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
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