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 2014 to the date of this announcement 
and incorporates the Group's nine month trading period ended 30 September 2014. 
 
9 months to end September        2014            2013          % Change 
 
                                  GBPm              GBPm 
 
Group Revenue                   84,711          77,447            9% 
 
Radio GB                        42,070          36,668            15% 
 
Radio Ireland                   14,750          14,489            2% 
 
Television                      27,891          26,290            6% 
 
In the first nine months of 2014, the more positive economic conditions in both 
the UK and Ireland helped to generate Group revenue growth of 9%, with the 
stimulus of the 2014 FIFA World Cup offsetting adverse currency movements. This 
strong revenue growth enabled us to reduce net debt by GBP3.2m to GBP45.9m, 
providing a sound foundation for funding the pre-start-up costs of our new 
television station, UTV Ireland. 
 
Radio GB 
 
Radio GB revenues grew by 15% in the nine months to September. The World Cup 
helped to lift talkSPORT's revenue by 23%, outperforming a national market 
which was up by 8%. Revenues from our local radio stations increased by 2% 
compared to a market growth of 3%. 
 
In Q4 we anticipate Radio GB revenues will increase by 7%, with talkSPORT up by 
11% and local radio station revenues growing by 2%. 
 
Radio Ireland 
 
Radio Ireland revenues grew by 6% in the nine months to September on a constant 
currency basis, 2% including sterling/euro foreign exchange movement. This 
again represents an outperformance of the Irish commercial radio market which 
was estimated to be up by around 2% (in local currency) in the same period. 
 
In Q4 we anticipate Radio Ireland revenues will decrease by 1% on a constant 
currency basis, with the impact of the strength of sterling converting this 
into a decline of 7%. 
 
Television 
 
Television revenues grew by 6% in the nine months to September. Excluding Tibus 
and Simply Zesty, which grew by a combined 16%, our core Television business 
grew by 5%. Within this our London NAR (Net Advertising Revenue) increased by 
6% and our Irish offices NAR grew by 4%. 
 
In Q4 we anticipate Television revenues will increase by 4%, with core 
Television growing by 2% (London NAR up 2% and Irish offices NAR up 1%) and the 
combination of Tibus and Simply Zesty growing by 31%. 
 
Outlook 
 
Group revenue growth has eased in Q4 to 3%, with a further strengthening in 
sterling, a tougher 2013 comparator and a reduction in Government television 
advertising in Northern Ireland combining to temper growth in this quarter. 
Continuing uncertainty around budgetary constraints in the Northern Ireland 
Assembly will provide some headwind in television advertising in the early part 
of 2015. 
 
Our main focus of activity continues to be the strategically important launch 
of our new television channel, UTV Ireland, in January 2015. Plans are well 
advanced on transmission and distribution infrastructure, key staff have been 
appointed, programmes commissioned and the Dublin studio is now ready. 
 
The next scheduled announcement of financial information by UTV Media plc will 
be the release of our Preliminary Announcement (to 31 December 2014) which is 
provisionally scheduled for 18 March 2015. 
 
Enquiries 
 
Orla McKibbin, Director of Communications    +44 (0) 28 9026 2188 / +44 (0) 7879 666 427 
 
Martin Barrow, Maitland                      +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 and Television. 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 
2019 and also incorporates Sport magazine. UTV Radio Ireland is the largest 
operator of ILRs in Ireland. UTV Television is the Channel 3 licensee for 
Northern Ireland and has the highest audience penetration locally. The division 
also includes a specialist digital services business 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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