RTL Group Releases 2007 Results

LUXEMBOURG, March 5: Gerhard Zeiler, the CEO of the RTL Group, has called 2007 “the most successful
business year” in the company’s history, with revenues up to 5.7 billion euros
and a reported EBITA of 898 million euros, reflecting a 5.5-percent gain.

The company’s net profit,
however, fell from 1.1 billion euros to 674 million euros as a result of
goodwill impairment charges as well as a fine from Germany’s Cartel office.

Announcing the results,
Zeiler noted: “By maintaining a firm focus on our core businesses, we grew our
operating result for the sixth consecutive year, and generated our highest
EBITA margin ever. Our families of channels in Germany, the Netherlands,
Belgium and Groupe M6 in France—adjusted for the sale of TPS—in
particular contributed to the increased operating result. Our worldwide
production arm FremantleMedia again made significant contributions to the
group’s EBITA.

“More than ever, RTL
Group’s success is founded on numerous businesses across Europe. Building on
this strong foundation, we are guiding the company into a new phase. We are
developing our broadcasting operations into digital TV families with a presence
on all new platforms. We will systematically meet the rising demand for
attractive content and expand our production arm FremantleMedia, with new
talent, new formats and by doing business in new markets. Television will
remain the key medium. And RTL remains the quality brand in commercial European
TV.”

German TV and radio
revenues were flat at 2 billion euros, reflecting 34.8 percent of RTL Group’s
total revenues. In France at M6, revenues were 1.4 billion euros, 23.8 percent
of group revenues. FremantleMedia accounts for 19.8 percent of RTL’s business
with revenues of 1.1 billion euros. In the U.K., Five contributed revenues of
499 million euros, a 7.1 percent gain. TV and radio operations in the
Netherlands delivered revenues of 408 million euros, a 16.6 percent increase.

—By Mansha Daswani