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International Entertainment News

Friday, April 29, 2005

TV Azteca Shareholders Approve US$80 Million in Cash Distributions

TV Azteca Shareholders Approve US$80 Million in Cash Distributions

MEXICO CITY, April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE:TZA) (BMV: TVAZTCA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish- language television programming in the world, announced that its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held today at its corporate offices in Mexico City approved distributions to shareholders for an aggregate amount of US$80 million to be paid during 2005. Of the total sum, US$78 million is planned to come from capital reductions and Ps.24 million (approximately US$2 million) from the company's preferred annual dividends.

A payment of US$59 million is scheduled to be made on June 9 and another of approximately US$21 million on December 1.

The distributions are part of TV Azteca's six-year plan for uses of cash, which entails making disbursements to shareholders above US$500 million and reducing the company's debt by approximately US$250 million within a six-year period that started in 2003.

The cash distributions made to date, when added to the upcoming disbursement of US$80 million, represent an aggregate amount of US$405 million, equivalent to a 27% yield on the April 28, 2005, ADR closing price. Prior distributions include: US$125 million on June 30, 2003, US$15 million on December 5, 2003, US$33 million on May 13, 2004, US$22 million on November 11, 2004, and US$130 million on December 14, 2004.

Company Profile

TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, operating two national television networks in Mexico, Azteca 13 and Azteca 7, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. TV Azteca affiliates include Azteca America Network, a new broadcast television network focused on the rapidly growing US Hispanic market, and Todito.com, an Internet portal for North American Spanish speakers.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Risks that may affect TV Azteca are identified in its Form 20-F and other filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V.

CONTACT: Investors, Bruno Rangel, +011-52-55-3099-9167, or jrangelk@tvazteca.com.mx, or Media, Daniel McCosh, +011-52-55-3099-0059, or dmccosh@tvazteca.com.mx, both of TV Azteca

Web site: http://www.tvazteca.com.mx/

------- Profile: Ent