Record Revenues, Profit for ProSiebenSat.1

MUNICH: ProSiebenSat.1 Media is hailing 2015 as a record year, with revenues rising 13.4 percent to 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion) and net profit up 11.6 percent to 467.5 million euros ($514.7 million).

In releasing its financials, the company said that 39.5 percent of its revenues were generated outside of TV advertising. It is aiming to increase this to 50 percent by 2018.

“2015 was another record year for ProSiebenSat.1; we again grew profitably in all segments,” said Thomas Ebeling, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media. “We want to continue this very good development in 2016. As such, we will further rely on the success of our strategy. The value-adding interconnection of our TV and digital business allows us to consistently create new growth. This is marked by the fact that we let our shareholders benefit appropriately in the company’s success. The Executive Board therefore proposes a dividend of EUR 1.80 per common share. This not only reflects the ProSiebenSat.1 Group’s high profitability, but also shows that we are a reliable partner for our investors.”

In the German-language broadcasting segment, external revenues increased by 4.3 percent to 2.15 billion euros ($2.37 billion). The company says its ad market share is up to 44.4 percent and its audience share is 29.5 percent in Germany.

In the Digital & Adjacent segment, revenues rose by 38.6 percent to 846.4 million euros ($931.9 million), led by gains at maxdome, the ventures business and the company’s travel vertical.

The Content Production and Global Sales segment delivered revenues of 262.2 million euros ($288.7 million), with the U.S. contributing the largest share of revenues.

In related news, Red Arrow Entertainment’s chairman and CEO Jan Frouman joins the company’s executive board, effective March 1.  Existing board members are Ebeling; Dr. Gunnar Wiedenfels, CFO; Conrad Albert, Legal, Distribution and Regulatory Affairs; Dr. Ralf Schremper, Corporate Strategy and Investments; and Dr. Christian Wegner, Digital & Adjacent. The newly established executive board division, Content & Broadcasting, includes all its TV channel brands in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, content strategy and Red Arrow Entertainment Group.

“Jan Frouman has successfully built up ProSiebenSat.1’s production business in recent years,” said Dr. Werner Brandt, supervisory board chairman of ProSiebenSat.1 Media. “I have come to know him as a highly capable manager with great international experience and expertise in the TV and content business. I am particularly delighted that he is joining the Executive Board as a long-standing ProSiebenSat.1 employee, and I wish him every success in his new role.”

Ebeling added, “Content and broadcasting are the key elements of our TV business. We make a living from high-quality programs, and our far-reaching station brands are the guarantors of our Group’s financial success. I am delighted to bring Jan onto the Executive Board as both a colleague and someone with the ideal qualities for leading the two areas—a passion for good television, an internationally honed feeling for the production sector and outstanding management skills.”