MBC Launches Arabic Drama Channel, Inks Exclusive Multi-Platform Deal With MTVNI

MBC, the leading pan-Arab free-to-air satellite broadcasting company, expects its new Arabic language TV Drama channel to attract millions of viewers. The channel, targeted to family, will start broadcasting on Saturday and will air series from Egypt, GCC and the Levant. The launch of MBC Drama marks the 10^th channel and the 20^th anniversary of MBC group according to Mazen Hayek, the official spokesman and group director of PR and commercial at the company.

In addition, MBC Group has also signed an exclusive multi-platform deal with MTV Network International, a division of Viacom. Under the agreement, MTVNI will grant the exclusive rights to develop consumer product programmes around hit Nickelodeon properties, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants and Go, Diego, Go! in the Middle East. The key categories include home furnishing, stationery, apparel, toys, publishing, personal care and fashion accessories and product is expected to roll out from early 2011, according to the company statement.

Turkey: Dogan Media Ad Revenues Increase 30%

Turkish media company Dogan Media has just released its results for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2010. The company recorded respective growths of 56% and 359% in Gross Profit and EBITDA. These results were led by an increase in revenues and a focus on costs.

Total consolidated revenues in 9M10 increased by 10% yoy from TL1.7 bn (€0.86 bn) in 2009 to TL1.9 bn (€0.96 bn) in 2010. Domestic ad revenues increased by 30% yoy in line with the market, while total consolidated advertising revenues increased by 23% yoy. Gross profit increased to TL517 mn (€261 mn). The COGS and general expenses remained intact with 9M09 figures. Adjusted EBITDA in 9M10 increased to TL160 m (€81 mn), vs. TL35 mn in 9M09. Net losses stood at TL68m (€34 mn) in 9M10, improved by TL79 m from a net loss of TL147m in 9M09.

DISH Launches Google TV Solution for $179

DISH Network has just announced that its Google TV solution is now available to customers for $179, the lowest price on the market according to the company. The service, which combines Google’s Web search capabilities with DISH Network’s onscreen programming data, DVR and Video on Demand content, aims at delivering a comprehensive and seemsless entertainment experience to DISH subscribers.

“Only DISH Network customers will have access to the most fully-featured Google TV experience available, which includes our unique pairing protocol for simultaneous search capabilities across Web and DVR content, as well as DISH Network’s VOD programming,” said DISH Network Chief Marketing Officer Ira Bahr. “Customers can now surf the Web, check email, interact with social media, and find additional online television content all from the comfort of their living room sofa.”

“Google TV makes the Web another channel on your TV by bringing the Internet together with the TV programming you know and love,” said Rishi Chandra, lead product manager for Google TV. “We’re excited to work with DISH Network to bring an enhanced Google TV experience to its subscribers so they can find even more content to watch – whether on their DVR, TV or the Web.”

Swedish Private Equity Firm Parsifal Offers to Acquire France Telecom’s Channels

In an interview with the French daily Le Figaro, Peter Ekelund CEO of Parsifal said that the Swedish-based investment fund is ready to acquire France Telecom’s pay-TV channel Orange Cinema Series and is waiting to see what the operator’s terms are: “I have a clear idea of the price we would like to pay but I’m waiting to see what are France Telecom’s terms” he said.

Peter Ekelund added that his group is prepared to act quickly and that his offer did not raise any competition issues, unlike that of Vivendi’s Canal+.

If successful, Parsifal plans to propose the channel to all providers, not only to France Telecom, which will multiply the current subscriber base by five or six and make the TV channels more profitable according to Ekelund.

Prisa Doubles 9-month Net Profit

Spanish media group Prisa has just released its results for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2010.

PRISA posted revenues of 2,299.53 million euros, of which 25% came from outside Spain. Revenues from international operations grew by 7.2% (+12.2% Latin America) and interests on debt decreased by 33%. Group advertising revenues grew by 8.6%. The Group has also doubled its net profit during the 9-month period.

The Audiovisual sector posted revenues of 1,205.74 million euros with an EBITDA of 211.66 million euros, and a margin of 17.6%. DIGITAL+ had revenues of 817.51 million euros and an EBITDA of 204.66 million euros (25.0% margin).

Total subscribers to DIGITAL+ reached 1,772,677 subscribers as of September. There has been a positive trend in the evolution of Digital+ subscribers: gross additions to DIGITAL+ increased by 9.6% in comparison with the same period of the last year and cancellations decreased by 15.0%. This positive trend has continued during the month of October and is expected to continue for the rest of the year according to the company’s press release.

Canal+ Interested in Spanish pay-TV Acquisition

French pay TV operator Canal+ has expressed interest in acquiring a stake in Spainish pay-TV platform Digital+.  In an interview with the Financial Times, Bertrand Méheut, CEO of Canal+, said that he was “open” to buying the Spanish broadcaster. However, Mr. Méheut stated that there were currently no talks about this move.

Last year, Prisa, owner of Digital+ had rejected a €2.4 billion join acquisition offer from Vivendi / Telefonica, and sold 44% of the pay TV platfom to Telefonica and Mediaset. “I believe for the Spanish market, Telefónica could be prepared to work with us,” Mr Méheut said, adding there had been no discussions.

In the first half of the year, Canal+ Group revenues were €2,327 million, a 3.1% increase compared to the same period last year. The ARPU reached €46.3, increasing €+1.9 compared with last year.

Telecom Italia Media Increases Revenue 11.6%

Italian commercial television network Telecom Italia Media has just released its results for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2010.

Revenues for the period reached € 177.4 million, up 11.6% compared with the first nine months of 2009 (€ 159.0 million). Net Result totaled - € 33.2 million, which represents an increase of +€22.0 million compared with the Jan-Sept. 2009 period (- € 55.2 million).

The company stated that the positive results for the first nine months were strongly linked to the increase in revenues of the Network Operator (+ €22.6 million) and to the upturn in television advertising.

Net advertising revenues rose by 2.2% to €65.1 million (€63.7 million in the same period of 2009). Advertising revenues for the channel La7 in the first nine months of 2010 remained substantially unchanged on those of the same period of the previous year, by virtue of the agreement with Cairo Communication based on a guaranteed minimum, while the new channel La7d, free-to-air digital terrestrial channel launched in March 2010, generated advertising revenues of €1.8 million.

In terms of TV audience, La7’s average share increased to 3.7% in September compared with 3.0% in September 2009.

Telecinco Revenue Increases 44% in Jan-Sept. 2010

Leading Spanish commercial television Telecinco has just released its results for the 9-month period ended September 30, 2010.

In the first nine months of 2010, the disappearance of advertising on TVE has allowed the growth of private TVs. Moreover, prices have begun adjusting in the TV advertising market, to recover the levels following the removal of TVE from the advertising market.

Total Net Revenues reached €622.42 million in the first nine months of 2010 whereas in the same period last year they were at the level of €432.25 million, that is an increase of +44.0%. The “Gross Advertising Revenues of Multiplex Telecinco” in this period amount to €572.89 million compared to €406.52 million that were reached last year, while the “Advertising Revenues of Other Media” totalled €28.98 million compared to €7.97 million of 2009. The “Total gross advertising revenues” amount to €601.87 million, a 45.2% increase versus 2009. Finally, the “Other Revenues” amount to €48.55 million with an increase of 29.1% versus the €37.60 million of last year. This is mainly due to the income generated during the first half of 2010, from the films “Agora”, Celda 211” and Spanish Movie”.

The average audience share of the Telecinco Group in the first nine months of 2010 total-individuals (total day), reaches 17.4%, with a +1.9pp lead on Antena3 Group (15.5%).

Compared to the same period last year and under consistent conditions, the Adjusted Net Profit amounted to €121.16 million (+54.4% versus 2009), a 19.5% margin over Net Revenues.

Zain Launches Mobile TV for iPhone Users

Zain Kuweit has announced that iPhone users can now access Mobile TV services on their devices.

Through this service, which was already available to other 3G-mobile phone users, prepaid & postpaid customers can view live selected television channels on their handsets.

According to Zain, these TV channels include Al-Watan, Al-Watan Plus, Al-Rai, Kuwait Sports Channel, Gulf, and Rotana Channel collection.

Earlier this month, Zain announced its Group consolidated financial results for the first nine months, ending 30 September 2010. For the Jan-Sept. period, the Zain Group generated consolidated revenues of KWD 1.01 billion (US$ 3.5 billion), an increase of 8.4% compared to the same period of 2009. The company’s consolidated EBITDA reached KWD 448 million (US$ 1.55 billion) reflecting an EBITDA margin of 44% with EBIT reaching KWD 324 million (US$ 1.12 billion). Net Income soared 411% to reach KWD 976 million (US$ 3.37 billion).

Paraguay’s Copaco Invests $20 million to Launch Triple Play in 2011

Paraguay’s state-owned company Copaco will invest a total of 20 million dollars to launch triple play (telephony, internet and television). The company is expected to start commercialising the service in late 2011, as confirmed by the head of the state, Mario Esquivel, in an interview with local newspaper La Nacion.

Mr. Esquivel explained that the operator is currently “expanding and improving its  infrastructure” in order to reach various regions of the country.

“It is a strategic project for us [...] The expansion and improvement of our network to provide IPTV requires us to reach at least 8 Mega of internet connection speed, whereas today we are still at four,” he added.

The head of state also mentioned that the company plans to offer movie rental services within its IPTV offer.