HAMILTON, Bermuda, March 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. ("CME" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:CETV) (Prague Stock Exchange:CETV) today announced that Ronald S. Lauder, non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, is resigning from the Company's Board.
Mr. Lauder, a founder of CME, has been instrumental to the establishment and growth of independent television broadcasting in Central and Eastern Europe, beginning with the launch of TV Nova in the Czech Republic in 1994 as that country's first commercial broadcaster. Since then, the Company expanded rapidly in the region, has thrived on the production of independent news and locally-produced programming and has secured market-leading positions for its broadcasting operations. Mr. Lauder served as the non-executive Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors for the past 20 years.
In a joint statement Michael Del Nin and Christoph Mainusch, Co-Chief Executive Officers of CME, said: "Over his illustrious career, Ronald has fostered the development of independent broadcasters in Central and Eastern Europe. Because of this, great entertainment and news programming has been able to flourish in these markets. We would like to acknowledge his foresight and initiative in working closely with so many in a part of the world he holds so close, to make his vision a reality."
Ronald Lauder said: "I'm honored to have played a part in the development of independent commercial television in Central and Eastern Europe. I could not have accomplished so much without the hard work and dedication of everyone at CME over the last 20 years. And most importantly, the success of our stations would not have been possible without the support of our viewers across the region."
CME is a media and entertainment company operating leading businesses in six Central and Eastern European markets with an aggregate population of approximately 50 million people. CME broadcasts television channels in Bulgaria (bTV, bTV Cinema, bTV Comedy, bTV Action, bTV Lady, bTV Lady+1, Ring.bg and Ring.bg+1), Croatia (Nova TV, Doma, Nova World and MiniTV), the Czech Republic (TV Nova, Nova Cinema, Nova Sport, Fanda, Smichov and Telka), Romania (PRO TV, PRO TV International, Acasa, Acasa Gold, PRO Cinema, Sport.ro, MTV Romania, PRO TV Chisinau and Acasa in Moldova), the Slovak Republic (TV Markíza, Doma and Dajto), and Slovenia (POP TV, Kanal A, Brio, Oto and Kino). CME is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the Prague Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CETV."