This morning SBS Broadcasting S.àr.l. announced strong financial results for the full-year 2006, with net revenue increasing by 14% to €1,003 million from €879.5 million in 2005. SBS’s recurring EBITDA surpassed previous record figures set in 2005 by 43% to €207 million, an increase of €62 million from 2005.
The SBS Group has four main business segments: Commercial Television, which accounted for 70% of net revenues, and Pay Television, Radio and Print, which accounted for 15%, 8% and 7%, respectively. Non-advertising revenues continued to grow, increasing to 39% of net revenues in 2006, up from 34% in 2005, driven by revenue increases in Pay TV, cable fees, subscriptions and interactive TV. In addition, SBS’s performance was driven by significant improvements in the operating results of SBS’s commercial television stations in the Netherlands, Belgium, the Nordic countries and Romania.
Patrick Tillieux, acting Chief Executive Officer of SBS Broadcasting Group, said in a prepared statement: “2006 has been a record year for the group across virtually all financial metrics. Our diverse mix of European operations and our innovative management team have enabled us to successfully identify and capitalize on the growth opportunities within our multi-channel offering. Our commercial television and radio operations achieved solid results as we continue to deliver on our targeted audiences, while our premium Pay TV business in the Nordic region has established itself as the market leader with more than 900,000 subscriptions.” (SBS press release)
