Report: Liberty Media Considering Play For Stake In Univision

In Play?

The WALL STREET JOURNAL is reporting that with its initial public offering delayed, UNIVISION is entertaining offers for a stake in its ownership, and JOHN MALONE's LIBERTY MEDIA may be a contender to buy into the company.

UNIVISION is presently owned by a consortium of private equity firms including MADISON DEARBORN PARTNERS, PROVIDENCE EQUITY PARTNERS, TPG, and THOMAS H. LEE PARTNERS, with MEXICO's TELEVISA owning a minority stake; TELEVISA, with loosened regulations regarding foreign investment in American broadcast license holders, could also be looking to increase its stake in UNIVISION, which has expanded its mission beyond Spanish-language broadcasting to encompass digital media targeting English-speaking Millennials. 

Meanwhile, the NEW YORK TIMES reports that UNIVISION and MALONE "remain far apart on an acceptable valuation for the company," according to a source.  MALONE also holds a major stake in DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, which is reportedly in talks to merge with SCRIPPS NETWORKS, the cable network arm of E.W. SCRIPPS CO.

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