Azteca Holdings to Prepay US$69 Million of Its US$129 Million 12 1/2% Senior Secured Notes Due 2005

Azteca Holdings to Prepay US$69 Million of Its US$129 Million 12
1/2% Senior Secured Notes Due 2005
Azteca Holdings Reduces Debt by US$113 Million Since July 2003 


MEXICO CITY, Nov. 22  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Azteca Holdings, S.A. de C.V.,
the controlling shareholder of TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V., one of the two largest
producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, announced
today that it will prepay on December 22, 2004, US$69 million of the principal
on its US$129 million 12 1/2% senior notes due June 15, 2005.  The 2005 senior
secured notes are callable at par.

Azteca Holdings, the owner of 56.6% of the capital stock of TV Azteca, will
receive approximately US$73 million from an upcoming US$130 million
distribution to shareholders to be made by TV Azteca as part of an ongoing plan
for cash disbursements.  The company will use the proceeds to reduce the
balance of its indebtedness and to make interest payments on its outstanding
debt.

By means of the US$69 million prepayment, Azteca Holdings expects to save
approximately US$4 million in interest expense that would otherwise accrue on
the senior secured notes to be redeemed at final maturity.

The prepayment adds to prior debt amortizations made by Azteca Holdings since
July 2003 of US$44 million, which together with the newly announced prepayment,
will reduce the company's total debt by an aggregate amount of US$113 million,
from US$279 million to US$166 million.

TV Azteca's board of directors has approved cash disbursements to shareholders
for another US$80 million during 2005 under its ongoing distributions plan. 
Azteca Holdings expects to use its corresponding portion of the proceeds to
continue decreasing outstanding debt, further strengthening its capital
structure and reducing interest expense.

Company Profile

Azteca Holdings, S.A. de C.V. is a holding company whose principal asset is
56.6% of the capital stock of TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V.

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's affiliates include Azteca America, operator of
a broadcast television network focused on the rapidly growing United States
Hispanic market; and Todito.com, operator of 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 Azteca Holdings are identified in its Form
20-F and other filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. 

DATASOURCE: Azteca Holdings, S.A. de C.V.



CONTACT:  Hector Romero, +011-5255-1720-0060, or

 



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

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