WLG Wireless Grp

 
TIDMUTV 
 
UTV Media plc - Interim Management Statement 
 
This Interim Management Statement covers the period from the beginning of the 
Group's current financial year, 1 January 2012 to the date of this announcement 
and incorporates the Group's ten month trading period ended 31 October 2012. 
 
10 Months to end October           2012                 2011          % Change 
 
                                    GBPm                   GBPm 
 
Group Revenue                      99.5                 99.8             - 
 
Radio GB                           46.0                 43.6             5 
 
Radio Ireland                      17.0                 18.2            (6) 
 
Television                         26.5                 28.5            (7) 
 
New Media                          10.0                 9.5              5 
 
  * talkSPORT to broadcast exclusive UK radio commentary of 2013 Rugby Lions 
    Tour 
 
  * talkSPORT becomes Global Audio Partner of the Barclays Premier League 
    through to 2016 
 
  * talkSPORT signs worldwide commercial radio rights to FA Cup and Capital One 
    Cup through to 2018 and 2016 respectively 
 
  * Successful re-financing of banking facilities and continued reduction of 
    debt 
 
  * New network affiliate agreement with ITV 
 
  * Acquisition of Simply Zesty - Ireland's leading social media agency 
 
Radio GB 
 
In our largest division, revenue over the period increased by 5% with talkSPORT 
growing by 8% and our Local Radio business by 1%. The UK radio market increased 
by 4% over the same period. We anticipate that our revenue in November and 
December will be 2% above last year. As the start-up costs of the talkSPORT 
International project have been largely incurred by Tibus and Simply Zesty 
these costs will not be treated as exceptional by the Group. 
 
Radio Ireland 
 
In local currency terms Radio Ireland maintained its revenue over the period, 
significantly outperforming the Irish radio market which is estimated to have 
declined by 8% over the same period. Currency translation losses, however, led 
to a 6% deduction in reported revenue. It is anticipated that revenue 
performance in November and December will be down by 5% compared to last year 
on a local currency basis. 
 
Television 
 
Total revenue for the period decreased by 7% with Net Advertising Revenue (NAR) 
down by the same amount. Our London NAR declined by 1% which was in line with 
the UK TV broadcast market. NAR generated by our Irish offices experienced a 
decline of 16%. NAR for November and December overall is expected to be down by 
11% compared to the same period in 2011 due to continued difficult trading 
conditions in Ireland. 
 
New Media 
 
Revenue increased by 5% compared to the same period in 2011. Excluding Simply 
Zesty, the like for like decline in sales for the period to October was 4%. 
Revenue in November and December is expected to maintain the same rate of 
growth as the first ten months. We expect that recent restructuring within New 
Media, coupled with the absence of large internal projects next year, will 
result in an improved performance in 2013. 
 
Net Debt 
 
We continue to place a strong emphasis on cash generation and debt management. 
Our Net Debt at 30 September 2012 was GBP53m (GBP60m at 30 September 2011) and we 
anticipate that it will reduce further by 31 December 2012. 
 
Outlook 
 
The headwinds to trading which we experienced in Quarter 3 continue into the 
first weeks of Quarter 4, with macroeconomic conditions in the UK, to which 
advertising is so sensitive, still showing signs of volatility. In Ireland, 
where we continue to outperform the radio advertising market, challenging 
conditions persist for both television and radio into Quarter 4, with further 
revenue declines anticipated. 
 
On a positive note, our GB Radio operations continue to deliver a strong 
performance overall, and we anticipate a stable outlook for GB Radio across 
Quarter 4. Outside of the UK, talkSPORT International is building both 
audiences and revenues in line with expectations several months into the 
project. 
 
With limited visibility, we remain cautious about the prospects for revenue 
growth across our key business divisions. Despite investment in future profit 
streams, we continue to keep a tight control over costs, the Group remains cash 
generative with relatively low borrowings and is well positioned to take 
advantage of growth opportunities. 
 
UTV's next scheduled announcement of financial information will be the release 
of our preliminary results (to 31 December 2012) which is provisionally 
scheduled for 19 March 2013. 
 
Investor Enquiries                     www.utvmedia.com/investors 
 
John McCann, Group CEO                 +44 (0) 28 9026 2202 
 
Norman McKeown, Group Finance Director +44 (0) 28 9026 2098 
 
Media Enquiries 
 
Orla McKibbin, Head of Communications  +44 (0) 28 9026 2188 / +44 (0) 7879 666 
                                       427 
 
Maitland 
 
Tom Buchanan / Rowan Brown             +44 (0) 20 7379 5151 
 
About UTV 
 
UTV Media plc is one of the most successful media companies in the UK and 
Ireland incorporating Radio, Television, New Media and Publishing. UTV Radio GB 
operates the no. 1 commercial national speech station - talkSPORT, 13 
Independent Local Radio Stations (ILRs) and a number of digital radio 
multiplexes throughout GB. talkSPORT is Global Audio Partner of the Barclays 
Premier League through to 2016 and also incorporates Sport magazine. UTV Radio 
Ireland is the largest operator of ILRs in Ireland. UTV Television is the ITV 
franchise holder for Northern Ireland and has the highest TV penetration 
locally. UTV New Media comprises a leading Internet Service Provider, web 
development company and full service digital agency. 
 
Forward Looking Statements 
 
Figures presented in this interim management statement are not audited. This 
announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with regards to the 
financial condition and results of the operations of UTV Media plc. These 
statements and forecasts involve risk factors which are associated with, but 
are not exclusive to, the economic and business circumstances occurring from 
time to time in the countries and sectors in which the group operates. These 
forward-looking statements are made only as at the date of this announcement. 
Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast. Other 
than required by law, UTV Media plc undertakes no obligation to update the 
forward-looking statements. 
 
 
 
END 
 

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