LUXEMBOURG: First-quarter 2012 revenues at the RTL Group rose 6.3 percent to 1.3 billion euros ($1.7 billion), driven by its German broadcasting operations, FremantleMedia and the M6 Group, while EBITA remained flat at 191 million euros ($247 million). The company noted that the results come against the challenging backdrop of …
World Screen
Strong Performance for ITV
May 9, 2012
LONDON: ITV delivered a 13-percent increase in revenue to £565 million ($909 million), driven by strong gains at ITV Studios. ITV Studios contributed more than a third of the total: revenues were up 61 percent to £212 million ($341 million). Broadcasting and online revenue was relatively flat, up 1 percent …
Mediaset Profit Drops Sharply in Q1
May 9, 2012
MILAN: Mediaset’s group profits fell to 10.3 million euros ($13.3 million) in the first quarter from the year ago’s 68.4 million euros ($88.4 million), on revenues that were down 12 percent to 977.8 million euros ($1.3 billion). For the Italian operations, revenues slipped to 760.2 million euros ($982.2 million) following …
Net Profit Up 50.3 Percent at ProSiebenSat.1
May 10, 2012
MUNICH: Off to a strong start for the first quarter of the fiscal year, ProSiebenSat.1 posted revenue gains of 6.5 percent to 634.8 million euros ($822.7 million), with group recurring EBITDA up 8.9 percent year-on-year to 141.6 million euros ($183.5 million). Net profit for the period grew 50.3 percent to …
Red Arrow Buys into U.K., Israeli Production Outfits
May 10, 2012
MUNICH: In two separate agreements, Red Arrow Entertainment Group has purchased majority interests in the U.K. production company NERD TV and the Israel-based July August Productions. NERD, founded two years ago by Jago Lee and John Farrar, specializes in factual entertainment and factual formats. The company has a number of …
CBS Studios International & ProSiebenSat.1 Extend Output Deal
May 10, 2012
MUNICH: The existing output agreement between the ProSiebenSat.1 Group and CBS Studios International has been extended through a multi-year contract renewal. The German outfit holds on to the exclusive rights it has regarding new U.S. series CBS produces over the next few years. The rights cover Germany, Austria and Switzerland. ProSiebenSat.1 …
L.A. Screenings Spotlight: Shine International
May 10, 2012
NEW YORK: This market, Shine International will be launching over 450 hours of all-new and returning prime-time programming, "produced by an exceptional list of TV’s most successful network producers," says Matt Vassallo, the company’s VP of international sales for the U.S., Canada and Latin America. This lineup includes 50 …
Sky Living Bulks Up Comedy Slate
May 10, 2012
LONDON: Two new comedies are headed to Sky Living HD, Gates and The Spa. The 5×30-minute comedy Gates stars Sue Johnston (The Royal Family), Tom Ellis (Miranda), Joanna Page (Gavin and Stacey) and Adam Deacon (Kidulthood). Ellis and Page play parents who moved to the South East, where their 9-year-old …
Parthenon Content Travels to Germany, Central & Eastern Europe
May 10, 2012
LONDON: Around 200 hours of programming from the Parthenon Entertainment catalogue is making its way to channels in Germany and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Red Bull Media picked up a package of 18 hours for its Servus TV channel in Germany. This includes Islands, Deserts and Life, Deserts and Life …
Zodiak Rights Re-Ups Mr. Bean Licensing Contract
May 10, 2012
LONDON: Zodiak Rights has renewed is agreement with Tiger Aspect to remain as the international licensing agent for the Mr. Bean property. The live-action Mr. Bean series is currently on air in more than 50 countries. The animated series is on in more than 30. The DVDs are available in …