Latin America. Univision acquired VIX, Inc., the independent ad-supported streaming service that delivers video-on-demand content to millions of Hispanics and consumers in the U.S. and Latin America. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Earlier this month, Univision announced plans for the first quarter to launch PrendeTV, the only ad-supported video streaming service created exclusively for U.S. Hispanics, offering free, premium, 100% Spanish-language programming. VIX operates the largest spanish-language ad-supported free streaming platform serving Hispanic audiences in Latin America and the United States, including a 20,000-hour content library of free Spanish-language television programming and movies.
The acquisition of VIX, which will be integrated into PrendeTV in the United States, will bring immediate scale and momentum to Univision's ad-supported free streaming platform. The combination of VIX's extensive content library, administrative talent, and distribution across more than 30 mobile and connected TV platforms, including Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV, will bring immediate scale and momentum to Univision's video streaming business.
Combined, PrendeTV and VIX will deliver more than 30,000 hours of content, and continue to grow, with an unmatched variety of Spanish-language programming for its consumers and a unique value proposition for advertisers.
"VIX is the next key step toward Univision's goal of building the most comprehensive ad-supported streaming offering ever amassed for Latino audiences," said Pierluigi Gazzolo, Univision president and chief transformation officer. "The VIX team, content library and distribution capabilities across the Americas immediately position PrendeTV to lead the way in streaming premium, free Spanish-language video for U.S. Hispanics. And it gives our advertising partners a new way to reach large-scale audiences through a platform designed specifically for Hispanic consumers."
In addition to content and distribution, VIX also brings to Univision an experienced executive team led by VIX CEO Rafael Urbina, who will also serve as Univision's General Manager/Executive Vice President of AVOD Streaming and report to Sameer Deen, Univision's Chief Digital Officer.
