Univision Communications reported first-quarter net income of $53.9 million Thursday, up 21 percent from a year ago, as strength at the Spanish-language broadcaster’s television business outweighed modest growth at the radio business and a sharp decline at the company’s record label.

Ratings growth at Univision’s two broadcast networks and one cable channel, as well as ratings leadership at several of the company’s 62 television stations, contributed to a rise of 16 cents per share from a year-earlier 13 cents per share. Revenue climbed 4 percent to $449.8 million.

The company said the results reflect audience growth at the company’s three television properties-broadcast networks Univision and Telefutura and cable channel Galavision-fueled by the strong performances of its telenovelas and a dance competition program that drove a 44 percent surge in ratings among adults 18 to 49.

Revenue at the television unit jumped to $323.2 million from $294.2 million a year ago, outpacing the radio division’s revenue growth of $72.5 million, versus $71.5 million a year ago, and offsetting the music-label unit’s 24 percent decline in revenue to $47.2 million.

Univision’s results, which came after the stock market closed Thursday, were released against the backdrop of what some reports describe as healthy interest in the Los Angeles-based company, which earlier this year put itself up for sale and is expected to fetch as much as $14 billion.