertising time in 2009 and 1,512 hours in 2010. During sign-on to sign-off hours, we sold 2,867 hours of advertising time in 2009 and 3,071 hours in 2010. Television Broadcasting advertising time that is not sold to the public is primarily used to satisfy our legal obligation to the Mexican government to provide Official Television Broadcast Time and to promote, among other things, our products.
Pay Television Networks
Pay Television Networks net sales are derived primarily from revenues received in exchange for providing television channels to pay-TV providers servicing the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, Latin America and Canada, including other cable systems in Mexico and the DTH satellite venture in which we have an interest. Pay Television Networks net sales also include the revenues from TuTv, our former pay-TV venture in the United States with Univision. Beginning December 2010, we do not consolidate TuTv in our financial statements, because we sold to Univision our entire interest in TuTv which represented 50% of its capital stock, pursuant to the investment agreement with this company and the purchase and assignment and assumption agreement entered into in connection therewith. Revenues from advertising time sold with respect to programs provided to cable systems in Mexico and internationally are also reflected in this segment. Pay Television Networks sell advertising on a scatter basis, independently from our other media-related segments.
Pay Television Networks net sales, representing 5.1% and 5.3% of our total segment net sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, increased by Ps.409.6 million, or 15.0%, to Ps.3,146.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.2,736.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was achieved in spite of a negative translation effect of foreign-currency-denominated sales, and was driven by higher revenues from channels sold in Mexico as well as higher advertising sales, which represented 22.7% of segment revenue in 2010. Some of the most successful channels during the year included Clásico TV and the 2-hour delayed broadcast of Channel 2. Additionally, during the year, we successfully added to our portfolio of high-definition channels Golden and American Network, and launched the TL Novela channel in Brazil.
Pay Television Networks operating segment income decreased by Ps.38.4 million, or 2.3%, to Ps.1,622.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, from Ps.1,660.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This decrease reflects an increase in cost of sales and operating expenses, driven mainly by investments made in the production and launch of two new channels. In August 2009, we launched our sports pay-TV channel, Televisa Deportes Network (TDN), which carried on an exclusive basis ten of the 64 games of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Additionally, in February 2010, we launched Foro TV, our 24-hour news channel, which since September 2010 is broadcast on our free-to-air Channel 4.
Programming Exports
Programming Exports net sales consist primarily of revenues from program license agreements and principally relate to our telenovelas and our variety programs. In 2009 and 2010, 66.8% and 64.0%, respectively, of net sales for this segment were attributable to programming licensed under our Program License Agreement with Univision. In 2009 and 2010, we received U.S.$143.0 million and U.S.$156.1 million, respectively, in program royalties from Univision, related to the Univision Network and Galavision Network.

 

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Programming Exports net sales, representing 5.3% and 5.2% of our total segment net sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, increased by Ps.228.9 million, or 8.0%, to Ps.3,074.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.2,845.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was primarily due to an increase in royalties from Univision, from U.S.$143.0 million in 2009 to U.S.$156.1 million in 2010, as well as higher programming sales, mainly in Europe, and higher revenue from co-productions abroad. This increase was partially offset by a negative translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated sales.
Programming Exports operating segment income increased by Ps.66.4 million, or 4.6%, to Ps.1,503.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.1,437.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was primarily due to the increase in net sales, which was partially offset by an increase in cost of sales due to higher programming and co-production costs and operating expenses, primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses and an increase in the provision for doubtful trade accounts.
Publishing
Publishing net sales are primarily derived from the sale of advertising pages in our various magazines, as well as magazine sales to distributors. Our Publishing segment sells advertising independently from our other media-related segments. Advertising rates are based on the publication and the assigned space of the advertisement.
Publishing net sales, representing 6.3% and 5.5% of our total segment net sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, decreased by Ps.126.5 million, or 3.8%, to Ps.3,229.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.3,356.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The annual decrease was driven by the negative impact of the translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated sales and by a restructuring of the business, which included taking some magazines off the market, resulting in a decrease in magazine circulation in Mexico and consequently a decrease in advertising revenue. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in advertising sales abroad.
Publishing operating segment income increased by Ps.234.6 million, or 123.0%, to Ps.425.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.190.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase reflects primarily lower paper and printing costs in connection with the restructuring process and to a lesser extent lower operating expenses due to non-recurrent charges such as decreases in expense allocations and the provision for doubtful trade accounts. This increase in the operating segment income was partially offset by the decrease in net sales.
Sky
Sky net sales are primarily derived from program services, installation fees and equipment rental to subscribers, and national advertising sales.
Sky net sales, representing 18.7% and 19.0% of our total segment net sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, increased by Ps.1,243.0 million, or 12.4%, to Ps.11,248.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.10,005.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. The annual increase was driven by solid growth in the subscriber base in Mexico, mainly attributable to the success of Sky’s new low-cost offerings. Additionally, Sky transmitted 24 matches of the 2010 Soccer World Cup on an exclusive basis and in some packages sold it as a pay-per-view event. The number of gross active subscribers increased to 3,044,000 (including 149,900 commercial subscribers) as of December 31, 2010 from 1,959,700 (including 144,300 commercial subscribers) as of December 31, 2009.
Sky operating segment income increased by Ps.595.7 million or 13.3% to Ps.5,074.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.4,478.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was due to the increase in net sales as well as a reduction in the amount of costs amortized related to the exclusive transmission of certain 2010 Soccer World Cup matches. This increase was partially offset by an increase in programming costs associated with the increase in our subscriber base, and operating expenses due to commissions paid and increase in the provision for doubtful trade accounts.
Cable and Telecom
Cable and Telecom net sales are derived from cable television and telecommunication services, as well as advertising sales. Net sales for cable television services generally consist of monthly subscription fees for basic and premium service packages, fees charged for pay-per-view programming and, to a significantly lesser extent, monthly rental and one-time installation fees, broadband internet and telephone services subscription. Beginning June 2008, we began to consolidate the financials of Cablemás, a significant cable operator in Mexico operating in 49 cities, into our financial statements. Beginning October 2009, we began to consolidate the financials of TVI. The telecommunications business derives revenues from providing data and long-distance services solutions to carriers and other telecommunications service providers through its fiber-optic network. Net sales for cable television advertising consist of revenues from the sale of advertising on Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI. Rates are based on the day and time the advertising is aired, as well as the type of programming in which the advertising is aired. Cable subscription and advertising rates are adjusted periodically in response to inflation and in accordance with market conditions.

 

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Cable and Telecom net sales, representing 17.3% and 20.0% of our total segment net sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, increased by Ps.2,572.4 million, or 27.8%, to Ps.11,814.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.9,241.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was primarily due to the consolidation of TVI effective October 1, 2009, which represented incremental sales of Ps.1,463.5 million, as well as the addition of more than 356,000 revenue generating units (RGUs) in Cablevisión and Cablemás.
Cable and Telecom operating segment income increased by Ps.935.3 million, or 31.5%, to Ps.3,907.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.2,971.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was due to the continued growth in the cable platforms as well as a positive translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated costs, and was partially offset by the increase in costs resulting from the growth in the subscriber base and higher costs and expenses resulting from the consolidation of TVI.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of RGUs as of December 31, 2010:
                         
    Cablevisión     Cablemás     TVI  
Video
    668,985       997,239       301,698  
Broadband
    299,157       360,049       147,268  
Voice
    190,441       205,180       106,129  
RGUs
    1,158,583       1,562,468       555,095  
Other Businesses
Other Businesses net sales are primarily derived from the promotion of sports and special events in Mexico, the distribution of feature films, revenues from our internet businesses, which includes revenues from advertisers for advertising space on Esmas.com, and revenues related to our PSMS messaging service, gaming, radio and publishing distribution (beginning in the third quarter of 2008).
Other Businesses net sales, representing 7.0% and 6.5% of our total segment net sales for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively, increased by Ps.40.9 million, or 1.1%, to Ps.3,812.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.3,771.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase was primarily due to higher sales related to our gaming, sporting events production, radio and publishing distribution businesses. This increase was partially offset by lower sales in our feature-film distribution and internet businesses.
Other Businesses operating segment loss decreased by Ps.134.2 million, or 42.2%, to Ps.184.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.318.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This decrease reflects a decrease in the losses attributable to our sporting events production, gaming and publishing distribution businesses as well as an increase in the operating segment income of our radio business. These favorable effects were partially offset by an increase in the losses attributable to our internet business and the losses attributable to our feature-film distribution business in 2010, as compared to 2009 when this business produced income.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased by Ps.1,649.7 million, or 33.5%, to Ps.6,579.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.4,929.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This change primarily reflects an increase in such expense in our Cable and Telecom (due to the consolidation of TVI), Sky and Television Broadcasting segments. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in such expense in our Publishing segment.

 

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Non-operating Results
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net, decreased by Ps.1,197.7 million, or 67.9%, to Ps.567.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared with Ps.1,764.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This decrease reflected primarily i) a reduction in non-cash impairment adjustments to the carrying value of goodwill in our Cable and Telecom, Television Broadcasting and Publishing segments and ii) the gain on disposition of investments in shares. These favorable variances were partially offset by i) non-recurring expenses related to the refinancing of debt of Cablemás, and ii) increases in other expenses related to financial advisory and professional services and the disposition of equipment.
Integral Cost of Financing, Net
Integral cost of financing, net, significantly impacts our consolidated financial statements in periods of high inflation or currency fluctuations. Under Mexican FRS, integral cost of financing reflects:
    interest expense, including gains or losses from derivative instruments;
 
    interest income; and
 
    foreign exchange gain or loss attributable to monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, including gains or losses from derivative instruments.
Our foreign exchange position is affected by our assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, primarily U.S. dollars. We record a foreign exchange gain or loss if the exchange rate of the Peso to the other currencies in which our monetary assets or liabilities are denominated varies.
The net expense attributable to integral cost of financing increased by Ps.55.3 million, or 1.9%, to Ps.3,028.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from Ps.2,973.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase primarily reflected i) a Ps.478.9 million increase in interest expense, due mainly to a higher average principal amount of long-term debt in 2010, and ii) a Ps.5.9 million decrease in interest income explained primarily by a reduction of interest rates applicable to cash equivalents and temporary investments in 2010. These unfavorable variances were partially offset by a Ps.429.5 million decrease in foreign exchange loss resulting primarily from the favorable effect of a 5.5% appreciation of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar in 2010 on our average net U.S. dollar liability position in 2010, which changed from a net U.S. dollar asset position in 2009.
Equity in Losses of Affiliates, Net
This line item reflects our equity participation in the operating results and net assets of unconsolidated businesses in which we maintain an interest, but over which we have no control. We recognize equity in losses of affiliates up to the amount of our initial investment and subsequent capital contributions, or beyond that amount when guaranteed commitments have been made by us in respect of obligations incurred by affiliates.
Equity in losses of affiliates, net, decreased by Ps.503.4 million, or 70.4%, to Ps.211.9 million in 2010 compared with Ps.715.3 million in 2009. This decrease mainly reflected a reduction in equity in loss of La Sexta, our 40.5% interest in a free-to-air television channel in Spain. This decrease was partially offset by the absence of equity in earnings of i) Volaris, as we disposed of this investment in the third quarter of 2010, and ii) TVI, as we began consolidating its assets, liabilities and results of operations in our consolidated financial statements effective in the fourth quarter of 2009. Equity in losses of affiliates, net, for the year ended December 31, 2010, is mainly comprised of the equity in loss of La Sexta, which was partially offset by the equity in earnings of other associates.
Income Taxes
Income taxes increased by Ps.138.3 million, or 4.4%, to Ps.3,259.0 million in 2010 from Ps.3,120.7 million in 2009. This increase primarily reflected a higher income tax base, which was partially offset by a lower effective income tax rate.
We are authorized by the Mexican tax authorities to compute our income tax on a consolidated basis. Mexican controlling companies are allowed to consolidate, for income tax purposes, income or losses of their Mexican subsidiaries up to 100% of their share ownership in such subsidiaries.
The Mexican corporate income tax rates in 2008, 2009 and 2010 were 28%, 28% and 30%, respectively.

 

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The Flat Rate Business Tax (“Impuesto Empresarial a Tasa Única” or “IETU”) became effective in Mexico as of January 1, 2008. This flat tax replaced Mexico’s asset tax and is applied along with Mexico’s regular income tax. In general, Mexican companies are subject to paying the greater of the flat tax or the income tax. The IETU is calculated by applying a tax rate of 16.5% in 2008, 17% in 2009, and 17.5% in 2010 and thereafter. Although the IETU is defined as a minimum tax it has a wider taxable base as some of the tax deductions allowed for income tax purposes are not allowed for the flat tax. As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, this tax did not have an effect on the Group’s deferred tax position, and the Group does not expect to have to pay the IETU in the near future.
In December 2009, the Mexican government enacted certain amendments and changes to the Mexican Income Tax Law that became effective as of January 1, 2010. The main provisions of these amendments and changes are as follows: i) the corporate income tax rate is increased from 28% to 30% for the years 2010 through 2012, and will be reduced to 29% and 28% in 2013 and 2014, respectively; ii) the deferred income tax benefit derived from tax consolidation of a parent company and its subsidiaries is limited to a period of five years; therefore, the resulting deferred income tax has to be paid starting in the sixth year following the fiscal year in which the deferred income tax benefit was received; iii) the payment of this income tax has to be made in installments: 25% in the first and second year, 20% in the third year, and 15% in the fourth and fifth year; and iv) this procedure applies for the deferred income tax resulting from the tax consolidation regime prior to and from 2010, so taxpayers paid in 2010 the first installment of the cumulative amount of the deferred tax benefits determined as of December 31, 2004. See “Risk Factors — Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”.
Non-controlling Interest Net Income
Non-controlling interest reflects that portion of operating results attributable to the interests held by third parties in the businesses which are not wholly-owned by us, including our Cable and Telecom and Sky segments, as well as our Radio businesses.
Non-controlling interest net income increased by Ps.256.9 million, or 44.6%, to Ps.832.5 million in 2010, from Ps.575.6 million in 2009. This increase primarily reflected a higher portion of consolidated net income attributable to interests held by non-controlling stockholders in our Cable and Telecom and Sky segments.
Controlling Interest Net Income
We generated controlling interest net income in the amount of Ps.7,683.4 million in 2010, as compared to Ps.6,007.1 million in 2009. The net increase of Ps.1,676.3 million reflected:
    a Ps.425.7 million increase in operating income, net;
    a Ps.1,197.7 million decrease in other expense, net; and
    a Ps.503.4 million decrease in equity in losses of affiliates, net.
These changes were partially offset by:
    a Ps.55.3 million increase in integral cost of financing, net;
    a Ps.138.3 million increase in income taxes; and
    a Ps.256.9 million increase in non-controlling interest net income.
Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2009
Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2008
Total Segment Results
Net Sales
Our net sales increased by Ps.4,380.2 million, or 9.1%, to Ps.52,352.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.47,972.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase reflects a revenue growth in our Cable and Telecom, Sky, Pay Television Networks, Programming Exports, Television Broadcasting and Other Businesses segments. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the sales of our Publishing segment.

 

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Cost of Sales
Cost of sales increased by Ps.2,212.4 million, or 10.3%, to Ps.23,768.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.21,556.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was due to higher costs in our Cable and Telecom, Sky, Television Broadcasting, Pay Television Networks, Programming Exports and Other Businesses segments. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in costs in our Publishing segment.
Selling Expenses
Selling expenses increased by Ps.752.9 million, or 19.2%, to Ps.4,672.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.3,919.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was attributable to higher selling expenses in our Sky, Cable and Telecom, Publishing, Pay Television Networks, Television Broadcasting, Programming Exports and Other Businesses segments, as a result of increases in promotional and advertising expenses, commissions paid and provision for doubtful trade accounts.
Administrative Expenses
Administrative expenses increased by Ps.767.3 million, or 25.1%, to Ps.3,825.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.3,058.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase reflects the administrative expense growth in our Cable and Telecom, Publishing, Television Broadcasting, Sky, Pay Television Networks and Other Businesses segments, as well as an increase in corporate expenses due to higher share-based compensation expense, which amounted to approximately Ps.375.7 million in 2009, compared with Ps.222.0 million in 2008. These increases were partially offset by lower administrative expenses in our Programming Exports segment.
Television Broadcasting
Television Broadcasting net sales increased by Ps.100.9 million, or 0.5%, to Ps.21,561.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.21,460.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This marginal increase was achieved in spite of the difficult economic environment and the inclusion of the broadcast of the 2008 Olympic Games in Television Broadcasting net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. Ratings remained strong due to successful telenovelas such as “Hasta que el Dinero nos Separe” and “Mañana es Para Siempre”.
Television Broadcasting operating segment income decreased by Ps.181.0 million, or 1.7%, to Ps.10,323.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.10,504.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This decrease was due to the increase in cost of sales due primarily to the negative translation effect of foreign-currency-denominated programming and satellite costs and an increase in operating expenses driven by an increase in advertising and promotional expenses, commissions paid and personnel expenses, which was partially offset by an increase in net sales.
Pay Television Networks
Pay Television Networks net sales increased by Ps.524.1 million, or 23.7%, to Ps.2,736.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.2,212.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase reflects higher revenues from signals sold in Mexico and Latin America and an increase in advertising sales, as well as a positive translation effect of foreign-currency-denominated sales.
Pay Television Networks operating segment income increased by Ps.282.2 million, or 20.5%, to Ps.1,660.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from Ps.1,378.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to higher sales that were partially offset by an increase in cost of sales mainly resulting from costs associated with the production and launch of new channels and programs, as well as the negative translation effect of foreign-currency-denominated costs, and an increase in operating expenses due to higher promotional and advertising expenses and commissions paid.
Programming Exports
Programming Exports net sales increased by Ps.408.7 million, or 16.8%, to Ps.2,845.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.2,437.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was primarily due to a positive translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated sales and higher programming sales to Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in royalties paid to us under the Program License Agreement entered into with Univision in the amount of U.S.$143.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to U.S.$146.5 million, for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

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Programming Exports operating segment income increased by Ps.360.4 million, or 33.5%, to Ps.1,437.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.1,076.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was primarily due to the increase in net sales, and was partially offset by an increase in cost of sales due to higher programming and co-production costs and operating expenses, primarily due to an increase in personnel, advertising and promotional expenses.
Publishing
Publishing net sales decreased by Ps.344.3 million, or 9.3%, to Ps.3,356.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.3,700.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The annual decrease was driven by lower revenues from magazine circulation and advertising pages sold abroad as well as in Mexico. This negative impact was partially offset by a positive translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated sales.
Publishing operating segment income decreased by Ps.457.9 million, or 70.6%, to Ps.190.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.648.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This decrease reflects lower sales and an increase in operating expenses due to nonrecurrent charges such as an increase in provision for doubtful-trade-accounts and certain restructuring costs, as well as a negative translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated costs and expenses. These effects were partially offset by a decrease in cost of sales, mainly in cost of paper and printing.
Sky
Sky net sales increased by Ps.843.0 million or 9.2% to Ps.10,005.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.9,162.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was primarily due to an increase in Sky’s subscriber base in Mexico, a growth of Sky operations in Central America and higher advertising revenues. As of December 31, 2009 the number of gross active subscribers increased to 1,959,700 (including 144,300 commercial subscribers) compared with 1,759,800 (including 128,900 commercial subscribers) as of December 31, 2008.
Sky operating segment income increased by Ps.62.0 million or 1.4% to Ps.4,478.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.4,416.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was due to the increase in net sales and was partially offset by higher programming costs associated with the increase of Sky’s subscriber base, as well as the amortization of costs related to the exclusive transmission of 24 matches of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, an increase in promotional expenses and a negative translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated costs and expenses.
Cable and Telecom
Cable and Telecom net sales increased by Ps.2,618.4 million, or 39.5%, to Ps.9,241.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.6,623.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was primarily due to the addition of more than 350,000 revenue generation units (RGUs) in Cablevisión and Cablemás during the year driven mainly by the success of our competitive triple-play bundles, as well as the consolidation of Cablemás beginning June 1, 2008 and of TVI beginning October 1, 2009.
Cable and Telecom operating segment income increased by Ps.837.1 million, or 39.2%, to Ps.2,971.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.2,134.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. These results reflect higher sales that were partially offset by an increase in advertising campaigns around triple play packages, a negative translation effect on foreign-currency-denominated costs; the costs inherent to growth in the subscriber base and higher costs and expenses resulting from Cablemás and TVI’s consolidation.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of RGUs as of December 31, 2009:
                         
    Cablevisión     Cablemás     TVI  
Video
    632,061       912,825       237,062  
Broadband
    250,550       289,006       112,105  
Voice
    133,829       146,406       75,779  
RGUs
    1,016,440       1,348,237       424,946  
Other Businesses
Other Businesses net sales increased by Ps.272.9 million, or 7.8%, to Ps.3,771.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.3,498.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase was primarily due to increased sales in our gaming, sport events production and internet businesses. This increase was partially offset by lower sales in our feature-film distribution, radio and publishing distribution businesses.

 

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Other Businesses operating segment loss increased by Ps.75.3 million, or 31.0%, to Ps.318.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.242.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase reflects higher costs of sales and operating expenses related to our sport events production and publishing distribution businesses and decreased sales in our feature-film distribution, radio and publishing distribution businesses. These effects were partially offset by higher total segment sales and a decrease in the cost of sales and operating expenses of our feature-film distribution business.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased by Ps.618.5 million, or 14.3%, to Ps.4,929.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.4,311.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This change primarily reflects an increase in our Cable and Telecom (due to the consolidation of Cablemás and TVI), Publishing and Other Businesses segments. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in our Sky and Television Broadcasting segments.
Non-operating Results
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net, increased by Ps.812.8 million, or 85.4%, to Ps.1,764.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to Ps.952.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase reflected primarily i) higher non-cash impairment adjustments made to the carrying value of goodwill of certain businesses in our Cable and Telecom, Television Broadcasting and Publishing segments, and trademarks in our Publishing segment, as further described in Note 23(f) to our consolidated year-end financial statements; ii) the absence of other income recognized in 2008, derived from a litigation settlement in January 2009; and iii) an increase in loss on disposition of property and equipment. These unfavorable variances were partially offset by a decrease in professional services in connection with certain litigation.
Integral Cost of Financing, Net
Integral cost of financing, net, significantly impacts our financial statements in periods of high inflation or currency fluctuations. Under Mexican FRS, integral cost of financing reflects:
    interest expense, including gains or losses from derivative instruments and the restatement of our UDI denominated notes through 2007;
 
    interest income;
 
    foreign exchange gain or loss attributable to monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, including gains or losses from derivative instruments; and
 
    gain or loss attributable to holding monetary assets and liabilities exposed to inflation through 2007, as we discontinued recognizing the effects of inflation in financial information effective January 1, 2008.
Our foreign exchange position is affected by our assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, primarily U.S. dollar. We record a foreign exchange gain or loss if the exchange rate of the Peso to the other currencies in which our monetary assets or liabilities are denominated varies.
The net expense attributable to integral cost of financing increased by Ps.2,142.4 million, to Ps.2,973.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from Ps.830.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase reflected i) a Ps.1,576 million increase in foreign exchange loss resulting from the unfavorable effect of a 5.5% appreciation of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar in 2009 versus a 26.7% depreciation of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar in 2008, primarily on foreign-currency hedge contracts; ii) a Ps.320 million increase in interest expense, due primarily to a higher average principal amount of long-term debt in 2009; and iii) a Ps.246.4 million decrease in interest income explained primarily by a reduction of interest rates applicable to cash equivalents and temporary investments in 2009.
Equity in Losses of Affiliates, Net
This line item reflects our equity participation in the operating results and net assets of unconsolidated businesses in which we maintain an interest, but over which we have no control. We recognized equity in losses of affiliates up to the amount of our initial investment and subsequent capital contributions, or beyond that amount when guaranteed commitments have been made by us in respect of obligations incurred by affiliates.

 

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Equity in losses of affiliates, net, decreased by Ps.334.6 million, or 31.9%, to Ps.715.3 million in 2009 compared to Ps.1,049.9 million in 2008. This decrease reflected mainly a reduction in equity in losses of i) Volaris, our 25% interest in a low-cost carrier airline with a concession to operate in Mexico; and ii) La Sexta, our 40.5% interest in a free-to-air television channel in Spain. Equity in losses of affiliates, net, for the year ended December 31, 2009, is comprised for the most part of the equity in loss of La Sexta, which was partially offset by the equity in earnings of other companies in which we hold a non-controlling interest.
Income Taxes
Income taxes decreased by Ps.443.5 million, or 12.4%, to Ps.3,120.7 million in 2009 from Ps.3,564.2 million in 2008. This decrease reflected a lower corporate income tax base.
We are authorized by the Mexican tax authorities to compute our income tax on a consolidated basis. Mexican controlling companies are allowed to consolidate, for income tax purposes, income or losses of their Mexican subsidiaries up to 100% of their share ownership in such subsidiaries.
Through December 31, 2007, we were also subject to an asset tax, applicable to our Mexican subsidiaries and computed on a fully consolidated basis at a tax rate of 1.25% on the adjusted gross value of some of our assets.
The Mexican corporate income tax rate in 2007, 2008 and 2009 was 28%.
In October 2007, the Mexican government enacted the new Flat Rate Business Tax (“Impuesto Empresarial a Tasa Única” or “IETU”). This law became effective as of January 1, 2008. The law introduced a flat tax, which replaced Mexican asset tax and is applied along with Mexican regular income tax. In general, Mexican companies are subject to paying the greater of the flat tax or the income tax. The IETU is calculated by applying a tax rate of 16.5% in 2008, 17% in 2009, and 17.5% in 2010 and thereafter. Although the IETU is defined as a minimum tax, it has a wider taxable base as many of the tax deductions allowed for income tax purposes are not allowed for the flat tax. The IETU is calculated on a cash flow basis. As of December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 this tax law change did not have an effect on the Company’s deferred tax position, and the Company does not expect to have to pay the IETU in the near future.
In December 2009, the Mexican government enacted certain amendments and changes to the Mexican Income Tax Law that became effective as of January 1, 2010. The main provisions of these amendments and changes are as follows: i) the corporate income tax rate was increased from 28% to 30% for the years 2010 through 2012, and will be reduced to 29% and 28% in 2013 and 2014, respectively; ii) the deferred income tax benefit derived from tax consolidation of a parent company and its subsidiaries is limited to a period of five years; therefore, the resulting deferred income tax has to be paid starting in the sixth year following the fiscal year in which the deferred income tax benefit was received; iii) the payment of this income tax has to be made in installments: 25% in the first and second year, 20% in the third year, and 15% in the fourth and fifth year; and iv) this procedure applies for the deferred income tax resulting from the tax consolidation regime prior to and from 2010, so taxpayers will have to pay in 2010 the first installment of the cumulative amount of the deferred tax benefits determined as of December 31, 2004. See “Risk Factors — Existing Mexican Laws and Regulations or Changes Thereto or the Imposition of New Ones May Negatively Affect Our Operations and Revenue”.
Non-controlling Interest Net Income
Non-controlling interest reflects that portion of operating results attributable to the interests held by third parties in the businesses which are not wholly-owned by us, including our Sky, Cable and Telecom, and Radio businesses.
Non-controlling interest net income decreased by Ps.351.4 million, or 37.9%, to Ps.575.6 million in 2009, from Ps.927.0 million in 2008. This decrease primarily reflected a lower portion of consolidated net income attributable to interests held by non-controlling equity owners in our Sky segment, as well as a higher portion of consolidated net loss attributable to interests held by non-controlling stockholders in our Cable and Telecom segment.
Controlling Interest Net Income
We generated net income in the amount of Ps.6,007.1 million in 2009, as compared to net income of Ps.7,803.7 million in 2008. The net decrease of Ps.1,796.6 million reflected:
    a Ps.812.8 million increase in other expense, net; and
 
    a Ps.2,142.4 million increase in integral cost of financing, net.

 

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These changes were partially offset by:
    a Ps.29.1 million increase in operating income;
 
    a Ps.334.6 million decrease in equity in earnings of affiliates, net;
 
    a Ps.443.5 million decrease in income taxes; and
 
    a Ps.351.4 million decrease in non-controlling interest net income.
Effects of Devaluation and Inflation
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated:
    the percentage that the Peso devalued or appreciated against the U.S. Dollar;
 
    the Mexican inflation rate;
 
    the U.S. inflation rate; and
 
    the percentage change in Mexican GDP compared to the prior period.
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
Devaluation (appreciation) of the Peso as compared to the U.S. Dollar(1)
    26.7 %     (5.5 %)     (5.5 %)
Mexican inflation rate(2)
    6.5       3.6       4.4  
U.S. inflation rate
    0.1       2.7       1.5  
Increase (decrease) in Mexican GDP(3)
    1.2       (6.1 )     5.4  
     
(1)   Based on changes in the Interbank Rates, as reported by Banamex, at the end of each period, which were as follows: Ps.10.9222 per U.S. Dollar as of December 31, 2007; Ps.13.84 per U.S. Dollar as of December 31, 2008; Ps.13.08 per U.S. Dollar as of December 31, 2009; and Ps.12.3576 per U.S. Dollar as of December 31, 2010.
 
(2)   Based on changes in the NCPI from the previous period, as reported by the Mexican Central Bank, which were as follows: 86.6 in 2007; 92.2 in 2008; 95.5 in 2009; and 99.7 in 2010.
 
(3)   As reported by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, or INEGI, and, in the case of GDP information for 2010 as estimated by INEGI.
The general condition of the Mexican economy, the devaluation of the Peso as compared to the U.S. Dollar, inflation and high interest rates have in the past adversely affected, and may in the future adversely affect, our:
    Advertising and Other Revenues. Inflation in Mexico adversely affects consumers. As a result, our advertising customers may purchase less advertising, which would reduce our advertising revenues, and consumers may reduce expenditures for our other products and services, including pay-TV services.
 
    Foreign Currency-Denominated Revenues and Operating Costs and Expenses. We have substantial operating costs and expenses denominated in foreign currencies, primarily in U.S. Dollars. These costs are principally due to our activities in the United States, the costs of foreign-produced programming and publishing supplies and the leasing of satellite transponders. The following table sets forth our foreign currency-denominated revenues and operating costs and expenses stated in millions of U.S. Dollars for 2008, 2009 and 2010:
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
    (Millions of U.S. Dollars)  
Revenues
  U.S.$ 683     U.S.$ 716     U.S.$ 743  
Operating costs and expenses
    685       659       623  
On a consolidated basis, in 2008, our foreign currency-denominated costs and expenses exceeded, and they could continue to exceed in the future, our foreign currency-denominated revenues. As a result we will continue to remain vulnerable to future devaluation of the Peso, which would increase the Peso equivalent of our foreign currency-denominated costs and expenses.
    Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Prior to January 1, 2008, we restated our non-monetary Mexican and foreign assets to give effect to inflation. The restatement of these assets in periods of high inflation, as well as the devaluation of the Peso as compared to the U.S. Dollar, increased the carrying value of these assets, which in turn, increased the related depreciation expense.

 

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    Integral Cost of Financing. The devaluation of the Peso as compared to the U.S. Dollar generated foreign exchange losses relating to our net U.S. Dollar-denominated liabilities and increases the Peso equivalent of our interest expense on our U.S. Dollar-denominated indebtedness. Foreign exchange losses, derivatives used to hedge foreign exchange risk and increased interest expense increased our integral cost of financing.
We have also entered into and will continue to consider entering into additional financial instruments to hedge against Peso devaluations and reduce our overall exposure to the devaluation of the Peso as compared to the U.S. Dollar, inflation and high interest rates. We cannot assure you that we will be able to enter into financial instruments to protect ourselves from the effects of the devaluation of the Peso as compared to the U.S. Dollar, inflation and increases in interest rates, or if so, on favorable terms. In the past, we have designated, and from time to time in the future we may designate, certain of our investments or other assets as effective hedges against Peso devaluations. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico”, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Market Risk Disclosures” and Note 9 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
U.S. GAAP Reconciliation
For a discussion of the principal quantitative and disclosure differences between Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP as they relate to us through December 31, 2010, see Note 23 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
Recently Issued U.S. Accounting Standards
In September 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU” or “Update”) 2009-13 “Revenue Recognition: Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force”, which provides for a new methodology for establishing the fair value for a deliverable in a multiple-element arrangement. When vendor specific objective or third-party evidence for deliverables in a multiple-element arrangement cannot be determined, the Group will be required to develop a best estimate of the selling price of separate deliverables and to allocate the arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. We do not expect the adoption of this Update to materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
In September 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-14 “Software: Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements — a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force”, which provides for a new methodology for recognizing revenue for tangible products that are bundled with software products. Under the new guidance, tangible products that are bundled together with software components that are essential to the functionality of the tangible product will no longer be accounted for under the software revenue recognition accounting guidance. This guidance has been effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. We do not expect the adoption of this Update will materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06 “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements”, ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. This Update requires the disclosure of transfers between the observable input categories and activity in the unobservable input category for fair value measurements. The guidance also requires disclosures about the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and became effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2010. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact this Update will have on our consolidated financial statements.
In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-13 “Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Effects of Denominating the Exercise Price of a Share-Based Payment Awards in the Currency of the Market in Which the Underlying Equity Security Trades”. This Update provides amendments to Topic 718 to clarify that an employee share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would not classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. We do not expect the adoption of this Update will materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-16 “Entertainment — Casinos (Topic 924): Accruals for Casino Jackpot Liabilities”. This ASU clarifies that an entity should not accrue a casino jackpot liability (or portions thereof) before the jackpot is won if the entity can avoid paying that jackpot. Jackpots should be accrued and charged to revenue when an entity has the obligation to pay the jackpot. ASU 2010-16 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. We do not expect the adoption of this Update will materially impact our consolidated financial statements.

 

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In September 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-25 “Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962)”. ASU 2010-25 clarifies how loans to participants should be classified and measured by defined contribution pension benefits. The amendments in ASU 2010-25 affect any defined contribution pension plan that allows participant loans. The amendments in ASU 2010-25 require that participant loans be classified as notes receivable from participants, which are segregated from plan investments and measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. ASU 2010-25 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2010 and should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this Update will materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-28 “Intangible — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts,” which provides additional guidance on when to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. Under this guidance, an entity is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts if qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing guidance, which requires that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. We are currently evaluating the impact this Update will have on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29 “Business Combination (Topic 805): Disclosures of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations,” which updates existing disclosure requirements related to supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. Under the updated guidance, a public entity that presents comparative financial statements should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The guidance also expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. This guidance will be effective for business combinations with an acquisition date on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. We are currently evaluating the impact this Update will have on our consolidated financial statements.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04 “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (Topic 820)—Fair Value Measurement”, to provide a consistent definition of fair value and ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. This Update changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements particularly for level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance will be effective prospectively for the year ending December 31, 2012. We do not expect the adoption of this Update will materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Mexican Financial Reporting Standards
The financial statements of the Group are presented on a consolidated basis in accordance with Mexican Financial Reporting Standards, or Mexican FRS, issued by the Mexican Financial Reporting Standards Board (Consejo Mexicano de Normas de Información Financiera, or CINIF).
In December 2009, the CINIF issued Mexican FRS that became effective on January 1, 2011 as follows:
Financial Reporting Standard (Norma de Información Financiera, or NIF) B-5, Financial Information by Segments, replaces the previous Mexican FRS Bulletin B-5, Financial Information by Segments, and sets out requirements for disclosure of information about an entity’s operating segments and also about the entity’s products and services, the geographical areas in which it operates, and its major customers. NIF B-5 confirms that reportable operating segments are those that are based on the group’s method of internal reporting to senior management for making operating decisions and evaluating performance of operating segments, and identified by certain qualitative, grouping and quantitative criteria. NIF B-5 also requires additional disclosure of interest income and expense, and certain liabilities, by segments. The adoption of NIF B-5 in 2011 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
NIF B-9, Financial Information at Interim Dates, replaces the previous Mexican FRS Bulletin B-9, Financial Information at Interim Dates, and provides guidelines for entities that are required to prepare and present financial information at interim dates. NIF B-9 requires minimum financial information at interim dates, including comparative condensed balance sheets and related comparative condensed statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, as well as selected notes to these condensed financial statements. The adoption of NIF B-9 in 2011 is not expected to have a material impact on our interim financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

 

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In the third quarter of 2010, the CINIF issued new guidelines under Mexican FRS, as follows:
Improvements to Mexican FRS 2011 include two groups of improvements to Mexican FRS already issued: (i) improvements to certain NIF, resulting in accounting changes in valuation, presentation or disclosure in a company’s financial statements, which became effective on January 1, 2011; and (ii) improvements to precise wording in certain NIF for clarification purposes, which do not require accounting changes. Improvements generating accounting changes in valuation, presentation or disclosure of a company’s financial statements include: (i) initial balance sheet presentation when retrospective adjustments are made; (ii) optional presentation of available cash to be used in financing activities in a statement of cash flows; (iii) doubtful accrued interest receivable; (iv) derivative financial instruments and hedge transactions: effects to be excluded from hedge effectiveness, intra-group forecast transactions, hedge of a portfolio portion, margin accounts, and impossibility of establishing a hedge relation for a life portion of a hedge instrument; (v) definition of members of a family of a person as related parties; (vi) leases: discount rate to be used in financial leases, disclosures in financial leases, and gain or loss in sale and leaseback transactions. We believe that these improvements to Mexican FRS will not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In the fourth quarter of 2010, the CINIF issued new guidelines under Mexican FRS, as follows:
NIF C-4, Inventories, replaces previous Mexican FRS Bulletin C-4, Inventories, and became effective on January 1, 2011. This new standard sets up the valuation, presentation and disclosure guidelines for initial and subsequent recognition of inventories in an entity’s balance sheet. The adoption of NIF C-4 in 2011 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
NIF C-5, Prepayments, replaces previous Mexican FRS Bulletin C-5, Prepayments, and became effective on January 1, 2011. This new standard sets up the guidelines for valuation, presentation and disclosure related to prepayments in an entity’s balance sheet. NIF C-5 requires that prepayments made by an entity for the purchase of inventories, property, plant and equipment, and other similar assets should be presented in a separate line in the balance sheet. The adoption of NIF C-5 in 2011 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position and disclosures.
NIF C-6, Property, Plant and Equipment, replaces previous Mexican FRS Bulletin, C-6, Property, Machinery and Equipment. This new standard sets up the valuation, presentation and disclosure guidelines for initial and subsequent recognition of property, plant and equipment in an entity’s balance sheet. It also establishes the mandatory depreciation of representative components of property, plant and equipment, as opposed to depreciating the remaining asset as a single component. This Mexican FRS became effective as of January 1, 2011, with exception of the changes arising from the segregation of its components, which have a useful life clearly different to the main asset. In this case, and for entities which have not performed such segregation, the applicable disposition will become effective for periods beginning on January 1, 2012. We are currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.
NIF C-18, Obligations Associated With the Retirement of Property, Plant and Equipment, sets up the guidelines for initial and subsequent recognition of a provision related to an entity’s obligations associated with the retirement of components of property, plant and equipment, and became effective on January 1, 2011. The adoption of NIF C-18 in 2011 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and disclosures.
International Financial Reporting Standards
In the first quarter of 2009, the Mexican Bank and Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, or CNBV), issued regulations for listed companies in Mexico requiring the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) to report comparative financial information for periods beginning no later than January 1, 2012. We have already implemented a plan to comply with these regulations and start reporting our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS in the first quarter of 2012. At the current implementation stage, we are in the process of determining estimated figures for those impacts resulting from the initial adoption of IFRS.
Critical Accounting Policies
We have identified certain key accounting policies upon which our consolidated financial condition and results of operations are dependent. The application of these key accounting policies often involves complex considerations and assumptions and the making of subjective judgments or decisions on the part of our management. In the opinion of our management, our most critical accounting policies under both Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP are those related to the accounting for programming, equity investments, the evaluation of definite lived and indefinite lived long-lived assets, deferred income taxes, and fair value measurements. For a full description of these and other accounting policies, see Note 1 and Note 23 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.

 

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Accounting for Programming. We produce a significant portion of programming for initial broadcast over our television networks in Mexico, our primary market. Following the initial broadcast of this programming, we then license some of this programming for broadcast in secondary markets, such as Mexico, the United States, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Under Mexican FRS, in order to properly capitalize and subsequently amortize production costs related to this programming, we must estimate the expected future benefit period over which a given program will generate revenues (generally, over a five-year period). We then amortize the production costs related to a given program over the expected future benefit period. Under this policy, we generally expense approximately 70% of the production costs related to a given program in its initial broadcast run and defer and expense the remaining production costs over the remainder of the expected future benefit period. See Note 1(e) to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
We estimate the expected future benefit periods based on past historical revenue patterns for similar types of programming and any potential future events, such as new outlets through which we can exploit or distribute our programming, including our consolidated subsidiaries and equity investees. To the extent that a given future expected benefit period is shorter than we estimate, we may have to write-off capitalized production costs sooner than anticipated. Conversely, to the extent that a given future expected benefit period is longer than we estimate, we may have to extend the amortization schedule for the remaining capitalized production costs.
We also purchase programming from, and enter into license arrangements with, various third party programming producers and providers, pursuant to which we receive the rights to broadcast programming produced by third parties over our television networks in Mexico. In the case of programming acquired from third parties, we estimate the expected future benefit period based on the anticipated number of showings in Mexico. In the case of programming licensed from third parties, we estimate the expected future benefit period based upon the term of the license. To the extent that a given future expected benefit period is shorter than we estimate, we may have to write off the purchase price or the license fee sooner than anticipated. Conversely, to the extent that a given future expected benefit period is longer than we estimate, we may have to extend the amortization schedule for the remaining portion of the purchase price or the license fee.
Equity Investments. Some of our investments are structured as equity investments. See Notes 1(g) and 5 to our consolidated year-end financial statements. As a result, under both Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP, the results of operations attributable to these investments are not consolidated with the results of our various segments for financial reporting purposes, but are reported as equity in income (losses) of affiliates in our consolidated income statement. See Note 5 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
In the past we have made significant capital contributions and loans to our joint ventures, and we may in the future make additional capital contributions and loans to at least some of our joint ventures. In the past, these ventures have generated, and they may continue to generate operating losses and negative cash flows as they continue to build and expand their respective businesses.
We periodically evaluate our investments in these joint ventures for impairment, taking into consideration the performance of these ventures as compared to projections related to net sales, expenditures, strategic plans and future required cash contributions, among other factors. In doing so, we evaluate whether any declines in value are other than temporary. We have taken impairment charges in the past for some of these investments. Given the dynamic environments in which these businesses operate, as well as changing macroeconomic conditions, we cannot assure you that our future evaluations would not result in our recognizing additional impairment charges for these investments.
Once the carrying balance of a given investment is reduced to zero, we evaluate whether we should suspend the equity method of accounting, taking into consideration both quantitative and qualitative factors, such as guarantees we have provided to these ventures, future funding commitments and expectations as to the viability of the business. These conditions may change from year to year, and accordingly, we periodically evaluate whether to continue to account for our various investments under the equity method.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets. We assess our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis using fair value measurement techniques.
The measurement of impairment to goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives involves the estimation of fair values. These estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on whether or not an impairment charge is recognized and also the magnitude of any such charge. The impairment test for goodwill involves a comparison of the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units to its carrying amount, including goodwill. We determine the fair value of a reporting unit using a combination of a discounted cash flow analysis and a market-based approach, which utilizes significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the fair value hierarchy. The impairment test for intangible assets not subject to amortization involves a comparison of the estimated fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value. We determine the fair value of the intangible asset using a discounted cash flow analysis, which utilizes significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the fair value hierarchy. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant judgment, including judgment about appropriate discount rates, perpetual growth rates, the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, as well as relevant comparable company earnings multiples for the market-based approach and the consideration of whether a discount premium should be applied to comparable companies.

 

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Inherent in these estimates and assumptions is a certain level of risk, which we believe we have considered in our fair value determinations. Nevertheless, if future actual results differ from estimates, a possible impairment charge may be recognized in future periods related to the write-down of the carrying value of goodwill and other intangibles in addition to the amounts recognized previously.
Once an asset has been impaired, it is not remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, it is still subject to fair value measurements to test for recoverability of the carrying amount.
The asset balances shown in the consolidated balance sheets that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2010 amounted to Ps.971 million of goodwill. Related impairments are discussed in Note 23(e) to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
In order to evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value estimates, the Group applied a hypothetical 10% decrease to the fair value of each of the reporting units as well as the indefinite-lived intangibles which were tested separately. Such a hypothetical 10% decrease would not have had a significant effect with respect to the estimated recoverable value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets with the exception of (i) the Telecom reporting unit, where such a hypothetical decrease would have resulted in the recognition of an impairment charge of approximately Ps.373 million as of December 31, 2010, and (ii) the Publishing reporting unit where such a hypothetical decrease in the fair value of such reporting unit would have resulted in an additional goodwill impairment charge of approximately Ps.97 million as of December 31, 2010.
Long-lived Assets. Under both Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP, we present certain long-lived assets other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in our consolidated balance sheet. Long-lived assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may no longer be recoverable. Recoverability is analyzed based on projected cash flows. Estimates of future cash flows involve considerable management judgment. These estimates are based on historical data, future revenue growth, anticipated market conditions, management plans, assumptions regarding projected rates of inflation and currency fluctuations, among other factors. If these assumptions are not correct, we would have to recognize a write-off or write-down or accelerate the amortization schedule related to the carrying value of these assets. See Notes 1(j), 7 and 17 to our consolidated year-end financial statements. We have not recorded any significant impairment charges over the past few years. Unlike U.S. GAAP, Mexican FRS allows the reversal in subsequent periods of previously taken impairment charges.
Deferred Income Taxes. Under both Mexican FRS and U.S. GAAP, we record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. While we have considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, in the event we were to determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.
Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value. We have a significant amount of financial assets and liabilities which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The degree of management’s judgment involved in determining the fair value of a financial asset and liability varies depending upon the availability of quoted market prices. When observable quoted market prices exist, that is the fair value estimate we use. To the extent such quoted market prices do not exist, management uses other means to determine fair value. The following provides a summary of the financial assets and liabilities and a discussion of the fair value estimates inherent therein.

 

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Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands of Mexican Pesos):
                                 
            Quoted Prices in     Internal Models     Internal Models  
            Active Markets for     with Significant     with Significant  
    Balance     Identical     Observable     Unobservable  
    as of December 31,     Assets     Inputs     Inputs  
    2010     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
Assets:
                               
Temporary investments
  Ps. 10,446,840     Ps. 3,238,333     Ps. 7,208,507     Ps.  
Available-for-sale investments:
                               
Open ended fund
    2,922,625             2,922,625        
Convertible Debentures due 2025
    13,904,222                   13,904,222  
Derivative financial instruments
    189,400             189,400        
 
                       
Total
  Ps. 27,463,087     Ps. 3,238,333     Ps. 10,320,532     Ps. 13,904,222  
 
                       
Liabilities:
                               
Derivative financial instruments
  Ps. 177,857     Ps.     Ps. 177,857     Ps.  
 
                       
Total
  Ps. 177,857     Ps.     Ps. 177,857     Ps.  
 
                       
The table below presents the reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value using internal models with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the year ended December 31, 2010.
         
    Convertible Debentures  
    due 2025  
Balance at beginning of year
  Ps.  
Total gain or losses (realized/unrealized):
     
Included in earnings
     
Included in other comprehensive income
     
Purchase, issuance and settlements
    13,904,222  
 
     
Balance as the end of year
  Ps. 13,904,222  
 
     
Temporary Investments. Temporary investments include highly liquid securities, including without limitation debt with a maturity of three months, or over, and up to one year at the balance sheet date, stock and other financial instruments denominated principally in U.S. dollars and Mexican Pesos.
Temporary investments are generally valued using quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. The types of instruments valued based on quoted market prices in active markets include mostly fixed short-term deposits, equities and corporate fixed income securities denominated in U.S. dollars and Mexican Pesos. Such instruments are classified in Level 1 or Level 2 depending on the observability of the significant inputs.
For positions that are not traded in active markets or are subject to transfer restrictions, valuations are adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability. Such adjustments are generally based on available market evidence. Such instruments are classified in Level 2.
Available-for-Sale Investments.
Investments in debt securities or with readily determinable fair values, not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as “available-for-sale,” and are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in consolidated stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive result.
Available-for-sale investments are generally valued using quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. Such instruments are classified in Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 depending on the observability of the significant inputs.

 

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Open ended fund
In the second half of 2009, we invested U.S.$180 million in an open ended fund (the “Fund”) that has as a primary objective to achieve capital appreciation by using a broad range of strategies through investments and transactions in telecom, media and other sectors across global markets, including Latin America and other emerging markets. Pursuant to the offering circular of the Fund, a shareholder may not redeem any shares until at least 180 days after their issuance. Subsequent to this, shares may be redeemed on a quarterly basis at the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) per share as of such redemption date.
We determined the fair value of the Fund using the NAV per share. The NAV per share is calculated by determining the value of the fund assets and subtracting all of the funds liabilities and dividing the result by the total number of issued shares.
Convertible Debentures due 2025
On December 20, 2010, we made cash investments in the form of 1.5% Convertible Debentures of Broadcasting Media Partners, Inc. (“BMP”) due 2025, the parent company of Univision, in the principal amount of U.S.$1,125 million (Ps.13,904 million), which are convertible at our option into additional shares currently equivalent to a 30% equity stake of BMP, subject to existing laws and regulations in the United States, and other conditions. (See Notes 2, 5 and 9 to our consolidated year-end financial statements).
We determined the fair value of the Convertible Debentures using the income approach based on post-tax discounted cash flows. The income approach requires management to make judgments and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include long-term growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates based on weighted average cost of capital, among others. Our estimates for market growth are based on historical data, various internal estimates and observable external sources when available, and are based on assumptions that are consistent with the strategic plans and estimates used to manage the underlying business. Since the described methodology is an internal model with significant unobservable inputs, the Convertible Debentures are classified in Level 3.
We determined projected future cash flows for a 5-year period and applied an annuity for the following periods. In order to evaluate the sensitivity of the fair value estimates of the Convertible Debentures, we applied a hypothetical 10% increase and decrease in the projected future cash flows. The hypothetical analysis would have resulted in an increase in the fair value of the Convertible Debentures of approximately U.S.$378 million (Ps. 4,672 million) and a decrease in the fair value of the Convertible Debentures of approximately U.S.$378 million (Ps.4,672 million) as of December 31, 2010. The result of this analysis does not purport to represent actual changes in the fair value of the Convertible Debentures.
Derivative Financial Instruments.
Derivative Financial Instruments include swaps, forwards and options. (See Notes 1(p) and 9 to our consolidated year-end financial statements).
Our derivative portfolio is entirely over-the-counter (“OTC”). Our derivatives are valued using industry standard valuation models; projecting the our future cash flows discounted to present value, using market-based observable inputs including interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates, and forward and spot prices for currencies.
When appropriate, valuations are adjusted for various factors such as liquidity, bid/offer spreads and credit spreads considerations. Such adjustments are generally based on available market evidence. In the absence of such evidence, management’s best estimate is used. All derivatives are classified in Level 2.
Pension and Seniority Premiums Plan Assets. The pension and seniority premiums plan assets consist primarily of common stock, mutual funds of fixed rate instruments and money market securities (see Note 23(g) to our consolidated year-end financial statements).
Common stocks are valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.
Mutual funds consist of fixed rate instruments. These are valued at the net asset value provided by the administrator of the fund.
Money market securities consist of government debt securities, which are valued based on observable prices from the new issue market, benchmark quotes, secondary trading and dealer quotes.

 

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis.
The majority of the our non-financial instruments, which include goodwill, intangible assets, inventories, transmission rights and programming and property, plant and equipment, are not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis. However, if certain triggering events occur (or at least annually in the fourth quarter for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets) such that a non-financial instrument is required to be evaluated for impairment, a resulting asset impairment would require that the non-financial instrument be recorded at the lower of carrying amount or its fair value.
The impairment test for goodwill involves a comparison of the estimated fair value of each of our reporting units to its carrying amount, including goodwill. We determine the fair value of a reporting unit using a combination of a discounted cash flow analysis and a market-based approach, which utilize significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the fair value hierarchy. The impairment test for intangible assets not subject to amortization involves a comparison of the estimated fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value. We determine the fair value of the intangible asset using a discounted cash flow analysis, which utilizes significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the fair value hierarchy. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant judgment, including judgment about appropriate discount rates, perpetual growth rates, the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, as well as relevant comparable company earnings multiples for the market-based approach.
Once an asset has been impaired, it is not remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, it is still subject to fair value measurements to test for recoverability of the carrying amount.
The asset balances shown in the consolidated balance sheets that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis amounted to Ps.971 million of goodwill as of December 31, 2010. Related impairments are discussed in Note 23(e) to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources
Liquidity. We generally rely on a combination of operating revenues, borrowings and net proceeds from dispositions to fund our working capital needs, capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments. Historically, we have received, and continue to receive, most of our advertising revenues in the form of upfront advertising deposits in the fourth quarter of a given year, which we in turn used, and continue to use, to fund our cash requirements during the rest of the quarter in which the deposits were received and for the first nine months of the following year. As of December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, we had received Ps.16,556.2 million (nominal), Ps.17,810.4 million (nominal) and Ps.16,881.6 million (nominal), respectively, of advertising deposits for television advertising during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, representing U.S.$1.3 billion, U.S.$1.4 billion, and U.S.$1.2 billion, respectively, at the applicable year-end exchange rates. The deposits as of December 31, 2010, represented a 7.0% decrease, as compared to year-end 2009, and deposits as of December 31, 2009, represented a 5.5% increase, as compared to year-end 2008. Approximately 66.0%, 64.2% and 67.8% of the advanced payment deposits as of each of December 31, 2010, December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively, were in the form of short-term, non-interest bearing notes, with the remainder in each of those years consisting of cash deposits. The weighted average maturity of these notes at December 31, 2010 was 4.6 months, at December 31, 2009 was 4.5 months, and at December 31, 2008 was 4.0 months.
During the year ended December 31, 2010, we had a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of Ps.8,998.9 million, which included cash and cash equivalents of Ps.18.7 million of certain businesses of TVI upon consolidation of these businesses into our financial reports as of January 1 and June 1, 2010, as compared to a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of Ps.3,641.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2009 which included cash and cash equivalents of Ps.21.5 million of TVI upon consolidation of this subsidiary into our financial reports as of October 1, 2009.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2010, amounted to Ps.16,864.9 million. Adjustments to reconcile income before income taxes to net cash provided by operating activities primarily included: depreciation and amortization of Ps.6,579.3 million; net unrealized foreign exchange gain of Ps.1,460.3 million; interest expense of Ps.3,289.2 million; impairment of long-lived assets and other amortization of Ps.354.7 million; gain on disposition of investments of Ps.1,113.3 million; and equity in losses of affiliates of Ps.211.9 million. Income taxes paid for the year ended December 31, 2010 amounted to Ps.4,403.4 million.
Net cash used for investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010, amounted to Ps.27,273.9 million, and was primarily used for investments in property, plant and equipment of Ps.11,306.0 million; temporary investments of Ps.1,351.5 million; held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investments of Ps.373.1 million; equity method and other investments of Ps.2,418.5 million; investment convertible debentures of Ps.13,966.4 million; and investments in goodwill and other intangible assets of Ps.712.1 million; which effect was partially offset by cash provided by a disposition of equity method and other investments of Ps.1,807.4 million.

 

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Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010, amounted to Ps.1,435.5 million, and was primarily used for repurchase of capital stock of Ps.1,274.0 million; interest paid of Ps.3,003.1 million; prepayment and repayment of debt and lease payments of Ps.4,221.3 million; and derivative financial instruments of Ps.52.5 million; which effect was partially offset by cash provided by the issuance of 7.38% Notes due 2020 in the amount of Ps.10,000.0 million.
We expect to fund our operating cash needs during 2011, other than cash needs in connection with any potential investments and acquisitions, through a combination of cash from operations and cash on hand. We intend to finance our potential investments or acquisitions in 2011 through available cash from operations, cash on hand and/or borrowings. The amount of borrowings required to fund these cash needs in 2011 will depend upon the timing of cash payments from advertisers under our advertising sales plan.
During the year ended December 31, 2009, we had a net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of Ps.3,641.6 million, which included cash and cash equivalents of Ps.21.5 million of TVI upon consolidation of this subsidiary into our financial reports as of October 2009, as compared to a net increase in cash and cash equivalents of Ps.8,103.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2008 which included cash and cash equivalents of Ps.483.9 million of Cablemás upon consolidation of this subsidiary in June 2008.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2009, amounted to Ps.15,135.6 million. Adjustments to reconcile income before income taxes to net cash provided by operating activities primarily included: depreciation and amortization of Ps.4,929.6 million; net unrealized foreign exchange gain of Ps.1,003.5 million; interest expense of Ps.2,832.7 million; impairment of long-lived assets and other amortization of Ps.1,224.5 million; and equity in losses of affiliates of Ps.715.3 million. Income taxes paid for the year ended December 31, 2009 amounted to Ps.4,282.0 million.
Net cash used for investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2009, amounted to Ps.11,052.2 million, and was primarily used for investments in property, plant and equipment of Ps.6,410.9 million; temporary investments of Ps.524.2 million; held-to maturity and available-for-sale investments of Ps.3,051.6 million; equity method and other investments of Ps.809.6 million; and investments in goodwill and other intangible assets of Ps.569.6 million.
Net cash used for financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2009, amounted to Ps.7,640.9 million, and was primarily used for dividends and repurchase of capital stock of Ps.9,841.0 million; interest paid of Ps.2,807.8 million; prepayment and repayment of debt and lease payments of Ps.2,520.2 million; and derivative financial instruments of Ps.206.8 million; which effect was partially offset by cash provided by the issuance of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2040 in the amount of Ps.7,612.1 million.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2008, amounted to Ps.22,257.8 million. Adjustments to reconcile income before income taxes to net cash provided by operating activities primarily included: depreciation and amortization of Ps.4,311.1 million; net unrealized foreign exchange loss of Ps.4,982.0 million; interest expense of Ps.2,529.2 million; and equity in losses of affiliates of Ps.1,049.9 million. Income taxes paid for the year ended December 31, 2008 amounted to Ps.2,657.5 million.
Net cash used for investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2008, amounted to Ps.12,884.5 million, and was primarily used for investments in property, plant and equipment of Ps.5,191.4 million; temporary investments of Ps.5,420.1 million; equity-method and other investments of Ps.1,982.1 million; and investments in goodwill and other intangible assets of Ps.1,489.2 million; which effect was partially offset by cash provided by a disposition of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investments of Ps.1,269.9 million.
Net cash used for financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2008, amounted to Ps.1,885.5 million, and was primarily used for dividends and repurchase of capital stock of Ps.3,342.5 million; interest paid of Ps.2,407.2 million; prepayment and repayment of debt and lease payments of Ps.700.1 million; derivative financial instruments of Ps.346.1 million; and dividends to minority interests of Ps.332.0 million; which effect was partially offset by cash provided by the issuance of 6.0% Senior Notes due 2018 of Ps.5,241.6 million.
Capital Expenditures, Acquisitions and Investments, Distributions and Other Sources of Liquidity.
During 2011, we expect to:
    make aggregate capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment totaling U.S.$850 million, of which U.S.$435 million and U.S.$270 million are for the expansion and improvements of our Cable and Telecom and Sky segments, respectively, and the remaining U.S.$145 million is for our Television Broadcasting segment and other segments;
 
    make additional capital contributions related to our 33.3% interest in Grupo de Telecomunicaciones de Alta Capacidad, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“GTAC”) in the amount of U.S.$13.4 million (Ps.159 million) and provide additional long-term financing to GTAC in the principal amount of U.S.$24.9 million (Ps.296.1 million) under a credit facility related to our interest in GTAC;

 

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    make an investment of U.S.$37.5 million in equity and U.S.$1,565 million in convertible debt of Iusacell. Upon conversion of the debt, our equity participation in Iusacell will be 50%; and
 
    in the first half of 2011, we agreed with the non-controlling stockholders of Cablemás the terms for us to acquire their 41.7% equity interest in Cablemás for an aggregate amount of U.S.$390.9 million (Ps.4,603.0 million), payable in cash and 24.8 million CPOs issued by us on April 29, 2011.
During 2010, we:
    made aggregate capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment totaling U.S.$1,011 million, of which U.S.$438.5 million, U.S.$436.6 million and U.S.$12.5 million are for the expansion and improvements of our Cable and Telecom and Sky segments and Gaming businesses, respectively, and U.S.$123.4 million for our Broadcasting Television segment and other businesses. The actual amount for 2010 includes an accrual of U.S.$111.0 million related to our investment in a new 24-transponder satellite that was launched in the first quarter of 2010, which was paid in cash in the first quarter of 2011;
 
    made short-term loans related to our 40.5% interest in La Sexta in the principal amount of 21.5 million (U.S.$29.2 million). In the first quarter of 2011, we made a capital contribution related to our interest in La Sexta with the principal amount of the short-term loans made by us in 2010, and our interest in La Sexta increased from 40.5% to 40.8%. Currently, we do not have commitments for additional capital contributions in La Sexta;
 
    made investments of U.S.$1,255.0 million in cash in Broadcasting Media Partners, Inc. (“BMP”), the parent company of Univision, in exchange for a 5% equity stake of the outstanding common stock of BMP and U.S.$1,125 million principal amount of debentures due 2025 bearing interest at an annual rate of 1.5%, that are initially convertible at our option into additional shares currently equivalent to a 30% equity stake of BMP, subject to certain conditions and regulations; and
 
    made a capital contribution related to our 33.3% interest in GTAC in the amount of U.S.$4.3 million (Ps.54.7 million). Additionally, in 2010, we provided long-term financing to GTAC in the principal amount of U.S.$29.0 million (Ps.372.1 million) under a credit facility related to our interest in GTAC.
During 2009, we:
    made aggregate capital expenditures totaling U.S.$499.3 million, of which U.S.$239 million, U.S.$128.8 million and U.S.$17.5 million correspond to our Cable and Telecom, Sky and Gaming businesses, respectively, and U.S.$114 million to our Television Broadcasting and other businesses;
 
    made investments related to our 40.5% interest in La Sexta for an aggregate amount of 35.7 million (U.S.$49 million); and
 
    made investments in Volaris, for an aggregate amount of U.S.$5 million, and in other companies in which we hold a non-controlling interest for an aggregate amount of U.S.$5.5 million.
Refinancings. In May 2004, we entered into a five-year credit agreement with a Mexican bank for an aggregate principal amount of Ps.1,162.5 million, which net proceeds were used by us to repay any outstanding amounts under the U.S.$100.0 million syndicated term loan. For a description of the terms of the Ps.1,162.5 million long-term credit agreement, see “— Indebtedness” below. In May 2009, the Company repaid this loan at its original maturity in the principal amount of Ps.1,162.5 million.
In October 2004, we entered into a seven and one-half-year credit agreement with a Mexican bank for an aggregate principal amount of Ps.2,000.0 million. Net proceeds of this loan were used principally to prefund a portion of our U.S.$200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% Senior Notes due in August 2005.
In March 2005, we issued U.S.$400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2025. We applied the net proceeds from this issuance, as well as cash on hand, to fund our tender offers for any or all or our U.S.$300.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of our 8.00% Senior Notes due 2011 and our Ps.3,839 million (equivalent to approximately U.S.$336.9 million) aggregate principal amount of 8.15% UDI-denominated Notes due 2007. For a description of our 6.625% Senior Notes due 2025, see “— Indebtedness” below.

 

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In May 2005, we reopened our 6.625% Senior Notes due 2025 for an additional U.S.$200.0 million for an aggregate principal amount of U.S.$600.0 million of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2025 outstanding.
In April 2006, Innova successfully completed a cash tender offer to purchase its U.S.$300.0 million 9.375% Senior Notes due 2013 tendering 96.25% of the notes. This tender offer was funded by entering into two bank loans due in 2016 denominated in Pesos for a notional amount of Ps.3,500.0 million at an average fixed interest rate for the first three years of 8.84%.
In May 2007, we issued Ps.4,500 million aggregate principal amount of 8.49% Senior Notes due 2037. We used the net proceeds from the issuance to replenish our cash position following the payment, with cash on hand, of Ps.992.9 million of our 8.15% UDI-denominated notes that matured in April 2007 and for the repurchase of our shares. We used the remaining net proceeds from this issuance for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of other outstanding indebtedness and the continued repurchase of our shares, subject to market conditions and other factors. See Note 8 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
In May 2008, we issued U.S.$500.0 million Senior Notes due 2018. We used the net proceeds from the issuance for general corporate purposes, including to repay outstanding indebtedness and repurchase our shares, among other uses, in each case, subject to market conditions and other factors.
In November 2009, we issued U.S.$600.0 million Senior Notes due 2040. We used the net proceeds from the issuance for general corporate purposes, including to repay outstanding indebtedness and repurchase our shares, among other uses, in each case, subject to market conditions and other factors.
In October 2010, we issued Ps.10,000 million Notes (Certificados Bursátiles) due 2020. We used the net proceeds to strengthen our financial position.
In March 2011, we entered into long-term credit agreements with four Mexican Banks for an aggregate principal amount of Ps.8,600 million, with maturities between 2016 and 2021. The proceeds of these loans will be used for general corporate purposes.
Indebtedness. As of December 31, 2010, our consolidated long-term portion of debt amounted to Ps.46,495.7 million, and our consolidated current portion of debt was Ps.1,469.1 million. As of December 31, 2009, our consolidated long-term portion of debt amounted to Ps.41,983.2 million, and our consolidated current portion of debt was Ps.1,433.0 million. As of December 31, 2008, our consolidated long-term portion of debt amounted to Ps.36,630.6 million, and our consolidated current portion of debt was Ps.2,270.4 million. The following table sets forth a description of our outstanding indebtedness as of December 31, 2010, on a historical, actual basis. Information in the following table is presented in millions of Pesos as of December 31, 2010:
                                 
    Debt Outstanding(1)  
    December 31,                      
    2010     Interest             Maturity  
Description of Debt   Actual     Rate(2)     Denomination     of Debt  
Long-term debt
                               
8% Senior Notes(2)
    889.1       8.0 %   U.S. Dollars     2011  
6% Senior Notes(2)
    6,178.8       6.0 %   U.S. Dollars     2018  
8.5% Senior Notes(2)
    3,707.3       8.5 %   U.S. Dollars     2032  
6.625% Senior Notes(2)
    7,414.6       6.625 %   U.S. Dollars     2025  
8.49% Senior Notes(2)
    4,500.0       8.49 %   Pesos     2037  
6.625% Senior Notes(2)
    7,414.6       6.625 %   U.S. Dollars     2040  
7.38% Notes(3)
    10,000.0       7.38 %   Pesos     2020  
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. loan(4)
    2,780.4       0.8375 %   U.S. Dollars     2012  
Inbursa, S.A. loan (5)
    1,000.0       10.35 %   Pesos     2012  
Santander Serfin loan (6)
    1,400.0       5.11 %   Pesos     2016  
Banamex loan (6)
    2,100.0       8.74 %   Pesos     2016  
Banco Mercantil del Norte loan (7)
    350.0       7.10 %   Pesos     2011  
Banamex loan (7)
    60.0       7.08 %   Pesos     2011  
Other debt (7)
    170.0       8.32 %   Pesos     2011  
 
                             
Total debt (including current maturities)
    47,964.8                   14.3 (8)
Less: current maturities
    1,469.1           Various   December 2011  
 
                             
Total long-term debt
    46,495.7                          
 
                             

 

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(1)   U.S. Dollar-denominated debt is translated into Pesos at an exchange rate of Ps.12.3576 per U.S. Dollar, the Interbank Rate, as reported by Banamex, as of December 31, 2010.
 
(2)   These Senior Notes due 2011, 2018, 2025, 2032, 2037 and 2040, in the outstanding principal amount of U.S.$72 million, U.S.$500 million, U.S.$600 million, U.S.$300 million, Ps.4,500 million and U.S.$600 million, respectively, are unsecured obligations of the Company, rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company, and are junior in right of payment to all of the existing and future liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries. Interest on the Senior Notes due 2011, 2018, 2025, 2032, 2037 and 2040, including additional amounts payable in respect of certain Mexican withholding taxes, is 8.41%, 6.31%, 6.97%, 8.94%, 8.93% and 6.97% per annum, respectively, and is payable semi-annually. These Senior Notes may not be redeemed prior to maturity, except (i) in the event of certain changes in law affecting the Mexican withholding tax treatment of certain payments on the securities, in which case the securities will be redeemable, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company; and (ii) in the event of a change of control, in which case the Company may be required to redeem the securities at 101% of their principal amount. Also, the Company may, at its own option, redeem the Senior Notes due 2018, 2025, 2037 and 2040, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of the principal amount of these Senior Notes or the present value of future cash flows, at the redemption date, of principal and interest amounts of the Senior Notes discounted at a fixed rate of comparable U.S. or Mexican sovereign bonds. The Senior Notes due 2011, 2018, 2032 and 2040 were priced at 98.793%, 99.280%, 99.431% and 98.319%, respectively, for a yield to maturity of 8.179%, 6.097%, 8.553% and 6.755%, respectively. The Senior Notes due 2025 were issued in two aggregate principal amounts of U.S.$400 million and U.S.$200 million, and were priced at 98.081% and 98.632%, respectively, for a yield to maturity of 6.802% and 6.787%, respectively. The agreement of these Senior Notes contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and certain restricted subsidiaries engaged in Television Broadcasting, Pay Television Networks and Programming Exports, to incur or assume liens, perform sale and leaseback transactions, and consummate certain mergers, consolidations and similar transactions. The Senior Notes due 2011, 2018, 2025, 2032, 2037 and 2040 are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
(3)   In October 2010, the Company issued 7.38% Notes (Certificados Bursátiles) due 2020 through the Mexican Stock Exchange in the aggregate principal amount of Ps.10,000 million. Interest on these Notes is payable semi-annually. The Company may, at its own option, redeem these Notes, in whole or in part, at any semi-annual interest payment date at a redemption price equal to the greater of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes and the present value of future cash flows, at the redemption date, of principal and interest amounts of the Notes discounted at a fixed rate of comparable Mexican sovereign bonds. The agreement of these Notes contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and certain restricted subsidiaries appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors, and engaged in Television Broadcasting, Pay Television Networks and Programming Exports, to incur or assume liens, perform sale and leaseback transactions, and consummate certain mergers, consolidations and similar transactions.
 
(4)   In December 2007, Empresas Cablevisión entered into a 5-year term loan facility with a U.S. bank in the aggregate principal amount of U.S.$225 million, in connection with the financing for the acquisition of Letseb and Bestel USA (See Note 2 to our consolidated year-end financial statements). Annual interest on this loan facility is payable on a quarterly basis at LIBOR plus an applicable margin that may range from 0.475% to 0.725% depending on a leverage ratio. At December 31, 2010, the applicable leverage ratio was 0.525%. Under the terms of this loan facility, Empresas Cablevisión and its subsidiaries are required to (a) maintain certain financial coverage ratios related to indebtedness and interest expense, and (b) comply with certain restrictive covenants, primarily on debt, liens, investments and acquisitions, capital expenditures, asset sales, consolidations, mergers and similar transactions. In March 2011, Empresas Cablevisión prepaid this loan facility in full.
 
(5)   Includes a loan under a certain credit agreement entered into by the Company with a Mexican bank, with maturities through 2012. Interest on this loan is 10.350% per annum, and is payable on a monthly basis. Under the terms of this credit agreement, the Company and certain restricted subsidiaries engaged in television broadcasting, pay television networks and programming exports are required to (a) maintain certain financial coverage ratios related to indebtedness and interest expense; and (b) comply with certain restrictive covenants on indebtedness, dividend payments, issuance and sale of capital stock, and liens.

 

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(6)   Includes two long-term loans entered into by Sky with Mexican banks in the aggregate principal amount of Ps.3,500 million with a maturity in 2016. This Sky long-term indebtedness is guaranteed by the Company. Annual interest on these two long-term loans was in the range of 8.74% and 8.98% through the first quarter of 2009, and the Mexican Interbank Interest Rate, or TIIE, plus 24 basis points for the remaining period through maturity, with interest payable on a monthly basis. Under the terms of these loan agreements, Sky is required to (a) maintain certain financial coverage ratios related to indebtedness and interest expense; and (b) comply with certain restrictive covenants on indebtedness, liens, asset sales, and certain mergers and consolidations.
 
(7)   Includes current-term loans of TVI, bearing different annual interest rates in the range of 7.10% and 8.35% and in the range TIIE plus 2.20% and TIIE plus 3.50%, with interest payable on a monthly basis.
 
(8)   Actual weighted average maturity of long-term debt as of December 31, 2010.
In March 2011, the Company entered into long-term credit agreements with four Mexican banks in the aggregate principal amount of Ps.8,600 million, with an annual interest rate between 8.09% and 9.40%, payable on a monthly basis, and principal maturities between 2016 and 2021. The proceeds of these loans will be used for general corporate purposes. Under the terms of these loan agreements, the Company is required to (a) maintain certain financial coverage ratios related to indebtedness and interest expense; and (b) comply with the restrictive covenant on spin-offs, mergers and similar transactions.
Interest Expense. Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 was Ps.2,816.4 million, Ps.3,136.4 million and Ps.3,615.3 million, respectively.
The following table sets forth our interest expense for the years indicated (in millions of U.S. Dollars and millions of Mexican Pesos):
                         
    Year Ended December 31,(1)(2)  
    2008     2009     2010  
Interest payable in U.S. Dollars
  U.S.$ 124.4     U.S.$ 125.8     U.S.$ 165.5  
Amounts currently payable under Mexican withholding taxes(3)
    4.6       5.5       8.6  
 
                 
Total interest payable in U.S. Dollars
  U.S.$ 129.0     U.S.$ 131.3     U.S.$ 174.1  
 
                 
Peso equivalent of interest payable in U.S. Dollars
  Ps. 1,432.7     Ps. 1,788.7     Ps. 2,210.9  
Interest payable in Pesos
    1,383.7       1,347.7       1,404.4  
 
                 
Total interest expense
  Ps. 2,816.4     Ps. 3,136.4     Ps. 3,615.3  
 
                 
     
(1)   U.S. Dollars are translated into Pesos at the rate prevailing when interest was recognized as an expense for each period. Beginning on January 1, 2008, we discontinued recognizing the effects of inflation in financial information in accordance with Mexican FRS.
 
(2)   Interest expense in these periods includes amounts effectively payable in U.S. Dollars as a result of U.S. Dollar-Peso swaps. Interest expense in these periods also includes gains or losses from related derivative instruments.
 
(3)   See “Additional Information — Taxation — Federal Mexican Taxation”.
Guarantees. We guarantee our proportionate share of our DTH ventures’ minimum commitments for use on PanAmSat (now Intelsat Corporation) IS-9 satellite’s transponders for periods of up to 15 years. The amount of these guaranteed commitments is estimated to be an aggregate of U.S.$56.9 million as of December 31, 2010, related to Innova.
In February 2006, in connection with the transactions with DIRECTV, we entered into an amended and restated guarantee with PanAmSat, pursuant to which the proportionate share of Innova’s transponder lease obligation on satellite IS-9 (formerly PAS-9) guaranteed by us was adjusted from 51.0% to 52.8%. In April 2006, we acquired additional equity interests in Innova from DIRECTV (as described below), and the guarantee was readjusted from 52.8% to 58.7% to cover a percentage of the transponder lease obligations equal to our percentage ownership of Innova at that time. See “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions”, “Information on the Company — Business Overview — DTH Ventures” and Note 11 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.

 

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Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
Our contractual obligations and commercial commitments consist primarily of long-term debt, as described above, satellite transponder obligations and transmission rights obligations.
Contractual Obligations on the Balance Sheet
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 (these amounts do not include future interest payments):
                                         
    Payments Due by Period  
            Less Than                    
            12 Months     12-36 Months     36-60 Months     After  
            January 1,     January 1,     January 1,     60 Months  
            2011 to     2012 to     2014 to     Subsequent to  
            December 31,     December 31,     December 31,     December 31,  
    Total     2011     2013     2015     2015  
    (Thousands of U.S. Dollars)  
8% Senior Notes due 2011
  U.S.$ 71,951     U.S.$ 71,951     U.S.$     U.S.$     U.S.$  
6.0% Senior Notes due 2018
    500,000                               500,000  
6.625% Senior Notes due 2025
    600,000                               600,000  
8.5% Senior Notes due 2032
    300,000                               300,000  
8.49% Senior Notes due 2037
    364,148                               364,148  
6.625% Senior Notes due 2040
    600,000                               600,000  
7.38% Notes due 2020
    809,220                               809,220  
Inbursa loan due 2012
    80,922               80,922                  
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. loan facility due 2012(1)
    225,000       225,000                          
Santander Serfin loan due 2016
    113,290                               113,290  
Banamex loan due 2016
    169,936                               169,936  
Banco Mercantil del Norte loan due 2011
    28,323       28,323                          
Banamex loan due 2011
    4,855       4,855                          
Acacia Fund loan due 2011
    12,138       12,138                          
Other debt
    1,618       1,618                          
 
                             
Long-term debt
    3,881,401       343,885       80,922               3,456,594  
Accrued Interest
    60,752       60,752                          
Satellite transponder obligation
    33,576       17,439       16,137                  
Other capital lease obligations
    17,389       5,230       6,981       2,633       2,545  
Transmission rights(2)
    329,844       117,282       135,689       63,844       13,029  
 
                             
Total contractual obligations
  U.S.$ 4,322,962     U.S.$ 544,588     U.S.$ 239,729     U.S.$ 66,477     U.S.$ 3,472,168  
 
                             
     
(1)   This loan was prepaid in March 2011.
 
(2)   This liability reflects our transmission rights obligations related to programming acquired or licensed from third party producers and suppliers, and special events, which are reflected for in our consolidated balance sheet within trade accounts payable (current liabilities) and other long-term liabilities.

 

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Contractual Obligations off the Balance Sheet
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations off the balance sheet as of December 31, 2010:
                                         
    Payments Due by Period  
            Less Than                    
            12 Months     12-36 Months     36-60 Months     After 60  
            January 1,     January 1,     January 1,     Months  
            2011 to     2012 to     2014 to     Subsequent to  
            December 31,     December 31,     December 31,     December 31,  
    Total     2011     2013     2015     2015  
    (Thousands of U.S. Dollars)  
Satellite transponder commitments(1)
  U.S.$ 24,826     U.S.$ 9,373     U.S.$ 9,227     U.S.$ 5,520     U.S.$ 706  
Agreements with Intelsat Corporation(2)
    548,400       1,800       51,600       75,000       420,000  
Capital expenditures commitments
    11,411       11,411                    
Lease commitments(3)
    190,910       30,070       45,327       30,841       84,672  
Interest on debt(4)
    3,943,979       198,973       495,185       492,556       2,757,265  
Interest on capital lease obligations
    7,721       3,850       2,109       469       1,293  
Programming obligations
    145,312       39,911       54,813       48,692       1,896  
Committed capital contributions to GTAC(5)
    12,867       12,867                    
 
                             
Total contractual obligations
  U.S.$ 4,885,426     U.S.$ 308,255     U.S.$ 658,261     U.S.$ 653,078     U.S.$ 3,265,832  
 
                             
     
(1)   Our minimum commitments for the use of satellite transponders under operating lease contracts.
 
(2)   The 15-year service agreement for transponders on IS-16 contemplates a monthly service fee of U.S.$150,000 to be paid by Sky through September 2015. The 15-year service agreement for transponders on IS-21 contemplates a monthly service fee of U.S.$3.0 million to be paid by Sky from September of 2012 through August of 2027. See Note 11 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(3)   Our minimum non-cancellable lease commitments for facilities under operating lease contracts, which are primarily related to our gaming business, under operating leases expiring through 2047. See Note 11 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(4)   Interest to be paid in future years on outstanding debt as of December 31, 2010, was estimated based on contractual interest rates and exchange rates as of that date.
 
(5)   We have commitments of capital contributions in 2011, subject to certain conditions, related to our 33.3% equity interest in GTAC in the aggregate amount of Ps.159.0 million (U.S.$12.9 million). See Note 11 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.

 

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Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Board of Directors
The following table sets forth the names of our current directors and their alternates, their dates of birth, their principal occupation, their business experience, including other directorships, and their years of service as directors or alternate directors. Each of the following directors and alternate directors were elected or ratified for a one-year term by our stockholders at our April 29, 2011 annual stockholders’ meeting.
             
Name and Date of Birth   Principal Occupation   Business Experience   First Elected
Emilio Fernando Azcárraga Jean
(02/21/68)
  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Member of the Boards of Banco Nacional de México and Univision   December 1990
 
           
In alphabetical order:
           
Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega
(01/17/62)
  Executive Vice President, Member of the Executive Office of the Chairman and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Member of the Boards of Grupo Modelo and Univision   April 1997
 
           
Pedro Carlos Aspe Armella
(07/07/50)
  Co-Chairman of Evercore   Member of the Board of The McGraw-Hill Companies and Chairman of the Board of Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación   April 2003
 
           
Alberto Bailléres González
(08/22/31)
  Chairman of the Boards of Grupo Bal, Industrias Peñoles, Fresnillo PLC, Grupo Palacio de Hierro, Grupo Nacional Provincial and Grupo Profuturo, Director of Valores Mexicanos Casa de Bolsa, Chairman of the Government Board of Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de México and Associate Founder Fundación Alberto Bailleres   Director of Grupo Dine, Grupo Kuo, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer and Fomento Económico Mexicano   April 2004
 
           
Julio Barba Hurtado
(05/20/33)
  Legal Advisor to the Company, Secretary of the Audit & Corporate Practices Committee and Member of the Executive Committee of the Company   Former Legal Advisor to the Board of the Company and Former Assistant Secretary of the Board of the Company   December 1990
 
           
José Antonio Bastón Patiño
(04/13/68)
  President of Television and Contents and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Former Corporate Vice President of Television and Vice President of Operations of Grupo Televisa   April 1998

 

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Name and Date of Birth   Principal Occupation   Business Experience   First Elected
Francisco José Chévez Robelo
(07/03/29)
  Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of Grupo Televisa, Member of the Board of Diretors and Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of Empresas Cablevisión   Retired Partner of Chévez, Ruíz, Zamarripa y Cía., S.C. and Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of Empresas Cablevisión   April 2003
 
           
Manuel Jorge Cutillas Covani
(03/01/32)
  Private Investor   Member of the Board of Directors of Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc.   April 1992
 
           
José Antonio Fernández Carbajal
(02/15/54)
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Fomento Económico Mexicano and Chairman of the Board of Coca-Cola FEMSA   Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of ITESM, Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Chairman of Americas Committee of Heineken N.V., Vice Chairman of the Board of Heineken Holding, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Woodrow Wilson Center, México Institute Co. and Member of the Board of Directors of Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, Industrias Peñoles, Grupo Industrial Bimbo, Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, Grupo Xignux, CEMEX and Heineken Holding N.V.   April 2007
 
           
Carlos Fernández González
(09/29/66)
  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Grupo Modelo, Member of the Board and Partner of Finaccess México, Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Tendora San Carlos   Member of the Boards of Emerson Electric Co, Grupo Financiero Santander and Crown Imports, LLC   July 2000
 
           
Bernardo Gómez Martínez
(07/24/67)
  Executive Vice President, Member of the Executive Office of the Chairman and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Former Deputy Director of the Chairman of Grupo Televisa and former President of the Mexican Chamber of Television and Radio Broadcasters   April 1999
 
           
Claudio X. González Laporte (05/22/34)
  Chairman of the Board of Kimberly-Clark de México and Chairman of the Strategic Commitee of the Mexican Business Council   Member of the Boards of Grupo Alfa, Grupo Carso, Grupo México, Grupo Financiero Inbursa and Mexico Fund, Director Emeritus of General Electric, Investment Company of America and Mexico Fund   April 1997
 
           
Roberto Hernández Ramírez
(03/24/42)
  Chairman of the Board of Banco Nacional de México   Member of the Board of Grupo Financiero Banamex   April 1992

 

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Name and Date of Birth   Principal Occupation   Business Experience   First Elected
Enrique Krauze Kleinbort
(09/17/47)
  Director and Member of the Boards of Editorial Clío Libros, y Videos and of Editorial Vuelta   Member and Chairman of the Boards of Quadrant and President of the Board of Directors of Productora Contadero   April 1996
 
           
Germán Larrea Mota Velasco
(10/26/53)
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Grupo México   Member of the Board of Financiero Banamex   April 1999
 
           
Michael Larson (10/07/59)
  Chief Investment Officer of William H. Gates III   Chairman of Western Asset Claymore Inflation Linked Securities & Income Fund and Western Asset/Claymore Inflation Linked Opportunities Fund and Director of Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC, former Member of the Board of Pan American Silver Corp.   April 2009
 
           
Lorenzo Alejandro Mendoza
Giménez (10/05/65)
  Chief Executive Officer, Member of the Board and President of the Executive Committee of Empresas Polar   Former Member of the Boards of AES La Electricidad de Caracas, CANTV-Verizon and BBVA Banco Provincial   April 2009
 
           
Alejandro Jesús Quintero
Iñiguez (02/11/50)
  Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Shareholder of Grupo TV Promo, S.A. de C.V.   April 1998
 
           
Fernando Senderos Mestre
(03/03/50)
  Chairman of the Board and President of the Executive Committee of Desc, Dine and Grupo Kuo   Member of the Boards of Grupo Carso, Kimberly-Clark de México, Industrias Peñoles and Grupo Nacional Provincial, former Member of the Board of Grupo Alfa   April 1992
 
           
Enrique Francisco José Senior
Hernández (08/03/43)
  Managing Director of Allen & Company, LLC   Member of the Boards of Univision, Coca-Cola FEMSA, Cinemark and FEMSA   April 2001
 
           
Alternate Directors:
           
 
           
In alphabetical order:
           
Herbert A. Allen III (06/08/67)
  President of Allen & Company LLC   Former Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Allen & Company Incorporated, Member of the Board of Convera Corporation   April 2002
 
           
Félix José Araujo Ramírez
(03/20/51)
  Vice President of Digital Television and Broadcasting   Former Vice President of Televisa Regional and Chief Executive Officer of Telesistema Mexicano, President of the Board of Directors of Televisora de Navojoa and Televisora Peninsular, Member of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of several subsidiaries of Grupo Televisa   April 2002

 

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Name and Date of Birth   Principal Occupation   Business Experience   First Elected
Joaquín Balcárcel Santa Cruz
(01/04/69)
  Vice President — Legal and General Counsel of Grupo Televisa   Former Vice President and General Counsel of Television Division, former Legal Director of Grupo Televisa   April 2000
 
           
Rafael Carabias Príncipe
(11/13/44)
  Finance Director of Gestora de Inversiones Audiovisuales La Sexta   Former Vice President of Corporate Management of Televisa Corporación and former Vice President of Supervision of Foreign Subsidiaries of Grupo Televisa   April 1999
 
           
José Luis Fernández Fernández
(05/18/59)
  Managing Partner of Chévez, Ruíz, Zamarripa y Cia., S.C.; Member of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of Grupo Televisa   Commisioner of Sport City Universidad, Club de Golf Los Encinos and Member of the Board of Directors of Grupo Pochteca Mexichem, Banco Bx+ and Grupo Financiero Bx+   April 2002
 
           
Salvi Rafael Folch Viadero
(08/16/67)
  Chief Financial Officer of Grupo Televisa   Former Vice President of Financial Planning of Grupo Televisa, former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Comercio Más, S.A. de C.V. and former Vice Chairman of Banking Supervision of the National Banking and Securities Commission   April 2002
 
           
Leopoldo Gómez González
Blanco (04/06/59)
  News Vice President of Grupo Televisa   Former Director of Information to the President of Grupo Televisa   April 2003
 
           
Jorge Agustín Lutteroth
Echegoyen (01/24/53)
  Vice President and Corporate Controller of Grupo Televisa   Former Senior Partner of Coopers & Lybrand Despacho Roberto Casas Alatriste, S.C. and former Controller of Televisa Corporación   July 1998
 
           
Alberto Javier Montiel
Castellanos (11/22/45)
  Member of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committees of Grupo Televisa and Empresas Cablevisión   Former Tax Vice President of Grupo Televisa, former Tax Director of Wal-Mart de México and Member of the Board of Directors of Operadora Dos Mil and Dosfiscal Editores, Member of the Editorial Commitee of Dosfiscal Editores, S.A. de C.V. and Director of Montiel Font y Associados, S.C.   April 2002
 
           
Raúl Morales Medrano
(05/12/70)
  Partner of Chévez, Ruiz, Zamarripa y Cia., S.C.   Former Senior Manager of Chévez, Ruiz, Zamarripa y Cia., S.C. and Member of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee of Empresas Cablevisión   April 2002

 

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Our Board of Directors
General. The management of our business is vested in our Board of Directors. Our bylaws currently provide for a Board of Directors of 20 members, at least 25% of which must be “independent directors” under Mexican law (as described below), with the same number of alternate directors. The Mexican Securities Market Law provides that the following persons, among others, do not qualify as independent:
    our principals, employees or managers, as well as the statutory auditors, or comisarios, of our subsidiaries, including those individuals who have occupied any of the described positions within a period of 12 months preceding the appointment;
 
    individuals who have significant influence over our decision making processes;
 
    controlling stockholders, in our case, the beneficiary of the Azcárraga Trust;
 
    partners or employees of any company which provides advisory services to us or any company that is part of the same economic group as we are and that receives 10% or more of its income from us;
 
    significant clients, suppliers, debtors or creditors, or members of the Board or executive officers of any such entities; or
 
    spouses, family relatives up to the fourth degree, or cohabitants of any of the aforementioned individuals.
Our bylaws prohibit the appointment of individuals to our Board of Directors who: (i) are members of the board of directors or other management boards of a company (other than the Company or its subsidiaries) that has one or more concessions to operate telecommunication networks in Mexico; or (ii) directly or indirectly, are shareholders or partners of companies (other than the Company or its subsidiaries), that have one or more concessions to operate telecommunication networks in Mexico, with the exception of ownership stakes that do not allow such individuals to appoint one or more members of the management board or any other operation or decision making board.
Election of Directors. A majority of the members of our Board of Directors must be Mexican nationals and must be elected by Mexican stockholders. At our annual stockholders’ meeting on April 29, 2011 and at our annual meetings thereafter, a majority of the holders of the A Shares voting together elected, or will have the right to elect, eleven of our directors and corresponding alternates and a majority of the holders of the B Shares voting together elected, or will have the right to elect, five of our directors and corresponding alternates. At our special stockholders’ meetings, a majority of the holders of the L Shares and D Shares will each continue to have the right to elect two of our directors and alternate directors, each of which must be an independent director. Ten percent holders of A Shares, B Shares, L Shares or D Shares will be entitled to nominate, a director and corresponding alternates. Each alternate director may vote in the absence of a corresponding director. Directors and alternate directors are elected for one-year terms by our stockholders at each annual stockholders’ meeting, and each serves for up to a 30-day term once the one-year appointment has expired or upon resignation; in this case, the Board of Directors is entitled to appoint provisional directors without the approval of the stockholders meeting. All of the current and alternate members of the Board of Directors were elected by our stockholders at our 2011 annual stockholders’ special and general meetings, which were held on April 29, 2011.
Quorum; Voting. In order to have a quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors, generally at least 50% of the directors or their corresponding alternates must be present. However, in the case of a meeting of the Board of Directors to consider certain proposed acquisitions of our capital stock, at least 75% of the directors or their corresponding alternates must be present. In the event of a deadlock of our Board, our Chairman will have the deciding vote.
Meetings; Actions Requiring Board Approval. Our bylaws provide that our Board must meet at least once a quarter, and that our Chairman, 25% of the Board, our Secretary or alternate Secretary or the Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee may call for a Board meeting.
Pursuant to the Mexican Securities Market Law and our bylaws, our Board of Directors must approve, among other matters:
    our general strategy;
 
    with input from the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, on an individual basis: (i) any transactions with related parties, subject to certain limited exceptions; (ii) the appointment of our Chief Executive Officer, his compensation and removal for justified causes; (iii) our financial statements; (iv) unusual or non-recurrent transactions and any transactions or series of related transactions during any calendar year that involve (a) the acquisition or sale of assets with a value equal to or exceeding 5% of our consolidated assets, or (b) the giving of collateral or guarantees or the assumption of liabilities, equal to or exceeding 5% of our consolidated assets; (v) agreements with our external auditors; and (vi) accounting policies within Mexican FRS;
 
    creation of special committees and granting them the power and authority, provided that the committees will not have the authority, which by law or under our bylaws is expressly reserved for the stockholders or the Board;

 

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    matters related to antitakeover provisions provided for in our bylaws; and
 
    the exercise of our general powers in order to comply with our corporate purpose.
Duty of Care and Duty of Loyalty. The Mexican Securities Market Law imposes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty on directors. The duty of care requires our directors to act in good faith and in the best interests of the company. In carrying out this duty, our directors are required to obtain the necessary information from the Chief Executive Officer, the executive officers, the external auditors or any other person to act in the best interests of the company. Our directors are liable for damages and losses caused to us and our subsidiaries as a result of violating their duty of care.
The duty of loyalty requires our directors to preserve the confidentiality of information received in connection with the performance of their duties and to abstain from discussing or voting on matters in which they have a conflict of interest. In addition, the duty of loyalty is breached if a stockholder or group of stockholders is knowingly favored or if, without the express approval of the Board of Directors, a director takes advantage of a corporate opportunity. The duty of loyalty is also breached, among other things, by (i) failing to disclose to the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee or the external auditors any irregularities that the director encounters in the performance of his or her duties; or (ii) disclosing information that is false or misleading or omitting to record any transaction in our records that could affect our financial statements. Directors are liable for damages and losses caused to us and our subsidiaries for violations of this duty of loyalty. This liability also extends to damages and losses caused as a result of benefits obtained by the director or directors or third parties, as a result of actions of such directors.
Our directors may be subject to criminal penalties of up to 12 years’ imprisonment for certain illegal acts involving willful misconduct that result in losses to us. Such acts include the alteration of financial statements and records.
Liability actions for damages and losses resulting from the violation of the duty of care or the duty of loyalty may be exercised solely for our benefit and may be brought by us, or by stockholders representing 5% or more of our capital stock, and criminal actions only may be brought by the Mexican Ministry of Finance, after consulting with the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission. As a safe harbor for directors, the liabilities specified above (including criminal liability) will not be applicable if the director acting in good faith (i) complied with applicable law, (ii) made the decision based upon information provided by our executive officers or third-party experts, the capacity and credibility of which could not be subject to reasonable doubt, (iii) selected the most adequate alternative in good faith or if the negative effects of such decision could not have been foreseeable, and (iv) complied with stockholders’ resolutions provided the resolutions do not violate applicable law.
The members of the board are liable to our stockholders only for the loss of net worth suffered as a consequence of disloyal acts carried out in excess of their authority or in violation of our bylaws.
In accordance with the Mexican Securities Market Law, supervision of our management is entrusted to our Board of Directors, which shall act through an Audit and Corporate Practices Committee for such purposes, and to our external auditor. The Audit and Corporate Practices Committee (together with the Board of Directors) replaces the statutory auditor (comisario) that previously had been required by the Mexican Companies Law.
Audit and Corporate Practices Committee. The Audit and Corporate Practices Committee is currently composed of three independent members: Francisco José Chévez Robelo, the Chairman, Alberto Montiel Castellanos and José Luís Fernández Fernández. The Chairman of this Committee was elected at our ordinary stockholders’ meetings held in April 2009 and 2010, and in our latest annual stockholders’ meeting held on April 29, 2011. The other members were elected at our Board of Directors meetings held on October 27, 2006 and April 30, 2009. The Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee is appointed at our stockholders’ meeting, and our Board of Directors appoints the remaining members.
The Audit and Corporate Practices Committee is responsible for, among other things: (i) supervising our external auditors and analyzing their reports, (ii) analyzing and supervising the preparation of our financial statements, (iii) informing the Board of Directors of our internal controls and their adequacy, (iv) requesting reports of our Board of Directors and executive officers whenever it deems appropriate, (v) informing the Board of any irregularities that it may encounter, (vi) receiving and analyzing recommendations and observations made by the stockholders, directors, executive officers, our external auditors or any third party and taking the necessary actions, (vii) calling stockholders’ meetings, (viii) supervising the activities of our Chief Executive Officer, (ix) providing an annual report to the Board of Directors, (x) providing opinions to our Board of Directors, (xi) requesting and obtaining opinions from independent third parties and (xii) assisting the Board in the preparation of annual reports and other reporting obligations.

 

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The Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, shall prepare an annual report to our Board of Directors with respect to the findings of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, which shall include, among other things (i) the status of the internal controls and internal audits and any deviations and deficiencies thereof, taking into consideration the reports of external auditors and independent experts, (ii) the results of any preventive and corrective measures taken based on results of investigations in respect of non-compliance of operating and accounting policies, (iii) the evaluation of external auditors, (iv) the main results from the review of our financial statements and those of our subsidiaries, (v) the description and effects of changes to accounting policies, (vi) the measures adopted as result of observations of stockholders, directors, executive officers and third parties relating to accounting, internal controls, and internal or external audits, (vii) compliance with stockholders’ and directors’ resolutions, (viii) observations with respect to relevant directors and officers, (ix) the transactions entered into with related parties and (x) the remunerations paid to directors and officers.
Committees of Our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has an Executive Committee. Each member is appointed for a one-year term at each annual general stockholders’ meeting. Our bylaws provide that the Executive Committee may generally exercise the powers of the Board of Directors, except those expressly reserved for the Board in our bylaws or by applicable law. The Executive Committee currently consists of Emilio Azcárraga Jean, Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega, Bernardo Gómez Martínez, José Antonio Bastón Patiño, Julio Barba Hurtado and Alejandro Quintero Iñiguez.
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth the names of our executive officers, their dates of birth, their current position, their prior business experience and the years in which they were appointed to their current positions:
             
Name and Date of Birth   Principal Position   Business Experience   First Appointed
Emilio Fernando Azcárraga Jean
(02/21/68)
  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Member of the Boards of Banco Nacional de México and Univision   March 1997
 
           
In alphabetical order:
           
Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega
(01/17/62)
  Executive Vice President, Member of the Executive Office of the Chairman and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Member of the Boards of Grupo Modelo and Univision   January 2004
 
           
Félix José Araujo Ramírez
(03/20/51)
  Vice President of Digital Television and Broadcasting   Former Vice President of Televisa Regional and Chief Executive Officer of Telesistema Mexicano, President of the Board of Directors of Televisora de Navojoa and Televisora Peninsular, Member of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of several subsidiaries of Grupo Televisa   January 1993
 
           
Maximiliano Arteaga Carlebach
(12/06/42)
  Vice President of Technical Operations & Television Production Services of Grupo Televisa   Former Vice President of Operations of Televisa Chapultepec, former Vice President of Administration of Televisa San Ángel and Chapultepec and former Vice President of Administration and Finance of Univisa, Inc.   March 2002
 
           
José Antonio Bastón Patiño
(04/13/68)
  President of Television and Contents and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Former Corporate Vice President of Television and Vice President of Operations   November 2008
April 1999

 

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Name and Date of Birth   Principal Position   Business Experience   First Appointed
Jean Paul Broc Haro (08/08/62)
  Chief Executive Officer of Cablevisión, and General Manager of Grupo Mexicano de Cable, Integravisión de Occidente, Milar, Servicios Cablevisión, Telestar del Pacifico and Tecnicable   Former Chief Executive Officer of Pay Television Networks of Grupo Televisa, former Technical and Operations Director of Pay Television Networks of Grupo Televisa, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of several Grupo Televisa subsidiaries.   February 2003
 
           
Salvi Rafael Folch Viadero
(08/16/67)
  Chief Financial Officer of Grupo Televisa   Former Vice President of Financial Planning of Grupo Televisa, former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Comercio Más, S.A. de C.V. and former Vice Chairman of Banking Supervision of the National Banking and Securities Commission   January 2004
 
           
Bernardo Gómez Martínez
(07/24/67)
  Executive Vice President, Member of the Executive Office of the Chairman and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Former Deputy Director of the Chairman of Grupo Televisa and former President of the Mexican Chamber of Television and Radio Broadcasters   January 2004
 
           
Alexandre Moreira Penna
(12/25/54)
  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Managers of Corporación Novavisión and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of several subsidiaries of Grupo Televisa   Former Vice President of Corporate Finance of Grupo Televisa, former Managing Director of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.   February 2004
 
           
Jorge Eduardo Murguía Orozco
(01/25/50)
  Vice President of Production of Grupo Televisa   Former Administrative Vice President and former Director of Human Resources of Grupo Televisa   March 1992
 
           
Alejandro Jesús Quintero
Iñiguez (02/11/50)
  Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Member of the Executive Committee of Grupo Televisa   Shareholder of Grupo TV Promo, S.A. de C.V.   April 1998
Compensation of Directors and Officers
For the year ended December 31, 2010, we paid our directors, alternate directors and executive officers for services in all capacities aggregate compensation of approximately Ps.909.3 million (U.S.$73.6 million using the Interbank Rate, as reported by Banamex, as of December 31, 2010). This aggregate compensation included the payment of an extraordinary bonus, approved by our Board of Directors, to certain executive officers in connection with the Univision/BMP transactions. This compensation also included certain amounts related to the use of assets and services of the Company, as well as travel expenses reimbursed to directors and officers. See “— Use of Certain Assets and Services” below.
We made Ps.96.4 million in contributions to our pension and seniority premium plans on behalf of our directors, alternate directors and executive officers in 2010. Projected benefit obligations as of December 31, 2010 were approximately Ps.117.3 million.
In addition, we have granted our executive officers and directors rights to purchase CPOs under the Stock Purchase Plan and the Long-Term Retention Plan. See “— Stock Purchase Plan” and “— Long-Term Retention Plan” below.

 

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Use of Certain Assets and Services
We maintain an overall security program for Mr. Azcárraga, other top executives, their families, in some cases, and for other specific employees and service providers, as permitted under our “Política de Seguridad” policy, due to business-related security concerns. We refer to the individuals described above as Key Personnel. Our security program includes the use of our personnel, assets and services to accomplish security objectives.
According to this program, we require, under certain circumstances, that certain authorized Key Personnel use aircrafts, either owned or leased by us, for non-business, as well as business travel for our benefit rather than as a personal benefit. The use of such aircrafts is carried out in accordance with, among others, our “Política de Seguridad” policy, which establishes guidelines under which authorized Key Personnel may use such aircrafts for personal purposes. If the use of such aircrafts for personal purposes exceeds the specified number of hours, the relevant Key Personnel must reimburse us for the cost of operating the aircrafts during the excess time of use. The aggregate amount of compensation set forth in “— Compensation of Directors and Officers” does include the cost to us of providing this service.
In addition, certain Key Personnel is provided with security systems and equipment for their residences and/or automobiles and with security advice and personal protection services at their residences. The use of these security services is provided in accordance with our “Política de Seguridad” policy. The cost of these systems and services are incurred as a result of business-related concerns and are not considered for their personal benefit. As a result, the Company has not included such cost in “— Compensation of Directors and Officers”.
Stock Purchase Plan
Pursuant to the terms of our stock purchase plan, as amended, we may grant eligible participants, who consist of key executives and other personnel, rights to purchase CPOs and/or CPO equivalents or we may conditionally sell CPOs and/or CPO equivalents to these participants. See “— Long-Term Retention Plan”. Pursuant to the stock purchase plan, the exercise or sale prices of the CPOs and/or CPO equivalents range from Ps.11.21 to Ps.26.16. We have implemented the stock purchase plan by means of a special purpose trust. The CPOs, CPO equivalents and underlying shares that are part of the stock purchase plan will be held by the special purpose trust and will be voted with the majority of the CPOs, CPO equivalents and underlying shares represented at the relevant meeting until these securities are transferred to plan participants or otherwise sold in the open market. In accordance with the stock purchase plan, our President and the technical committee of the special purpose trust have broad discretion to make decisions related to the stock purchase plan, including the ability to accelerate vesting terms, to release or transfer CPOs and/or CPO equivalents, subject to conditional sale agreements, to plan participants in connection with sales for purposes of making the payment of the related purchase price, and to implement amendments to the stock purchase plan, among others.
The stock purchase plan has been implemented in several stages since 1999, through a series of conditional sales to plan participants of CPOs. The conditional sale agreements entered into by plan participants since the implementation of the stock purchase plan through the fourth quarter of 2001 were terminated for several reasons, including the failure of plan participants to pay the purchase price and the fact that the average closing price per CPO on the Mexican Stock Exchange fell below certain thresholds for a 15 trading day period.
Pursuant to the related conditional sale agreements, rights to approximately 0.7 million CPOs vested in March 2007, 7.1 million vested in July 2007, 0.1 million vested in February 2008, 0.7 million vested in March 2008, 1.3 million vested in July 2008 and 0.04 million vested in January 2009. No CPOs vested in 2010. Unless the technical committee of the special purpose trust or our President determines otherwise, these CPOs will be held in the special purpose trust until they are transferred to plan participants or otherwise sold in the open market, subject to the conditions set forth in the related conditional sale agreements. As of May 2009, CPOs and shares not assigned to plan participants were transferred to the Long-Term Retention Plan special purpose trust. See Notes 12 and 23 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
In December 2002 and July 2005, we registered for sale CPOs by the special purpose trust to plan participants pursuant to registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act. The registration of these CPOs permits plan participants who are not affiliates and/or the special purpose trust on behalf of these plan participants to sell their CPOs that have vested through ordinary brokerage transactions without any volume or other limitations or restrictions. Those plan participants who are affiliates may only sell their vested CPOs either pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or in reliance on an exemption from registration. All or a portion of the net proceeds from any such sales would be used to satisfy the purchase price obligations of these plan participants pursuant to their conditional sale agreements. As of December 31, 2010, approximately 86.9 million stock purchase plan CPOs transferred to employee plan participants, have been sold in open market transactions. Additional sales took place on March 13, 2011, the date when the rights to purchase a total of 87.4 million CPOs transferred expired. During the first quarter of 2011, the rights to approximately 2.7 million CPOs vested.

 

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As of October 2010, our stock purchase plan and our Long-Term Retention Plan were consolidated under a single special purpose trust. In the fourth quarter of 2010, approximately 14.3 million CPOs or CPO equivalents were designated for the stock purchase plan through that special purpose trust.
Long-Term Retention Plan
At our general extraordinary and ordinary stockholders’ meeting held on April 30, 2002, our stockholders authorized the creation and implementation of a Long-Term Retention Plan, as well as the creation of one or more special purpose trusts to implement the Long-Term Retention Plan. Pursuant to our Long-Term Retention Plan, we have granted eligible participants, who consist of unionized and non-unionized employees, including key personnel, awards as stock options, conditional sales, restricted stock or other similar arrangements. As approved by our stockholders, the exercise or sale price, as the case may be, is based (i) on the average trading price of the CPOs during the first six months of 2003, or (ii) on the price determined by the Board, the technical committee of the special purpose trust or the President of Televisa, in either case, adjusted by any applicable discount, including discounts attributable to limitations on the disposition of the Shares or CPOs that are subject to the Long-Term Retention Plan. The CPOs and their underlying shares as well as A, B, D and L Shares that are part of the Long-Term Retention Plan will be held by the special purpose trust and will be voted (y) with the majority of those securities, as the case may be, represented at the relevant meeting or (z) as determined by the technical committee of the special purpose trust, until these securities are transferred to plan participants or otherwise sold in the open market.
In April 2007, the Board of Directors, with the input from the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, reviewed the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and determined to include our Chief Executive Officer in the Long-Term Retention Plan of the Company as well as in any other plan to be granted by the Company to its employees in the future. See “— Compensation of Directors and Officers”. As a consequence thereof, as of May 2007, the Chief Executive Officer was awarded, under the Long-Term Retention Plan, approximately 5.5 million CPOs or CPO equivalents, either in the form of CPOs or shares, to be exercised at a price of approximately Ps.60.65 per CPO (subject to adjustments depending on dividends and the result of operations of the Company). The CPOs granted to the Chief Executive Officer may be exercised in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Pursuant to the resolutions adopted by our stockholders, we have not, and do not intend to, register shares under the Securities Act that are allocated to the Long-Term Retention Plan.
At our annual general ordinary stockholders’ meeting held on April 30, 2008, our stockholders approved a second stage of the Long-Term Retention Plan and approved grants of up to 25 million CPOs per year, or CPO equivalents, under the Long-Term Retention Plan. The price at which the CPOs will be transferred to beneficiaries is based on the lowest of (i) the closing price on March 31 of the year in which the CPOs are awarded, and (ii) the average price of the CPOs during the first three months of the year in which the CPOs are awarded. The resulting price shall be reduced by dividends, the growth of Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, or OIBDA, (including OIBDA affected by acquisitions) between the date of award and the vesting date, and a liquidity discount, among others.
The special purpose trust created to implement the Long-Term Retention Plan currently owns approximately 106.8 million CPOs or CPO equivalents. This figure is net of approximately 9.7 million CPOs early vested in 2006 and approximately 12.1, 11.7, 13.7 and 26.0 million CPOs vested respectively in January 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Of such 106.8 million CPOs or CPO equivalents approximately 37% are in the form of CPOs and the remaining 63% are in the form of A, B, D and L Shares. As of April 2011, approximately 51.5 million CPOs or CPO equivalents have been reserved and will become vested between 2012 and 2013 at prices ranging from Ps.13.45 to Ps.60.65 pesos per CPO which may be reduced by dividends, the growth of OIBDA (including OIBDA affected by acquisitions) between the date of award and the vesting date, and a liquidity discount, among others.
At our annual general ordinary stockholders’ meeting held on April 29, 2011, our stockholders approved the issuance of 150 million CPOs, subject to the preemptive rights of existing stockholders. We intend to fund the special purpose trust to purchase the CPOs.
As of December 31, 2010 approximately 32.9 million CPOs that were transferred to employee plan participants were sold in the open market. Additional sales will continue to take place during or after 2011.
Share Ownership of Directors and Officers
Share ownership of our directors, alternate directors and executive officers is set forth in the table under “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions”. Except as set forth in such table, none of our directors, alternate directors or executive officers is currently the beneficial owner of more than 1% of any class of our capital stock or conditional sale agreements or options representing the right to purchase more than 1% of any class of our capital stock.

 

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Employees and Labor Relations
The following table sets forth the number of employees and a breakdown of employees by main category of activity and geographic location as of the end of each year in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010:
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2009     2010  
Total number of employees
    22,548       24,362       24,739  
Category of activity:
                       
Employees
    22,488       24,323       24,698  
Executives
    40       39       41  
Geographic location:
                       
Mexico
    20,571       22,506       23,032  
Latin America (other than Mexico)
    1,529       1,508       1,399  
U.S.
    428       348       308  
As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, approximately 35%, 39%, and 37% of our employees, respectively, were represented by unions. We believe that our relations with our employees are good. Under Mexican law, the agreements between us and most of our television, radio and cable television union employees are subject to renegotiation on an annual basis in January of each year. We also have union contracts with artists, musicians and other employees, which are also renegotiated on an annual basis.

 

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Item 7. Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions
The following table sets forth information about the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by our directors, alternate directors, executive officers and each person who is known by us to own more than 5% of the currently outstanding A Shares, B Shares, L Shares or D Shares as of May 31, 2011. Except as set forth below, we are not aware of any holder of more than 5% of any class of our Shares.
                                                                         
                                                                    Aggregate  
                                                                    Percentage of  
    Shares Beneficially Owned(1)(2)     Outstanding  
    A Shares     B Shares     D Shares     L Shares     Shares  
            Percentage             Percentage             Percentage             Percentage     Beneficially  
Identity of Owner   Number     of Class     Number     of Class     Number     of Class     Number     of Class     Owned  
Azcárraga Trust(3)
    52,991,825,693       44.3 %     67,814,604       0.1 %     107,886,870       0.1 %     107,886,870       0.1 %     15.45 %
William H.Gates III(4)
    5,759,537,500       4.8 %     5,068,393,000       9.1 %     8,063,352,500       9.5 %     8,063,352,500       9.5 %     7.8 %
Dodge & Cox, Inc.(5)
    3,350,174,000       2.8 %     2,948,153,120       5.3 %     4,690,243,600       5.5 %     4,690,243,600       5.5 %     4.5 %
     
(1)   Unless otherwise indicated, the information presented in this section is based on the number of shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2011. The number of shares issued and outstanding for legal purposes as of May 31, 2011 was 60,597,348,050 series A Shares, 53,325,666,284 series B Shares, 84,836,287,270 series D Shares and 84,836,287,270 series L Shares, in the form of CPOs, and an additional 58,926,613,375 series A Shares, 2,357,207,692 series B Shares, 238,595 series D Shares and 238,595 series L Shares not in the form of CPOs. For financial reporting purposes under Mexican FRS only, the number of shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2011 was 59,344,206,075 series A Shares, 52,222,901,346 series B Shares, 83,081,888,505 series D Shares and 83,081,888,505 series L Shares in the form of CPOs, and an additional 53,301,948,965 series A Shares, 186,537 series B Shares, 238,541 series D Shares and 238,541 series L Shares not in the form of CPOs. The number of shares authorized, issued and outstanding for financial reporting purposes under Mexican FRS as of May 31, 2011 does not include: (i) 10,245,746 CPOs and an additional 136,493,950 series A Shares, 20,675,534 series B Shares, 25 series D Shares and 25 series L Shares not in the form of CPOs acquired by one of our subsidiaries, Televisa, S.A. de C.V.,substantially all of which are currently held by the trust created to implement our stock purchase plan; and (ii) 39,879,933 CPOs and an additional 5,488,170,460 series A Shares, 2,336,345,621 series B Shares, 29 series D Shares and 29 series L Shares not in the form of CPOs acquired by the trust we created to implement our long-term retention plan. See Note 12 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
 
(2)   Except through the Azcárraga Trust, none of our directors and executive officers currently beneficially owns more than 1% of our outstanding A Shares, B Shares, D Shares or L Shares. See “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Share Ownership of Directors and Officers”. This information is based on information provided by directors and executive officers.
 
(3)   For a description of the Azcárraga Trust, see “— The Major Stockholders” below.
 
(4)   Based solely on information included in the report on Schedule 13D filed on March 19, 2010 by Cascade Investment, L.L.C. Includes 3,644,562,500 A Shares, 3,207,215,000 B Shares, 5,102,387,500 D Shares and 5,102,387,500 L Shares beneficially owned by Cascade Investment, L.L.C., over which William H. Gates III has sole voting and dispositive power, and 2,114,975,000 A Shares, 1,861,178,000 B Shares, 2,960,965,000 D Shares and 2,960,965,000 L Shares beneficially owned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, over which William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates have shared voting and dispositive power.
 
(5)   Based solely on information included in the report on Form 13F filed on March 31, 2011 by Dodge & Cox.
The Major Stockholders
Approximately 45.6% of the outstanding A Shares, 2.7% of the outstanding B Shares, 2.8% of the outstanding D Shares and 2.8% of the outstanding L Shares of the Company were held through the Stockholder Trust, including shares in the form of CPOs. On June 17, 2009, the Stockholder Trust was terminated and the shares and CPOs which were formerly held through such trust, were delivered to the corresponding beneficiaries. The largest beneficiary of the Stockholder Trust was a trust for the benefit of Emilio Azcárraga Jean. Such trust currently holds 44.3% of the outstanding A shares, 0.1% of the outstanding B shares, 0.1% of the outstanding D shares and 0.1% of the outstanding L shares of the Company. As a result, Emilio Azcárraga Jean controlled until June 17, 2009, the voting of the shares held through the Stockholder Trust, and currently controls the vote of such shares through the Azcárraga Trust. The A Shares held through the Azcárraga Trust constitute a majority of the A Shares whose holders are entitled to vote because non-Mexican holders of CPOs and GDSs are not permitted by law to vote the underlying A Shares. Accordingly, and so long as non-Mexicans own more than a minimal number of A Shares, Emilio Azcárraga Jean will have the ability to direct the election of 11 out of 20 members of our Board of Directors, as well as prevent certain actions by the stockholders, including dividend payments, mergers, spin-offs, changes in corporate purpose, changes of nationality and amendments to the anti-takeover provisions of our bylaws.

 

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Pursuant to our bylaws, holders of Series B shares are entitled to elect five out of 20 members of our Board of Directors.
Because the Azcárraga Trust only holds a limited number of B Shares, there can be no assurance that individuals nominated by the Azcárraga Trust appointees will be elected to our Board.
Related Party Transactions
Transactions and Arrangements With Innova. In 2010, we engaged in, and we expect that we will continue to engage in, transactions with Innova, including, without limitation, the transaction described below. We hold a 58.7% equity interest in Innova through a consolidated venture with DIRECTV. Beginning April 1, 2004, we began including the assets, liabilities and results of operations of Innova in our consolidated financial statements (see Note 1(b) to our consolidated year-end financial statements). Although we hold a majority of Innova’s equity and designate a majority of the members of Innova’s board of directors, DIRECTV has certain governance and veto rights, including the right to block some transactions between us and Innova.
Capital Contributions and Loans
Programming. Pursuant to an agreement between us and Innova, we have granted Innova exclusive DTH rights to some program services in Mexico. Innova paid us Ps.1,061.4 million for these rights in 2010. Innova currently pays the rates paid by third party providers of cable television, subject to certain exceptions, and MMDS services in Mexico for our various programming services. In addition, pursuant to the agreement and subject to certain exceptions, we cannot charge Innova higher rates than the rates that we charge third party providers of cable television and MMDS services in Mexico for our various programming services.
Advertising Services. Innova purchased magazine advertising space and television and radio advertising time from us in connection with the promotion of its DTH satellite services in 2010, and we expect that Innova will continue to do so in the future. For television, radio and magazine advertising, Innova paid and will continue to pay the rates applicable to third party advertisers. Innova paid Ps.218.6 million for advertising services in 2010.
Guarantees. We have guaranteed a portion of Innova’s payments to Intelsat Corporation (formerly PanAmSat Corporation) for transponder services on satellite IS-9 (formerly PAS-9). Our guarantee is currently limited to 58.7% of Innova’s obligations under the transponder lease. Innova is obligated to pay a monthly service fee of U.S.$1.7 million to PanAmSat for satellite signal reception and retransmission service from transponders on the IS-9 satellite through September 2015. As of December 31, 2010, we had guaranteed payments in the amount of U.S.$56.9 million, which represented 58.7% of Innova’s obligations to Intelsat Corporation at the end of 2010. See “Information on the Company — Business Overview — DTH Ventures”. See Note 11 to our consolidated year-end financial statements. If Innova does not pay these fees in a timely manner, we will be required to pay our proportionate share of its obligations to Intelsat. We have also guaranteed 100% of Corporación Novavisión, S. de R.L. de C.V.’s payment obligation under both the Ps.2.1 billion, 8.3-year bank loan with Banamex, as well as the Ps.1.4 billion, 8.3-year bank loan with Banco Santander, S.A.
Tax Sharing Agreement. We have a tax sharing agreement with Innova, which sets forth certain of our rights and obligations, as well as those of Innova, with respect to Innova’s liability for federal income and asset taxes imposed under Mexican tax laws. We received an authorization from Mexican tax authorities to include Innova’s results in our consolidated tax return for purposes of determining our income. Tax profits or losses obtained by Innova are consolidated with our tax profits or losses up to 100% of our percentage ownership of Innova, which is currently 58.7%. Pursuant to the tax sharing agreement, in no event shall Innova be required to remit to us an amount in respect of its federal income that is in excess of the product of (x) the amount that Innova would be required to pay on an individual basis, as if Innova had filed a separate tax return, and (y) with respect to income taxes, our direct or indirect percentage ownership of Innova’s capital stock.
For additional information concerning transactions with Innova, as well as amounts paid to us by Innova pursuant to these transactions in 2010, see Note 16 to our consolidated year-end financial statements. See also “Information on the Company — Business Overview — DTH Ventures — Mexico and Central America”.
Transactions and Arrangements With Vuela. In 2007, Editorial Televisa, our subsidiary, entered into an agreement with Vuela pursuant to which Vuela distributed five different magazines edited and produced by Editorial Televisa. Under this agreement, Vuela distributed these magazines at no cost to its clients, in boarding terminals at airports located in the Mexican territory and on its airplanes. Televisa paid Vuela 10% of the net advertising sales generated by these magazines. We believe that such percentage is comparable to the amounts paid to third parties in similar types of transactions. This agreement was terminated in 2010.

 

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Pursuant to a license agreement between Televisa and Vuela, we granted Vuela the right to broadcast some of our television programs in the audio and video systems installed in Vuela’s aircrafts, facilities, and vehicles. Under this license agreement, Vuela paid Televisa a monthly royalty in the amount of Ps.100,000 for Televisa content. In addition, Televisa entered into an agreement with Vuela pursuant to which Televisa sold airplane screen advertising aired in the audio and video systems installed in Vuela’s aircrafts. Televisa paid Vuela a monthly fixed consideration of Ps.100,000 and a variable consideration of 15% of the revenues obtained by Televisa from such airplane screen sales. During 2010, Televisa paid Vuela the amount of Ps.1,014,053 as variable consideration under such agreement. We believe that such amount is comparable to those paid to third parties in these types of transactions. These arrangements were terminated in 2010.
Transactions and Arrangements with TVI. In December 2007, TVI entered into a loan facility in connection with the financing of the acquisition of the majority of the assets of Bestel by our indirect majority-owned subsidiary, Cablestar. In connection with such loan facility, TVI issued an interest bearing promissory note in the principal amount of U.S.$50 million with a maturity date of December 2012, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The interest rate on the promissory note is LIBOR plus the applicable margin, which is determined by the leverage ratio. On June 2, 2009, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the Company entered into an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, whereby Grupo Televisa, S.A.B prepaid the loan facility and assumed from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. the entire $50.0 million loan facility with TVI. In July 2009, TVI prepaid the loan facility through an exchange with the Company of such loan receivable for the 15.4% interest TVI held in Cablestar and for Ps.85.58 million in cash.
Transactions and Arrangements with Letseb. In December 2007, in connection with the acquisition of Bestel, Letseb issued a non-interest bearing promissory note in the principal amount of U.S.$80 million with a maturity date of August 2009, in favor of Consultoría Empresarial Segura, S.A. de C.V. or CES, which was guaranteed by the Company. In 2008, CES sold such promissory note to Credit Suisse acting through its Cayman Islands Branch or Credit Suisse, and as a result, the promissory note was replaced by a U.S.$80 million non-interest bearing promissory note payable to Credit Suisse with the same maturity date, which was also guaranteed by the Company. In March 2009, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with Credit Suisse, pursuant to which it acquired the U.S.$80 million non-interest bearing promissory note.
Transactions and Arrangements with Iusacell. Iusacell purchased advertising services from us in connection with the promotion of its products and services in 2011, and we expect that Iusacell will continue to do so in the future. Iusacell paid and will continue to pay rates applicable to third party advertisers for these advertising services.
Transactions and Arrangements With Our Directors and Officers. In 2007, we invested Ps.55 million (approximately U.S.$5 million) in the equity of Centros de Conocimiento Tecnológico, or CCT, a company that builds, owns and operates technological schools in Mexico and in which Claudio X. Gonzalez Laporte and Carlos Fernandez Gonzalez, two of our directors, own a minority interest. We currently hold 15% of the equity of CCT.
Certain of our executive officers have in the past, and from time to time in the future may, purchase debt securities issued by us and/or our subsidiaries from third parties in negotiated transactions. Certain of our executive officers and directors participate in our stock purchase plan and Long-Term Retention Plan. See “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Stock Purchase Plan” and “— Long-Term Retention Plan”.
Transactions and Arrangements With Affiliates and Related Parties of Our Directors, Officers and Major Stockholders
Consulting Services. Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales, S.C., a consulting firm which is controlled by Ariana Azcárraga De Surmont, the sister of Emilio Azcárraga Jean, has, from time to time during 2010 provided consulting services and research in connection with the effects of our programming, especially telenovelas, on our viewing audience. Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales, S.C. provided us with such services in 2010, and we expect to continue these arrangements through 2011.
Loans from Banamex. In 2006, Banamex and Innova entered into a loan agreement with a maturity date of 2016 and in 2010 Banamex and TVI entered into a revolving credit facility which was paid by TVI in March 2011. In March 2011, the Company entered into long-term credit arrangements with Banamex, with maturities between 2018 and 2021. These loans were made on terms substantially similar to those offered by Banamex to third parties. Emilio Azcárraga Jean, our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, is a member of the Board of Banamex. One of our directors, Roberto Hernández Ramírez, is the Chairman of the Board of Banamex. Mr. Hernández was also a member of the Board of, and the beneficial owner of less than 1% of the outstanding capital stock of, Citigroup, Inc., the entity that indirectly controls Banamex. Lorenzo H. Zambrano Treviño, a former director, is also a member of the Board of Banamex. For a description of amounts outstanding under, and the terms of, our existing credit facilities with Banamex, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Indebtedness”.

 

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Advertising Services. Two of our directors, Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega and Carlos Fernández González, are members of the Board of, as well as in the case of Mr. Fernández, stockholder of, Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V., or Grupo Modelo, the leading producer, distributor and exporter of beer in Mexico. Carlos Fernández González also serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Grupo Modelo. Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega also serves as the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the board of directors of Grupo Modelo. Grupo Modelo purchased advertising services from us in connection with the promotion of its products from time to time in 2010, and we expect that this will continue to be the case in the future. Grupo Modelo paid and will continue to pay rates applicable to third party advertisers for these advertising services.
During 2010, Editorial Televisa, our subsidiary, entered into advertising agreements with Comercializadora IMU, S.A. de C.V., or IMU, a company controlled by the brother-in-law of Emilio Azcárraga Jean, whereby IMU provides advertising services to Editorial Televisa by promoting magazines published by Editorial Televisa, at billboards installed at bus stops and Editorial Televisa promotes IMU’s products and/or services in the magazines it publishes. Under such agreement, Editorial Televisa paid IMU Ps.433,354 for such services in 2010, and IMU paid Televisa Ps.433,354 for such services in 2010. In addition, Editorial Televisa and IMU entered into separate advertising services agreements in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, whereby IMU provided advertising services to Editorial Televisa by promoting magazines published by Editorial Televisa at billboards installed at bus stops. Editorial Televisa paid Ps.3.9 million for such services in 2010. We believe that the terms and conditions of these advertising agreements are on arm’s length basis.
Several other members of our current Board serve as members of the Boards and/or are stockholders of other companies. See “Directors, Senior Management and Employees”. Some of these companies, including Banamex, Kimberly-Clark de México, S.A.B. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander, S.A.B. de C.V., and FEMSA, among others, purchased advertising services from us in connection with the promotion of their respective products and services from time to time in 2009 and 2010, and we expect that this will continue to be the case in the future. Similarly, Alejandro Quintero Iñiguez, a member of our Board and our Executive Committee and our Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing, is a stockholder and member of the Board of Grupo TV Promo, S.A. de C.V. and TV Promo, S.A. de C.V., or TV Promo. Grupo TV Promo, S.A. de C.V. and TV Promo are Mexican companies which render services of publicity, promotion and advertisement to third parties; these entities act as licensees of the Company for the use and exploitation of certain images and/or trademarks of shows and novelas produced by the Company; and produce promotional campaigns and events for the Company and for some of the Company’s clients. Grupo TV Promo, S.A. de C.V. and TV Promo jointly with other entities in which Mr. Alejandro Quintero has a direct and/or indirect participation, such as Producción y Creatividad Musical, S.A. de C.V., Radar Servicios Especializados de Mercadotecnia, S.A. de C.V. and TV Promo International, Inc. (jointly, Grupo TV Promo) have purchased and will continue to purchase advertising services from us, some of which are referred to the aforementioned promotional campaigns. The companies described above pay rates applicable to third party advertisers that purchase unsold advertising services, which are lower than the rates paid by advertisers that purchase advertising in advance or at regular rates. Alejandro Quintero does not currently receive any form of compensation from Grupo TV Promo, S.A. de C.V. and/or TV Promo, other than dividends to which he may be entitled to receive as stockholder, as the case may be. During 2010, Grupo TV Promo purchased unsold advertising from Televisa for a total of Ps.301.3 million.
Agency Services. From July 2005 to October 2007, Maximedios Alternativos, S.A. de C.V., or Maximedios, a Mexican company, was Televisa’s sales agent for the sale of in-store television advertising, airplane screen advertising, sponsorship of our soccer teams, as well as pay-TV advertising sales (which includes Innova, Televisa Networks, and Cablevisión). Televisa, Innova, Televisa Networks and Cablevisión, respectively paid Maximedios 15% of the revenues from advertising sales made on their behalf and Televisa paid Maximedios 15% of the revenues from airplane screen sales and in-store advertising and 5% of the revenues from sponsorships. Alejandro Quintero Iñiguez, a member of our Board and our Executive Committee and our Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing jointly with other members of his family, are majority stockholders and members of the Board of Grupo TV Promo, S.A. de C.V. and Producción y Creatividad Musical, S.A. de C.V., companies that have a majority interest in Maximedios.
Alejandro Quintero does not currently receive any form of compensation from Maximedios, other than dividends to which he may be entitled to receive as an indirect stockholder. During 2009, Televisa and the aforementioned affiliates, paid Maximedios the amount of Ps.0.7 million, as sales commissions. We believe that such amount is comparable to those paid to third parties for these types of services.
Legal and Advisory Services. During 2010, Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C., a Mexican law firm, provided us with legal and advisory services, and we expect that this will continue to be the case in the future. Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega, a partner on leave of absence from the law firm of Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C., is one of our directors, a member of our Executive Committee, an Executive Vice President and was a member of our Related Party Transactions Committee. Alfonso de Angoitia Noriega does not currently receive any form of compensation from, or participates in any way in the profits of, Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C. Ricardo Maldonado Yáñez, a partner from the law firm of Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C., serves also as Secretary of our Board of Directors and Secretary to the Executive Committee of our Board of Directors. We believe that the fees we paid for these services were comparable to those that we would have paid another law firm for similar services.

 

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In August 2009, we entered into an agreement with Allen & Company to provide the Company with advisory services related to investment opportunities outside of Mexico. In February 2010, we entered into an agreement with Allen & Company to provide the Company with advisory services related to an investment opportunity in the wireless telecommunications segment in Mexico. Two of our directors are directors of Allen & Company as well. These agreements were entered into on an arm’s length basis. We believe that the amounts paid and to be paid under these agreements to Allen & Company are comparable to those paid to third parties for these types of services. See Note 16 to our consolidated year-end financial statements.
Sale of Property. In April 2010, we sold to Desarrolladora El Cenote, S.A. de C.V., or Cenote, a portion of the land located in front of our principal headquarters in Santa Fe. A stockholder of Cenote is Mr. Adolfo Fastlicht Kurian, the brother-in-law of Mr. Emilio Azcarraga Jean, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
Item 8. Financial Information
See “Financial Statements” and pages F-1 through F-59, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
Trading History of CPOs and GDSs
Since December 1993, the GDSs have been traded on the NYSE and the CPOs have been traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange. In September 2007, we removed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the depository for the GDSs and appointed The Bank of New York Mellon pursuant to a new deposit agreement.
The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low market prices in nominal Pesos for the CPOs on the Mexican Stock Exchange, giving effect to the March 1, 2000 10-for-1 stock split in all cases.
                 
    Nominal Pesos per CPO(1)  
    High     Low  
2006
    60.88       37.67  
2007
    68.10       48.29  
2008
    57.35       36.19  
2009
    56.67       33.91  
First Quarter
    44.31       33.91  
Second Quarter
    48.17       39.39  
Third Quarter
    50.64       43.59  
Fourth Quarter
    56.67       48.45  
December
    54.52       52.74  
2010
    65.09       45.19  
First Quarter
    54.46       47.29  
Second Quarter
    53.33       45.19  
Third Quarter
    50.20       45.91  
Fourth Quarter
    65.09       47.72  
December
    65.09       59.79  
2011 (through June 24, 2011)
    65.01       52.45  
First Quarter
    65.01       55.16  
January
    65.01       57.28  
February
    59.55       57.15  
March
    58.85       55.16  
Second Quarter (through June 24, 2011)
    59.98       52.45  
April
    59.98       52.45  
May
    54.98       53.37  
June (through June 24, 2011)
    57.18       52.95  
     
(1)   Source: Mexican Stock Exchange.

 

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The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the high and low market prices in U.S. Dollars for the GDSs on the NYSE, giving effect to the March 22, 2006 1:4 GDS ratio change in all cases.
                 
    U.S. Dollars per GDS(1)  
    High     Low  
2006
    28.20       16.38  
2007
    31.14       22.04  
2008
    27.68       13.21  
2009
    22.13       10.92  
First Quarter
    16.66       10.92  
Second Quarter
    18.20       14.16  
Third Quarter
    18.99       16.30  
Fourth Quarter
    22.13       17.74  
December
    21.39       20.53  
2010
    26.51       17.41  
First Quarter
    21.15       18.30  
Second Quarter
    21.66       17.41  
Third Quarter
    19.81       17.58  
Fourth Quarter
    26.51       18.91  
December
    26.51       24.05  
2011 (through June 24, 2011)
    26.50       22.25  
First Quarter
    26.50       22.78  
January
    26.50       23.46  
February
    24.70       23.49  
March
    24.62       22.78  
Second Quarter (through June 24, 2011)
    25.31       22.25  
April
    25.31       22.40  
May
    23.72       22.91  
June (through June 24, 2011)
    24.17       22.25  
     
(1)   Source: NYSE.
Trading prices of the CPOs and the GDSs will be influenced by our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects and by economic, financial and other factors and market conditions. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Mexico — Economic and Political Developments in Mexico May Adversely Affect Our Business”. There can be no assurance that prices of the CPOs and the GDSs will, in future, be within the ranges set forth above. We believe that as of May 31, 2011, approximately 302,558,087 GDSs were held of record by 107 persons with U.S. addresses. Before giving effect to the 2004 recapitalization, substantially all of the outstanding A Shares not held through CPOs were owned by Televicentro and a special purpose trust created for our Long-Term Retention Plan, as described under “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions” and “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Long-Term Retention Plan”. For more information regarding our 2004 recapitalization, please refer to our Form 6-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2004.
Trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange
Overview
The Mexican Stock Exchange, located in Mexico City, is the only stock exchange in Mexico. Operating continuously since 1907, the Mexican Stock Exchange is organized as a publicly-traded corporation with variable capital, or sociedad anónima bursatil de capital variable. Securities trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange occurs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mexico City time, each business day. Since January 1999, all trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange has been effected electronically. The Mexican Stock Exchange may impose a number of measures to promote an orderly and transparent trading price of securities, including the operation of a system of automatic suspension of trading in shares of a particular issuer when price fluctuation exceeds certain limits. The Mexican Stock Exchange may also suspend trading in shares of a particular issuer as a result of the disclosure of a material event, or when the changes in the volume traded or share price are not consistent with either the historic performance or information publicly available. The Mexican Stock Exchange may resume trading in the shares when it deems that the material events have been adequately disclosed to public investors or when it deems that the issuer has adequately explained the reasons for the changes in the volume traded or prevailing share price. Under current regulations, in certain cases when the relevant securities are simultaneously traded on a stock exchange outside of Mexico, the Mexican Stock Exchange may consider the measures adopted by the other stock exchange in order to suspend and/or resume trading in the issuer’s shares.

 

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Settlement is effected two business days after a share transaction on the Mexican Stock Exchange. Deferred settlement, even by mutual agreement, is not permitted without the approval of the CNBV. Most securities traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange, including the CPOs, are on deposit with S.D. Indeval, Institución para el Depósito de Valores, S.A. de C.V., or Indeval, a privately owned securities depositary that acts as a clearinghouse, depositary and custodian, as well as a settlement, transfer and registration agent for Mexican Stock Exchange transactions, eliminating the need for physical transfer of securities.
Although the Mexican Securities Market Law provides for the existence of an over-the-counter market, no such market for securities in Mexico has been developed.
Market Regulation and Registration Standards
In 1946, the Comisión Nacional de Valores, or the National Securities Commission, commonly known as the CNV, was established to regulate stock market activity. In 1995, the CNV and the Comisión Nacional Bancaria, or the National Banking Commission, were merged to form the CNBV. The Mexican Securities Market Law, which took effect in 1975, introduced important structural changes to the Mexican financial system, including the organization of brokerage firms as corporations with variable capital, or sociedades anónimas de capital variable. The Mexican Securities Market Law sets standards for authorizing companies to operate as brokerage firms, which authorization is granted at the discretion of the Ministry of Finance upon the recommendation of the CNBV. In addition to setting standards for brokerage firms, the Mexican Securities Market Law empowers the CNBV, among other things, to regulate the public offering and trading of securities and to impose sanctions for the illegal use of insider information. The CNBV regulates the Mexican securities market, the Mexican Stock Exchange and brokerage firms through a board of governors composed of thirteen members, five of which are appointed by the Ministry of Finance.
In June 2001, the Mexican Securities Market Law required issuers to increase the protections offered to minority stockholders and to impose corporate governance controls on Mexican listed companies in line with international standards. The Mexican Securities Market Law then in effect expressly permitted Mexican listed companies, with prior authorization from the CNBV, to include in their bylaws anti-takeover defenses such as stockholder rights plans, or poison pills. We amended our bylaws to include certain of these protections at our general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting, which was held on April 30, 2002. See “Additional Information — Bylaws — Other Provisions — Appraisal Rights and Other Minority Protections” and “Additional Information — Bylaws — Antitakeover Protections”.
To offer securities to the public in Mexico, an issuer must meet specific qualitative and quantitative requirements, and generally only securities for which an application for registration in the National Registry of Securities, or NRS, maintained by the CNBV has been approved by the CNBV may be listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. This approval does not imply any kind of certification or assurance related to the merits or the quality of the securities or the solvency of the issuer.
In March 2003, the CNBV issued general rules, or General CNBV Rules, applicable to issuers and other securities market participants. The General CNBV Rules, which repealed several previously enacted rules, or circulares, of the CNBV, now provide a single set of rules governing issuers and issuer activity, among other things.
The General CNBV Rules have mandated that the Mexican Stock Exchange adopt minimum requirements for issuers to be registered with the CNBV and have their securities listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange. To be registered, issuers will be required to have, among other things:
    a minimum number of years of operating history;
 
    a minimum financial condition;
 
    a minimum number of shares or CPOs to be publicly offered to public investors;
 
    a minimum price for the securities to be offered;
 
    a minimum of 15% of the capital stock placed among public investors;
 
    a minimum of 200 holders of shares or of shares represented by CPOs, who are deemed to be public investors under the General CNBV Rules, upon the completion of the offering;

 

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    the following distribution of the securities offered pursuant to an offering in Mexico: (i) at least 50% of the total number of securities offered must be placed among investors who acquire less than 5% of the total number of securities offered; and (ii) no investor may acquire more than 40% of the total number of securities offered; and
 
    complied with certain corporate governance requirements.
 
      To maintain its registration, an issuer will be required to have, among other things:
 
    a minimum financial condition;
 
    minimum operating conditions, including a minimum number of trades;
 
    a minimum trading price of its securities;
 
    a minimum of 12% of the capital stock held by public investors;
 
    a minimum of 100 holders of shares or of shares represented by CPOs who are deemed to be public investors under the General CNBV Rules; and
 
    complied with certain corporate governance requirements.
The CNBV has the authority to waive some of these requirements in some circumstances. Also, some of these requirements are applicable for each series of shares of the relevant issuer.
The Mexican Stock Exchange will review annually compliance with the foregoing and other requirements, some of which may be further reviewed on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. The Mexican Stock Exchange must inform the CNBV of the results of its review and this information must, in turn, be disclosed to investors. If an issuer fails to comply with any of the foregoing requirements, the Mexican Stock Exchange will request that the issuer propose a plan to cure the violation. If the issuer fails to propose such plan, if the plan is not satisfactory to the Mexican Stock Exchange or if the issuer does not make substantial progress with respect to the corrective measures, trading of the relevant series of shares on the Mexican Stock Exchange will be temporarily suspended until the situation is corrected. In addition, if the issuer fails to propose the plan or ceases to follow such plan once proposed, the CNBV may suspend or cancel the registration of the shares. In such event, the issuer must evidence the mechanisms to protect the rights of public investors and market in general.
Issuers of listed securities are required to file unaudited quarterly financial statements and audited annual financial statements as well as various periodic reports with the CNBV and the Mexican Stock Exchange. Issuers of listed securities must prepare and disclose their financial information by a Mexican Stock Exchange-approved system known as EMISNET and to the CNBV through the Sistema de Transferencia de Información sobre Valores, or STIV-2. Immediately upon its receipt, the Mexican Stock Exchange makes that information available to the public.
The General CNBV Rules and the internal regulations of the Mexican Stock Exchange require issuers of listed securities to file through EMISNET and STIV-2 information on the occurrence of material events affecting the relevant issuer. Material events include, but are not limited to:
    the entering into or termination of joint venture agreements or agreements with key suppliers;
 
    the creation of new lines of businesses or services;
 
    significant deviations in expected or projected operating performance;
 
    the restructuring or payment of significant indebtedness;
 
    material litigation or labor conflicts;
 
    changes in dividend policy;
 
    the commencement of any insolvency, suspension or bankruptcy proceedings;
 
    changes in the directors; and

 

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    any other event that may have a material adverse effect on the results, financial condition or operations of the relevant issuer.
If there is unusual price volatility of the securities listed, the Mexican Stock Exchange must immediately request that the issuer inform the public as to the causes of such volatility or, if the issuer is unaware of such causes, make a statement to that effect. In addition, the Mexican Stock Exchange must immediately request that issuers disclose any information relating to relevant material events, when it deems the information currently disclosed to be insufficient, as well as instruct issuers to clarify such information when it deems the information to be confusing. The Mexican Stock Exchange may request issuers to confirm or deny any material events that have been disclosed to the public by third parties when it deems that the material event may affect or influence the securities being traded. The Mexican Stock Exchange must immediately inform the CNBV of any requests made to issuers. The CNBV may also make any of these requests directly to issuers. An issuer may delay the disclosure of material events under some circumstances, including where the information being offered is not related to transactions that have been completed.
The CNBV and the Mexican Stock Exchange may suspend the dealing in securities of an issuer:
    if the issuer does not adequately disclose a material event; or
 
    upon price or volume volatility or changes in the offer or demand in respect of the relevant securities, which are not consistent with the historic performance of the securities and could not be explained solely by the information made publicly available under the General CNBV Rules.
The Mexican Stock Exchange must immediately inform the CNBV and the general public of any such suspension. An issuer may request that the CNBV or the Mexican Stock Exchange resume trading, provided it demonstrates that the causes triggering the suspension have been resolved and that it is in full compliance with the periodic reporting requirements under the applicable law. If its request has been granted, the Mexican Stock Exchange will determine the appropriate mechanism to resume trading in its securities. If trading of an issuer is suspended for more than 20 business days and the issuer is authorized to resume trading without conducting a public offering, the issuer must disclose through EMISNET and STIV-2, before trading resumes, a description of the causes that resulted in the suspension and reasons why it is now authorized to resume trading.
Likewise, if the securities of an issuer are traded on both the Mexican Stock Exchange and a foreign securities market, that issuer must file with the CNBV and the Mexican Stock Exchange on a simultaneous basis the information that it is required to file pursuant to the laws and regulations of the relevant other jurisdiction.
Pursuant to the Mexican Securities Market Law, stockholders of issuers listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange must disclose any transactions through or outside of the Mexican Stock Exchange that result in exceeding 10% ownership stake of an issuer’s capital stock. These stockholders must also inform the CNBV of the results of these transactions the day after their completion. See “Additional Information — Mexican Securities Market Law”.
Additionally, related parties of an issuer who increase or decrease their ownership stake, in one or more transactions, by 5% or more, shall disclose such transactions. The Mexican Securities Market Law also requires stockholders holding 10% or more of the capital stock of companies listed in the registry to notify the CNBV of any ownership changes in shares of the company. Moreover, recent amendments to the CNBV regulations for issuers, require issuers to disclose to the CNBV on an annual basis on or before June 30 of each year: (i) the name and ownership percentage of any Board members and relevant officers that maintain 1% or more of the capital stock of an issuer, (ii) the names and ownership percentage of any other individual or entity that maintains 5% or more of the capital stock of an issuer (regardless of whether such stockholder is an officer or director) and (iii) the names and ownership percentage of the 10 (ten) stockholders with the largest direct ownership stake in an issuer (regardless of the ownership percentage or whether such stockholder is an officer, director, related party or private investor with no relationship to the issuer). Based on the foregoing, Mexican Securities Regulations require that (i) Board members and relevant officers that maintain 1% or more of the capital stock of an issuer and (ii) any other individual or entity that maintains 5% or more of the capital stock of an entity, provide this information to the relevant issuer on or before May 15 of each year.

 

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Item 10. Additional Information
Mexican Securities Market Law
On April 25, 2002, the CNBV issued general rules to regulate public tender offers and the obligation to disclose share acquisitions above certain thresholds, as well as share acquisitions of the capital stock of public companies by related parties. Subject to certain exceptions, any acquisition of shares of a public company which increases the acquiror’s ownership to 10% or more, but not more than 30%, of the company’s outstanding capital stock must be disclosed to the CNBV and the Mexican Stock Exchange by no later than the day following the acquisition. Any acquisition of shares by a related party that increases such party’s ownership interest in a public company by 5% or more of the company’s outstanding capital stock must also be disclosed to the CNBV and the Mexican Stock Exchange by no later than the day following the acquisition. In addition, any intended acquisition of shares of a public company which increases the potential acquiror’s ownership to 30% or more, but not more than 50%, of the company’s voting shares requires the potential acquiror to make a tender offer for the greater of (i) the percentage of the capital stock intended to be acquired or (ii) 10% of the outstanding capital stock. Finally, any intended acquisition of shares of a public company which increases the potential acquiror’s ownership to more than 50% of the company’s voting shares requires the potential acquiror to make a tender offer for 100% of the outstanding capital stock. Bylaw provisions regarding mandatory tender offers in the case of these acquisitions may differ from the requirements summarized above, provided that they are more protective to minority stockholders than those afforded by law. See “— Bylaws — Antitakeover Protections”.
On December 30, 2005, a new Mexican Securities Market Law was enacted and published in the Official Gazette. The new Securities Market Law became effective on June 28, 2006 and in some cases allowed an additional period of 180 days (late December 2006) for issuers to incorporate in their by-laws the new corporate governance and other requirements derived from the new law. The new Mexican Securities Market Law changed the Mexican securities laws in various material respects. In particular the new law (i) clarifies the rules for tender offers, dividing them in voluntary and mandatory, (ii) clarifies standards for disclosure of holdings applicable to stockholders of public companies, (iii) expands and strengthens the role of the board of directors of public companies, (iv) determines with precision the standards applicable to the board of directors and the duties of the board, each director, its secretary, the general director and executive officers (introducing concepts such as the duty of care, duty of loyalty and safe harbors), (v) replaces the statutory auditor (comisario) and its duties with the audit committee, the corporate practices committee and the external auditors, (vi) clearly defines the role of the general director and executive officers and their responsibilities, (vii) improves rights of minorities, and (viii) improves the definition of applicable sanctions for violations to the Mexican Securities Market Law, including the payment of punitive damages and criminal penalties.
The new Mexican Securities Market Law does not substantially modify the reporting obligations of issuers of equity securities listed in the Mexican Stock Exchange. The new Mexican Securities Market Law reinforces insider trading restrictions and specifically includes, within such restrictions, trading in options and derivatives the underlying security of which is issued by such entity. Among other changes, the new Mexican Securities Market Law provides for a course of action available to anyone who traded (as a counterparty) with someone in possession of privileged information to seek the appropriate indemnification.
Pursuant to the new Mexican Securities Market Law:
    members of a listed issuer’s board of directors,
 
    stockholders controlling 10% or more of a listed issuer’s outstanding share capital,
 
    advisors,
 
    groups controlling 25% or more of a listed issuer’s outstanding share capital and
 
    other insiders
must inform the CNBV of any transactions undertaken with securities of a listed issuer.
In addition, under the new Mexican Securities Market Law insiders must abstain from purchasing or selling securities of the issuer within 90 days from the last sale or purchase, respectively.
The new Mexican Securities Market Law has, in some respects, modified the rules governing tender offers conducted in Mexico. Under the new law, tender offers may be voluntary or mandatory. All tender offers must be open for at least 20 business days and purchases thereunder are required to be made pro-rata to all tendering stockholders. Any intended purchase resulting in a 30% or greater holding requires the tender to be made for the greater of 10% of the company’s capital stock or the share capital intended to be acquired; if the purchase is aimed at obtaining control, the tender must be made for 100% of the outstanding shares. In calculating the

 

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intended purchase amount, convertible securities, warrants and derivatives the underlying security of which are such shares must be considered. The new law also permits the payment of certain amounts to controlling stockholders over and above the offering price if these amounts are fully disclosed, approved by the board of directors and paid in connection with non-compete or similar obligations. The new law also introduces exceptions to the mandatory tender offer requirements and specifically provides for the consequences, to a purchaser, of not complying with these tender offer rules (lack of voting rights, possible annulment of purchases, etc.) and other rights available to prior stockholders of the issuer.
The new Mexican Securities Market Law ratifies that public companies may insert provisions in their by-laws pursuant to which the acquisition of control of the company, by the company’s stockholders or third parties, may be prevented, if such provisions (i) are approved by stockholders without the negative vote of stockholders representing 5% or more of the outstanding shares, (ii) do not exclude any stockholder or group of stockholders, and (iii) do not restrict, in an absolute manner, the change of control.
Bylaws
Set forth below is a brief summary of some significant provisions of our bylaws and Mexican law. This description does not purport to be complete, and is qualified by reference in its entirety to our bylaws, which have been filed as an exhibit to this annual report and Mexican law. For a description of the provisions of our bylaws relating to our Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, see “Directors, Senior Management and Employees”.
Organization and Register
Televisa is a sociedad anónima bursátil, or limited liability stock corporation, organized under the laws of Mexico in accordance with the Mexican Companies Law. Televisa was incorporated under Public Deed Number 30,200, dated December 19, 1990, granted before Notary Public Number 73 of Mexico City, D.F., and registered with the Public Registry of Commerce of Mexico City, under Commercial Page (folio mercantil) Number 142,164. We have a general corporate purpose, the specifics of which can be found in Article Four of our bylaws.
We maintain a stock registry, and in accordance with Mexican law, we only recognize those holders listed in our stock registry as our stockholders. Our stockholders may hold their share in the form of physical certificates or through book-entries with institutions that have accounts with Indeval. The CPO Trustee is the holder of record for Shares represented by CPOs. Accounts may be maintained at Indeval by brokers, banks and other entities approved by the CNBV.
Voting Rights and Stockholders’ Meetings
Holders of A Shares. Holders of A Shares have the right to vote on all matters subject to stockholder approval at any general stockholders’ meeting and have the right, voting as a class, to appoint eleven members of our Board of Directors and the corresponding alternate directors. In addition to requiring approval by a majority of all Shares entitled to vote together on a particular corporate matter, certain corporate matters must be approved by a majority of the holders of A Shares voting separately. These matters include mergers, dividend payments, spin-offs, changes in corporate purpose, changes of nationality and amendments to the anti-takeover provisions of our bylaws.
Holders of B Shares. Holders of B Shares have the right to vote on all matters subject to stockholder approval at any general stockholders’ meeting and have the right, voting as a class, to appoint five members of our Board of Directors and the corresponding alternate directors. The five directors and corresponding alternate directors elected by the holders of the B Shares will be elected at a stockholders’ meeting that must be held within the first four months after the end of each year.
Holders of D Shares and L Shares. Holders of D Shares, voting as a class, are entitled to vote at special meetings to elect two of the members of our Board of Directors and the corresponding alternate directors, each of which must be an independent director. In addition, holders of D Shares are entitled to vote on the following matters at extraordinary general meetings:
    our transformation from one type of company to another;
 
    any merger (even if we are the surviving entity);
 
    extension of our existence beyond our prescribed duration;
 
    our dissolution before our prescribed duration (which is currently 99 years from January 30, 2007);
 
    a change in our corporate purpose;

 

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    a change in our nationality; and
 
    the cancellation from registration of the D Shares or the securities which represent the D Shares with the securities or special section of the NRS and with any other Mexican or foreign stock exchange in which such shares or securities are registered.
Holders of L Shares, voting as a class, are entitled to vote at special meetings to elect two of the members of our Board of Directors and the corresponding alternate directors, each of which must be an independent director. Holders of L Shares are also entitled to vote at extraordinary general meetings on the following matters:
    our transformation from one type of company to another;
 
    any merger in which we are not the surviving entity; and
 
    the cancellation from registration of the L Shares or the securities that represent the L Shares with the special section of the NRS.
The two directors and corresponding alternate directors elected by each of the holders of the D Shares and the L Shares are elected annually at a special meeting of those holders. Special meetings of holders of D Shares and L Shares must also be held to approve the cancellation from registration of the D Shares or L Shares or the securities representing any of such shares with the NRS, as the case may be, and in the case of D Shares, with any other Mexican or foreign stock exchange in which such shares or securities are registered. All other matters on which holders of L Shares or D Shares are entitled to vote must be considered at an extraordinary general meeting. Holders of L Shares and D Shares are not entitled to attend or to address meetings of stockholders at which they are not entitled to vote. Under Mexican law, holders of L Shares and D Shares are entitled to exercise certain minority protections. See “— Other Provisions — Appraisal Rights and Other Minority Protections”.
Other Rights of Stockholders. Under Mexican law, holders of shares of any series are also entitled to vote as a class in a special meeting governed by the same rules that apply to extraordinary general meetings, as described below, on any action that would prejudice the rights of holders of shares of such series, but not rights of holders of shares of other series, and a holder of shares of such series would be entitled to judicial relief against any such action taken without such a vote. Generally, the determination of whether a particular stockholder action requires a class vote on these grounds could initially be made by the Board of Directors or other party calling for stockholder action. In some cases, under the Mexican Securities Market Law and the Mexican Companies Law, the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee, the Corporate Practices Committee, or a Mexican court on behalf of those stockholders representing 10% of our capital stock could call a special meeting. A negative determination would be subject to judicial challenge by an affected stockholder, and the necessity for a class vote would ultimately be determined by a court. There are no other procedures for determining whether a particular proposed stockholder action requires a class vote, and Mexican law does not provide extensive guidance on the criteria to be applied in making such a determination.
General stockholders’ meetings may be ordinary general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. Extraordinary general meetings are those called to consider specific matters specified in Article 182 of the Mexican Companies Law and our bylaws, including, among others, amendments to our bylaws, our dissolution, liquidation or split-up, our merger and transformation from one form of company to another, increases and reductions in our capital stock, the approval of certain acquisitions of shares, including a change of control, as set forth in the antitakeover provisions in our bylaws and any action for civil liabilities against the members of our Board of Directors, its Secretary, or members of our Audit and Corporate Practices Committee. In addition, our bylaws require an extraordinary general meeting to consider the cancellation of registration of the D Shares or L Shares or the securities representing these Shares with the NRS, as the case may be, and in the case of D Shares, with any other Mexican or foreign stock exchange in which such Shares or securities are registered. General meetings called to consider all other matters are ordinary meetings which are held at least once each year within four months following the end of each fiscal year. Stockholders may be represented at any stockholders’ meeting by completing a form of proxy provided by us, which proxy is available within fifteen days prior to such meeting, and designating a representative to vote on their behalf. The form of proxy must comply with certain content requirements as set forth in the Mexican Securities Market Law and in our bylaws.
Holders of CPOs. Holders of CPOs who are Mexican nationals or Mexican corporations whose bylaws exclude foreign ownership of their shares are entitled to exercise voting rights with respect to the A Shares, B Shares, D Shares and L Shares underlying their CPOs. The CPO Trustee will vote such shares as directed by Mexican holders of CPOs, which must provide evidence of Mexican nationality. Non-Mexican holders of CPOs may only vote the L Shares held in the CPO Trust and are not entitled to exercise any voting rights with respect to the A Shares, B Shares and D Shares held in the CPO Trust. Voting rights in respect of these A Shares, B Shares and D Shares may only be exercised by the CPO Trustee. A Shares, B Shares and D Shares underlying the CPOs of non-Mexican holders or holders that do not give timely instructions as to voting of such Shares, (a) will be voted at special meetings of A Shares, B Shares or D Shares, as the case may be, as instructed by the CPO Trust’s Technical Committee (which

 

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consists of members of the Board of Directors and/or Executive Committee, who must be Mexican nationals), and (b) will be voted at any general meeting where such series has the right to vote in the same manner as the majority of the outstanding A Shares held by Mexican nationals or Mexican corporations (directly, or through the CPO Trust, as the case may be) are voted at the relevant meeting. L Shares underlying the CPOs of any holders that do not give timely instructions as to the voting of such Shares will be voted, at special meetings of L Shares and at general extraordinary meetings where L Shares have voting rights, as instructed by the Technical Committee of the CPO Trust. The CPO Trustee must receive voting instructions five business days prior to the stockholders’ meeting. Holders of CPOs that are Mexican nationals or Mexican corporations whose bylaws exclude foreign ownership of their Shares also must provide evidence of nationality, such as a copy of a valid Mexican passport or birth certificate, for individuals, or a copy of the bylaws, for corporations.
As described in “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions,” A Shares held through the Azcárraga Trust constitute a majority of the A Shares whose holders are entitled to vote them, because non-Mexican holders of CPOs and GDSs are not permitted to vote the underlying A Shares. Accordingly, the vote of A Shares held through the Azcárraga Trust generally will determine how the A Shares underlying our CPOs are voted.
Holders of GDRs. Global Depositary Receipts, or GDRs evidencing GDSs are issued by The Bank of New York Mellon, the Depositary, pursuant to the Deposit Agreement we entered into with the Depositary and all holders from time to time of GDSs. Each GDR evidences a specified number of GDSs. A GDR may represent any number of GDSs. Only persons in whose names GDRs are registered on the books of the Depositary will be treated by us and the Depositary as owners and holders of GDRs. Each GDS represents the right to receive five CPOs which will be credited to the account of Banco Inbursa, S.A., the Custodian, maintained with Indeval for such purpose. Each CPO represents financial interests in, and limited voting rights with respect to, 25 A Shares, 22 B Shares, 35 L Shares and 35 D Shares held pursuant to the CPO Trust.
The Depositary will mail information on stockholders’ meetings to all holders of GDRs. At least six business days prior to the relevant stockholders’ meeting, GDR holders may instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to the CPOs represented by their GDSs, and the underlying Shares. Since the CPO Trustee must also receive voting instructions five business days prior to the stockholders’ meeting, the Depositary may be unable to vote the CPOs and underlying Shares in accordance with any written instructions. Holders that are Mexican nationals or Mexican corporations whose bylaws exclude foreign ownership of their Shares are entitled to exercise voting rights with respect to the A Shares, B Shares, D Shares and L Shares underlying the CPOs represented by their GDSs. Such Mexican holders also must provide evidence of nationality, such as a copy of a valid Mexican passport or birth certificate, for individuals, or a copy of the bylaws, for corporations.
Non-Mexican holders may exercise voting rights only with respect to L Shares underlying the CPOs represented by their GDSs. They may not direct the CPO Trustee as to how to vote the A Shares, B Shares or D Shares represented by CPOs or attend stockholders’ meetings. Under the terms of the CPO Trust Agreement, the CPO Trustee will vote the A Shares, B Shares, D Shares and L Shares represented by CPOs held by non-Mexican holders (including holders of GDRs) as described under “— Holders of CPOs”. If the Depositary does not timely receive instructions from a Mexican or Non-Mexican holder of GDRs as to the exercise of voting rights relating to the A Shares, B Shares, D Shares or L Shares underlying the CPOs, as the case may be, in the relevant stockholders’ meeting then, if requested in writing by us, the Depositary will give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to vote the Shares. If no such written request is made by us, the Depositary will not represent or vote, attempt to represent or vote any right that attaches to, or instruct the CPO Trustee to represent or vote, the Shares underlying the CPOs in the relevant stockholders’ meeting and, as a result, the underlying shares will be voted in the same manner described under “— Holders of CPOs” with respect to shares for which timely instructions as to voting are not given.
If the Depositary does not timely receive instructions from a Mexican or non-Mexican holder of GDRs as to the exercise of voting rights relating to the underlying CPOs in the relevant CPO holders’ meeting, the Depositary and the Custodian will take such actions as are necessary to cause such CPOs to be counted for purposes of satisfying applicable quorum requirements and, unless we in our sole discretion have given prior written notice to the Depositary and the Custodian to the contrary, vote them in the same manner as the majority of the CPOs are voted at the relevant CPOs holders’ meeting.
Under the terms of the CPO Trust, beginning in December 2008, a non-Mexican holder of CPOs or GDSs may instruct the CPO Trustee to request that we issue and deliver certificates representing each of the Shares underlying its CPOs so that the CPO Trustee may sell, to a third party entitled to hold the Shares, all of those Shares and deliver to the holder any proceeds derived from the sale.
Limitation on Appointment of Directors. Our bylaws prohibit the appointment of individuals to our Board of Directors: who (i) are members of the board of directors or other management boards of a company (other than the Company or its subsidiaries) that has one or more concessions to operate telecommunication networks in Mexico; or (ii) directly or indirectly, are shareholders or partners of companies (other than the Company or its subsidiaries), that have one or more concessions to operate telecommunication networks in Mexico, with the exception of ownership stakes that do not allow such individuals to appoint one or more members of the management board or any other operation or decision making board.

 

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Dividend Rights
At our annual ordinary general stockholders’ meeting, our Board of Directors is required to submit our financial statements from the previous fiscal year to the holders of our A Shares and B Shares voting together and a majority of the A Shares voting separately. Once our stockholders approve these financial statements, they must then allocate our net profits for the previous fiscal year. Under Mexican law, at least 5% of our net profits must be allocated to a legal reserve, until the amount of this reserve equals 20% of our paid-in capital stock. Thereafter, our stockholders may allocate our net profits to any special reserve, including a reserve for share repurchases. After this allocation, the remainder of our net profits will be available for distribution as dividends. The vote of the majority of the A Shares and B Shares voting together, and a majority of the A Shares voting separately, is necessary to approve dividend payments. As described below, in the event that dividends are declared, holders of D Shares will have preferential rights to dividends as compared to holders of A Shares, B Shares and L Shares. Holders of A Shares, B Shares and L Shares have the same financial or economic rights, including the participation in any of our profits.
Preferential Rights of D Shares
Holders of D Shares are entitled to receive a cumulative fixed preferred annual dividend in the amount of Ps.0.00034177575 per D Share before any dividends are payable in respect of A Shares, B Shares and L Shares. If we pay any dividends in addition to the D Share fixed preferred dividend, then such dividends shall be allocated as follows:
    first, to the payment of dividends with respect to the A Shares, the B Shares and the L Shares, in an equal amount per share, up to the amount of the D Share fixed preferred dividend; and
 
    second, to the payment of dividends with respect to the A Shares, B Shares, D Shares and L Shares, such that the dividend per share is equal.
Upon any dissolution or liquidation of our company, holders of D Shares are entitled to a liquidation preference equal to:
    accrued but unpaid dividends in respect of their D Shares; plus
 
    the theoretical value of their D Shares as set forth in our bylaws. See “— Other Provisions — Dissolution or Liquidation”.
Limitation on Capital Increases
Our bylaws provide that, in the event shares of a given series are issued as a result of a capital increase (in respect of a cash capital contribution), each holder of shares of that series will have a preferential right to subscribe to new shares of that series, in proportion to the number of such holder’s existing Shares of that series. In addition, primary issuances of A Shares, B Shares, D Shares and L Shares in the form of CPOs may be limited under the Mexican Securities Market Law. As a result of grandfathering provisions, our existing CPO structure will not be affected by the amendments to the law. However, in the case of primary issuances of additional A Shares, B Shares, L Shares and D Shares in the form of CPOs, any new L Shares and D Shares may be required to be converted into A Shares or other voting stock within a term specified by the CNBV, which in no event shall exceed five years. Moreover, under the Mexican Securities Market Law, the aggregate amount of shares of an issuer with limited or non-voting rights may not exceed 25% of the total shares held by public investors. The vote of the holders of a majority of the A Shares is necessary to approve capital increases.
Preemptive Rights
In the event of a capital increase, a holder of existing shares of a given series has a preferential right to subscribe to a sufficient number of shares of the same series in order to maintain the holder’s existing proportionate holdings of shares of that series. Stockholders must exercise their preemptive rights within the time period fixed by our stockholders at the meeting approving the issuance of additional shares. This period must continue for at least fifteen days following the publication of notice of the issuance in the Diario Oficial de la Federación and in a newspaper of general circulation in Mexico City. Under Mexican law, stockholders cannot waive their preemptive rights in advance or be represented by an instrument that is negotiable separately from the corresponding share.
U.S. holders of GDSs may exercise preemptive rights only if we register any newly issued shares under the Securities Act, as amended, or qualify for an exemption from registration. We intend to evaluate at the time of any offering of preemptive rights the costs and potential liabilities associated with registering additional shares. In addition, if our stockholders’ meeting approves the issuance of shares of a particular series, holders of shares of other series may be offered shares of that particular series.

 

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Limitations on Share Ownership
Ownership by non-Mexicans of shares of Mexican enterprises is regulated by the Foreign Investment Law and the accompanying Foreign Investment Law Regulations. The Economics Ministry and the Foreign Investment Commission are responsible for the administration of the Foreign Investment Law and the Foreign Investment Law Regulations. The Foreign Investment Law reserves certain economic activities exclusively for the Mexican State, certain other activities exclusively for Mexican individuals or Mexican corporations and limits the participation of non-Mexican investors to certain percentages in regard to other enterprises engaged in activities specified therein. Foreign investors may freely participate in up to 100% of the capital stock of Mexican companies or entities except for those existing companies engaged in specific activities, as described below and those with assets exceeding specified amounts established annually by the Foreign Investment Commission, in which case an approval from the Foreign Investment Commission will be necessary in order for foreign investment to exceed 49% of the capital stock. The Foreign Investment Law reserves certain economic activities exclusively for the Mexican state and reserves certain other activities (including television and radio broadcasting) exclusively for Mexican nationals, consisting of Mexican individuals and Mexican corporations the charters of which contain a prohibition on ownership by non-Mexicans of the corporation’s capital stock (a “foreign exclusion clause”). However, the Foreign Investment Law grants broad authority to the Foreign Investment Commission to allow foreign investors to own specified interests in the capital of certain Mexican enterprises. In particular, the Foreign Investment Law provides that certain investments, which comply with certain conditions, are considered “neutral investments” and are not included in the calculation of the foreign investment percentage for the relevant Mexican entity.
In order to comply with these restrictions, we have limited the ownership of our A Shares and B Shares to Mexican individuals, Mexican companies the charters of which contain a foreign exclusion clause, credit institutions acting as trustees (such as the CPO Trustee) in accordance with the Foreign Investment Law and the Foreign Investment Law Regulations, and trusts or stock purchase, investment and retirement plans for Mexican employees. The criteria for an investor to qualify as Mexican under our bylaws are stricter than those generally applicable under the Foreign Investment Law and Foreign Investment Law Regulations. A holder that acquires A Shares or B Shares in violation of the restrictions on non-Mexican ownership will have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to those A Shares or B Shares and could also be subject to monetary sanctions. The D Shares are subject to the same restrictions on ownership as the A Shares and B Shares. However, the foregoing limitations do not affect the ability of non-Mexican investors to hold A Shares, B Shares, D Shares and L Shares through CPOs, or L Shares directly, because such instruments constitute a “neutral investment” and do not affect control of the issuing company, pursuant to the exceptions contained in the Foreign Investment Law. The sum of the total outstanding number of A Shares and B Shares is required to exceed at all times the sum of the total outstanding L Shares and D Shares.
The Foreign Investment Law and Foreign Investment Law Regulations also require that we and the CPO Trust register with the National Registry of Foreign Investments. In addition to the limitations established by the Foreign Investment Law, the Radio and Television Law provides restrictions on ownership by non-Mexicans of shares of Mexican enterprises holding concessions for radio and television such as those held indirectly by us. Non-Mexican states and governments are prohibited under our bylaws and the Radio and Television Law from owning Shares of Televisa and are, therefore, prohibited from being the beneficial or record owners of the A Shares, B Shares, D Shares, L Shares, CPOs and GDSs. We have been advised by our Mexican counsel, Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C., that ownership of the A Shares, B Shares, D Shares, L Shares, CPOs and GDSs by pension or retirement funds organized for the benefit of employees of non-Mexican state, municipal or other governmental agencies will not be considered as ownership by non-Mexican states or governments for the purpose of our bylaws or the Radio and Television Law.
We may restrict transfers or, to the extent permitted under applicable law, cause the mandatory sale or disposition of CPOs and GDRs where such transfer or ownership, as the case may be, might result in ownership of CPOs or GDRs exceeding the limits under applicable law or our bylaws, the CPO Trust Agreement or the CPO Deed. Non-Mexican states and governments are prohibited under our bylaws and Radio and Television Law from owning our Shares and are, therefore, prohibited from being beneficial or record owners of GDRs.
Other Provisions
Forfeiture of Shares. As required by Mexican law, our bylaws provide that for L Shares and CPOs, our non-Mexican stockholders formally agree with the Foreign Affairs Ministry:
    to be considered as Mexicans with respect to the L Shares and CPOs that they acquire or hold, as well as to the property, rights, concessions, participations or interests owned by us or to the rights and obligations derived from any agreements we have with the Mexican government; and
 
    not to invoke the protection of their own governments with respect to their ownership of L Shares and CPOs.

 

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Failure to comply is subject to a penalty of forfeiture of such a stockholders’ capital interests in favor of Mexico. In the opinion of Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C., our Mexican counsel, under this provision a non-Mexican stockholder is deemed to have agreed not to invoke the protection of its own government by asking such government to interpose a diplomatic claim against the Mexican government with respect to the stockholders’ rights as a stockholder, but is not deemed to have waived any other rights it may have, including any rights under the U.S. securities laws, with respect to its investment in Televisa. If the stockholder should invoke governmental protection in violation of this agreement, its shares could be forfeited to the Mexican government.
Exclusive Jurisdiction. Our bylaws provide that legal action relating to the execution, interpretation or performance of the bylaws shall be brought only in federal courts located in Mexico City.
Duration. Our corporate existence under our bylaws continues until 2106.
Dissolution or Liquidation. Upon any dissolution or liquidation of our company, our stockholders will appoint one or more liquidators at an extraordinary general stockholders’ meeting to wind up our affairs. The approval of holders of the majority of the A Shares is necessary to appoint or remove any liquidator. Upon a dissolution or liquidation, holders of D Shares will be entitled to both accrued but unpaid dividends in respect of their D Shares, plus the theoretical value of their D Shares (as set forth in our bylaws). The theoretical value of our D Shares is Ps.0.00683551495 per share. Thereafter, a payment per share will be made to each of the holders of A Shares, B Shares and L Shares equivalent to the payment received by each of the holders of D Shares. The remainder will be distributed equally among all stockholders in proportion to their number of Shares and amount paid.
Redemption. Our bylaws provide that we may redeem our Shares with distributable profits without reducing our capital stock by way of a stockholder resolution at an extraordinary stockholders’ meeting. In accordance with Mexican law and our bylaws:
    any redemption shall be made on a pro-rata basis among all of our stockholders;
 
    to the extent that a redemption is effected through a public tender offer on the Mexican Stock Exchange, the stockholders’ resolution approving the redemption may empower our Board to specify the number of shares to be redeemed and appoint the related intermediary or purchase agent; and
 
    any redeemed shares must be cancelled.
Share Repurchases. As required by Mexican law, our bylaws provide that we may repurchase our Shares on the Mexican Stock Exchange at then prevailing market prices. The amount of capital stock allocated to share repurchases and the amount of the corresponding reserve created for this purpose is determined annually by our stockholders at a ordinary general stockholders’ meeting. The aggregate amount of resources allocated to share repurchases in any given year cannot exceed the total amount of our net profits in any given year, including retained earnings. Share repurchases must be charged to either our net worth if the repurchased Shares remain in our possession or our capital stock if the repurchased Shares are converted into treasury shares, in which case our capital stock is reduced automatically in an amount equal to the theoretical value of any repurchased Shares, if any. Any surplus is charged to the reserve for share repurchases. If the purchase price of the Shares is less than the theoretical value of the repurchased Shares, our capital stock account will be affected by an amount equal to the theoretical value of the repurchased Shares. Under Mexican law, we are not required to create a special reserve for the repurchase of shares, nor do we need the approval of our Board to effect share repurchases. In addition, any repurchased Shares cannot be represented at any stockholders’ meeting.
Conflicts of Interest. Under Mexican Law, any stockholder that votes on a transaction in which his, her or its interests conflict with our interests may be liable for damages, but only if the transaction would not have been approved without his, her or its vote. In addition, any member of the Board of Directors that votes on a transaction in which his, her or its interests conflict, with our interests may be liable for damages. The Securities Market Law also imposes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty on directors as has been described in Item 6. In addition, pursuant to the Mexican Securities Market Law, the Board of Directors, with input from the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee, must review and approve transactions and arrangements with related parties. See “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Our Board of Directors — Meetings; Actions Requiring Board Approval”.
Appraisal Rights and Other Minority Protections. Whenever our stockholders approve a change in our corporate purpose or jurisdiction of organization or our transformation from one type of company to another, any stockholder entitled to vote that did not vote in favor of these matters has the right to receive payment for its A Shares, B Shares, D Shares or L Shares in an amount calculated in accordance with Mexican law. However, stockholders must exercise their appraisal rights within fifteen days after the stockholders’ meeting at which the matter was approved. Because the holders of L Shares and D Shares may only vote in limited circumstances, appraisal rights are generally not available to them. See “— Voting Rights and Stockholders’ Meetings”.

 

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Because the CPO Trustee must vote at a general stockholders’ meeting, the A Shares, B Shares and D Shares held by non-Mexicans in the CPO Trust in the same manner as the majority of the A Shares held by Mexican nationals (directly, or through the CPO Trust, as the case may be), the A Shares, B Shares and D Shares underlying CPOs held by non-Mexicans will not be voted against any change that triggers the appraisal rights of the holders of these Shares. Therefore, these appraisal rights will not be available to holders of CPOs (or GDRs) with respect to A Shares, B Shares or D Shares. The CPO Trustee will exercise such other corporate rights at special stockholders’ meetings with respect to the underlying A Shares, B Shares and D Shares as may be directed by the Technical Committee of the CPO trust.
The Mexican Securities Market Law and our bylaws include provisions that permit:
    holders of at least 10% of our outstanding capital stock to request our Chairman of the Board or of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee to call a stockholders’ meeting in which they are entitled to vote;
 
    subject to the satisfaction of certain requirements under Mexican law, holders of at least 5% of our outstanding capital stock to bring an action for civil liabilities against our directors;
 
    holders of at least 10% of our Shares that are entitled to vote and are represented at a stockholders’ meeting to request postponement of resolutions with respect to any matter on which they were not sufficiently informed; and
 
    subject to the satisfaction of certain requirements under Mexican law, holders of at least 20% of our outstanding capital stock to contest and suspend any stockholder resolution.
See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Our Securities — The Protections Afforded to Minority Stockholders in Mexico Are Different From Those in the U.S.”. In addition, in accordance with the Mexican Securities Market Law, we are also subject to certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirement to maintain an audit committee, a corporate practices committee, and to elect independent directors. The protections afforded to minority stockholders under Mexican law are generally different from those in the U.S. and many other jurisdictions. Substantive Mexican law concerning fiduciary duties of directors has not been the subject of extensive judicial interpretation in Mexico, unlike many states in the U.S. where duties of care and loyalty elaborated by judicial decisions help to shape the rights of minority stockholders. Mexican civil procedure does not contemplate class actions or stockholder derivative actions, which permit stockholders in U.S. courts to bring actions on behalf of other stockholders or to enforce rights of the corporation itself. Stockholders in Mexico also cannot challenge corporate actions taken at stockholders’ meetings unless they meet stringent procedural requirements. See “— Voting Rights and Stockholders’ Meetings”. As a result of these factors, it is generally more difficult for our minority stockholders to enforce rights against us or our directors or Major Stockholders than it is for stockholders of a corporation established under the laws of a state of the U.S. In addition, under U.S. securities laws, as a foreign private issuer we are exempt from certain rules that apply to domestic U.S. issuers with equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, including the proxy solicitation rules. We are also exempt from many of the corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
Antitakeover Protections
General. Our bylaws provide that, subject to certain exceptions, (i) any person, entity or group of persons and/or entities that wishes to acquire beneficial ownership of common Shares (as defined below) which, when coupled with common Shares previously beneficially owned by such persons or their affiliates, represent 10% or more of our outstanding common Shares, (ii) any competitor or group of competitors that wishes to acquire beneficial ownership of Shares which, when coupled with Shares previously beneficially owned by such competitor, group of competitors or their affiliates, represent 5% or more of our outstanding capital stock, (iii) any person, entity or group of persons and/or entities that wishes to acquire beneficial ownership of Shares representing 10% or more of our outstanding Shares, and (iv) any competitor or group of competitors that wishes to acquire beneficial ownership of Shares representing 5% or more of our capital stock, must obtain the prior approval of our Board of Directors and/or of our stockholders, as the case may be, subject to certain exceptions summarized below. Holders that acquire Shares in violation of these requirements will not be considered the beneficial owners of such Shares under our bylaws and will not be registered in our stock registry. Accordingly, these holders will not be able to vote such Shares or receive any dividends, distributions or other rights in respect of these Shares. In addition, pursuant to our bylaws, these holders will be obligated to pay us a penalty in an amount equal to the market value of the Shares so acquired. Pursuant to our bylaws, “Shares” are defined as the shares (of any class or series) representing our capital stock, and any instruments or securities that represent such shares or that grant any right with respect to or are convertible into those shares, expressly including CPOs.
Pursuant to our bylaws, a “competitor” is generally defined as any person or entity who, directly or indirectly, is engaged in any of the following businesses or activities: television production and broadcasting, pay-TV production, program licensing, direct-to-home satellite services, publishing (newspaper and/or magazine), publishing distribution, music recording, cable television, the transmission of programming and/or other content by any other means known or to be known, radio broadcasting and production, the promotion of professional sports and other entertainment events, paging services, production, feature film/motion picture production and distribution, dubbing and/or the operation of an Internet portal. A “competitor” is also defined to include any person, entity and/or group that is engaged in any type of business or activity in which we may be engaged from time to time and from which we derive 5% or more of our consolidated income.

 

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Board Notices, Meetings, Quorum Requirements and Approvals. To obtain the prior approval of our Board, a potential acquiror must properly deliver a written notice that states, among other things: (i) the number and class/type of our Shares it beneficially owns, (ii) the percentage of Shares it beneficially owns with respect to both our outstanding capital stock and the respective class/type of our Shares, (iii) the number and class/type of Shares it intends to acquire, (iv) the number and class/type of Shares it intends to grant or share a common interest or right, (v) its identity, or in the case of an acquiror which is a corporation, trust or legal entity, its stockholders or beneficiaries as well as the identity and nationality of each person effectively controlling such corporation, trust or legal entity, (vi) its ability to acquire our Shares in accordance with our bylaws and Mexican law, (vii) its source of financing the intended acquisition, (viii) if it has obtained any financing from one of its related parties for the payment of the Shares, (ix) the purpose of the intended acquisition, (x) if it intends to acquire additional common Shares in the future, which coupled with the current intended acquisition of common Shares and the common Shares previously beneficially owned by the potential acquiror, would result in ownership of 20% or more of our common Shares, (xi) if it intends to acquire control of us in the future, (xii) if the acquiror is our competitor or if it has any direct or indirect economic interest in or family relationship with one of our competitors and (xiii) the identity of the financial institution, if any, that will act as the underwriter or broker in connection with any tender offer.
Either the Chairman, the Secretary or the Alternate Secretary of our Board of Directors must call a Board meeting within 10 calendar days following the receipt of the written notice and the Board meeting must be held within 45 calendar days following the call. Action by written consent is not permitted. With the exception of acquisitions that must be approved by the general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting as described below in “Stockholder Notices, Meetings, Quorum Requirements and Approvals,” in order to proceed with any acquisition of Shares that require Board authorization as set forth in our bylaws, such acquisition must be approved by at least the majority of the members of our Board present at a meeting at which at least 75% of the members of our Board are present. Such acquisitions must be acted upon by our Board within 60 calendar days following the receipt of the written notice described above, unless the Board determines that it does not have sufficient information upon which to base its decision. In such case, the Board shall deliver a written request to the potential acquiror for any additional information that it deems necessary to make its determination. The 60 calendar days referred to above will commence following the receipt of the additional information from the potential acquiror to render its decision.
Stockholder Notices, Meetings, Quorum Requirements and Approvals. In the event (i) of a proposed acquisition of Shares that would result in a “change of control,” (ii) that our Board cannot hold a Board meeting for any reason, (iii) of a proposed acquisition by a competitor and having certain characteristics, or (iv) that the Board determines that the proposed acquisition must be approved by our stockholders at a general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting, among others, then the proposed acquisition must be approved by the holders of at least 75% of our outstanding common Shares at a general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting (both in the case of first and subsequent calls) at which the holders of at least 85% of our outstanding common Shares are present. In addition, any proposed merger, spin-off, or capital increase or decrease which results in a change of control must also be approved by the holders of at least 75% of our outstanding common Shares at a general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting (both in the case of first and subsequent calls) at which the holders of at least 85% of our outstanding common Shares are present. Pursuant to our bylaws, a “change of control” is defined as the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the acquisition or transfer of ownership of a majority of our outstanding common Shares, (ii) the ability of a person, entity or group, other than the person who currently has the ability to, directly or indirectly, elect a majority of the members of our Board of Directors, to elect a majority of the members of our Board of Directors or (iii) the ability of a person, entity or group, other than the person who currently has the ability to, directly or indirectly, determine our administrative decisions or policies, to determine our administrative decisions or policies. In the event that the general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting must approve the proposed acquisition, either the Chairman, the Secretary or the Alternate Secretary of our Board of Directors must publish a call for a general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting in the Official Gazette of the Federation and two other newspapers of general circulation in Mexico City at least 30 calendar days prior to such meeting (both in the case of first and subsequent calls). Once the call for the general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting has been published, all information related to the agenda for the meeting must be available for review by the holders of common Shares at the offices of our Secretary.
Mandatory Tender Offers in the Case of Certain Acquisitions. If either our Board of Directors or our stockholders at a general extraordinary stockholders’ meeting, as the case may be, authorize an acquisition of common Shares which increases the acquiror’s ownership to 20% or more, but not more than 50%, of our outstanding common Shares, without such acquisition resulting in a change of control, then the acquiror must effect its acquisition by way of a cash tender offer for a specified number of Shares equal to the greater of (x) the percentage of common Shares intended to be acquired or (y) 10% of our outstanding capital stock. In the event that

 

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our stockholders approve an acquisition that would result in a change of control, the acquiror must effect its acquisition by way of a cash tender offer for 100% of our total outstanding capital stock at a price which cannot be lower than the highest of the following: (i) the book value of the common Shares and CPOs as reported on the last quarterly income statement approved by the Board of Directors, (ii) the highest closing price of the common Shares, on any stock exchange during any of the three hundred-sixty-five (365) days preceding the date of the stockholders’ resolution approving the acquisition; or (iii) the highest price paid for any Shares, at any time by the acquiror. All tender offers must be made in Mexico and the U.S. within 60 days following the date on which the acquisition was approved by our Board of Directors or stockholders’ meeting, as the case may be. All holders must be paid the same price for their common Shares. The provisions of our bylaws summarized above regarding mandatory tender offers in the case of certain acquisitions are generally more stringent than those provided for under the Mexican Securities Market Law. In accordance with the Mexican Securities Market Law, bylaw provisions regarding mandatory tender offers in the case of certain acquisitions may differ from the requirements set forth in such law, provided that those provisions are more protective to minority stockholders than those afforded by law. In these cases, the relevant bylaw provisions, and not the relevant provisions of the Mexican Securities Market Law, will apply to certain acquisitions specified therein.
Exceptions. The provisions of our bylaws summarized above will not apply to (i) transfers of common Shares and/or CPOs by operation of the laws of inheritance, (ii) acquisitions of common Shares and/or CPOs by any person who, directly or indirectly, is entitled to appoint the greatest number of members to our Board of Directors, as well as by (A) entities controlled by such person, (B) affiliates of such person, (C) the estate of such person, (D) certain family members of such person, and (E) such person, when such person acquires any common Shares and/or CPOs from any entity, affiliate, person or family member referred to in (A), (B) and (D) above, and (iii) acquisitions or transfers of common Shares and/or CPOs by us, our subsidiaries or affiliates, or any trust created by us or any of our subsidiaries.
Amendments to the Antitakeover Provisions. Any amendments to these antitakeover provisions must be authorized by the CNBV and registered before the Public Registry of Commerce at our corporate domicile.
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
We are organized under the laws of Mexico. Substantially all of our directors, executive officers and controlling persons reside outside of the U.S., all or a significant portion of the assets of our directors, executive officers and controlling persons, and substantially all of our assets, are located outside of the U.S. and some of the experts named in this annual report also reside outside of the U.S. As a result, it may not be possible for you to effect service of process within the U.S. upon these persons or to enforce against them or us in U.S. courts judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the U.S. We have been advised by our Mexican counsel, Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C., that there is doubt as to the enforceability, in original actions in Mexican courts, of liabilities predicated solely on U.S. federal securities laws and as to the enforceability in Mexican courts of judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Factors Related to Our Securities — It May Be Difficult to Enforce Civil Liabilities Against Us or Our Directors, Executive Officers and Controlling Persons”.
Material Contracts
We have been granted a number of concessions by the Mexican government that authorize us to broadcast our programming over our television and radio stations and our cable and DTH systems. These concessions are described under “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation”. If we are unable to renew, or if the Mexican government revokes, any of the concessions for our significant television stations, our business would be materially adversely affected. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Factors Related to Our Business — The Operation of Our Business May Be Terminated or Interrupted if the Mexican Government Does Not Renew or Revokes Our Broadcast or Other Concessions”.
We operate our DTH satellite service in Mexico and Central America through a partnership with DIRECTV. See “Information on the Company — Business Overview — DTH Ventures”.
In May 2007, we issued Ps.4,500.00 million aggregate principal amount of 8.49% Senior Notes due 2037. In May 2008, we issued U.S.$500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.0% Senior Notes due 2018. In November 2009, we issued U.S.$600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2040. In October 2010, we issued Ps.10,000 million aggregate principal amount of 7.38% Senior Notes due 2020. In March 2011, we entered into long-term credit agreements with four Mexican banks in the aggregate principal amount of Ps.8,600 million. For a description of the material terms of the amended indentures related to our 8% Senior Notes due 2011, our 8.5% Senior Notes due 2032, our 6 5/8% Senior Notes due 2025, our 8.49% Senior Notes due 2037, our 6.0% Senior Notes due 2018, our 6.625% Senior Notes due 2040, our 7.38% Senior Notes due 2020, our facilities with a Mexican bank, our Ps.8,600 million long-term credit agreements with four Mexican banks, with annual interest rate between 8.09% and 9.4% and principal maturities between 2016 and 2021 and our Ps.1,000 million long-term credit agreement, see “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Refinancings” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Results of Operations — Liquidity, Foreign Exchange and Capital Resources — Indebtedness”.

 

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In December 2007, our subsidiary, Sky, and Sky Brasil reached an agreement with Intelsat Corporation and Intelsat LLC, to build and launch a new 24-transponder satellite, IS-16. The agreement contemplates payment of a one-time fixed fee in the aggregate amount of U.S.$138.6 million that was paid in two installments, the first in the first quarter of 2010, and the second in the first quarter of 2011, as well as a monthly service fee of U.S.$150,000 commencing on the service start date. In March 2010, Sky reached an agreement with a subsidiary of Intelsat to lease 24 transponders on Intelsat IS-21 satellite which will be mainly used for signal reception and retransmission services over the satellite’s estimated 15-years service life. IS-21 satellite intends to replace Intelsat IS-9 as Sky’s primary transmission satellite and is currently expected to start service in the third quarter of 2012.
In December 2007, our indirect majority-owned subsidiary, Cablestar, completed the acquisition of shares of companies owning the majority of the assets of Bestel, a privately held, facilities-based telecommunications company in Mexico, for U.S.$256.0 million in cash plus an additional capital contribution of U.S.$69.0 million. In connection with the financing of the acquisition of the majority of the assets of Bestel, Cablevisión, Cablemás and TVI, which as of December 2007, held 69.2%, 15.4% and 15.4% of the equity stock of Cablestar, respectively, each entered into five year term loan facilities for U.S.$225.0 million, U.S.$50.0 million and U.S.$50.0 million, respectively. Bestel focuses on providing voice, data and managed services to domestic and international carriers and to the enterprise, corporate and government segments in both Mexico and the United States. In July 2009, TVI prepaid the loan facility through an exchange with the Company of such loan receivable for the 15.4% interest TVI held in Cablestar and for Ps.85.58 million in cash. In November 2010 and March 2011, Cablemás and Cablevisión prepaid in full the oustanding balance of the U.S.$50.0 million and U.S.$225.0 million loan facilities, respectively. Bestel owns a fiber-optic network of approximately 8,000 kilometers that covers several important cities and economic regions in Mexico and has direct crossing of its network into Dallas, Texas, Nogales, Arizona and San Diego, California in the United States. This enables the company to provide high capacity connectivity between the United States and Mexico.
On February 15, 2010, we entered into an Investment and Securities Subscription Agreement, or Investment Agreement, with NII pursuant to which we agreed to invest U.S.$1.44 billion in cash for a 30% equity interest in Nextel Mexico. Our investment and other transactions contemplated by the Investment Agreement were conditioned upon the consortium formed by Nextel Mexico and the Group being awarded licenses to use specified amounts of spectrum in the spectrum auctions held in Mexico during 2010, and other customary closing conditions. In October 2010, we and NII announced that we had mutually agreed to terminate the Investment Agreement and other related agreements.
On March 18, 2010, Telefónica, Editora Factum, S.A. de C.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Megacable agreed to jointly participate, through a consortium, in the public bid for a pair of dark fiber wires held by the CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad). On June 9, 2010, the SCT granted the consortium a favorable award in the bidding process for a 20 year contract for the lease of approximately 19,457 kilometers of dark fiber-optic capacity, along with a corresponding concession, granted on July 5, 2010, to operate a public telecommunications network using DWDM technology. The consortium, through GTAC, in which each of Telefónica, Editora Factum and Megacable has an equal equity participation, paid Ps.883.8 million as consideration for the concession. GTAC plans to have the network ready to offer commercial services around the end of 2011. The total investment in GTAC made by the consortium in 2010 was Ps.1.3 billion and there will be further investments in 2011, in an approximate amount of Ps.700 million.
On April 7, 2011, we entered into a transaction pursuant to which CVQ, our wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired from MMI (i) the trust beneficiary rights to 1.093875% of the outstanding shares of stock of GSF, which indirectly owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Iusacell, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately U.S.$37.5 million; and (ii) the GSF convertible debentures, issued by GSF and mandatorily convertible into shares of stock of GSF, in an aggregate principal amount of approximately U.S.$365 million of the Series 1 tranche thereof and U.S.$1,200 million of the Series 2 tranche thereof, for an aggregate investment in the GSF convertible debentures of approximately U.S.$1,565 million. The trust beneficiary rights and the Series 1 Debentures were paid in cash on April 7, 2011. The Series 2 Debentures are payable in cash by us no later than October 31, 2011 (in a single up-front installment or in multiple installments). As of June 28, 2011, U.S.$600.0 million of the amount payable in respect of the Series 2 Debentures had been paid, and U.S.$600.0 million remains to be paid no later than October 31, 2011.
We also agreed to make an additional payment of U.S.$400 million to Iusacell if Iusacell’s EBITDA reaches U.S.$3,472 million at any time from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. Upon conversion of the GSF convertible debentures, CVQ will own 50% of the outstanding shares of stock of GSF and, indirectly, 50% of the outstanding shares of Iusacell, and we and GSTelecom, the owner of the remaining 50% of the GSF stock, will have equal corporate governance rights. The conversion of the GSF convertible debentures is only subject to the approval of the Mexican Antitrust Commission.

 

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Our transactions and arrangements with related parties are described under “Major Stockholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions”.
For a description of our material transactions and arrangements with Univision, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Univision”.
Legal Proceedings
In October 2001, a claim for damages was filed in connection with an alleged copyright infringement on a technical written work titled La Lupa, or Catch the Clue. In November 2002, a final judgment was entered against us whereby we were declared liable for an amount equal to 40% of the income generated from such work. In January 2005, a motion to enforce the final judgment, or the Final Motion, was filed. The Final Motion was resolved and the amount of liability set by the Court was Ps.138.1 million.
After several appeals, on March 4, 2010 the Seventh Court of Appeals of the “Tribunal Superior de Justicia del DF” (Supreme Court of the Federal District) revoked the amount of liability set by the court and as a result the judge determined the amount of liability set by the court rises to the amount of Ps.901.2 thousand. The plaintiff appealed such decision. On March 17, 2011, the First Federal Collegiate Court in Civil Matters issued a final judgment denying such appeal and reaffirming the Seventh Court of Appeals decision.
The executor of the estate of Mr. Ernesto Alonso (“Executor”) filed a lawsuit in Mexico seeking to invalidate an agreement pursuant to which Mr. Alonso assigned to us all the rights to more than 170 scripts written by him. The Executor alleges, among other things, that the term of such agreement exceeds the term permitted under the Mexican Federal Copyright Law. We believe the Executor’s claims are without merit and will defend our position vigorously.
On January 22, 2009, the Company and Univision announced an amendment to the Program License Agreement (the “PLA”), between Televisa, S.A. de C.V. (“Televisa”), a subsidiary of the Company, and Univision. In connection with this amendment and in return for certain other consideration, Televisa and Univision agreed to dismiss certain claims that were pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, with the exception of a counterclaim filed by Univision in October 2006, whereby it sought a judicial declaration that on or after December 19, 2006, pursuant to the PLA, Televisa may not transmit or permit others to transmit any television programming into the United States by means of the Internet. This counterclaim was subsequently dismissed in connection with a further amendment to the PLA and other transactions between Univision and the Company completed in December 2010. For a description of the transactions entered into between Univision and the Company and completed in December 2010, see “Information on the Company — Business Overview — Univision.”
Exchange Controls
For a description of exchange controls and exchange rate information, see “Key Information — Exchange Rate Information”.
Taxation
U.S. Taxes
General. The following is a summary of the anticipated material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of GDSs, CPOs and the A Shares, B Shares, L Shares and D Shares underlying the CPOs (referred to herein as the “Underlying Shares”), in each case, except as otherwise noted, by U.S. Holders (as defined below). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular beneficial owner of GDSs, CPOs or Underlying Shares based on the beneficial owner’s particular circumstances. For example, with respect to U.S. Holders, the following discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder:
    that owns, directly, indirectly or through attribution, 2% or more of the total voting power or value of our outstanding Underlying Shares (including through ownership of GDSs);
 
    that is a dealer in securities, insurance company, financial institution, tax-exempt organization, U.S. expatriate, broker-dealer or trader in securities; or
 
    whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar.

 

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Also, this discussion does not consider:
    the tax consequences to the stockholders, partners or beneficiaries of a U.S. Holder; or
 
    special tax rules that may apply to a U.S. Holder that holds GDSs, CPOs or Underlying Shares as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment.
In addition, the following discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. tax laws other than Mexican tax laws, and does not address any tax consequences of the newly enacted Medicare tax on certain investment income. Further, this discussion generally applies only to U.S. Holders that hold the CPOs, GDSs or Underlying Shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (referred to herein as the “Code”).
The discussion set forth below is based on the U.S. federal income tax laws as in force on the date of this annual report, including:
    the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury regulations and judicial and administrative interpretations, and
 
    the convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican States for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, including the applicable protocols, collectively referred to herein as the “U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty,” and
 
    is subject to changes to those laws and the U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty subsequent to the date of this annual report, which changes could be made on a retroactive basis, and
 
    is also based, in part, on the representations of the Depositary with respect to the GDSs and on the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement relating to the GDSs and any related agreements will be performed in accordance with their terms.
As used in this section, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of CPOs, GDSs or Underlying Shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
    a citizen or individual resident of the United States;
 
    a corporation (or entity treated as a corporation for such purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof or the District of Columbia;
 
    an estate the income of which is included in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of source; or
 
    a trust, if either (x) it is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more “United States persons” has the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (y) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a “United States person”.
If a partnership (or an entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds CPOs, GDSs or Underlying Shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership, and partnerships holding CPOs, GDSs or Underlying Shares should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of CPOs, GDSs or Underlying Shares.
An individual may be treated as a resident of the United States in any calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes by being present in the United States on at least 31 days in that calendar year and for an aggregate of at least 183 days during a three-year period ending at the close of that year. For purposes of this calculation, all of the days present in the current year, one-third of the days present in the immediately preceding year and one-sixth of the days present in the second preceding year would be counted. Residents are taxed for U.S. federal income purposes as if they were U.S. citizens.
The application of the U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty to U.S. Holders is conditioned upon, among other things, the assumptions that the U.S. Holder:
  is not a resident of Mexico for purposes of the U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty;
 
  is an individual who has a substantial presence in the United States;

 

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  is entitled to the benefits of the U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty under the limitation on benefits provision contained in Article 17 of the U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty; and
 
  does not have a fixed place of business or a permanent establishment in Mexico with which its ownership of CPOs, GDSs or Underlying Shares is effectively connected.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Holders of GDSs and CPOs will be treated as the beneficial owners of the Underlying Shares represented by the GDSs and CPOs.
Dividends. Any distribution paid by us, including the amount of any Mexican taxes withheld, will be included in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as a dividend, treated as ordinary income, to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current and/or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. U.S. Holders will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction for dividends received from us. Distributions that are treated as dividends received from us in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 by a non-corporate U.S. Holder who meets certain eligibility requirements will qualify for U.S. federal income taxation at a reduced rate of 15% or lower if we are a “qualified foreign corporation”. We generally will be a “qualified foreign corporation” if either (i) we are eligible for benefits under the U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty or (ii) the Underlying Shares or GDSs are listed on an established securities market in the United States. As we are eligible for benefits under the U.S.-Mexico Tax Treaty and the GDSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we presently are a “qualified foreign corporation,” and we generally expect to be a “qualified foreign corporation” during such taxable years, but no assurance can be given that a change in circumstances will not affect our treatment as a “qualified foreign corporation” in any of such taxable years. A non-corporate U.S. Holder will not be eligible for the reduced rate (a) if the U.S. Holder has not held the Underlying Shares, CPOs or GDSs for at least 61 days of the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the ex-dividend date, (b) to the extent the U.S. Holder is under an obligation to make related payments on substantially similar or related property or (c) with respect to any portion of a dividend that is taken into account as investment income under Section 163(d)(4)(B)