ATN Aterian Plc

RNS No 591b
ATLANTIC TELECOM GROUP PLC
30th July 1997

            ATLANTIC TELECOM GROUP PLC ANNOUNCES
         SALE OF BROADCAST SATELLITE TELEVISION LTD


The  Board of Atlantic Telecom Group PLC is pleased
to  announce  that  its  wholly  owned  subsidiary,
Devanha Group PLC, has sold the entire issued share
capital  of  Broadcast  Satellite  Television   Ltd
("BSTV"), the Group's narrowband cable TV operating
company.  The sale excluded the company's system in
Hull on which separate discussions are taking place
with other parties.

The  buyer of BSTV, CDA Media Ltd ("CDA") is paying
#400,000  in  cash  on deferred terms.   This  will
allow  CDA  to  spread the cost of the  acquisition
over equal quarterly payments through to 31st March
1999, subject to an up front payment of #100,000 to
be made in two stages within 30 days of completion.
Interest will be charged at 2 1/2% over bank base rate
on  sums  outstanding.  The purchase  consideration
broadly  equates to the net asset value of BSTV  at
completion.  CDA will obtain title to BSTV  on  1st
August 1997.

BSTV  operates  a  number of  narrowband  cable  TV
systems   across  England  but  has   been   losing
subscribers  in  recent years due  to  the  limited
nature   of   the  services  available   on   these
restricted   capacity   systems.    CDA   and   its
affiliates  already operate a number of  narrowband
systems  and  will  be  able to  consolidate  their
operations   in  a  way  unavailable  to   Atlantic
Telecom.   Prior to an exceptional  write  down  in
asset  values  of  #1,028k in the year  ended  31st
March 1997, BSTV incurred a loss before taxation of
#194k  in that year and had net assets of #440k  at
that date.

The  proceeds of the sale will be used by the Group
for working capital purposes.

The  Executive Chairman of Atlantic Telecom, Graham
J Duncan, commented:-

"I  am  pleased  that  we have  sold  BSTV  thereby
allowing  these systems to continue  in  operation,
safeguarding  the service and the  jobs  of  BSTV's
employees.  BSTV was at the heart of our  cable  TV
operations  in  the late 1980's and  early  1990's.
However, the direction of the Group has changed and
is   now   based   around  its   telecommunications
activities.  Our senior management can now be  even
more firmly focused on those activities."


ENQUIRIES

Graham J. Duncan
Executive Chairman
Atlantic Telecom Group PLC
Tel: 01224 646644
http://www.atlantic-telecom.co.uk


END

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