Televisa-Univision will send pink slips to a handful of employees as part of a broader restructuring of its business, the company’s chief executive announced in a memo to workers on Monday.
The memo comes just a few weeks after Televisa-Univision reported a third quarter (Q3) income of $3.71 billion from its United States and Mexico-based broadcast, cable and streaming television businesses, which include the Televisa and Univision broadcast networks, dozens of local TV stations and the streaming platform Vix.
On Monday, CEO Daniel Alegre said certain changes were necessary to ensure Televisa-Univision will continue to grow and thrive heading into the new year. Like other broadcasters, the company has seen gains in its streaming product, but not enough to offset losses from ongoing pressures in the traditional broadcast and cable TV advertising market, which has depressed overall revenue.
Alegre said the restructuring will be focused around four priorities — integration and collaboration across the company, putting “content first,” evolving the way it sells advertising inventory on traditional and streaming TV, and rebuilding its corporate culture from the ground up.
“The changes include leadership adjustments in some areas and a reorganization of functions to help us achieve greater alignment, focus, and impact,” Alegre said.
The number of employees who will lose their jobs in the coming weeks is expected to be less than 10 percent of the company’s transnational workforce. As part of the restructuring, Jesús Lara, an executive in charge of local media at Televisa-Univision, will leave the company. Lara also serves as a board member for the National Association of Broadcasters. Donna Speciale will take over his advertising sales responsibilities, Alegre said, while Ignacio Meyer will oversee audio and local programming in the U.S. market.
Alegre’s full memo is available to read below:
Hello Team,
I am writing to inform you that we are implementing significant and necessary changes to the company this week, all aimed at strengthening our position for 2025 and beyond. Today, I am announcing a new organizational structure, which will have important implications for many of our colleagues.
These changes are designed to reinforce the four key priorities I have outlined for us going forward:
- Integration and Collaboration: Working as one company in everything we do.
- Content First: Everything starts with great content, and we must align our teams and strategies to continue connecting, informing, and entertaining our communities.
- Solution Selling: Our partners’ needs are evolving, and we must serve them in ways no one else can in the market.
- Culture: We must rebuild a growth mindset, grounded in innovation, across the entire company.
The changes include leadership adjustments in some areas and a reorganization of functions to help us achieve greater alignment, focus, and impact.
First, I want to share that Jesús Lara, our head of Local in the U.S., has decided to leave the company. In response, I have decided to reorganize the U.S. local teams. I will centralize U.S. advertising sales under the leadership of Donna Speciale, covering local and national, linear, digital, streaming, audio, and multiplatform video. This structure will ensure a single, solutions-oriented point of entry for all our U.S. advertising partners to activate and grow with our audience.
Additionally, Ignacio Meyer will now oversee U.S. Audio and Local Programming, in addition to his current role managing U.S. Linear Programming. Donna and Ignacio will communicate separately with the U.S. local teams to outline how the new structure will operate.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Jesús Lara for his dedication, vision, and contributions to Televisa-Univision over the past eight years. He will work closely with Donna and Ignacio to ensure a smooth transition for the teams joining their organizations.
From a content strategy perspective, I have asked José Luis Fabila to lead all our content efforts and create a newly formed Global Content Organization. José Luis will ensure that our content investments align with our company’s reach, engagement, and monetization goals, and are distributed efficiently across all platforms worldwide with the right windowing strategy. This is an exciting opportunity to elevate how we deliver world-class content to our global audiences.
Our talented Business Unit Leaders will work closely with José Luis:
- Ignacio Meyer will lead our U.S. Core Business, as well as our music and audio content teams, reporting to José Luis. In addition, current U.S. Networks Programming and Marketing Teams will also be rolled into roles in the Global Content Organization. Jose Luis and Ignacio will provide further detail to these teams.
- Rafael Urbina will oversee digital and streaming operations, performance marketing and CRM, focusing on driving adoption, increasing consumption, and optimizing the global user experience. Jose Luis’ content and brand marketing organization will provide VIX with content acquisition, development and production services as well as planning and creative services to support VIX marketing. Rafa and José Luis will provide further details to their respective teams.
- Olek Loewenstein will continue to lead the sports business unit, collaborating with José Luis’ Global Content Organization.
These leaders will remain key members of my broader leadership team.
Finally, I want to acknowledge that workforce changes will also take place across the company this week. While these decisions are never easy, we are committed to supporting everyone through their transition.
I understand that this will be a challenging week, but I ask for your focus and resilience as we take these important steps toward a stronger and more connected future. Together, we are building a company positioned for sustained growth, innovation, and leadership.
Thank you for your trust, contributions, and commitment to our mission and goals.
Daniel
