Fastweb, Italy’s second-largest fixed telecommunications provider, is launching Warner TV, an exciting new entertainment channel from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD). The non-exclusive new Warner TV channel is a branded subscription video on-demand channel that will be available to FastwebTV subscribers from the 8th September. This is WBITD’s first launch of its Warner TV branded service in Italy.FastwebTV subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of award-winning Warner Bros. television series, movies and cartoons including:

· Many episodes on-demand per year of the world’s most popular TV series including ER, The O.C., Friends, Nip/Tuck, La Femme Nikita, Smallville, Cold Case and classic series such as V (The Visitors) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
· Kids’ entertainment with cartoon features such as Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost and Tom & Jerry: The Magic Ring, as well as cartoon series such as Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky and the Brain and Batman: The Animated Series.
· 150 Warner Bros. movies across all genres, including The Matrix Reloaded and all-time favourites such as Mad Max, The Goonies, The Shining, Poltergeist and many others included in the FastwebTV package free-of-charge.

“We are so excited to be launching the Warner TV on-demand channel,” said Alessandro Petazzi, Fastweb’s Head of Media & TV. “Since the launch of its IPTV service, Fastweb has been committed to providing customers with fresh and compelling content on an on-demand basis and has signed many agreements with the main local and international content providers. The addition of Warner Bros. content further enriches our portfolio and the launch of a Warner TV branded and managed on-demand channel is in-line with Fastweb’s most recent strategy of blending the benefits of video on demand (”what you want when you want”) with the advantages of traditional channels (editorially managed content, fresh and relevant to specific customer targets, associated with a familiar content brand).”

“Our partnership with Fastweb expands upon our international branded services business and marks the debut of our first such service in Italy,” said Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television. “Warner TV will offer motion picture and television programming that Italian viewers will have the ability to access through Fastweb, providing consumers with the opportunity to view great content from Warner Bros. wherever and whenever they want it.”

The launch of Warner TV on Fastweb in Italy continues WBITD’s strategic expansion into subscription- and advertiser-supported video-on-demand branded services around the world. WBITD has previously launched Warner TV VOD channels with Top Up TV, Tiscali, Virgin Media and BT in the U.K., ProSieben in Germany, USEN Corporation’s GyaO in Japan and Free TV in France, with an additional service planned for later in 2008 in India.

Fastweb was the first company in the world to launch IPTV.FastwebTV viewers have the widest choice of content integrated in a single interactive interface thanks to its hybrid multiplatform digital decoder. Fastweb television allows its viewers to access digital terrestrial TV services, analogue national channels, network-based PVR and catch-up TV, thematic channels from both satellite and analogue platforms, Sky satellite channels, a PPV offer, VoD of thousands of movies, cartoons, documentaries, TV series and music clips, videogames and unique edutainment channels.

Warner Bros. International Television Distribution is one of the world’s largest distributors of feature films, television programs and animation to the international television marketplace (broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, satellite, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, digital platforms, etc.). It licenses some 50,000 hours of programming (including more than 6,000 ýfeatures and 70+ current series), dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 ýlanguages, to telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.

Astral Media’s (ACM.A/ACM.B) The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s (CJR.B/CJR) Movie Central (Western Canada) announced on Sept 22nd the launch of HBO Canada, a channel that will deliver a full slate of HBO’s award-winning, boundary-pushing, genre-defining series, films, comedies and live events. Launching on Thursday, October 30, 2008, HBO Canada is a multiplex channel that will be offered at no additional charge to customers who subscribe to The Movie Network or Movie Central.”HBO is one of the most successful and sought-after entertainment brands in the world and we are thrilled to be expanding upon our long-standing relationship to launch this unique new service,” said John Riley, President, Astral Television Networks. “For years, HBO’s dramatic programming has been available on The Movie Network and Movie Central. But even with all of the HBO titles we offered, Canadians still wanted more. They wanted the comedy series, the live specials, the sporting events and the behind-the-scenes content that went into the HBO viewing experience. In launching HBO Canada we will be in a position to offer Canadians this additional content, together with the current signature series that HBO produces, to create an entertainment and value proposition that promises to set a new standard for premium television viewing in Canada.”

With its launch in October, HBO Canada will be home to new and returning marquee series such as True Blood, Entourage, Big Love, Flight of the Conchords and In Treatment, airing day-and-date with HBO in the U.S. The service will also offer more than 200 hours of library titles and first-run HBO original films, comedy specials, documentaries, live concerts and sporting events which were previously unavailable in Canada, including Real Time with Bill Maher, Def Comedy Jam and Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger. Library titles available on HBO Canada include such series as OZ and Da Ali G Show; original movies Gia, The Late Shift and If These Walls Could Talk; acclaimed miniseries From the Earth to the Moon and Angels in America; and comedy specials from the likes of Dane Cook, Tracey Ullman and Ellen Degeneres. HBO Canada will round out its offering with Canadian films and series including The Movie Network and Movie Central’s award-winning original series such as Durham County and Terminal City.

“We are thrilled that HBO Canada is going to be available to our subscribers this fall,” said Paul Robertson, President, Television, Corus Entertainment. “Canadians see great value in HBO’s distinctive brand and compelling programming and we have responded to this with a channel that offers a full complement of HBO programming that meets our audience’s demand for world-class entertainment – delivered in standard definition, high definition and on demand.”

HBO Canada will include a standard definition and high definition offering. HBO Canada programming will also be offered on demand through The Movie Network OnDemand and Movie Central On Demand where available by service provider.

Astral Media and Corus Entertainment have expanded on the long-standing programming output deal that each has with HBO in order to launch HBO Canada. HBO will not hold an ownership stake in HBO Canada.

“Canadian audiences have a great appreciation for the quality entertainment for which HBO is known,” said Charles Schreger, President of Programming Sales, HBO. “Working with Astral Media’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central to create HBO Canada is a great evolution in our relationship and it is very exciting to be able to deliver a robust inventory of HBO programming under an HBO branded destination.”

The Movie Network is a pay television service available in eastern Canada. With premiere access to Hollywood hit movies, critically acclaimed HBO and Showtime series, and first-rate Canadian programming, this pay-television service presents Canadians with some of the best television entertainment available. The Movie Network service includes 24-hour multiplex channels – M, MExcess, MFun!, MFest and the soon-to-be-launched HBO Canada – which deliver diverse and entertaining programs in an uncut and commercial-free television environment. The Movie Network also offers The Movie Network HD and the soon-to-be-launched HBO Canada HD, two dedicated high-definition channels providing hundreds of titles in HD; and The Movie Network OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service, available in select areas across eastern Canada. For more information, please visit http://www.themovienetwork.ca.

The Movie Network is an Astral Media Television Network. Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and iMedia. Astral Media’s solid and dynamic presence in the country’s major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences.

Movie Central is a 24-hour-a-day, commercial-free premium pay TV service available to Western Canadians. Exclusive multi-year output agreements with major Hollywood studios ensure that Movie Central is the preferred destination for box office titles. In addition to being the first window, Canadian home to the best of Showtime and the soon-to-be-launched HBO Canada, through its investments, pre-buys and licence fees for Canadian feature films and original series, Movie Central is recognized as a major force in the Canadian independent film and television production industry. The launch of Movie Central On Demand and Movie Central High Definition demonstrates that Movie Central remains committed to being first with innovations that enhance the viewing experience. Visit the Movie Central website at http://www.moviecentral.ca.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising and digital audio services, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. The company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, Movie Central, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges. Experience Corus on the web at http://www.corusent.com.

For access to The Movie Network’s media room or Movie Central’s press site, please visit http://tv.astral.com or http://pressroom.corusent.com.

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services – HBO and Cinemax – to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as HBO on Broadband, HD feeds, and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO’s branded television networks, along with the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

Tiscali UK, the broadband, telephone and media company,  announced on June 5 a strategic licensing agreement with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) to offer over 400 hours of premium content on-demand to Tiscali TV subscribers through Warner TV, a dedicated, Warner Bros.-branded video-on-demand (VOD) channel.

Series available on Warner TV include Nip/Tuck, The O.C. and Smallville, among others. The Warner TV channel on Tiscali TV will be open to subscribers as part of the service’s Entertainment Xtra Mix. The launch of Warner TV on Tiscali TV continues WBITD’s strategic expansion into branded VOD channels around the world. WBITD has previously launched Warner TV VOD channels with ProSieben in Germany, Virgin Media and BT in the U.K., USEN Corporation’s GyaO in Japan and Free TV in France. Additional WBITD branded services are scheduled to launch on Orange in France, as well as in India.

Building on recent agreements designed to bring the best of Hollywood to Tiscali TV subscribers, this deal will allow Warner Bros. programmes to take their place alongside popular and critically admired UK and US comedy and drama already available on the platform, including Lost, Doctor Who, Desperate Housewives and Life On Mars.

Jonathan Sykes, Managing Director, Content Strategy, Tiscali TV, says: “We are proud to announce this important deal with one of the biggest producers of internationally renowned television, creating an ever more comprehensive and satisfying on-demand viewing experience for Tiscali TV customers.”

Jeffrey Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television, says: “We’re very excited to be adding the Warner TV branded service to Tiscali TV and to provide UK viewers with another venue to enjoy the Studio’s television programming at their demand. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with Tiscali.”

Warner Bros. content will be available alongside Tiscali’s 80+ broadcast channels, catch-up and on-demand TV services, including the UK’s biggest on-demand movie service, accessible to 10 million homes nationwide. Customers choosing to subscribe to Tiscali TV can do so from only £15.99, which also includes up to 8Mb broadband, a free wireless router and set-top box and free weekend UK and international calls.

About Tiscali
Tiscali UK forms part of Tiscali SpA., headquartered in Cagliari, Italy. The UK company was launched in July, 2001 following the acquisitions of Liberty Surf, World Online and LineOne. Tiscali UK also acquired Tiny and Gateway ISPs ands more recently Video Networks Limited in 2006 to enable it to provide Triple Play broadband, telephone and home entertainment IPTV and Video on Demand services and the Pipex broadband and telephone business in September 2007.

Providing broadband, dialup, telephone and TV services to over three million customers of which two million are broadband customers, Tiscali UK is positioned within the UK market as the 3rd largest DSL broadband provider.

One of the most comprehensive sites on the web, Tiscali’s portal www.tiscali.co.uk provides 23 channels and over 55,000 pages of constantly updated information, resources and entertainment content. The site receives over 6.8 million unique visitors per month, a total of 265 million page views. The site gives access to online services from shopping to sport and money to entertainment and also provides services such as legal music downloading from a catalogue of over 1 million tracks, a free Video Email service and a Members Area with exclusive content and offers.

Tiscali S.p.A. (Borsa Italiana, Milan: TIS) is one of the main independent European telecommunication companies. With one of the largest and most interconnected IP networks in the world, Tiscali is able to supply its customers, residential and business, with a full range of services: Internet access, both dial-up and ADSL, voice, VoIP, media, value added services (VAS), and other technologically advanced products.

As of 31st March 2008, Tiscali had ca 3.5 million active users in Italy and the UK. 2.45 million of these were ADSL customers.

Tiscali’s corporate website can be found at www.tiscali.com.

Visit the Tiscali Press Centre at www.tiscali.co.uk/press.

About Warner Bros. International Television Distribution
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution is one of the world’s largest distributors of feature films, television programs and animation to the international television marketplace (broadcast, pay cable, basic cable, satellite, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, digital platforms, etc.). It licenses some 50,000 hours of programming (including more than 6,000 ýfeatures and 70+ current series), dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages, to telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.

Housing workshops and open plan offices for film and TV productions located at the Studios, the top floor of this 60,000 sq foot building will be available for longer term occupation from companies within the media sector who will benefit from basing all or part of their operation at Shepperton.

The completion of the building is a major step in the first phase of Shepperton’s Masterplan, a joint venture with Morley to further develop the Studio’s facilities.

Currently in production at Shepperton is Universal Pictures and Working Title Films latest feature The Boat That Rocked directed by Richard Curtis and new BBC sitcom Beautiful People starring Meera Syal and Olivia Colman. The Studios recently played host to the TV series Gladiators currently broadcasting on Sky One as well as independent film Moon, a debut feature from award-winning commercials director Duncan Jones starring Sam Rockwell.

Says Pinewood Group’s CEO Ivan Dunleavy “Shepperton’s Gainsborough building will provide a new focal point for the UK’s creative industry, hosting world class film and TV production teams together with leading media specialists. We’re delighted the Culture Minister is attending to mark the occasion.”

Margaret Hodge commented “Outstanding productions need the best possible facilities, and this important new base for media companies will help ensure that Shepperton Studios continues to make a vital and sustained contribution to the success of our film, TV and commercial sectors.”

News Corporation announced on May 30 it has completed the acquisition of a 30% stake in TV Riga, a Latvian Russian language free-to-air broadcaster, increasing its ownership to 100%.

The transaction represents a consolidation of News Corporation European Television’s (NCE TV) assets in Latvia, which now include 100% ownership of LNT, the leading Latvian entertainment channel, and TV Riga.

NCE TV includes SKY Italia, a minority investment in German pay-TV operator Premiere and a range of holdings in broadcasters in such territories as Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, Serbia and Turkey.

News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as of March 31, 2008 of approximately US$62 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$32 billion. News Corporation is a diversified entertainment company with operations in eight industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network programming; direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts; newspapers and information services; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Basin.

Nickelodeon Latin America, a unit of Viacom Inc. announced that it has inked a deal with Sony Pictures Television International for the co-production of Isa TKM (Te Quiero Mucho), the network’s first original “telenovela” to be produced in Venezuela, the announcement was made today by Tatiana Rodriguez, Vice President of Programming and Creative Strategy for Nickelodeon Latin America and Brendan Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President of International Production, Sony Pictures Television International.

Following the successful four season run of Skimo, Nickelodeon’s first original live action series co-produced with Macias Group in Mexico, the network furthers its commitment to local production and takes on the “telenovela” genre for tweens. The novela will be produced in Spanish and customized in Portuguese for Nickelodeon Brazil. Nickelodeon’s Isa TKM marks the first time that a pay TV channel for children in Latin America produces and airs its own telenovela format, as most telenovelas have been produced and broadcast in region by open TV networks.

Isa TKM, written by Venezuelan playwright Mariela Romero combines humor, music and romance and centers around Isabella, a charismatic teenager on a verge of facing her first love, her first kiss and finding out who her real parents are.

“Nickelodeon is dedicated to continually offering its audience a variety of genres and styles, so we’re thrilled to have entered into this strategic partnership with Sony to bring our viewers this unique telenovela experience,” commented Rodriguez. “On the heels of our recent regionalization, this project demonstrates our desire to go deeper into the region to discover the amazing creative talent that is thriving in Latin America.”

“Sony Pictures Television International has successfully produced high quality telenovelas in several countries around the world, and we’re excited to be working with Nickelodeon Latin America on Isa TKM” said Fitzgerald. “It is a real teen novela, which makes Nickelodeon the perfect partner to bring this engaging story to youth audiences throughout Latin America.”

Production for Isa TKM is scheduled to begin in the month of August with a pan-regional premiere set for the winter of 2008.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks Latin America, Inc., a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates MTV Latin America, Nickelodeon Latin America, VH1 Latin America, Viacom Networks Brazil and the MTV Networks Digital Suite, a package of three digital services – MTV Jams, MTV Hits, and VH1 Soul. Customized versions of the brands in Spanish and Portuguese can be seen throughout Latin America in more than 20 countries. MTV Networks Latin America also connects with its audiences interactively through its websites: www.mtvla.com, www.mundonick.com and www.vh1la.com, as well as through its broadband and community sites: www.mtvrevolution.com, www.mundonick.com/nickturbo and www.lazona.com.

About Sony Pictures Television International

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the United States. SPTI operates three complementary lines of business: 1) distribution of SPE’s feature films and television programming to television, mobile and digital platforms around the world, 2) local television production in key international markets, and 3) international television networks. In addition to being a leader in the distribution of current and classic U.S. and international films and television product worldwide, SPTI produces high profile, locally produced television in local languages. With dedicated offices in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Miami (Latin America), the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI currently oversees production in nine regions of the world and is the leader in international television production among all major Hollywood studios. SPTI’s worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE’s long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with almost 50 networks in more than 130 countries reaching more than 300 million households worldwide. SPTI is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company

RTL Group had a good start to the year as reported EBITA was up 8.7 per cent to EUR 188 million in the first quarter. This increase is mainly driven by the performance of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. Reported Group revenue was down 2.0 per cent compared to the first quarter last year to EUR 1,336 million mainly due to lower revenues in the UK and France and also due to the strong Euro. The reported EBITA margin improved to 14.1 per cent mainly due to continued cost discipline. The net cash position amounted to EUR 1,240 million with an operating cash conversion of 101 per cent.

The dividend proposal of EUR 5.00 per share was approved by the AGM on 16 April 2008. The dividend payment amounting to EUR 774 million was made on 25 April 2008.

The net TV advertising markets in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands all grew in the first quarter of 2008 whilst the French and the UK TV advertising markets were down.

The outlook for the full year 2008 remains unchanged: with regard to advertising sales, RTL Group has - despite the current economic climate - no reason to be pessimistic.

Operational highlights

• Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland maintains its clear leadership among young viewers; RTL Television’s show highlights Ich bin ein Star - Holt mich hier raus! (I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!) and Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Idols) with strong performance

   

• M6 in France successfully launched new access primetime lineup with the factual entertainment show Un dîner presque parfait (Come Dine With Me) and the newsshow 100% mag scoring high ratings; digital channel W9 continues to grow its audience figures

   

• FremantleMedia with No. 1 shows on all major UK channels; American Idol (Fox) again most watched primetime show in the US, 7.5 million viewers ahead of its closest competitor

   

• Five in the UK with growing audience share since mid February 2008 with a significant contribution from popular Australian drama Neighbours

   

• French radio family goes from strength to strength: flagship station RTL Radio clear market leader in all ratings criteria in the first 2008 Médiamétrie survey (January to March)

   

• RTL Group increased its stake in Grupo Antena 3 to just over 20 per cent

   

• Comprehensive and rapidly growing catch-up TV services in Germany (RTLnow.de), France (M6replay.fr) and the Netherlands (RTLgemist.nl), Five in the UK to launch revamped video on demand service in the course of 2008

   

• Re-launch of UFA Sports to invest in attractive segments of sports rights

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI)  inked on April, 28th a “day-and-date” video-on-demand licensing deal with KT Corporation (KT), South Korea’s top integrated wired and wireless telecommunications service provider, to offer current and upcoming theatrical movies from Sony Pictures Entertainment on KT’s Mega TV IPTV. The “day-and date” aspect of the deal will make the movie titles available to MegaTV’s customers on demand on the same day as the local home video/DVD release.

The move comes amidst the rapid growth of IPTV in South Korea, following last year’s passing of the IPTV bill by the country’s National Assembly, and the continued popularity of Hollywood movies there. The agreement will allow Mega TV customers to catch the latest titles from Sony Pictures such as the recently released movies “Vantage Point”, “The Water Horse” and “Across the Universe” as they become available on home video/DVD. The deal also includes features such as Stephen Chow’s box-office blockbuster “CJ7”; Will Smith’s upcoming superhero action movie “Hancock”; and Academy Award®-winner Kevin Spacey’s drama “21” which will be offered to consumers post their theatrical run. In addition to movies, the deal also covers SPTI’s new hit TV series such as “Damages” starring Golden Globe©-winner Glenn Close and “Cashmere Mafia” starring Lucy Liu post their television broadcast.

“SPTI is honored to partner with KT Corporation to bring our latest blockbusters to MegaTV’s subscribers, and is focused on providing innovative solutions and offerings to our broadcast and telco partners to help them meet, and exceed, their customers’ needs” said Ross Pollack, senior vice president, distribution, Asia.

Soojin Chung, executive director, licensing, South Korea at Sony Pictures Television International added, “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with KT and enable them to continue to build upon MegaTV’s success with our hit TV shows in addition to our feature films.

Mr. Chung Man-ho, head of media business at KT, said “KT’s MegaTV is very much focused on acquiring good quality content and provide them to our subscribers in the fastest possible way. KT will continue to bring more content including feature films in order to satisfy our customer’s needs.”

KT launched its Mega TV IPTV service nationally in July 2007, making it available to its 6.52million high-speed Internet users. By April 16, Mega TV had 590,000 subscribers and expects to increase the number to 1.5 million in 2008.

A new report from Informa Telecoms & Media released in February 2008 forecasts that the global on-demand movie and TV programming (excluding adult and sport) market will be worth USD10 billion by 2012. Asia Pacific will have 481 million on-demand homes by then and generate US$1,170 million, accounting for 12% of global on-demand revenues.

About Sony Pictures Television International

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the United States. SPTI operates three complementary lines of business: 1) distribution of SPE’s feature films and television programming to television, mobile and digital content delivery outlets around the world, 2) local television production in key international markets, and 3) international television networks. In addition to being a leader in the distribution of current and classic U.S. and international films and television product worldwide, SPTI produces high profile, locally produced television in local languages. With dedicated offices in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Miami (Latin America), the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI currently oversees production in nine regions of the world and is the leader in international television production among all major Hollywood studios. SPTI’s worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in the SPE’s long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with almost 50 networks in more than 130 countries reaching over 300 million households worldwide. SPTI is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

BBM Canada announced on April, 28th that it has selected a joint bid by Arbitron Inc. and TNS Media Research to deploy Portable People Meter technology for electronic measurement of television in Canada.

BBM issued the request for proposals in June 2007 and received bids from three organizations as well as a joint bid from Arbitron/TNS. The submissions were reviewed by a committee of BBM members and after ten months of evaluation a recommendation was made to select the Arbitron/TNS bid. The subcommittee was appointed by BBM’s Board of Directors and had broad representation from conventional television, specialty television and agency members.

“BBM’s goal is this process was to ensure that our electronic television measurement system was employing the most efficient and cost-effective technology available,” said Jim MacLeod, President and CEO, BBM Canada. “I am confident that BBM’s Board of Directors has chosen a technology solution that will not only meet the audience measurement needs of today but will also anticipate and adapt to the needs of the future.”

“We’re delighted that the Portable People Meter will be an integral component of the world’s most advanced, single source, radio and television ratings system which the BBM is now creating for Canada’s radio and TV broadcasters, agencies and advertisers,” said Steve Morris, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Arbitron Inc. “We designed the Portable People Meter to be a robust and adaptable technology. That’s why the PPM is the ideal solution for single source media measurement where one panel of consumers is used to measure many channels of media distribution.”

“BBM blazed the trail in portable measurement when it adopted PPM for TV audience currency in Montreal and Quebec in 2004,” said Richard Marks, Global Head, TNS Media Research. “Since then the system has been adopted as currency in a number of countries so we are delighted that the PPM is ‘coming home’ to the rest of Canada. We are looking forward to partnering with BBM and Arbitron to roll out what will be the world’s largest meter panel providing both TV and Radio currency.”

The new PPM television service is currently scheduled to begin installation in early 2009 with a commercial launch in Fall 2009.

For more information please contact:
Tom Jenks
Director, Communications
Phone: 416.847.2078
Email: tjenks@bbm.ca

About BBM Canada BBM Canada, Sondages BBM in Québec, is a not-for-profit, member-owned tripartite industry organization, which has been operating since 1944. It supplies radio and television audience ratings services to the Canadian advertising industry. BBM’s membership includes television and radio stations and networks, advertising agencies, and advertisers.

BBM’s services include an electronic measurement system and diary surveys for our 100+ radio and television markets. BBM is located in Toronto, Ontario with operations in Moncton, Montreal, and Vancouver. Find out more about BBM at www.bbm.ca.

News Corporation announced on April, 4th it has secured additional shares in leading German pay-TV operator, Premiere AG, increasing its total stake to 22.7 percent.

News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as of December 31, 2007 of approximately US$69 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$31 billion. News Corporation is a diversified entertainment company with operations in eight industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network programming; direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts; newspapers and information services; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Basin.