Media life

Univision remains the No. 1 network among Hispanics by far and the No. 5 broadcast network overall, but ratings are down sharply this season, for the first time in years.

In its upfront presentation to media buyers, Univision plans to emphasize influence over ratings, pushing its broad platform including cable and digital and its radio stations. The message: If you want to connect with Hispanics, we should be your first stop.

Among 18-34s, the sweet spot for Spanish-language programming with a huge US population of Hispanic Millennials, Univision is off 23 percent from last season, to a 1.0. But the network points out that it ranks ahead of at least one of the Big Four most nights in primetime in that demo.

Its pitch to media buyers emphasizes the breadth of its influence across platforms. Univision’s other broadcast network, UniMás, which rebranded in 2013 to target Millennials, was up 25 percent in 2014 among 18-49s compared to first quarter of the previous year. Univision Deportes Network was the fastest-growing cable network in terms of distribution in first quarter, and this summer’s World Cup will undoubtedly lift ratings. And its online and radio properties both have high engagement among Hispanics.

Last year, Americans spent more time with digital media than any other medium, for the first time ever. A new report from eMarketer finds that US adults spent 43.4 percent of their major media time with digital devices in 2013, up from 38.5 percent in 2012. D

igital outpaced television, which declined from 39.2 percent of media time in 2012 to 37.5 percent in 2013. And the gap will grow over the coming year. In 2014, eMarketer forecasts that digital will account for 47.1 percent of all major media time, the equivalent of five hours and 46 minutes, compared to 36.5 percent for TV, or four hours and 28 minutes. And mobile is driving the digital gains.

“The increase in digital media usage is almost exclusively attributable to mobile,” notes the report. “In 2014, the average US adult will spend 23 percent more time with mobile on an average day than in 2013, according to the forecast -- and that’s led to mobile cannibalizing time spent in just about every other category.”