Mexico's Televisa, partner Univision push back trial

By Cyntia Barrera Diaz

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Leading Spanish-language broadcaster Televisa and partner Univision have pushed back a trial over the Mexican company's bid to pull out of a programming deal, a sign that an out-of-court settlement may be in the works.

The two companies were set to face off in a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Tuesday after three years of legal battles that have curbed Televisa's expansion in the booming U.S. Hispanic market. But the trial was put back at the last minute.

"It happened today at the request of both sides," a Univision spokeswoman said. The trial date is now July 1.

Televisa declined comment. Univision said it could not comment on the delay.

The case dates back to 2005 when Televisa filed a lawsuit demanding royalty payments it said Univision had withheld as part of the programming deal that expires in 2017.

At stake is viewership and growth in the United States, where Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority and the Spanish-language television market is considered underserved.

If Televisa, the world's biggest producer of Spanish-language shows, wins the case it could turn to new partners that include Univision's U.S. rival Telemundo, to sell programming at a higher price.

"I think Televisa has the upper hand here ... if the programming deal falls apart," said David Joyce, an analyst with Miller Tabak & Co LLC in New York.

Such a scenario would prove difficult for Univision, which depends heavily on Televisa's shows to fill most of its prime-time slots and guarantee high ratings to keep top-notch advertisers happy.

"It is a precarious position for Univision if they lose this court case. They've got as much as 40 percent of their gross rating points they'll have to replace with other programming, which they have to buy or produce," Joyce said.

Hispanics account for about 14 percent of the United States' 300-million strong population.

Univision's strength lies with its in-house talk shows and newscasts. But it leans on Televisa for hit soap operas and other entertainment productions that lure viewers for its three networks: Univision, Galavision and Telefutura.

If the judge favors Univision, the U.S. company would lock in successful programming from Televisa for another nine years.

Alfonso de Angoitia, Televisa's executive vice president, told analysts last week in a conference call that at the request of the judge, the two companies tried to patch things up before the trial date but they could not reach a deal.

"Settlement talks have continued ... but we cannot anticipate that any settlement will be reached prior to the start of the trial next Tuesday," he said, referring to the anticipated trial start date.