RTL Group Q3 revenue up 6.6% at ?1.23 bn

MUMBAI: European entertainment network RTL Group has announced that revenue for the third quarter rose by 6.6 per cent to ?1.23 billion from ?1.16 billion in the same period last year.

EBITA was up by 8.3 per cent to ?144 million from ?133 million.

The result was due to higher TV ad sales in Germany, France and the Netherlands and growing revenue at FremantleMedia. There were higher profit contributions from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, FremantleMedia and RTL Nederland.

During the period January to September 2011 reported revenue grew by 4.4 per cent to ?3,988 million, while reported EBITA increased by 4.6 per cent to ?701 million. The EBITA increase was driven by higher profit contributions from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6‘s TV channels and RTL Nederland.

The reported EBITA margin for the first nine months of the year was 17.6 per cent, compared to 17.5 per cent for the same period last year.

The net cash position as of 30 September 2011 amounted to ?970 million compared to ?1,059 million on 30 September 2010 and ?973 million on 30 June 2011.