RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, announces its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2008.

Highlights

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¹ Adjusted for scope changes and at constant exchange rates
² EBITA represents earnings before interest and income tax expense excluding impairment of goodwill, disposal groups and amortisation and impairment of fair value adjustments on acquisitions and gain or loss from sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments
³ Primarily launch costs of digital television channels in France, Germany and the UK
⁴ Adjusted earnings per share represents the net profit for the period adjusted for impairment of goodwill, disposal groups and amortisation of fair value adjustments on acquisitions and gain or loss from sale of subsidiaries, joint ventures and other investments, net of income tax expense and one-off tax effects

RTL Group increases revenue and EBITA, for the seventh consecutive year

• Reported EBITA of EUR 916 million, up 2.0 per cent, despite a tougher economic climate

• Reported Group revenue up 1.2 per cent to EUR 5,774 million; underlying revenue, at constant exchange rates, up 2.6 per cent

• Reported EBITA margin improved to 15.9 per cent

• Net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders down to EUR 194 million (2007: EUR 563 million), mainly due to an impairment of goodwill of the UK TV activities amounting to EUR 337 million

• Net cash from operating activities of EUR 1,065 million resulting in an operating cash conversion of 114 per cent

• Proposed ordinary dividend for 2008 up to EUR 1.40, from EUR 1.30 for 2007; once again proposed extraordinary dividend of EUR 2.10 for 2008 (EUR 3.70 for 2007)

• Increasingly challenging advertising conditions across Europe

Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia with record EBITA

• Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland with its best year ever; EBITA up 25.6 per cent;
  leading position on the German TV advertising market significantly strengthened

• FremantleMedia reports growing revenue and EBITA figures for the fifth consecutive year, driven by its slate of international prime time hit formats; EBITA up 18.3 per cent

• EBITA of Groupe M6 in France impacted by a major programme investment for the European football championship 2008; free DTT channel W9 continued its rapid audience and revenue growth and generated positive EBITA for the first time

• RTL Nederland implemented a restructuring programme at the end of 2008;
  EBITA down 17.6 per cent also due to these one-time restructuring charges

Selective acquisitions and launches to strengthen core business activities

• Acquisition of a 66.6 per cent majority shareholding in Alpha Media Group, Greece’s number four broadcasting company

• RTL Group builds up comprehensive catch-up TV services in Germany (RTLnow.de), France (M6replay.fr), the Netherlands (RTLgemist.nl) and in the UK (Demand.Five.tv)

• Investments to strengthen RTL Group’s internet portfolio

  • Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland acquired the fast-growing social network Wer-kennt-wen.de

  • Groupe M6 acquired a 100 per cent stake in the Cyréalis group

• Launch of exclusive mobile TV channel RTL 24 in the Netherlands

• Relaunch of marketing agency UFA Sports to round off RTL Group’s portfolio and to further diversify revenue streams

“A position of strength”

Gerhard Zeiler, Chief Executive Officer of RTL Group, said:

“In spite of increasingly difficult advertising markets in Europe, in 2008 RTL Group increased its revenue and operating result for the seventh year running. The company has a broad-based, secure setup, and is active in many countries and business areas. In particular, strong performances at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and FremantleMedia contributed to the increase in profits.

Based on the 2008 results and the cash position, we propose a total dividend of EUR 3.50 per share - consisting of an ordinary dividend of EUR 1.40 and an extraordinary dividend of EUR 2.10.

This position of strength is the result of our strategy, which is based on strict investment criteria. In 2008, we significantly stepped up our online activities with targeted acquisitions and investments. After our takeover of the Alpha Media Group in Greece, we now have 45 TV channels in 11 European countries.

Operating in a very challenging time, we are experiencing a substantial slowdown in advertising bookings. We will respond to this by focusing on our core business, and by reviewing all costs and structures. This will result in a significantly lower cost base in all of our operations.

Given the current state of the advertising markets, and the very short-term bookings cycle, it is impossible to give reliable full-year guidance. But it has to be expected that the profitability level will be down compared to 2008.”

About RTL Group
RTL Group is the leading European entertainment network, with interests in 45 television channels and 32 radio stations in 11 countries and content production throughout the world. The television portfolio of Europe’s largest broadcaster includes RTL Television in Germany, M6 in France, Five in the UK, the RTL channels in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia and Hungary, Alpha TV in Greece, Ren TV in Russia and Antena 3 in Spain. RTL Group’s flagship radio station is RTL in France, and it also owns or has interests in other stations in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Luxembourg. RTL Group’s content production arm, FremantleMedia, is one of the largest international producers outside the US. Each year, it produces 10,000 hours of programming across 57 countries.

The NRJ Group’s revenues (excluding barters transactions) came to 331.3 million euros in 2008, comparedwith 359.7 million euros in 2007, down 7.9% (-4.3% at constant scope and exchange rates). This changenotably reflects the consequences of the gradual reduction of the Group’s stake in NRJ Mobile, as well as theimpact of the end of the musical “Le Roi Soleil” following its final performances in July 2007. Excluding mobiletelephony and “Le Roi Soleil”, the Group’s revenues would have increased by 1.7%.In the fourth quarter, the Group generated 89.2 million euros in revenues, compared with 99.9 million euros in 2007, down 10.7% (-6.0% at constant scope and exchange rates). *** 

Following a particularly difficult fourth quarter due to the economic environment, the radio business inFrance recorded 222.1 million euros in revenues over 2008, compared with 239.6 million euros in 2007,representing a drop of 7.3% (-14.6% in Q4). In the fourth quarter, the downturn in business stems morespecifically from the fall in advertising investments for the retail, transport and telecommunications sectors. Over the full year, the retail sector’s advertising investments are up slightly, while the transport, services,telecommunications and toiletries-beauty product sectors show a marked downturn. 

Revenues from international radio activities climbed to 33.8 million euros in 2008, up 5.3% on 2007, notablydriven by growth in business on the Germanic region over the full year. Television activities generated 25 million euros in revenues over 2008, up 187.4% in relation to 2007. In thefourth quarter, despite the unfavourable economic environment, this business achieved sustained revenuegrowth (+186.7%). In December 2008, NRJ 12 achieved a national audience share of 1.1%* for this channel (1%* over the full year in 2008). NRJ 12 has continued to achieve satisfactory growth in its audience figures, and now attracts close to 24 million* viewers each week. 

* Source: Médiamétrie Médiamat Annuel 2008 Revenues on the telephony business came to 7.2 million euros in 2008, compared with 18.3 million euros in 2007 in light of the reduction of the Group’s stake in NRJ Mobile. This business has been deconsolidated since 1 May 2008, and the Group did not record any revenues for NRJ Mobile over the second half of 2008, compared with the 9.1 million euros in revenues booked over the second half of 2007. 

Non-media activities recorded 17.4 million euros in revenues over 2008, compared with 41.5 million euros in 2007. In 2008, the musical “Le Roi Soleil” contributed 0.8 million euros to consolidated revenues, compared with 23.4 million euros in 2007. Excluding “Le Roi Soleil”, the non-media division would have generated 16.6 million euros in revenues over 2008, compared with 18.1 million euros in 2007. 

Lastly, the Group’s broadcasting business contributed 24.7 million euros to consolidated revenues in 2008, up 35.7% on 2007, thanks in particular to the development of its activities on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting market. In total, including revenues generated within the Group, the broadcasting business posted 37.6 million euros in revenues for 2008.

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music company, and Kyte (www.kyte.com), the universal digital media platform, announced on January 16th at the MidemNet music conference a global partnership in which Kyte will be an online and mobile video platform provider for UMG recording artists and subsidiary labels worldwide. UMG and Kyte will also partner in the development of new interactive mobile entertainment applications to reach and engage fans on the go. The branded Kyte channels of UMG artists such as All American Rejects, Pussycat Dolls, Soulja Boy Tell Em and Lady Gaga, have been successful, with the artists using Kyte’s online and mobile production tools to easily, and cost-effectively, create and broadcast live and on-demand video content that drives fans to the artists’ online and branded mobile web destinations.  Fans are engaging with the artists for longer durations through Kyte’s unique interactive features, including multimedia chat, and the ability to comment and rate Kyte shows.  Fans are also building online and mobile communities by virally sharing branded Kyte channels on social networks, blogs, web sites, and mobile devices.

“We are delighted to be working with Kyte, whose innovative media platform is providing a dynamic new way to create, distribute and monetize branded video content,” stated Rio Caraeff, Executive Vice President of eLabs, UMG’s market-leading division responsible for digital business strategy, business development and new technology opportunities. 

“We are very excited to partner with UMG,” said Daniel Graf, CEO of Kyte.  “Millions of fans around the world are engaging with their favorite UMG artists through the Kyte Platform. The artists are creating authentic, raw video content that the fans love – behind the scenes on a music video shoot, candid clips from the tour bus, collaborations in the studio – and the fans are communicating directly with the artists through our multimedia chat feature. This is what Kyte is all about; providing a platform that enables brands to easily create and distribute video content, engage with fans, and monetize.”

Kyte Platform

Kyte provides an end-to-end, online and mobile platform for the production, distribution and monetization of digital content. The Kyte Platform enables media and entertainment brands to:

•        Produce – create or upload live and on-demand, online and mobile video and pictures

•        Distribute – broadcast content to multiple online and mobile destinations simultaneously

•        Engage – interact with an audience and build community through multimedia chat and branded user generated content

•        Analyze – report and measure distribution and user engagement

•        Monetize – create new revenue streams and monetize branded content

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world’s leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry\’s leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group\’s record labels include Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Records South, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world\’s most popular artists and their recordings. UMG\’s catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division; and Helter Skelter, its live music agency.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

About Kyte

Kyte is a universal digital media platform that provides an end-to-end, online and mobile solution for the production, distribution and monetization of digital content. Through strategic partnerships with the world’s leading media companies, mobile carriers, and mobile device manufacturers, Kyte is building a global digital content distribution platform with massive user engagement and monetization potential.

The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with a European office in Zurich, Switzerland. Investors include Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Telefónica, Nokia Growth Partners, Steamboat Ventures, TeliaSonera, DoCoMo Capital, Holtzbrinck Ventures, Swisscom and others.  Visit Kyte online at http://www.kyte.com/

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music company, has entered into an agreement with ID Interactive Inc. to provide a custom-ringtone solution for its music labels.

The UrTone (TM) player, developed by ID Interactive Inc., allows consumers to select any part from any track offered by their favorite artist, and customize a ringtone to be delivered instantly to their mobile handset. Users can alter start and end points of the ringtone, as well as the actual duration of the tone to within 1/10 of a second. These online stores will be compatible with every major U.S. phone carrier. “Universal is dedicated to offering music fans the very best in phone personalization and our new agreement with ID Interactive is a great way to start the new year,” stated Rio Caraeff, Executive Vice President of eLabs, UMG’s market-leading division responsible for digital business strategy, business development and new technology opportunities. “Their UrTone (TM) player is an elegant and excellent platform to showcase the high quality and depth of UMG’s extensive catalog.”

“We are thrilled to have been given this opportunity to partner with the world’s leading music company. The UrTone (TM) player is ideal to power UMG content, as these stores will provide consumers unlimited options with unprecedented access to creating ringtones from an amazing and unparalleled roster of artists across all the UMG labels,” added Bobby Israeli, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing at ID Interactive.

ID Interactive Inc. is a privately funded company with offices in New York, San Francisco, London & Manchester, specializing in custom mobile content delivery, digital marketing and strategies, and web design. More information available at www.idinteractive.net.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world’s leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry\’s leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group\’s record labels include Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Records South, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world\’s most popular artists and their recordings. UMG\’s catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division; and Helter Skelter, its live music agency.

Apple(R) announced on January 6th several changes to the iTunes(R) Store (http://www.itunes.com). Beginning today, all four major music labels — Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, are now offering their music in iTunes Plus, Apple\’s DRM-free format with higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes customers can also choose to download their favorite songs from the world\’s largest music catalog directly onto their iPhone(TM) 3G over their 3G network just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price as downloading to their computer. And beginning in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi,” said Steve Jobs, Apple\’s CEO. “And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points — 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 — with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29.”

iTunes offers customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for just 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. The iTunes Store will begin offering eight million of its 10 million songs in Apple\’s DRM-free format, iTunes Plus, today with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March.

iPhone 3G users can now preview and purchase the entire iTunes Store music catalog on their iPhone 3G over their 3G network, just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price and in the same high quality format. Songs purchased on an iPhone will automatically sync to a user\’s computer the next time they sync their iPhone.

The iTunes Store is the world\’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 10 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including over 600 in stunning high definition video. With Apple\’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod(R) and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac(R) and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

• Gulli’s audience share increased among all audiences over the last year, particularly among parents: the channel doubled its audience share in France (1.6%) with an increase of 71% among homemakers with children.
• Gulli also held onto its position among the Top 3 in DTT, achieving 3.3% audience share among DTT-only channels.

October’s Top 3 evening broadcasts in the age four-and-up demographic:

• Fort Boyard (game show): 269,000 viewers (Saturday 25 Oct. 8:55 pm)
• Le Parfum du succès (made-for-TV film): 241,000 viewers (Friday 3 Oct. 8:45 pm)
• Télé Grenadine (animation evening): 229,000 viewers (Tuesday 30 Sept. 8:45 pm)

October’s Top 3 audiences in the age four-and-up demographic:

• Famille Pirate (cartoon): 584,000 viewers (Friday 3 Oct. 5:30 pm)
• Inspector Gadget (cartoon): 565,000 viewers (Wednesday 15 Oct. 6:20 pm)
• La Panthère Rose (cartoon): 561,000 viewers (Friday 3 Oct. 5:20 pm)

Source: Médiamétrie – Médiamat survey (29 September to 2 November 2008)

With 8% growth, the month’s excellent results confirm the drawing power of the new programming strategy introduced at the start of the 2008 autumn season.

• In October, VIRGIN 17 registered the strongest growth among DTT-only channels in the age four-and-up demographic, with an increase of 8% compared to September 2008. Its nationwide audience share in France doubled over a one-year period.
• Virgin 17 continues to draw more viewers: each week: the channel is watched by 17,422,000 people over age four, representing growth of 67% versus October 2007.
• In October 2008, Virgin 17 registered a 25% increase in audience share in the 25-49 demographic with access to Virgin 17 versus the previous month.

October’s positive results confirm the success of the new prime-time programming policy introduced in September 2008:

• +20% in the age four-and-up demographic with access to Virgin 17 vs. September 2008.
• +11% in the 15-34 demographic with V17 access vs. September 2008.
• +33% in the 25-49 demographic with V17 access vs. September 2008.
• +25% in the DTT-only age four-and-up demographic vs. September 2008.

Broadcasts with the best audience figures included:

• The movies Universal Soldier and Lake Placid.
• The made-for-TV movies Prisonnières de l’ouragan and Le piège.
• The new magazine show Paparanews, which was among the channel’s Top 5 most-watched shows as of its broadcast première on 31 October.

Source: October 2008 Mediametrie-Mediamat survey, average audiences Monday-Sunday, 3 a.m.-2:59 a.m.

Germany and France are planning to launch a $376,000 (Euros 300,000) co-development fund from next year as part of their existing bilateral mini co-production agreement.

The news was announced at this year’s Franco-German Film Rendez-Vous in Hamburg. 300 German and French producers, distributors and film funders attended the three-day annual event which alternates between France and Germany.

Christine Berg of the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) explained that the fund should promote the “cultural and economical potential for the German and French market.”

Individual funding will be awarded up to $63,000 (Euros 50,000) and the fund would be open to a producer’s first or second feature film.

Also speaking at the event, Olivier Wotling of France’s CNC suggested that the initiative would benefit new producers and enable them to build up a network. “It is very important that one can start very early with cooperation. This dimension must be supported,” Wotling said.

The new fund would be part of the “mini-traité” agreement which was signed by the CNC and Germany’s German Federal Film Board (FFA) in May 2001 and has supported 50 Franco-German co-productions.

These include Tom Tykwer’s Perfume - The Story of a Murderer, Werner Schroeter’s Deux, Claire Denis’ 35 Rhums, and Julie Delpy’s The Countess.

It was revealed that in 2007 Germany became the second most important co-production partner for France after Belgium.

Germany participated in 10 French majority co-productions compared to 18 by Belgian companies. In 2006, Germany had been third place with involvement in six French productions behind Italy (nine) and Belgium (11).

Berg reported that a third of the 30 international co-productions supported by the DFFF so far this year are German-French co-productions with total production costs of $158m (Euros 126m), compared to $100m (Euros 80m) for the 12 German-French co-productions in 2007.

Source: Screen Daily, Martin Blaney

1. General comments
The level of revenue over the period remained strong, with organic growth of +5.8%. Revenue for the first 9 months of 2008 was €1,118 million, an increase of +1.8% over the same period in 2007, at current exchange rates.

A stronger euro had a negative exchange rate impact of €65 million on the Group over the first 9 months of the year by comparison with the same period in 2007. At constant exchange rates, revenue was up by +8.2%. Organic growth in Q3 is explained by the following factors:
- A particularly high basis for comparison (Q3 2007 organic growth: +9.3%)
- The loss of the Dell account in Asia which reduced the Group’s Q3 growth by 0.6 points
- A drop in investment in North America specifically in the tourism, finance and health
sectors.
The Group is maintaining its target 2008 operating margin of between 11% and 12%.

 2. Detailed comments by region

► 9 MONTHS 2008
With organic growth of 5.8% over the first 9 months of the year, our performance continues to be one of the best on the market. All regions are enjoying growth. Europe has performed particularly well with high growth continuing in all the main European countries, as has Latin America with double-digit growth.
► 3rd QUARTER 2008
EUROPE
Despite the worsening economic climate in Europe as a whole, our main agencies continue to perform satisfactorily on the main national markets, France and Spain in particular.
NORTH AMERICA
Q3 growth in the United States was penalized by an exceptionally high basis for comparison in 2007 and by a significant reduction in advertising spend in certain sectors such as banking and tourism. These alone account for a 4 point fall in our organic growth in the zone.
REST OF WORLD
As already mentioned, Asia Pacific was adversely affected by the loss of the Dell account. Growth remained very strong in Latin America, driven by Mexico and Brazil, which both reported an excellent third quarter.

3. Net New Business

Net new business remained highly dynamic in Q3. Over the first 9 months of the year, our net new business totaled €1,446 million, comparable to the same period in 2007 and one of the best relative performances in the sector.

4. Creativity in Q3
Grand Prix de l’Affichage: BETC Euro RSCG took the Grand Prix for its Aigle campaign and won another award for its work for Canal+. Leg won three awards for its Eurostar campaigns and H also won a prize for Bocage.
Loerie Awards: Euro RSCG South Africa was awarded a Silver and a Bronze in the print advertising category for its client Reckitt Benckiser. Euro RSCG Digital Buenos Aires was named most innovative agency in Argentina by
Infobrand Magazine. MPG International won the Media & Marketing Europe award for best campaign in the
Financial Services and Consulting sectors for Barclays Global Investors.
Several agencies were awarded at the Web Awards: Euro RSCG 4D London for Peugeot and
the Central Office of Information; Euro RSCG 4D Amsterdam with one award for Carte Noire
and four for Volvo; Euro RSCG 4D Portland for Barclays Global Investors; Palm Canada for
Travel Alberta Canada; Arnold Boston for ESPN, Ocean Spray, Tony Hawk Proving Ground
and American Legacy/Truth; Euro RSCG San Francisco for Genentech Pulmozyme; BETC
Euro RSCD for Disneyland Paris.
Shark Awards: BETC Euro RSCG took Silver for NBC Universal/SciFi and Silver and Bronze
for 13e Rue.
Premio Amauta: Media Contacts Argentina carried off four awards, including two Silvers for
Coca-Cola and Repsol YPF plus two Bronze awards.

About Havas
Havas (Euronext Paris: HAV.PA) is a global advertising and communications services group. Headquartered in Paris, Havas operates through its two worldwide networks, Euro RSCG Worldwide and Havas Media, which are headquartered in New York and Barcelona respectively, and through a number of independent agencies renowned for their creativity, such as Arnold Worldwide Partners. A multicultural and decentralized Group, Havas is present in more than 75 countries through its networks of agencies and contractual affiliations. The Group offers a broad range of communications services, including traditional advertising, direct marketing, media planning and buying, corporate communications, sales promotion, design, human resources, sports marketing, multimedia interactive communications and public relations. Havas employs approximately 14,400 people.

The Ipsos Public Affairs polling team aced the actual popular vote outcome of the historic US Presidential election with their last poll of the campaign collected October 30 to November 2, 2008 and released on November 3, 2008.The poll, released with media partner the McClatchy Company, showed 53% for the Obama/Biden ticket, 46% for McCain/Palin and 1% for Nader/Gonzalez. The popular vote for President was 52.6% Democrat, 46.1% Republican, and 1.3 Independent.

“As a research company, each election campaign provides us the opportunity to test our mettle in the public domain by comparing our polling results to the actual outcome. And while it carries a great risk for our brand and reputation among our employees and our current and prospective clients, it’s a job we take on in countries around the world because it matters that citizens and voters assess their choices based on the most accurate and available information” said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Global Public Affairs.

“When we have an outcome like this, it provides all of us at Ipsos and our clients —not only in the US but around the world—with confidence in what we do everyday,” said Jim Smith, Chairman and CEO of Ipsos North America. “Beyond the glare and scrutiny of the national and international media, it is the hard and good work that we do everyday that really matters. That’s what clients come to count on. Our team was simply superb and we are very proud of them.”

Over the course of the campaign, the proudly non-partisan Ipsos team rose among America’s pollster ranks to become one of the most anticipated, insightful and covered in the industry.

“We are very grateful to have had the McClatchy Company as our election polling media partner. They were, and continue to be, a hallmark for fair, balanced and intelligent media reporting and have been terrific to work with” said Darrell Bricker.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals that helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world. Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends to develop and test emergent or existing products or services, and build brands. They also test advertising and study audience responses to various media, and measure public opinion around the globe.

They help clients create long-term relationships with their customers, stakeholders or other constituencies. Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting and offers a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999. In 2007, Ipsos generated global revenues of €927.2 million ($1.27 billion U.S.).