• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, June 19, 2009

Univision and Telemundo were concerned that the number of Hispanic homes that were unprepared for the June 12 digital transition could lead to a notable ratings decline. But that fear appears to have been unfounded. Instead, the normal ups and downs of prime-time ratings occurred at the top Spanish-language networks -- with no pattern of decreases.

On Saturday, June 13 -- the first night after the transition -- Univision saw total viewership in prime time increase 10% over the previous Saturday. Telemundo, by the same measure, saw it drop 75% over the week before.

But the following night -- the second after the transition (Sunday, June 14) -- there was a reverse dynamic. Telemundo saw a 20% increase in total viewers compared to the Sunday before, while Univision fell 9%.

Univision is a more popular network overall, with a 2008-09 season average of 3.9 million prime-time viewers. Telemundo, by the same metric, averaged 1.2 million viewers. For the week of June 8-14, Univision had all of the top-10 broadcasts in total viewers, led by episodes of telenovelas "Mañana Es Para Siempre."

The networks appear to have had a minimal ratings impact from the transition, largely because the number of Hispanic homes that wound up losing reception was relatively low.

Two days after the June 12 switchover, 3.6% of Hispanic homes were without TV service, according to Nielsen. That group may be low TV watchers anyway.

But in late 2008, the switchover was assumed to impact ratings more dramatically. Nielsen reported then that 11.5% of Hispanic homes were not ready for the transition.

There were some suggestions that a language barrier might lead to older Hispanics (and others) losing reception. Both Univision and Telemundo continued with extensive efforts to inform all viewers about the coming digital change.

More evidence that the June 12 transition offered a mixed bag of ratings results and no pattern of declines came in the key 18-to-49 demo. On the first night after the transition, Univision saw a 12% increase in ratings versus the Saturday night before; Telemundo by the same measure had a 77% drop.

Then again, the following night brought countervailing results. Univision's demo ratings were down 15%, while Telemundo's increased 30%.