Profit Dips at RTL Group

LUXEMBOURG, August 30: Despite a 19 percent increase in
revenues from 2.4 billion euros to 2.85 billion euros, RTL Group’s profit for
the first half of this year dipped from 312 million euros to 296 million euros
as a result of a one-time tax charge.

Television revenues were up 15.7 percent to 2.2 billion
euros, while the content segment—FremantleMedia—posted a 28.6
percent revenue increase to 578 million euros.

Germany remains the company’s strongest market, accounting
for 32.3 percent of its business, with advertising growth of 6.7 percent.
Advertising also grew in the Dutch market, which accounts for 31.3 percent of
RTL’s business. France posted a 4.5 percent advertising growth rate, but the
U.K. recorded a negative growth rate of 3.1 percent.

Gerhard Zeiler, the CEO of RTL Group, commented, “I am
delighted with our performance in the first half of 2006, where we have
produced a record group EBITA. Almost all of our business units further
increased their EBITA contributions during the six months to 30 June. We saw
improved advertising conditions in most of our major markets with the notable
exception of the U.K.”

He continued, “Our content business FremantleMedia also had
an excellent first half year driven by strong business in the U.S., U.K. and in
distribution and licensing. Further, our broadcasters have launched a number of
new initiatives aimed at increasing the revenue we receive from non-advertising
sources.”