RTL Group with solid performance in the first half of 2008

RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, announces its interim results to 30 June 2008.

Highlights In EUR million	Half year to  June 2008	Half year to  June 2007	Per cent change (%)
Revenue	2,864	2,891	(0.9)
Underlying revenue1	2,901	2,891	+0.3
Reported EBITA2	502	515	(2.5)
Restructuring costs and non recurring items	(6)	6
Start up losses3	(11)	(14)
Adjusted EBITA	519	523	(0.8)
Reported EBITA margin (%)	17.5	17.8
Reported EBITA	502	515
Impairment of goodwill and amortisation of fair  value adjustments on acquisitions	(19)	(129)
Gain/(loss) from sale of subsidiaries,  joint ventures and other investments	7	96
Net financial income	25	17
Income tax expense	(124)	(141)
Profit for the period	391	358	+9.2
Attributable to:
Minority interest	53	68
RTL Group shareholders	338	290	+16.6
Basic EPS	2.20	1.89	+16.4
Adjusted EPS (EUR)4	2.18	1.93	+13.0

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¹ Adjusted for Radio 538 in the Netherlands, other minor scope changes and at constant exchange rates
² EBITA represents earnings before interest and income tax expense excluding impairment of goodwill and disposal groups, amortisation and impairment of fair value adjustments on acquisitions and gain or loss from sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments
³ Primarily launch costs of digital television channels in the UK and other minor projects
⁴ Adjusted earnings per share represents the net profit for the period adjusted for impairment of goodwill and disposal groups, amortisation of fair value adjustments on acquisitions, gain or loss from sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments, net of income tax expense and one-off tax effects

Highest half-year net result ever

• Reported EBITA slightly down to EUR 502 million, mainly due to adverse currency effects and a special programme investment for the Euro 2008 at Groupe M6
• Reported Group revenue down 0.9 per cent to EUR 2,864 million, due to the strong Euro against US dollar and British pound; at constant exchange rates, revenue was up 1.6 per cent
• Reported EBITA margin of 17.5 per cent
• Net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders of EUR 338 million, up 16.6 per cent
• Net cash from operating activities of EUR 489 million resulting in an operating cash conversion of 95 per cent; adjusted for one-off payments, normalised cash conversion rate of 111 per cent
• Mixed advertising market conditions across Europe

Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia with new record EBITA

• Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland remains clear market leader among young viewers; EBITA significantly up 29 per cent
• EBITA of Groupe M6 impacted by a major programme investment for the Euro 2008 which brought historic audience records; new access prime time line-up scoring high ratings
• Worldwide production arm FremantleMedia with another solid business performance; EBITA of EUR 97 million, up 6.6 per cent despite adverse currency effects

RTL Group consistently increases its presence on all digital platforms

• Free DTT channel W9 in France continues its rapid audience and revenue growth and generates positive EBITA for the first time
• Digital channels in Germany report positive business development, reaching over 2.2 million subscribers; RTL Crime and Passion among top three pay channels
• Comprehensive catch-up TV services in Germany (RTLnow.de), France (M6replay.fr), the Netherlands (RTLgemist.nl) and in the UK (Demand.Five.tv)
• Investments to strengthen RTL Group’s internet portfolio
  • Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland acquired a 49 per cent stake in the fast growing social network Wer-kennt-wen.de
  • Groupe M6 acquired a 100 per cent stake in the Cyréalis group, making M6 Web one of the leading internet platforms in France
• Launch of exclusive mobile TV channel RTL 24 in the Netherlands

“Reliable business model”

Gerhard Zeiler, Chief Executive Officer of RTL Group, said:

“The results for the first half of 2008 show how reliable RTL Group’s business model is. Our operating profit again exceeded EUR 500 million – despite a slowdown in several advertising markets, adverse currency effects and the special programme investment by Groupe M6 for the European football championship. Our half-year net result even reached a new record high.

RTL Group continues to evolve its strategy. We’re stepping up our presence on all digital platforms to move with our audience. Our catch-up TV services in Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands already register rapid viewer uptake. In Germany and France, we strengthened our internet portfolio with acquisitions. RTL Group will continue to invest in the fast-growing content and online advertising sectors, which complement our core business.

We expect that the advertising market conditions will continue to be mixed across Europe, combined with low visibility. However, given the strength of our business, we remain confident for the outcome of the full year.“

 

​​​Conference Call RTL Group Results for press:

Date:	Tuesday 26 August 2008 11.00 (Luxembourg) / 10.00 (London)
Number to dial:	+44 20 7162 0125

The slides of the presentation and the mp3-file will also be available on www.rtlgroup.com.

About RTL Group
RTL Group is the leading European entertainment network, with interests in 44 television channels and 32 radio stations in ten countries and content production throughout the world. The television portfolio of Europe’s largest broadcaster includes RTL Television in Germany, M6 in France, Five in the UK, the RTL channels in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia and Hungary, Ren TV in Russia and Antena 3 in Spain. RTL Group’s flagship radio station is RTL in France, and it also owns or has interests in other stations in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Luxembourg. RTL Group's content production arm, FremantleMedia, is one of the largest international producers outside the US. Each year, it produces more than 10,000 hours of programming across 55 countries.