Q3 2010 Interim Report


Q3 2010 Interim Report

19 October 2010 - Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.) (“MTG” or “the
Group”) (Nasdaq OMX Stockholm Large Cap Market: MTGA, MTGB) today
announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months
ended 30 September 2010.

Third Quarter Highlights

  · Net sales up 11% year on year to SEK 3,531 (3,177) million - up 17%
year on year at constant exchange rates
  · Free-TV Scandinavia net sales up 17% year on year to SEK 922 (790)
million - up 22% year on year at constant exchange rates  
  · Operating income up 50% year on year to SEK 368 (246) million, with
increased operating margin of 10% (8%) when excluding associated company
income
  · Total operating income up 22% year on year to SEK 458 (377) million
when including SEK 91 (131) million of associated company income
  · Pre-tax profit up 48% year on year to SEK 499 (336) million
  · Net income up 42% year on year to SEK 360 (254) million
  · Basic earnings per share up 46% year on year to SEK 5.63 (3.86)
  · Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders to take place on 21
October to vote on proposed demerger and listing of CDON Group AB (“CDON
Group”) internet retailing subsidiary

Nine Month Highlights 

  · Net sales up 8% year on year to SEK 10,925 (10,097) million - up 13%
year on year at constant exchange rates
  · Free-TV Scandinavia net sales up 13% year on year to SEK 3,018
(2,660) million - up 18% year on year at constant exchange rates 
  · Operating income up 35% year on year to SEK 1,386 (1,030) million,
with an increased operating margin of 13% (10%) when excluding
associated company income
  · Total operating income up 42% year on year to SEK 1,706 (1,199)
million when including SEK 320 (169) million of associated company
income
  · Pre-tax profit up 52% year on year to SEK 1,664 (1,096) million
  · Net income up 41% year on year to SEK 1,182 (836) million
  · Basic earnings per share up 42% year on year to SEK 17.81 (12.51)
  · Receipt of three quarterly dividends of USD 4 million each totalling
USD 12 million from CTC Media, Inc. (“CTC Media”) with final quarterly
dividend of USD 4 million anticipated in December  

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“Our record Q3 sales reflected constant exchange rate sales growth
across each of our business areas in the seasonally smallest advertising
sales quarter of the year. We also reported healthy incremental
operating margins. The performance was once again led by our
Scandinavian free-TV operations, which capitalised on strong advertising
demand and rising pricing levels. Our Emerging Markets free-TV business
reported a second consecutive quarter of year on year growth in stable
market conditions, as well as an improved operating result. The growth
in the Nordic pay-TV business reflected continued net IPTV subscriber
intake and rising DTH premium ARPU levels, with the Swedish operations
beginning to benefit from the recent acquisition of the English Premier
League football rights. The Nordic pay-TV business reported a higher
than anticipated operating margin in the quarter, whilst the performance
of the Emerging Markets pay-TV business reflected the consolidation of
the Russian and Ukrainian satellite platforms.” 

“We received the third of the four anticipated dividend payments from
CTC Media in September, and  ended the quarter with a net debt to
trailing twelve month EBITDA ratio of 1.1 times and SEK 3.6 billion of
available liquid funds.” 

“Moving forward, we aim to take further audience and market shares and
to continue to invest in enhancing our competitive market positions. We
have been encouraged by the level of advertising demand in Scandinavia
and the stability in the emerging advertising markets, some of which
have now returned to growth. We expect to continue to benefit from our
strengthened pay-TV offerings and presence on multiple platforms in the
Nordic region, and to invest in the development of our emerging market
satellite platforms. Finally, we are continuing to work towards the
proposed distribution of our rapidly expanding CDON Group Nordic
internet retailing business to MTG shareholders before the end of the
year.” 

***
The company will host a conference call today at 15.00 Stockholm local
time, 14.00 London local time and 09.00 New York local time.

To participate in the conference call, please dial:
Sweden:            +46 (0)8 5051 3786
International:      +44 (0)20 7138 0824
US:                   +1 212 444 0481
The access pin code for the conference is 3140225
To listen to the conference call online, please go to
www.mtg.se (http://www.mtg.se/).

***

For further information, please visit www.mtg.se (http://www.mtg.se/),
or contact:

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President & Chief Executive Officer
Mathias Hermansson, Chief Financial Officer
Tel:                               +46 (0) 8 562 000 50

Investor & Analyst Enquiries
Matthew Hooper
Tel:                               +44 (0) 7768 440 414
Email:                          
investor.relations@mtg.se (investor.relations@mtg.se)

                                                                        
          
Press Enquiries
Bert Willborg    
Tel:                               +44 (0) 7912 280 850
Email:                          
bert.willborg@mtg.se (bert.willborg@mtg.se)     

 

Modern Times Group is a leading international entertainment broadcasting
group with the largest geographical broadcast footprint in Europe. MTG's
Viasat Broadcasting is the leading free-TV and pay-TV operator in
Scandinavia and the Baltics, and has broadcasting operations in
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, Ukraine and Ghana.
Viasat's free-TV and pay-TV channels and pay-TV platforms attract a
total of 125 million viewers in 31 countries. MTG is also the major
shareholder in Russia's largest independent television broadcaster (CTC
Media - Nasdaq: CTCM), and the number one commercial radio operator and
internet retailer of entertainment products in the Nordic region.  

Modern Times Group MTG AB Class A and B shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX
Stockholm's Large Cap market (‘MTGA' and ‘MTGB').

The information in this Interim Report is such which Modern Times Group
MTG AB is required to disclose under the Securities Markets Act. This
information was released for publication at 13.00 CET on 19 October
2010. 


Attachments

10192151.pdf