Houlihan Lokey Advises VIX

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that VIX Inc. has been acquired by Univision Communications Inc. (Univision). VIX is the leading independent ad-supported streaming service that offers video-on-demand content to millions of U.S. Hispanics and consumers throughout Latin America. The acquisition of VIX, which will be integrated into PrendeTV in the U.S., will bring immediate scale and momentum to Univision’s free, ad-supported streaming platform.

VIX creates, acquires, and distributes Hispanic-focused content to audiences in the U.S., Latin America, and across the globe. The company operates the largest Latino AVOD OTT platform in the world, which offers more than 20,000 hours of free Latino-focused films and TV shows. VIX’s OTT content includes premium titles from Latin American and U.S. producers, including Hollywood blockbuster films. The company efficiently drives users to its OTT properties from its massive social media footprint, which includes 100 million Facebook followers alone. Additionally, it drives monetization through its 50-person ad sales team stretched across two continents. VIX has developed key partnerships with Roku, Google, Apple, and Amazon. The VIX service is one of the most downloaded entertainment apps on Android devices in Mexico (according to App Annie) and is a top-ranking app in the U.S. Hispanic market and every country in Latin America on Roku. The company has offices in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Mexico, and Brazil.

As the largest Spanish-language content company in the U.S., Univision entertains, informs, and empowers U.S. Hispanics with news, sports, and entertainment content across broadcast and cable television, audio, and digital platforms. The company’s top-rated media portfolio includes the Univision and UniMás broadcast networks as well as cable networks Galavisión and TUDN, the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network in the country. Locally, Univision owns or operates 61 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets. Additionally, Uforia, the Home of Latin Music, encompasses 58 owned or operated radio stations, a live-event series, and a robust digital audio footprint. The company’s prominent digital assets include Univision.com, Univision Now, the largest Hispanic influencer network, and several top-rated apps.

Earlier this month, Univision signaled its strategic focus on video streaming with news of its first-quarter plans to launch PrendeTV, the only ad-supported video streaming service created exclusively for U.S. Hispanics, featuring free, premium 100% Spanish-language programming. The acquisition of VIX, which will be integrated into PrendeTV in the U.S., will bring immediate scale and momentum to Univision’s free, ad-supported streaming platform through the combination of VIX’s broad content library, management talent, and distribution via more than 30 mobile and connected TV platforms. On a combined basis, PrendeTV and VIX will deliver more than 30,000 hours (and growing) with an unmatched variety of Spanish-language content for its consumers and a unique and powerful value proposition for advertisers.

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to VIX and assisted in marketing, structuring, and negotiating the transaction on behalf of the company. This transaction further demonstrates Houlihan Lokey’s leading position in advising premier digital media companies around the world.