Free-to-air networks Televisa and TV Azteca both struck lucrative deals with Kirch Sport for identical coverage of the World Cup, going head-to-head on key matches such as the Mexican national team's games and the semi-finals and final.
Televisa emerged as the dominant broadcaster, claiming a 70 percent audience share for its coverage of the tournament - a statistic that also brought with it a 13 percent rise in television revenue for the second quarter of the year to $34m (EUR34m). This increase in advertising monies was almost entirely down to the World Cup which accounted for all but 1 percent of the percentage rise.
As a consequence, Televisa's group net profit rose to $122m (EUR122m), compared to $25m for the same period in 2001 with the broadcaster's prime time share of audience increasing by 6 percent to 76 percent during the quarter.
In contrast, TV Azteca reported a 93 percent drop in net income for the period in comparison with the same quarter in 2001. This fall off, much of which has been blamed on the Mexican peso's depriciation against the US dollar, came despite the World Cup raising net sales by 25 percent.
Although TV Azteca was soundly beaten by Televisa in the ratings, the soccer tournament still brought its benefits to the broadcaster to the tune of $181m in advertising revenue during the quarter. However, the effect of the World Cup was not big enough to compensate for TV Azteca's falling profit margins.
For a full review of the competition between Mexico's leading terrestrial networks Televisa and TV Azteca, see the latest issue of our sister publication SportBusinessTV
Mexico's World Cup broadcasters TV Azteca and Televisa have announced contrasting second quarter financial results.
