Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 has reported record earnings for the financial year just passed. EBITDA grew 16% in 2006 to €484 million as pre-tax income increased by 10% to €387m.
The group is in the process of being acquired by private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and Permir, who intend to merge the operations into SBS Broadcasting. ProSiebenSat.1 has developed participation TV, mobile TV and video on demand services. Revenues from transactional TV and other diversified elements amounted to €238.1m.
Combined audiences shares for entertainment channels Sat.1, ProSieben, Kabel Eins and the news network N24 fell slightly in 2006 to 29.4%, in part due to the Winter Olympics and football World Cup, the rights to which were held by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. Nevertheless, ProSieben and Sat.1 are still among Germany’s most profitable TV Stations.
Separately, ProSiebenSat.1 has acquired the free-TV rights to future productions from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. The package includes all the studio’s feature films released during the contract period and a selection of series. The movie package includes Blood Diamond, Ocean’s Thirteen and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
