Mediaset back in the black
September 27, 2017
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Italian broadcasting group Mediaset posted a six-month net profit of €74.8 million compared to a €28.2 million loss in the same period of last year, According to Mediaset, last year’s loss was largely as a result of Vivendi pulling out of a deal to buy pay-TV unit Mediaset Premium.
Net consolidated revenues were €1.84 billion, down from the €1.87 billion in H1 2016.
In Italy, earnings amounted to €1.33 billion (€1.34 billion in H1 2016), with pay-TV revenues dropping to €299.7 million (€308.5 million). Gross advertising revenues were €1.07 billion (€1.05 billion).
In Spain, H1 2017 revenues amounted to €508 million (€521 million), while gross TV advertising revenue was €501 million (€508 million).
During the reference period, Mediaset had a 35.6 per cent share of the Italian TV audience (no change on H1 2016), ahead of public broadcaster RAI with 31.8 per cent (-0.2 per cent y/y).
Mediaset’s core channels (Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4) contributed, with 26.7 per cent, while Mediaset’s DTT channels (FTA and pay-TV) accounted for the remaining 8.9 per cent.