Bauer Media acquires Absolute Radio

July 30, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

bauer mediaBauer Media UK is to acquire the Absolute Radio business from Times of India. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The FT is reporting that Bauer paid between £20 and £25 million. Times of India Group acquired Virgin Radio for £53.2m in 2008 before rebranding it as Absolute.

Paul Keenan, CEO, Bauer Media UK, said, “We are looking forward to working with the award-winning team at Absolute Radio and have great respect for what it has achieved.  We are excited about welcoming this complementary music radio business with renowned digital assets into Bauer.”

Donnach O’Driscoll, CEO, Absolute Radio, said, “The Absolute Radio business has never been in better shape as we approach our fifth birthday.  Bauer Media UK is a business that really cares about building famous media and entertainment brands and music radio in particular. This brand will continue to thrive as part of the Bauer group.”

Keenan added:  “Absolute Radio and its sister brands are loved by millions of UK consumers and by advertisers.  This acquisition will be an opportunity to learn and share across both businesses.”

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FUNKE MEDIENGRUPPE acquires regional newspapers and parts of the magazine portfolio from Axel Springer / Establishment of joint ventures for advertising ma

July 30, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

funkeFUNKE MEDIENGRUPPE is to acquire Axel Springer AG’s regional newspapers as well as its TV program guides and women’s magazines. In the fiscal year 2012 Axel Springer’s regional newspapers, TV program guides and women’s magazines businesses made €94.8 million in EBITDA and €512.4 million in revenues. The purchase price is  €920 million.

The two companies have also agreed to establish joint ventures for the marketing and distribution of print and digital media. In both joint venture companies, Axel Springer will have the majority interest.

Thomas Ziegler, Managing Director of FUNKE MEDIENGRUPPE: “We have to join forces – because the media market presents challenging tasks: Therefore, we are looking forward to work closely with Axel Springer AG in marketing and distribution within the framework of the joint ventures and we appreciate that selected print titles of Axel Springer will join our activities. New opportunities are emerging for our business: This applies to the print as well as to the online segment. Hereby, we gain an enormous potential for new developments, for example for the intelligent connection of both fields. Together with the colleagues which will join us, we will build a national media company. FUNKE MEDIENGRUPPE will stand for print media and online media, successful regional newspapers and successful magazines, journalistic quality and economic success.”

Mathias Döpfner, Chief Executive Officer Axel Springer AG: “The decision to divest some of our brands with the longest tradition in our company was not easy. However, we are sure that the grouping under the FUNKE MEDIENGRUPPE, which aims at focusing on regional print- and online-journalism and on magazines, provides the best long-term perspective for the brands and for the staff. The different strategies of both companies complement each other perfectly. Axel Springer AG will continue to follow the strategic direction to become the leading digital media group with a clear focus on the BILD- and WELT-groups, in which we will invest and further develop journalistically and which will remain the core business of Axel Springer in the very long term.”

The transaction is subject to approval under merger control and antitrust law, which is not expected to be obtained before the end of 2013.

Germany, Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin

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ITV plc – half year results

July 30, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

itvITV plc has announced its interim results for the half year ended 30 June 2013.

Strategic highlights

  • ITV continues to deliver  growth and continues to rebalance
  • The company has completed acquisitions in the UK and the US (see related articles below)
  • £20m of cost savings are on track
  • Profit to cash conversion is strong at 100%
  • Net debt of £52m following acquisitions, dividends and further debt repayments
  • The board has declared an interim dividend of 1.1p up 38%

Financial highlights

Click on the Financial Highlights table below to see an enlarged view

ITV half year 13

Adam Crozier, ITV Chief Executive, said:

“We’re making good progress with our strategy of growing and rebalancing the business as we build new revenue streams and improve margins. In the first six months of the year ITV continued to increase group profits and revenues despite the expected fall in our H1 advertising revenues.  Non-advertising revenues were up by 11% to £568m, driven by significant growth in Online, Pay & Interactive and in ITV Studios.

ITV Studios delivered further growth in the UK and internationally both organically and through selective acquisitions in our key target markets – with total Studios revenues up 11%. We’re showing real momentum in our strategy of creating a robust international content business and in building substantial strength and scale in the US market.

The improved variety and quality of the ITV schedule has driven a strong on-screen performance in the first half of the year with ITV Family SOV up 1%. Our cash generation remains strong and we continue to have a robust balance sheet to support the strategy and invest in our future growth.

As we anticipated, the shape of the television advertising market this year is very different to 2012. In spite of monthly volatility we expect ITV Family NAR to be broadly flat for the nine months to the end of September with Q3 up 9%.  We expect both ITV Studios and Online, Pay & Interactive to deliver double digit revenue growth for the year as a whole as we continue to rebalance and strengthen ITV.”

Click here to see the full announcement.

UK, London

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ITV acquires Big Talk

July 30, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

itvITV plc today has acquired Big Talk Productions and associated companies (Big Talk), the producer of award winning programmes Friday Night Dinner, Him & Her and Rev as well as films including Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End.

ITV will pay an initial cash consideration and further capped cash payments contingent on Big Talk’s future performance.  The initial cash consideration will be dependent on the 2012/13 financial performance and is expected to be in the region of £12.5m.  The further capped cash payments are payable on the delivery of significant profit growth over the next five years.

UK, London

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Live Nation Entertainment acquires a majority stake in BDG Music Group,

June 19, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT LOGOLive Nation Entertainment has acquired a majority stake in BDG Music Group, the Baltic region’s largest concert promotion company.

Since early 2012, BDG Music has produced more than 50 shows in the Baltics and sold more than 200,000 tickets. The group will bdgretain its current management team, although upon completion of the deal, it will be renamed Live Nation Baltics. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation Entertainment, said: “With this acquisition we now have operations in 43 countries. This further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to expanding our global footprint, which enables us to bring live entertainment to even more fans around the world.”

This year Live Nation Baltics is on the bill for major concerts featuring Robbie Williams and Depeche Mode, among others.

USA, Beverly Hills, CA & Estonia, Tallinn

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ITV acquires US TV production company Thinkfactory Media

June 19, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

itvITV plc is acquiring a controlling stake in Thinkfactory Media, a US producer of reality, entertainment and drama, including the Emmy award-winning Hatfields & McCoys. Based in Los Angeles, the company was founded by Emmy-nominated Producer, Leslie Greif. Think Factory Media produces programming in most genres for television including:  features, unscripted series, documentaries, mini-series, branded entertainment projects, concerts, music specials and various movies of the week.

thinkfactorymedia

ITV will pay an upfront cash consideration of $30m for a 65% stake in Thinkfactory Media, with a put and call option to buy theremaining 35% of the company. The put and call option could be exercised from between 3 years after the initial deal and at the end of year 5 with the total amount paid linked to the performance of the company over that period.  ITV says that the multiple paid is similar to the range paid on their previous acquisitions.

UK, London & USA, Losa Angeles, CA

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Gannett to acquire television company Belo

June 13, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

gannettInternational media business Gannett is to acquire television company Belo in a deal that nearly doubles Gannett’s broadcast portfolio.

Gannett will acquire all outstanding shares of Belo for $13.75 per share in cash, or approximately $1.5 billion, plus the assumption of belo$715 million in existing debt for an enterprise value of approximately $2.2 billion. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, represents a 28.1 percent premium to the closing price of Belo common stock on June 12, 2013.

Belo Corp. owns and operates 20 television stations and their associated websites.  Belo stations, which include affiliations with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and the CW, reach more than 14 percent of U.S. television households.

The Company anticipates that the transaction will generate approximately $175 million in annual run-rate synergies within three years after closing.  The transaction valuation implies a 9.4x average 2011/2012 EBITDA multiple prior to synergies, and a 5.4x multiple assuming expected synergies.

Gracia Martore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gannett, said, “We are thrilled to bring together two highly respected media companies with rich histories of award-winning journalism, operational excellence and strong brand leadership.  We have been successfully transforming Gannett into a diversified multi-media company with broadcast, digital and publishing components across high-growth markets nationwide, and this is another important step in the process.  It will significantly improve our cash flow and financial strength, enabling us to quickly pay down debt while remaining committed to disciplined capital allocation.  By enhancing our portfolio with one of the largest, most geographically diverse and network-balanced TV station groups in the country, the new Gannett will be well positioned to lead innovation, bolster our existing growth initiatives and take advantage of new opportunities in the emerging digital media landscape.”

USA, McLean, VA & Dallas, TX

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CBS Corporation acquired the rest of TV Guide Digital

June 3, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

CBSCBS Corporation has wholly acquired TV Guide Digital, which includes the  TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile properties. In March Fusion DigiNet reported that CBS took over the TV Guide stake held by One Equity Partners, the private-equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase, which owned 49% of the company, with the option to buy another 1%. CBS was said to be paying about $100 million for the 49% stake.

Under the terms of the new deal, CBS Corporation has acquired the remaining 50 percent stake in TV Guide Digital shares from tvguide_logo_tatLionsgate. CBS and Lionsgate’s 50/50 partnership for the highly distributed TVGN cable network, announced on March 26, will continue.

TVGuide.com and the TV Guide Mobile apps will become part of CBS Interactive’s Technology, Games and Lifestyle group.

“TV Guide is one of the most-enduring and iconic brands in the world of television and video, and we’re proud to welcome TV Guide Digital to the CBS Interactive family,” said Jim Lanzone , President of CBS Interactive. “TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile have the biggest and most-engaged audiences in the valuable TV information category, making them a perfect fit for our portfolio of premium content brands.”

USA, Los Angeles, CA & San Francisco, CA

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Inception Media Group acquires Strategic Film Partners

May 17, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

inception mediaInception Media Group, LLC, a diversified media company specialising in the production, acquisition and distribution of entertainment content, announced it has acquired Strategic Film Partners through its newly formed subsidiary, Inception Film Partners, LLC.

Strategic Film Partners, co-founded in 2004 by Alex Barder, is a global film sales company involved in motion picture financing, production and distribution. Strategic Film Partners attends all major film markets and festivals, representing films for sale to a worldwide distribution marketplace including theatrical, home entertainment, digital, television and emerging media outlets.

Barder, a partner in Inception Film Partners, will assume the role of president of the new company and will spearhead and manage all aspects of its day-to-day operations including business development, strategic planning, acquisitions, film financing and sales.

“The acquisition of Strategic Film Partners further diversifies our company’s efforts and creates new revenue streams that will help drive growth,” said David Borshell, co-founder of Inception Media Group, LLC. “Alex brings with him years of diverse industry experience and the passion and leadership necessary to not only build a bigger and more robust film sales company but also to expand all aspects of our consolidated companies.”

USA, Los Angeles, CA & France, Cannes

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Management buyout of Fareham Agency from Ten Alps

May 14, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

tenalpsTen Alps Plc, has sold its assets and liabilities in the Fareham Agency, held via its subsidiary Ten Alps Communications Limited (“TAC”), for a net cash consideration of £144,616 and an agreed write-off of the net intercompany balances of £687,702 owed to the Fareham Agency by Ten Alps and its subsidiaries less retained cash of £154,219. The disposal was effected by way of a management buyout completed by Scott Ford, director of TAC.

The Fareham Agency was part of Osprey Communications in to which Ten Alps reversed in July 2001. Previously known as Ten Alps RMA it became part of Ten Alps Communications after the acquisition of McMillan Scott in March 2006 and was later renamed Ten Alps Creative & Media. The business offers design, production, PR and media buying services across the full range of platforms including print, online, events, TV/radio and video formats.

TAC is disposing of net assigned assets of £62,168 for a net cash consideration of £144,616. The assets being disposed of are trade receivables, net inventories, prepayments and net media buying cash whilst liabilities include trade payables, deferred income and accruals. TAC has retained £154,219 of cash following the disposal. The unit had revenues of c£5m, EBITDA of £23k and profit before tax of £8k in 2012.

UK, London

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Peter Bertram, Chairman, commented:

“Following a review of the B2B Division and the Group’s stated objective of focussing on core assets it was concluded that the Agency business was non-core. As mentioned above the Agency has been part of the Group since 2001 and has helped deliver commended creative content to an impressive list of clients.We wish Scott and all the staff a bright future in their new venture.”

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