Q3 2009 - Results for Period Ending 30 September 2009

Q3 2009 - Results for Period Ending 30 September 2009

21 October 2009 - Modern Times Group MTG AB (publ.) (“MTG” or “the Group”)
(Nasdaq OMX Stockholm's Large Cap market: MTGA, MTGB) today announced its
financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended 30 September 2009.

Third Quarter Highlights

•  Net sales up 7% year on year to SEK 3,177 (2,960) million, or up 3% year on
year at constant exchange rates
•  Operating income of SEK 377 (574) million
•  Pre-tax profit of SEK 336 (595) million 
•  Net income of SEK 254 (405) million 
•  Basic earnings per share of SEK 3.86 (6.07) 


Nine Month Highlights

•  Net sales up 8% year on year to SEK 10,097 (9,320) million, or up 2% year on
year at constant exchange rates
•  Operating income of SEK 1,199 (1,753) million when excluding SEK 1,173
million of income from discontinued DTV Group in 2008
•  Pre-tax profit of SEK 1,096 (1,790) million when excluding SEK 1,173 million
of income from discontinued DTV Group in 2008  
•  Net income of SEK 836 (1,225) million when excluding SEK 1,175 million of net
income from discontinued DTV Group in 2008 
•  Basic earnings per share of SEK 12.51 (35.87) when including income from
discontinued DTV Group in 2008

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We have
delivered continued sales growth and a group operating margin of 12% in the
seasonally smallest advertising sales quarter of the year, and despite the
global economic recession. This clearly demonstrates the benefit of operating an
integrated free and pay-TV broadcasting group, as well as the ongoing impact of
our consistent group-wide cost control. As the challenger in most of our
markets, we have also continued to benefit from the structural tailwind of
digitalising TV markets, which has increased the penetration and pricing
potential for our channels. Furthermore, our healthy financial position and cash
flows have enabled us to invest selectively to capitalise on these changes by
further enhancing our viewing shares and channel offerings. This has resulted in
higher market shares in almost all of our markets and even stronger competitive
positions from which to develop the Group moving forward.”


The company will host a conference call today at 15.00 Stockholm local time,
14.00 London local time and 09.00 New York local time. 

To participate in the conference call, please dial:
International: +44 (0)20 7138 0824
Sweden: +46 (0)8 5051 3641
US: +1 212 444 0481
The access pin code for the conference is 4820297

To listen to the conference call online, please go to www.mtg.se.

A replay facility will be made available for 7 days after the conference call.
 
To access the replay, please dial:
International: +44(0) 20 7111 1244
Sweden: +46 (0)8 5051 3897
US: +1 347 366 9565
The access pin code for the replay facility is 4820297#

***

For further information, please visit www.mtg.se, or contact:

Hans-Holger Albrecht, President & Chief Executive Officer
Mathias Hermansson, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +46 (0) 8 562 000 50
 
Investor & Analyst Enquiries:
Matthew Hooper / Oscar Hyleen: 	
Tel: +44 (0) 7768 440 414 / +46 (0) 707 620 024
Email: investor.relations@mtg.se 
                                                                                
   
Press Enquiries:
Bert Willborg	
Tel: +44 (0) 7912 280 850
Email: bert.willborg@mtg.se

Modern Times Group is a leading international entertainment broadcasting group
with the second largest geographical broadcast footprint in Europe. MTG's Viasat
Broadcasting is the largest free-TV and satellite premium pay-TV operator in
Scandinavia and the Baltics, and also operates free-TV channels in the Czech
Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Ghana. MTG's TV assets are
broadcast in a total of 30 countries and have 125 million viewers. MTG is also
the major shareholder in Russia's largest independent television broadcaster
(CTC Media - Nasdaq: CTCM), and the number one commercial radio operator in the
Nordic and Baltic regions.
Modern Times Group MTG AB Class A and B shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX
Stockholm's Large Cap market (‘MTGA' and ‘MTGB').
The information in this Interim Report is that which Modern Times Group MTG AB
is required to disclose under the Securities Markets Act. This information was
released for publication at 13.00 CET on 21 October 2009.