Mexico and US broadcasters settle

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Mexico's top broadcaster and a US partner have settled a dispute that had threatened to disrupt Spanish-language programming for millions in the US.

Televisa said US partner Univision had agreed to pay more than $600m (£434m) to resolve the four-year dispute.

It had accused Univision of withholding advertising revenue.

Televisa is the leading Mexican producer of "telenovelas", or soap operas. The legal case had hindered its expansion into the US.

It had threatened the broadcast of popular dramas such as "Las Tontas No Van Al Cielo", which make up the base of Univision's broadcasting.

The companies said the deal assured the public "that Univision will continue to have access to consistently top quality Hispanic programming".

Televisa's shares rose by more than 6% in Mexico and by more than 5% in New York following news of the settlement.

Univision is to give Televisa $65m worth of advertising over the next eight years as well as a cash settlement of $25m, $21.5m of which has already been paid, the Mexican group said.

Under a separate deal, Televisa agreed to license Univision the rights to broadcast games this year for three Televisa-owned teams - America, Necaxa and San Luis.