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Central European Media Enterprises Announces Markíza TV License Extension for 12 Additional Years
March 7, 2006, Hamilton, Bermuda
Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (“CME”) (Nasdaq/Prague Stock Exchange: CETV) announced today that the Council of the Slovak Republic for Broadcasting and Television Transmission (Slovak Republic Media Council) has extended CME’s Markíza TV broadcasting license agreement for 12 additional years, to 2019. The prolongation is effective as of the expiration of the current term of the Markíza TV broadcasting license in September 2007.
“The extension of Markíza TV’s broadcasting license, combined with our recent acquisition of control of Markíza TV, highlights CME’s ongoing commitment to the Slovak Republic,” said Michael Garin, CME’s Chief Executive Officer. “We remain focused on broadcasting at the highest international standards as we seek to build upon Markíza TV’s strong reputation and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of the Slovak Republic through the end of the next decade. I have full confidence in Vaclav Mika and the new management team to maintain Markíza’s long-standing leadership in the Slovak market.”
Markíza TV was launched as a national television channel in the Slovak Republic in August 1996 and reaches approximately 86% of the Slovak Republic's population. The Markíza TV channel broadcasts 24 hours per day and has a programming strategy to appeal to a broad audience through news, movies, entertainment and sports programming. The channel reported an average national all day audience share for 2005 of 31.1%.
CME is a TV broadcasting company with leading networks in six Central and Eastern European countries reaching an aggregate of approximately 82 million people. The Company’s television stations are located in Croatia (Nova TV), Czech Republic (TV Nova, Galaxie Sport), Romania (PRO TV, Acasa, PRO Cinema), Slovakia (Markíza), Slovenia (POP TV, Kanal A) and Ukraine (Studio 1+1). CME is traded on the NASDAQ and the Prague Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CETV”.
For additional information, please contact:
Romana Tomasova
Director of Corporate Communications
Central European Media Enterprises
+44 (0)20 7430 5357
romana.tomasova@cme-net.com
