Central European Media Enterprises and MTV Networks International Sign Licensing Agreement for Czech Republic
Last update: 5:00 a.m. EDT Sept. 18, 2008 LONDON and HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept 18, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. ("CME") (Nasdaq/Prague Stock Exchange: CETV), a leading television broadcaster in Central and Eastern Europe, and MTV Networks International ("MTVNI"), a division of Viacom Inc., today announced a multi-year licensing agreement granting CME rights to launch a localised MTV channel in the Czech Republic, as well as the opportunity to distribute the channel via cable and satellite platforms in the Slovak Republic.
MTV Czech, which is slated to launch in the first half of 2009, will operate as a fully-localised, 24-hour youth lifestyle channel, providing the very best in international and local music and long-form programming. MTVNI will work closely with CME and TV Nova to offer viewers a mix of locally produced content, Czech adaptations of MTV formats and internationally renowned programs such as Pimp My Ride and Cribs subtitled in Czech. MTV Czech will be available as part of TV Nova's family of terrestrial and cable entertainment and thematic channels.
Bhavneet Singh, Managing Director and Executive Vice President, Emerging Markets, MTVNI commented: "The Czech Republic has been a priority market for us for some time now and we're delighted to announce this deal and the extension of our strategic partnership with CME. This is the very first MTVNI service to launch in the Czech Republic, marking a real milestone in our network's history, and further strengthens our MTV brand footprint across Central and Eastern Europe. Our aim is to provide the best content across multiple media platforms and create the ultimate go-to entertainment destination for Czech youth."
Michael Garin, CME's Chief Executive Officer, added: "We are thrilled to be launching MTV in the Czech Republic. Our strong partnership with MTV enhances our ability to deliver our multichannel strategy. We now have 22 networks across our markets and look forward to working with MTV to expand further."
Petr Dvorak, General Director of TV Nova, said: "We are excited to have the opportunity to include MTV into the TV Nova group of channels. We believe that MTV Czech will complement our existing portfolio of channels, giving our viewers and advertisers an even more complete media offering. With the digitalisation processes in the Czech and Slovak Republics already underway, we will be able to offer the audience additional program diversity under the Nova umbrella."
MTVNI's Emerging Markets group is one of the fastest growing regions in MTVNI's portfolio of multi-platform businesses. The Emerging Markets group manages 26 television channels, 24 websites, one broadband channel and three mobile TV channels encompassing the MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, VIVA and Comedy Central brands in Central & Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa and the Middle East. MTVNI is owned by Viacom Inc.
CME operates 22 broadcast networks, as well as pay-TV channels, Internet properties and other media businesses in seven countries - Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine - with an aggregate population of 97 million people. In the past five years CME has shown 31% compound annual revenue growth rate and has been one of the fastest growing media companies in the world.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding future business opportunities. Statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements in this press release for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. For these statements and all other forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy or are otherwise beyond our control and some of which might not even be anticipated. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and neither CME nor MTVNI undertake any obligation publicly to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
About MTV Networks International MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One, and digital properties Gametrailers, Shockwave, XFire, Neopets, AtomFilms and AddictingGames. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 560.1 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via 165 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 300 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc.
About CME: CME is a broadcasting company operating leading networks in seven Central and Eastern European countries with an aggregate population of approximately 97 million people. CME's television stations are located in Bulgaria (TV2 and Ring TV), Croatia (Nova TV), Czech Republic (TV Nova, Nova Cinema and Galaxie Sport), Romania (PRO TV, PRO TV International, Acasa, PRO Cinema, Sport.ro and MTV Romania), Slovakia (Markiza, Galaxie Sport), Slovenia (POP TV, Kanal A) and Ukraine (Studio 1+1, Studio 1+1 International, Kino, Citi). CME is traded on the NASDAQ and the Prague Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CETV". About TV Nova: The TV Nova group, a market and brand leader in media in the Czech Republic, operates three terrestrial and cable channels. The TV Nova group's core channel, TV Nova, is the number one TV channel in the Czech Republic in terms of audience and profitability, with approximately one-third of its broadcast schedule comprised of locally-produced programs. TV Nova broadcasts 24 hours a day, reaching 98% of the country's 10.2 million people with programming including news, movies, entertainment programs and sports highlights. The TV Nova group also owns Nova Cinema, a cable channel focusing on movies and series, and Galaxie Sport, a sports-oriented cable channel distributed in the Czech and Slovak Republics. In addition, the TV Nova group owns a number of the top internet websites in the market, including www.tn.cz and www.blog.cz. SOURCE Central European Media Enterprises Ltd.
