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The Responsibility of Mass Media

I write this letter as news continues to flow on the extent of swine flu in Mexico and the rest of the world, a steady flow of information that was only interrumpted by a news flash of a mild tremor centered in the state of Guerrero.

As the governments and society in Mexico, the United States and the world, brace for this un-known disease, our most powerful weapon is information. Mass media is a powerful tool to disseminate recommendations on how to avoid the spreading of this disease, as well as ways to detect infection and steps for treatment.

I hope that before this time next month that the preventative steps taken by the Mexican and U.S. governments will have made this a manageable ep-idemic. In the meantime, TV Azteca, Azteca Amer-ica, Azteca International and the entire FIA news team are 100% dedicated to fulfilling their duty to inform the Mexico, the Hispanic community of the United States and the Americas.

Sincerely,

Luis J. Echarte

Ricardo B. Salinas Gives Keynote Address to Latin American Academics at ITESM in Guadalajara As part of the 25th annual conference of the Business Association of Latin American Studies (BALAS), a group that represents business school academics from over 30 countries in the Ameri-cas, Ricardo Salinas presented a keynote address about the importance of the bottom of the pyra-mid for the growth of the global economy.

His fresh innovative approach of free-market busi-ness solutions as a critical tool for the develop-ment of economies in Latin America and the world was well received by students and professors alike.

Following the talk, Mr. Salinas met with a select group of university students and BALAS execu-tive committee members, including academic leaders from the host institution, the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Guadalajara Campus.

Proyecto 40 Posts Strong First Quarter Financials 2What Makes Our Business Model Unique: TV Azteca 2TV Azteca Premieres “El Gran Desafío” 3Italika Launches Photography Contest 3GS Expands Supplier Relationship With Maersk Logistics 4Pasión Morena to Air in May 4 Grupo Elektra Revamps IR Website 5

Names & Faces: Erika Macín 5State of Latinos Census Forum in Florida 6The Best Of Ricardo Salinas’ Blog 6Fundación Donates Mobile Fumigation Equipment 7Iusacell Network Operating Center Turns 10 8Platicando con Alazraki Celebrates Three Years 9Grupo Salinas Reports Strong 1Q Results 9

April , 2009 • Num. 1 4

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April, 2009

WHAT MAKES OUR BUSINESS MODEL UNIQUE: TechnologyTV Azteca

One very important ingredient for producing pro-grams, both live and recorded, is cutting edge

technology such as High Definition (HD) video, 5.1 audio and automated robots that narrow the mar-gin for human error. These features are incorporat-ed in tapeless processes, which reduce editing and material sharing times between areas.

Full HD and 5.1 audio and video systems are installed in all the mobile units as well as the FIA news helicop-ter. As much as an 85% of the live aired programs are HD at the moment of creation, saving time and mon-ey in conversion processes. In the case that a specific format of video is needed, the conversion method is much easier because it maintains the original quality of the master as a primary source.

Robotic storage allows two to three times the stor-age of archive material when compared to as little as five years ago. It also allows for quick retrieval, which allows our news team better organization and focus on content.

All of this backroom technology has the simple goal of providing viewers with superior and meaningful content.

Proyecto 40 Posts Strong First Quarter Financials

At one year since the consolidation of Proyecto 40 within TV Azteca financial results, the new pro-gramming option continues to position itself with upscale audiences.

Sales for the first quarter of this year were Ps.24 million, twice the Ps.12 million of the same period last year. For the full year 2008, sales were Ps.161 million, or about 2% of total TV Azteca revenue, with a positive EBITDA contribution.

Proyecto 40 is transmitted over the air through a UHF frequency in Mexico City and throughout Mexico on pay television. Programming includes news, entertainment, information, opinion and de-bate featuring some of Mexico’s most notable in-tellectuals and personalities in the areas of health,

culture and entertainment, economics, society, science and technology, business, and success stories.

As a platform to promote a freer and more plural society, Proyecto 40 presents detailed analysis of Mexico’s most pressing issues and offers viable solutions to help build a better Mexico.

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TV Azteca Premieres“El Gran Desafío” All-Star Talent Contest

The game show of all games shows, “El Gran De-safío” launched on April 19 for audiences in Mexico through Azteca’s Canal 13, Central and South Amer-ica through Azteca International and the United States with Azteca America.

Hosted by Rafael Araneda, who successfully con-ducted La Academia Última Generación, the show features 50 contestants, including show hosts, singers, actors, boxers and wrestlers such as Atala Sarmiento, Cynthia, Collete, Shanik, Rigo Tovar Jr., Jorge “El Travieso” Arce, Erasmo, Tinieblas Jr., Ivonne Montero and Dany Borja.

Contestants will sing, dance and perform other feats requiring agility, intelligence and fitness in hopes of winning almost US$5 million in prize money. Judges will serve as mentors and include producers Lolita de la Vega, Magda Rodríguez, Héctor Martínez and Leonardo García, who will also be responsible for as-signing the challenges that the contestants face.

Italika Launches “Tu Misión es Fotografiar Nuestra Misión” Photography Contest

In celebration of the creative adaptations of Ital-ika, the number one selling motorcycle brand in Mexico, Grupo Elektra has launched a user-ori-ented photography contest called “Tu Misión es

Fotografiar Nuestra Misión” (Your Mission is to Photograph Our Mission).

First prize is a lifelong supply of new Italika mo-torcycles. Second and third prizes are new Italika bikes, respectively, with jackets, helmets and more prizes for the first 100 places.

The contest is open to all countries where Italika bikes are sold, including Mexico, Guatemala, Hon-duras and Peru. Entries will be received from May 1st through June 30st, with the final 100 entries presented on July 3rd; the top ten on July 10th and the lifelong bike winner on July 31st.

Entries and winners can be viewed at www.italika-motos.com.

Desfío de las Estrellas Host Rafael Araneda

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April, 2009

Maersk Logistics LA Regional Director Henning Malmgren, Joaquín Arrangoiz, Grupo Salinas; Ricardo B. Salinas; Maersk Logistics CEO Rolf Habben-Jansen

Pasión Morena to Air in May

TV Azteca pulls out top cards such as Paola Núñez, Víctor González and Ari Telch for its upcoming novela launch Pasión Morena.

Based on a blockbuster hit from Argentina, the story recounts the life of Morena Madrigal (Paola Núñez), who on the eve of her wedding finds that her fiancée is a cheat, causing her to cancel the ceremony and immediately leave the United States.

She decides to take a vacation in Chiapas to for-get everything, but stumbles upon Leo Hernández (Víctor González), and immediately falls for him. Once she re-establishes herself in Mexico, she

learns the truth about family secrets that lead to serious conflicts.

The novela includes shots on location of the Lancan-dona rainforest and the magical state of Chiapas.

Rolf Habben-Jansen With Hechos Anchor Javier Alatorrre

Grupo Salinas Expands Supplier Relationship With Maersk Logistics

Although Grupo Salinas has been an intensive user of Maersk Logistics services for the past three years, the two parties made official their client-supplier arrangement through an agreement to

seek new opportunities during a televised cer-emony at our corporate headquarters.

During a visit that included a tour of the Ensam-blika motorcycle assembly plant in Toluca and Elektra stores, Rolf Habben-Jansen, CEO of the logistics arm of one of the largest shipping com-panies in the world, signed with Ricardo Salinas an agreement to expand new operations.

“A close relationship with such an important sup-plier as the Maersk group will be very important for our development of new business as we grow our sourcing in Asia,” said Mr Salinas during the signing.

Paola Núñez

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NAMES & FACESErika MacínMarketing Director • TV Azteca

Following her studies in marketing at the ITESM in Mexico City, Erika got her first job as a marketing manager at an IT consulting firm. Then it was off to radio, where she hosted a morning show and produced another for NRM Comunicaciones. She thentried television, as host with a closed-circuit promotional series produced by MVS.

Erika arrived at TV Azteca in 2003 as Chief of Mar-keting for Azteca 7. A year later she held the same position at Azteca 13. In 2005, she assumed re-sponsibility for all weekend programming for TV Azteca 13, followed by a Strategist title for both Azteca 7 and Azteca 13, with responsibilities for both programming and marketing, where she launched the successful campaign “Yo amo el fut-bol.” In 2007 she was appointed Director of Azteca 7, leading the campaign “Abre tu mundo,” boost-ing ratings and sales for the year.

In February of this year, she was appointed Director of Marketing for TV Azteca, with rresponsibility for developing the image and communicaton strategy for the network and content distribution channels.

She was recently selected as part of a group for a cover story called “30 Promesas en los 30,” for the Mexican business magazine Expansion.

“What I most like about working at Grupo Salinas is that I learn something new every day, with the freedom to work and put my ideas into practice,” says Erika.

When not developing new marketing plans at TV Azteca, she enjoys music, reading and her pas-sion, which is travelling.

Grupo Salinas’ Financial Strategy area has re-launched the Grupo Salinas investor relations site. With a cleaner look, and easier navegation, inves-tors can quickly locate key finacial data to make better-informed investment decisions.

Some of the upgrades include better stock price updates, including different stock exchanges and other Grupo Salinas companies, as well as a re-designed layout that allows investors to compare performance of Grupo Elektra shares with other financial instruments. The new site is powered by Framework 3.5, with Ajax controls and CSS cas-cade styles, and features an improved search en-gine that makes it easier to locate key documents.

Grupo Elektra Revamps IR Website

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April, 2009

www.ricardosalinas.com

State of Latinos Census Forum in Florida

Fundación continues its States Of Latinos: Census 2010 forum series, with a regional event in Ft. Myers, Florida on April 16 at Hodges University.

Keynote remarks were given by Congressmember Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) in the event moderated by Mayela Rosales, Executive Vice President of Azteca America SWFL, with a special presentation Dr. Deb-ora Ortega, from the University of Denver.

The aim of the forum series is to emphasize the importance of the 2010 Census for the Latino com-munity and the U.S. democratic process as a whole. “Hispanics have made invaluable contributions in the U.S., have had a positive impact across our na-tion and have helped shape society… the upcom-ing census is critical to ensure that the needs of our community and families are met.,” said Congress-member Díaz-Balart.

Fundación Azteca America has taken a multipronged approach with its campaign ¡Porque tú vales, déjate contar! / Because you’re worth it, let yourself be count-ed! to encourage Latino participation in the Census process. The 2010 Census is a crucial step for the La-

tino community to ensure that it is proportionally rep-resented in federal, state and local budgets, as well as in representative districts of the political process.

Unfortunately, the Latino community’s fear of au-thority can lead to limited participation in the census process.

“Fundación Azteca America has made the upcoming census a priority; we want to ensure the participation of the Latino community because by being counted their needs can be accurately taken into consid-eration,” said Luis J. Echarte, Chairman of Azteca America Network and Fundación Azteca America.

The Monopoly of Money Issuance: Following up on the topic of constitutional monopolies (see: The Monopoly of Energy), Ricardo B. Salinas speaks of the terrible job that has been done over the past three decades to maintain the value of our currency and the enormous loss of value that especially af-fects people at the bottom of the pyramid.

Limpiemos Nuestro México Cleanup Program: We are inhabitants of a fabulous planet. Nevertheless, we don’t think twice about polluting routinely. It’s sad to see that Mexico has become a haven for trash. We need to do something, now. And we are mobilizing efforts on May 31, through the Limpiemos Nuestro México campaign.

THE BEST OF RICARDO SALINAS’ BLOG

Irma Harahush, U.S. Census Bureau; Nathalie Rayes; Congressmember Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-R); Mayela Rosales, America SWFL and Orlando Rosales of Azteca America SWFL

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Chiapas Governor Juan Sabines Guerrero, National Public Health Institute General Director Mario Henry Rodríguez and Fundación Azteca President Esteban Moctezuma

Fundación Donates Mobile Fumigation Equipment in Chiapas to Fight Dengue

and Malaria

Fundación Azteca donated 150 mobile fumi-gation units to the Government of the State of Chiapas this month to help fight against malaria and dengue in the region.

The donation was made during the closing cer-emony of a regional summit to discuss ways of containing these diseases, with participation of ten states of southern Mexico, as well as eight Central and South American countries.

Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, President of Fun-dación Azteca, presented the equipment to Chi-apas Governor Juan Sabines Guerrero.

The units can be worn as backpacks, and allow fumigation of problem areas on motorcycles. The total value of the packs is about US$100,000. The 150 units should be able to eliminate mos-quito infestation in problem areas of the state of Chiapas.

Chiapas Governor Juan Sabines Guerrero Addresses Forum

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April, 2009

Iusacell Network Operating Center Turns 10

It has been almost a decade since President Zedillo made the inaugural call to Acapulco in this state-of-the-art control center.

Ten years later, the Network Operating Center or NOC as it is commonly referred to, continues to be a crucial part of Iusacell operations and service.

The NOC connects information from 2,500 sites, 20 cellular centers and 6,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables in a critical information center that operates 24 hours a day year round, all in the name of supe-rior customer service.

While operating centers are a common and neces-sary part of any cellular operator, the Iusacell NOC boasts ISO 9000:2000 certification and a veteran staff of engineers with an average of eight years of experience in this technology showpiece.

The NOC was conceived and designed by Alejan-dro Delgado, Director of Operations of Iusacell. He

says that what makes him proudest is that fact that the original concept from 10 years ago is still a van-guard technology and prepared to stay on top for the next decade.

The center also serves as a critical communications center during natural disasters, where top execu-tives receive updates from the National Hurricane. Center in Miami and national meteorological centers, and can dispatch resources and engineers as needed to comply with the mandate to continue service dur-ing disasters. During the 2007 flood in the state of Tabasco, Iusacell was the only telephone service in the capital city of Villahermosa, offering communica-tion free of charge for users in the affected area.

Iusacell engineers are also outsourcer for www.gru-poelektra.com network maintenance of TV Azteca’s local network of almost 600 local repeater stations throughout the country, which is monitored at the center. And the NOC has further doubled as a news studio for TV Azteca at times when needed.

Ricardo B. Salinas with former President Ernesto Zedillo in the inaugural call

Network Operating Center (NOC)

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www.gruposalinas.com

Platicando con Alazraki Celebrates Three Years With Proyecto 40

Platicando con Alazraki celebrated three years with Proyecto 40 this month with a festive celebra-tion in Mexico City.

Alazraki is one of the best known publicists in Mex-ico, and his show was the first in-house production for Proyecto 40.

Program guests have included Jacobo Zab-ludowski, La Chilindrina, José Luis Cuevas, El Hijo del Santo, Chamín Correa, Irma Serrano, Javier Alatorre, Tania Libertad, Armando Manzanero, Ricardo Rocha, Astrid Hadad, Galia Moss, Gua-dalupe Pineda, Gaby Vargas, Jorge Vergara, and most recently, Ricardo Salinas.

Grupo Salinas Companies Report Strong 1Q Results Grupo Salinas companies made a strong quarterly showing despite a difficult economic environment.

Grupo Elektra increased net revenue by 5% thanks to continued growth of its financial business. Deposits grew 6%, and the gross credit portfolio increased 4%, as millions of clients continue to trust the company’s solid savings products and prefer Banco Azteca credit op-tions as an effective way to expand purchasing power.

Growth was accompanied by an outstanding strength-ening of assets. Banco Azteca Mexico’s delinquency rate fell three percentage points compared to last year to 8.4 % thanks to solid risk management and thorough market knowledge.

TV Azteca announced an 8% increase in sales within the context of a 40% commercial audience share in pre-prime and prime time, thanks to successful content. TV Azteca’s sales team helped clients reach market objec-tives in Mexico and the United States through efficient ad buys.

Higher sales were combined with effective cost-cutting mea-sures that caused expenses to fall 7% and EBITDA to rise 14%.

Grupo Iusacell increased sales by 5% as a result of in-creased post-pay subscription services, visitor roaming, long distance and network rent. The company contin-ues applying strict cost controls in response to slower economic growth in Mexico.

Contact Information:

Investor Relations, Grupo Salinas Bruno Rangel • (5255) 1720-9167• jrangelk@gruposalinas.com.mx

Public Relations, Grupo Salinas U.S. Nathalie Rayes • (818) 683-4178 • nrayes@gruposalinas.com.mx

Press Relations, Grupo SalinasDaniel McCosh • (5255) 1720-0059 • dmccosh@gruposalinas.com.mx

“GS Update” Publication Info Elena Arceo • (5255) 1720-0060 • mearceo@gruposalinas.com.mx

Grupo Salinas is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, and improving society through excellence. By making technology available to all levels of society, Grupo Salinas foments the development of the countries where it operates.

Editorial CommitteeDaniel McCosh • Bruno Rangel • Elena Arceo • Arturo Longares • Linda Garcidueñas • Dinorah Macías • Alejandro Vázquez

Ricardo B. Salinas with Carlos Alazraki