RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, announces its interim management statement to 9 November 2010.

Financial highlights (continuing operations)

In EUR million	Q3/2010	Q3/2009	Per cent change
Revenue	1,160	1,066	+8.8
Reported EBITA	133	90	+47.8
Start-up losses	(6)	(4)
Restructuring charges	−	(8)
Adjusted EBITA	139	102
Reported EBITA margin (%)	11.5	8.4

In the third quarter of 2010, RTL Group’s EBITA increased by 47.8 per cent to EUR 133 million from EUR 90 million in the same period last year. This growth in EBITA was driven by Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6 and RTL Nederland. With TV advertising markets across Western Europe growing significantly year-on-year, RTL Group’s reported revenue was up 8.8 per cent to EUR 1,160 million in the third quarter of 2010 (Q3/2009: EUR 1,066 million). The reported EBITA margin was 11.5 per cent, up from 8.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2009.

In EUR million	January to September 2010	January to September 2009	Per cent change
Revenue	3,821	3,541	+7.9
Underlying revenue	3,754	3,537	+6.1
Reported EBITA	670	457	+46.6
Start-up losses	(16)	(31)
Restructuring charges	−	(16)
Adjusted EBITA	686	504
Reported EBITA margin (%)	17.5	12.9

During the period January to September 2010 reported revenue grew by 7.9 per cent to EUR 3,821 million (Q1–3/2009: EUR 3,541 million), while reported EBITA increased by 46.6 per cent to EUR 670 million (Q1–3/2009: EUR 457 million). The EBITA increase was driven by significantly improved results from most profit centres. The reported EBITA margin for the first nine months of the year was 17.5 per cent compared to 12.9 per cent for the same period last year.

The net cash position as of 30 September 2010 amounted to EUR 1,059 million (30 September 2009: EUR 405 million, 30 June 2010: EUR 894 million). The operating cash conversion was 114 per cent (Q1–3/2009: 88 per cent).

RTL Group had a good start in the important fourth quarter. As already announced at the end of August 2010, RTL Group will achieve significantly better full-year results compared to 2009.

Operational highlights

- Good start into the new programming season 2010/11
     - Among young viewers, RTL Television in Germany achieved an audience share of 18.8 per cent in September and of 19.3 per cent in October, the highest monthly share since January 2004
     - With an audience share of 17.5 per cent in the commercial target group of housewives aged under 50 in September, M6 had the most successful month in the year to date
     - In the target group of viewers aged 20 to 49, RTL Nederland’s channels scored a combined audience share of 35.7 per cent in September and of 37.4 per cent in October, the best monthly share in 13 years
- In October, FremantleMedia acquired a 60 per cent share in Radical Media, the company’s first large scale move into the branded entertainment market
- Also in October, FremantleMedia announced the acquisition of a further 51 per cent stake in Ludia, a leading developer and publisher of interactive games; the transaction will bring FremantleMedia’s stake in Ludia to 80 per cent
- In September, the Croatian Electronic Media Council granted RTL Televizija a concession for a new specialised channel, named RTL 2; the new channel will go on air in January 2011
- On 23 July, the disposal of the 100 per cent shareholding in Five was completed