Hamburg, 28 November 2011 – The Bauer Media Group showed impressive results in the 2010 financial year as one of the most successful media companies, accepting the challenge of changing market conditions and further expanding its activities in the businesses of Print, Radio and Digital with enormous success.

The publisher was able to expand its international business in particular. The media group now has 277 companies with around 8,700 employees in 15 countries besides Germany in the UK, Poland, the US, the Czech Republic, France, Russia, Austria, Spain, China, Slovakia, Mexico, Romania, Portugal and Ukraine.

Sales revenues break the two-billion mark for the second time

With EUR 2.1289 billion in external sales in the 2010 financial year, the Bauer Media Group has broken the two-billion mark for the second time in its history. Initial projections for 2011 suggest that, in spite of a minor dip, external sales are set to again exceed EUR 2 billion (forecast EUR 2.0036 billion).

With EUR 870.0 million, Germany will again be the most important market in 2010, far ahead of the UK (EUR 566.8 million), Poland (EUR 269.1 million) and the US (EUR 231.4 million).

Enormously successful international business

The group thwarted general industry trends in 2010 to generate growth, mainly through increased acquisition activities abroad in previous years. They enabled the Bauer Media Group to further expand its market position and revenue sources during the reporting period. International business accounted for 59% of 2010 sales revenues.

Print remains the core business

Magazine publishing is the primary driver behind the success of the Bauer Media Group – and will be in the future. In 2010 and 2011 alone, the group launched 97 new magazines, 11 of them in Germany and 86 abroad. It publishes 396 magazines in total.

The Bauer Media Group was able to further expand its market position at home in its relevant segments, and now publishes 62 magazines in Germany. The media group is the market leader in TV guides, youth magazines and weekly women’s magazines.

In terms of foreign markets, the UK is the most important market for the Bauer Media Group publishing 90 magazines there. With 99 publications in Poland, the Bauer Media Group is the market leader in multiple segments including TV guides and women’s and youth magazines. Bauer Media Group titles also did well on other international magazine markets, even managing to expand its market share in some Eastern European countries.

Sales and Advertising businesses

Sales revenues for the Bauer Media Group declined slightly in 2010 to EUR 1.3359 billion (down about 1.6% year-on-year). At 62.8%, they continue to make up the greatest part of external revenues.

Advertising revenues grew somewhat in 2010 by EUR 2.8 million to EUR 381.0 million.

Significant growth in radio market

The international radio business has become extremely important to the Bauer Media Group. It has a broad footing and reports strong growth. For example, the company increased revenues in 2010 by EUR 12.7 million to a total of EUR 179.2 million.

This is primarily the result of the successful market position of the Bauer Media Group in Poland and the UK.

The largest Polish radio company, Grupa RMF, belongs to the Bauer Media Group. Its three stations reach 10.85 million listeners every day, a market share of 31.1%.

Bauer is also extraordinarily successful in the UK. There the company operates the second-largest commercial radio group, Bauer Radio Network (42 stations), giving it a market share of 24.7%. Bauer Radio is currently commercial number one in 20 of the 21 markets.

Expansion of digital business

The Bauer Media Group intends to accelerate the expansion of its Digital division in 2012. Its top priority is on increasing its own brands and further acquisitions on all international markets.

The company’s international portfolio currently contains 112 online products, which have seen Digital revenues for the Bauer Media Group grow by somewhere in the region of 50%. For 2010 the group reported a 27.1% increase in Online revenues to EUR 52.1 million.

Press contact:
Bauer Media Group
Joachim A. Klähn
Tel: 040/3019-1080
E-Mail: kommunikation@bauermedia.com