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ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE

Revenues and Profitability Both Rise at ProSiebenSat.1 Group in H1 2007
Targets for the combined Group confirmed

Munich (ots)

   - ProSiebenSat.1 revenue growth of 3.6 % in H1 2007 despite
     difficult comparables in Q2 2006 due to Soccer World Cup
  • ProSiebenSat.1 EBITDA grows 6.8 % to EUR 240.8 million in H1
  • German TV ad market expected to grow by 2 to 3 % net in 2007
  • Integration of the New Group started: New Group Content Unit reinforces focus on content
  • Programming outlay of EUR 1.6 billion in combined Group
  • Plans to expand N24 to Europe's most up-to-date news channel with EUR 10 million investment in technology
ProSiebenSat.1 Group has demonstrated a positive performance in 
the first half of 2007. With consolidated revenues of EUR 1.053 
billion, the Group outperformed the prior year equivalent by 3.6 
percent (without SBS, H1 2006: EUR 1.016 billion). Both units - Free 
TV and Diversification - contributed to the growth in revenues. The 
pre-tax profit rose 13.1 percent, to EUR 211.1 million (H1 2006: EUR 
186.6 million). The consolidated profit for the period was also 
substantially higher, at EUR 127.8 million, a gain of EUR 13.6 
million, or 11.9 percent, from the previous year. EBITDA grew 6.8 
percent, to EUR 240.8 million (H1 2006: EUR 225.5 million).
As expected, second-quarter revenue performance felt the impact of
exceptional effects in the comparison period. Total Q2 revenues of 
the ProSiebenSat.1 Group maintained the prior year's level, as 
projected, amounting to EUR 551.6 million (Q2 2006: EUR 550.9 
million). In comparing the figures with those of the same quarter 
last year, one has to take into account that the Group's TV 
advertising revenues were far above average for April and May last 
year because many companies planned their advertising schedules to 
avoid the soccer World Cup in June and July. The Group's overall 
costs for the second quarter were down slightly, by 0.4 percent, to 
EUR 407.1 million. Reduced cost of sales contributed to the decrease.
The consolidated profit for Q2 2007 grew 4.6 percent to EUR 87.2 
million. Earnings per share of preferred stock amounted to EUR 0.40, 
compared to EUR 0.39 for Q2 2006. EBITDA gained 2.6 percent, reaching
EUR 158.8 million. The EBITDA margin increased from 28.1 percent to 
28.8 percent.
"The ProSiebenSat.1 Group had a successful and eventful first half
in 2007. Acquiring the SBS Broadcasting Group and transforming 
ProSiebenSat.1 into a leading integrated pan-European broadcaster was
the most important strategic decision for the future of the company. 
SBS's dynamic performance in the first half confirms that view," said
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG CEO Guillaume de Posch.
Higher advertising revenues push up revenues in Free TV core 
business The Free TV segment's total revenues were up 3.3 percent in 
the first half of 2007 to EUR 966.5 million. The segment's 
contribution to Group revenues grew 2.7 percent to EUR 934.4 million.
This revenue increase - most of which came from higher advertising 
revenues - also further improved earnings. The segment's operating 
profit for the first half of 2007 rose 11.7 percent to EUR 203.6 
million. EBITDA was 11.5 percent higher and reached EUR 218.4 
million. The EBITDA margin for the half-year was 22.6 percent (H1 
2006: 20.9%).
The picture for the second quarter is somewhat varied. Last year's
shift in TV advertising spending to the period before the World Cup 
resulted in an above- average increase in advertising revenues in the
second quarter, especially in April and May. The segment's lack of 
growth this quarter against Q2 2006 was thus expected. In spite of 
this, revenues held steady from the previous year. The segment's 
total revenues were EUR 510.0 million (Q2 2006: EUR 510.5 million). 
External revenues, at EUR 495.8 million, were likewise flat compared 
to the previous year (Q2 2006: EUR 495.9 million). The operating 
profit for the quarter grew 5.7 percent to EUR 140.4 million. EBITDA 
likewise gained 5.7 percent to reach EUR 147.8 million. The EBITDA 
margin for the second quarter was 29.0 percent (Q2 2006: 27.4%).
Ratings of the family of stations of Sat.1, ProSieben, kabel eins 
and N24 have improved by 1.2 percentage points to 29.5 percent in Q2 
2007 after a decline of 1.4 percentage points in Q1 2007. All three 
stations, ProSieben, kabel eins and N24, have increased their market 
shares. Sat.1 is currently countering a dip in performance with new 
programming initiatives. All shares refer to the key demographic 
between the ages of 14 and 49.
Outlook for the new Group Market expectations for TV advertising 
investment in Germany are between 2 and 3 percent net in the current 
year with a weak third quarter and a stronger fourth quarter.
The first consolidation of SBS as of July 2007 will significantly 
increase revenues and profits. Over the medium term, the 
ProSiebenSat.1 Group has set itself the goal of increasing its EBITDA
margin to between 25 and 30 percent, a figure consistent with the 
margins of Europe's top 5 media groups. The synergies in costs and 
revenues expected from integration will contribute to that 
improvement. These are expected to reach EUR 80 to 90 million with 
full effect as of 2010.
A fully integrated Group
The ProSiebenSat.1 Group has acted quickly to position itself as a
pan- European integrated broadcaster (see also the separate press 
release on personnel changes). The integration of the two groups is 
proceeding according to plan.
Guillaume de Posch: "The new Group has three strategic goals: 
Strengthen our core business Free TV and develop content, expand our 
online and digital services and create a leading operational platform
for the pan-European Group. Our goals are clear, and we intend to 
meet the demands of viewers throughout Europe. That means, first and 
foremost, that we want to offer top programs. In the future we'll be 
focusing even more on programming and investing even more in 
developing our own content. Economically, our goal is to join up to 
the profit margins of Europe's top 5 media groups. Only as an 
economically strong Group will we be able to develop our business 
further, invest in programming and new services, and hold our own in 
competition against international players."
1. Strengthen Free TV and develop content
New section: Group Content Unit
The Group will emphasize its focus on content. Total programming 
outgoings amount to EUR 1.6 billion in 2007. One of the most 
important organizational changes is the establishment of a central 
"Group Content Unit", to take account of the Company's stronger focus
on programming. This corporate unit will pool the Group's skills and 
resources and ensure that the Group is able to make the most of 
synergies and economies of scale.
Strengthening Sat.1's performance
In the German market one of the goals is to strengthen Free TV 
channel Sat.1 with new programming initiatives. The station has 
developed 40 pilots this year. Management's aim is to enhance the 
station's performance by bringing the channel back closer to the 
viewer by investing in programming quality. The stations maintains 
its high commitment to German production by spending 60 percent of 
its total programming budget on formats made in Germany.
New Free TV channels in Austria and Norway
The ProSiebenSat.1 Group has also been expanding its Free TV 
activities in other markets. In July the Group acquired a Free TV 
station in Austria, PULS TV. The deal has already been closed. In 
September 2007, another Free TV station, FEM, will be launched in 
Norway. The target audience is women between the ages of 20 and 35. 
The new channel will give the Group three Free TV stations and one 
pay TV channel in Norway.
2. Expand online and digital services
The ProSiebenSat.1 Group is also planning to expand its new media 
and diversification business activities by expanding its online 
activities internationally. The first service from Germany that the 
ProSiebenSat.1 Group will offer internationally is the games platform
www.SevenGames.com as extension of www.SevenGames.de at the end of 
the year. The Group will also expand its online activities by 
acquisitions and has just signed an agreement to acquire a majority 
stake in "wer-weiss-was", the leading German Internet knowledge 
portal (see separate press release).
The ProSiebenSat.1 Group is the market leader in call TV in 
Germany. Call TV station 9Live, which is also the Group's central 
call TV service provider, has taken strategic steps to strengthen its
revenue potential and market position. 9Live will expand its business
on an international plane. Following the launch of call TV windows in
Turkey and Spain, it will now expand into additional countries, 
including Croatia. At the end of the year an advertising-financed 
window will be launched in Germany with NeunTV featuring programming 
aimed mainly at women.
3. Leading operational platform for the pan-European Group
The ProSiebenSat.1 Group also intends to be a technology leader in
Europe. The Group is currently reviewing all options for setting up 
the European Group in such a way that it will be able to use the 
latest technological platforms. Among the options under review is an 
internal solution, with substantial new investments, as well as a 
strategic partnership that would take advantage of outside 
capabilities. The review is in progress. The first decision can be 
expected this fall. The Company's declared goal is to create an 
up-to-the- minute, high-performance technological infrastructure for 
the European Group.
N24 to become Europe's most modern news channel
The Group has plans to make N24 Europe's most up-to-date news 
station, and to equip it with an innovative technological platform. 
An amount of around EUR 10 million is to be invested in the new 
technology. The new platform, in a new building in Berlin, will 
provide the basis for developing N24 into a multi-media news brand. 
This will also strengthen the station's role as the central news 
service provider for the Group's German stations, as well as on an 
international scale. Planning for the project will begin this fall 
and the launch is planned for 2009.
Additional information: H1 2007 SBS Broadcasting Group: Growth in 
all regions The SBS Broadcasting Group had first-half revenues of EUR
524.6 million, a gain of 8.3 percent (H1 2006: EUR 484.5 million). 
Recurring EBITDA grew 30.0 percent to EUR 119.5 million (H1 2006: EUR
91.9 million). A pro forma calculation for the first half of 2007 
indicated that the revenues of the combined Group grew 5.1 percent to
EUR 1.577 billion (ProSiebenSat.1 Group for H1 2007: 3.6 percent). 
Pro forma EBITDA growth of the combined Group was up 13.5 percent to 
EUR 360.3 million (ProSiebenSat.1 Group for H1 2007: 6.8 percent). 
The SBS Broadcasting Group will be included in the consolidated 
financial statements as of the third quarter of 2007.
SBS Broadcasting Group increased revenues in all regions. Revenues
of Central and Eastern European Countries improved by 13.9 percent to
EUR 77.0 million. Revenues of the Nordic Countries grew by 6.0 
percent to EUR 247.4 million. The Netherlands/Belgium region showed a
revenue increase of 9.2 percent to EUR 200.2 million. Revenue growth 
was mainly driven by the segment Free TV which improved by 9.4 
percent to EUR 374.8 million. The segment's EBITDA rose by 29.8 
percent to EUR 97.5 million. Pay TV revenues decreased by 1.2 percent
to EUR 71.5 million. Radio revenues increased by 10.7 percent to EUR 
43.3 million, Print rose by 10.9 percent to EUR 33.7 million. SBS 
figures as reported by SBS (non audited).
You can find the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow 
statement, and statement of changes in equity, as well as the segment
report, online on our Web site at: http://en.prosiebensat1.com/invest
or-relations/finanzberichte/index-en.php.
There are separate press releases on personnel and on 
"wer-weiss-was". They are also available at our website at 
http://en.prosiebensat1.com/.

Contact:

Katja Pichler Corporate Spokesperson
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG Medienallee 7 D-85774 Unterföhring

Ph. +49 [89] 95 07-11 80 Fax +49 [89] 95 07-11 84
Email: Katja.Pichler@ProSiebenSat1.com

Press release online: www.ProSiebenSat1.com

Original-Content von: ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, übermittelt durch news aktuell

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