Interim Management Statement

7 November 2008 stv group plc Interim Management Statement - Quarter 3 stv group plc today releases its Interim Management Statement covering the period from 28 August to 7 November 2008. Trading continues to meet Board expectations and the business is on track to meet its full year 2008 targets. We have a strong balance sheet with committed bank facilities which provide considerable headroom and mature in December 2012. For the ten month period ended 31 October 2008: * Regional airtime sales were up 13% with similar growth forecast to continue in November and December; * National airtime sales were down 7% in line with the ITV Network. Revenues in November and December are forecast to be down 12%; * Ventures digital revenues were up 23% with the full year expected to be up by a similar amount; * Pearl & Dean revenues were down 11% with November and December expected to be up 28%. Pearl & Dean has won a major contract with Showcase from October 2008, increasing its cinema advertising market share by one third to 34%. With the uncertain economic outlook, trading conditions across the ITV Network are likely to remain challenging in 2009 with the national airtime market down 6% and the ITV Network some 6% behind this due to CRR. As in 2008, we expect a stronger performance than this from our regional sales team who are not constrained by CRR. Our growth plans for Ventures and Content remain in line with our KPIs. We will continue to maintain our strong focus on reducing the cost base of the business which has benefited this year with further savings being identified for 2009. Since our interim results in August, we have continued to deliver on our promises and have completed the following: * the return of £30 million to shareholders by way of a tender offer; * the change of company name to stv group plc, reflecting the focus on television; * a 1 for 20 share consolidation process. We also confirm today that stv's senior management structure has been enhanced to reflect the business' strategy and priorities for the business. The team reports directly to Rob Woodward and will be structured as follows: * George Watt, CFO, stv group plc; * Anmar Kawash, becomes Chief Operating Officer (previously Director of Strategy and Planning); * Bobby Hain will be Director of Broadcast Services and Regulatory Affairs (previously MD of Broadcasting) providing an increased focus on stv's position regarding Ofcom's PSB Review; * David Brook, who has worked previously with Channel 4, five and the Guardian newspaper, joins the leadership team on an interim basis as Director of Programmes and Marketing, with responsibility for the stv brand and regional programming; * David Connolly joins the leadership team as stv's Commercial Director; * Suzanne Burns, HR Director; * Alan Clements, Director of Content; * David Archer, MD of Ventures; and * Kathryn Jacob, MD of Pearl & Dean. Rob Woodward, CEO of stv group plc said: "We are continuing to perform robustly despite the current challenging market conditions and the transformed stv is now in a financially strong position. With an enhanced management structure in place and well defined KPIs, we remain on track to deliver on our strategy and to meet our KPIs." Ends. Enquiries: stv group plc Rob Woodward, Chief Executive George Watt, Chief Financial Officer Kirstin Elsby, PR Manager 0141 300 3670 Brunswick James Hogan / Simon Sporborg / Ash 020 7404 5959 Speigelberg ---END OF MESSAGE--- This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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