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Central European Media Enterprises Ltd – ‘10-Q’ for 3/31/08

On:  Wednesday, 4/30/08, at 8:03am ET   ·   For:  3/31/08   ·   Accession #:  1140361-8-10526   ·   File #:  0-24796

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

 4/30/08  Central European Media Enter… Ltd 10-Q        3/31/08   14:4.8M                                   Summit Fin’l Printing

Quarterly Report   —   Form 10-Q
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-Q        Central European Media Enterprises Ltd 10-Q         HTML   1.16M 
                          3-31-2008                                              
 2: EX-4.1      Instrument Defining the Rights of Security Holders  HTML    124K 
 3: EX-4.2      Instrument Defining the Rights of Security Holders  HTML    678K 
 4: EX-10.1     Material Contract                                   HTML    225K 
 5: EX-10.2     Material Contract                                   HTML    172K 
 6: EX-10.3     Material Contract                                   HTML    125K 
 7: EX-10.4     Material Contract                                   HTML     80K 
 8: EX-10.5     Material Contract                                   HTML     81K 
 9: EX-10.6     Material Contract                                   HTML    175K 
10: EX-10.7     Material Contract                                   HTML    168K 
11: EX-10.8     Material Contract                                   HTML    157K 
12: EX-31.01    Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 302)  HTML     14K 
13: EX-31.02    Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 302)  HTML     14K 
14: EX-32.01    Certification per Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 906)  HTML     13K 


10-Q   —   Central European Media Enterprises Ltd 10-Q 3-31-2008
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page   -   Filing Submission
"Table of Contents
"Item 1. Financial Statements
"Condensed consolidated Balance Sheets as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
"Condensed consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
"Condensed consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
"Condensed consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
"Notes to the condensed consolidated Financial Statements
"Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
"Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
"Item 4. Controls and Procedures
"Item 1. Legal Proceedings
"Item 1A. Risk Factors
"Item 6. Exhibits
"Signatures
"Exhibit Index

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

S           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008

£           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission File Number: 0-24796

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

BERMUDA
98-0438382
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation and organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
Clarendon House, Church Street, Hamilton
HM 11 Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: +1 441-296-1431

Indicate by check mark whether registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for each shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes S No £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “accelerated filer”, “large accelerated filer” or “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer S
Accelerated filer £
Non-accelerated filer £
Smaller reporting company £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)  Yes £ No S-

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class
Outstanding as of April 25, 2008
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.08
36,004,823
Class B Common Stock, par value $0.08
6,312,839




 
 

 
 
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 
 

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008

INDEX

 
Page
Part I. Financial information
 
 
2
4
6
7
8
38
69
70
Part II. Other Information
 
71
73
81
81
82

 
Page 1

 
Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(US$ 000’s)
(Unaudited)

         
ASSETS
           
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 594,556     $ 142,826  
Restricted cash (Note 5)
    1,396       1,286  
Accounts receivable (net of allowance) (Note 6)
    226,106       225,037  
Income taxes receivable
    3,832       1,234  
Program rights
    93,562       77,112  
Other current assets (Note 7)
    83,933       82,329  
Total current assets
    1,003,385       529,824  
Non-current assets
               
Investments
    16,559       16,559  
Property, plant and equipment (Note 8)
    209,741       180,311  
Program rights
    129,209       108,362  
Goodwill (Note 3)
    1,253,880       1,114,347  
Broadcast licenses (Note 3)
    262,317       237,926  
Other intangible assets (Note 3)
    152,603       135,732  
Other non-current assets (Note 7)
    24,942       15,374  
Total non-current assets
    2,049,251       1,808,611  
Total assets
  $ 3,052,636     $ 2,338,435  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 2

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)
(US$ 000’s)
(Unaudited)

         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
           
Current liabilities
           
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 9)
  $ 180,225     $ 156,324  
Duties and other taxes payable
    35,663       29,945  
Income taxes payable
    25,046       27,705  
Credit facilities and obligations under capital leases (Note 10)
    16,381       15,090  
Dividends payable to minority shareholders in subsidiaries
    -       1,226  
Deferred consideration – Romania
    2,372       2,208  
Deferred tax
    289       272  
Total current liabilities
    259,976       232,770  
Non-current liabilities
               
Credit facilities and obligations under capital leases (Note 10)
    6,236       5,862  
Senior Debt (Note 4)
    1,099,574       581,479  
Income taxes payable
    2,362       2,495  
Deferred tax
    82,024       73,340  
Other non-current liabilities
    33,081       19,527  
Total non-current liabilities
    1,223,277       682,703  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
               
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
    24,179       23,155  
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
               
Nil shares of Preferred Stock of $0.08 each (December 31, 2007 – nil)
    -       -  
36,003,323 shares of Class A Common Stock of $0.08 each (December 31, 2007 – 36,003,198)
    2,880       2,880  
6,312,839 shares of Class B Common Stock of $0.08 each (December 31, 2007 – 6,312,839)
    505       505  
Additional paid-in capital
    989,883       1,051,336  
Retained  earnings
    68,514       53,619  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    483,422       291,467  
Total shareholders’ equity
    1,545,204       1,399,807  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 3,052,636     $ 2,338,435  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 3

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(US$ 000’s, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
       
2007
 
Net revenues
  $ 223,470     $ 147,912  
Operating expenses:
               
Operating costs
    33,262       25,657  
Cost of programming
    94,754       66,353  
Depreciation of station property, plant and equipment
    12,340       6,899  
Amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles (Note 3)
    7,666       5,162  
Cost of revenues
    148,022       104,071  
Station selling, general and administrative expenses
    20,755       15,781  
Corporate operating costs
    10,017       14,773  
Operating income
    44,676       13,287  
Interest income
    2,180       1,414  
Interest expense
    (14,250 )     (11,396 )
Foreign currency exchange loss, net
    (17,430 )     (3,136 )
Change in fair value of derivatives (Note 11)
    (10,258 )     4,524  
Other income / (expense)
    660       (244 )
Income before provision for income taxes and minority interest
    5,578       4,449  
Income tax credit / (expense)
    10,342       (5,059 )
Income / (loss) before minority interest
    15,920       (610 )
Minority interest in (income) / loss of consolidated subsidiaries
    (1,025 )     360  
Net income / (loss)
  $ 14,895     $ (250 )
                 
Currency translation adjustment
   
191,467 
      (5,635
Obligation to repurchase shares
   
488
     
-
 
Total comprehensive income / (loss)
  $ 206,850     $ (5,885 )


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 4

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (continued)
(US$ 000’s, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
       
2007
 
PER SHARE DATA (Note 14):
           
Net income / (loss) per share:
           
Net income / (loss) – Basic
  $ 0.35     $ (0.01 )
Net income / (loss) – Diluted
    0.35       (0.01 )
                 
Weighted average common shares used in computing per share amounts (000’s):
               
Basic
    42,316       40,793  
Diluted
    42,732       40,793  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 5

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(US$ 000’s)
(Unaudited)

   
Class A Common Stock
   
Class B Common Stock
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
   
Total Shareholders' Equity
 
   
Number of shares
   
Par value
   
Number of shares
   
Par value
                 
    36,003,198     $ 2,880       6,312,839     $ 505     $ 1,051,336     $ 53,619     $ 291,467     $ 1,399,807  
Stock-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       1,856       -       -       1,856  
Stock options exercised
    125       -       -       -       9       -       -       9  
Purchase of capped call options
    -       -       -       -       (63,318 )     -       -       (63,318 )
Net income
    -       -       -       -       -       14,895       -       14,895  
Currency translation adjustment
    -       -       -       -       -               191,467       191,467  
Obligation to repurchase shares
    -       -       -       -       -       -       488       488  
    36,003,323     $ 2,880       6,312,839     $ 505     $ 989,883     $ 68,514     $ 483,422     $ 1,545,204  


   
Class A Common Stock
   
Class B Common Stock
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Accumulated Deficit
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
   
Total Shareholders' Equity
 
   
Number of shares
   
Par value
   
Number of shares
   
Par value
                 
    34,412,138     $ 2,753       6,312,839     $ 505     $ 931,108     $ (31,730 )   $ 133,130     $ 1,035,766  
Impact of adoption of FIN 48
    -       -       -       -       -       (3,219 )     -       (3,219 )
BALANCE, upon the adoption of FIN 48
    34,412,138     $ 2,753       6,312,839     $ 505     $ 931,108     $ (34,949 )   $ 133,130     $ 1,032,547  
Stock-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       1,797       -       -       1,797  
Stock options exercised
    210,200       17       -       -       1,999       -       -       2,016  
Net loss
    -       -       -       -       -       (250 )     -       (250 )
Currency translation adjustment
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (5,635 )     (5,635 )
    34,622,338     $ 2,770       6,312,839     $ 505     $ 934,904     $ (35,199 )   $ 127,495     $ 1,030,475  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 6

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(US$ 000’s)
(Unaudited)

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
       
2007
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income / (loss)
  $ 14,895     $ (250 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash generated from operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    73,588       51,762  
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
    -       7  
Stock-based compensation (Note 13)
    1,813       1,262  
Minority interest in income / (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries
    1,025       (360 )
Change in fair value of derivatives (Note 11)
    10,258       (4,524 )
Foreign currency exchange loss, net
    17,430       3,136  
Net change in (net of effects of acquisitions and disposals of businesses):
               
Accounts receivable
    16,203       10,226  
Program rights
    (79,433 )     (48,123 )
Other assets
    (6,379 )     (3,973 )
Other accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    27,887       14,540  
Income taxes payable
    (6,075 )     (2,299 )
Deferred taxes
    8,946       766  
VAT and other taxes payable
    3,933       9,743  
Net cash generated from continuing operating activities
    84,091       31,913  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net change in restricted cash
    -       (440 )
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (23,842 )     (11,995 )
Disposal of property, plant and equipment
    99       19  
Investments in subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliates
    -       (8,585 )
Repayment of loans and advances to related parties
    -       100  
Net cash used in continuing investing activities
    (23,743 )     (20,901 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net proceeds from issuance of Convertible Notes
    463,812       -  
Proceeds from credit facilities
    -       200  
Payment of credit facilities and capital leases
    (1,046 )     (1,255 )
Purchase of capped call option
    (63,318 )     -  
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
    43       -  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    9       2,016  
Dividends paid to minority shareholders
    (1,230 )     (152 )
Net cash received from continuing financing activities
    398,270       809  
                 
NET CASH USED IN DISCONTINUED OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    (1,710 )     (1,624 )
Impact of exchange rate fluctuations on cash
    (5,178 )     1,239  
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    451,730       11,436  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
    142,826       145,904  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
  $ 594,556     $ 157,340  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 7

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

1.  ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

Central European Media Enterprises Ltd., a Bermuda corporation, was formed in June 1994.  Our assets are held through a series of Dutch and Netherlands Antilles holding companies.  We invest in, develop and operate national and regional commercial television stations and channels in Central and Eastern Europe.  At March 31, 2008, we had operations in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.

Our principal subsidiaries, equity-accounted affiliates and cost investments as at March 31, 2008 were:
 
Company Name
Effective
Voting
Interest
Jurisdiction of
Organization
Type of Affiliate
Nova TV d.d. (“Nova TV (Croatia)”)
100.0%
Croatia
Subsidiary
Operativna Kompanija d.o.o.
100.0%
Croatia
Subsidiary
Media House d.o.o.
100.0%
Croatia
Subsidiary
Internet Dnevnik d.o.o.
76.0%
Croatia
Subsidiary
       
CME Media Investments s.r.o.
100.0%
Czech Republic
Subsidiary
VILJA a.s.
100.0%
Czech Republic
Subsidiary
CET 21 spol. s r.o. (“CET 21”)
100.0%
Czech Republic
Subsidiary
MEDIA CAPITOL, a.s.
100.0%
Czech Republic
Subsidiary
HARTIC a.s.
100.0%
Czech Republic
Subsidiary
Galaxie sport, s.r.o. (“Galaxie Sport”)
100.0%
Czech Republic
Subsidiary
CME Slovak Holdings B.V.
100.0%
Netherlands
Subsidiary
       
CME Romania B.V.
100.0%
Netherlands
Subsidiary
Media Pro International S.A. (“MPI”)
95.0%
Romania
Subsidiary
Media Vision SRL (“Media Vision”)
95.0%
Romania
Subsidiary
MPI Romania B.V.
95.0%
Netherlands
Subsidiary
Pro TV S.A. (“Pro TV”)
95.0%
Romania
Subsidiary
Sport Radio TV Media SRL (“Sport.ro”)
95.0%
Romania
Subsidiary
Media Pro Management S.A.
8.7%
Romania
Cost investment
Media Pro B.V.
10.0%
Netherlands
Cost investment
Music Television System S.R.L. (“MTS”)
95.0%
Romania
Subsidiary
       
A.R.J., a.s.
100.0%
Slovak Republic
Subsidiary
Markiza-Slovakia spol. s r.o. (“Markiza”)
100.0%
Slovak Republic
Subsidiary
GAMATEX spol. s.r.o.
100.0%
Slovak Republic
Subsidiary (in liquidation)
A.D.A.M. a.s.
100.0%
Slovak Republic
Subsidiary (in liquidation)
Media Invest, spol s.r.o.
100.0%
Slovak Republic
Subsidiary

 
Page 8

 
CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Company Name
Effective
Voting
Interest
Jurisdiction of
Organization
Type of Affiliate
MMTV 1 d.o.o.
100.0%
Slovenia
Subsidiary
Produkcija Plus d.o.o. (“Pro Plus”)
100.0%
Slovenia
Subsidiary
POP TV d.o.o. (“Pop TV”)
100.0%
Slovenia
Subsidiary
Kanal A d.o.o. (“Kanal A”)
100.0%
Slovenia
Subsidiary
Euro 3 TV d.o.o.
42.0%
Slovenia
Equity-Accounted Affiliate
Fit & Fun d.o.o.
100.0%
Slovenia
Subsidiary
Televideo d.o.o. (trading as TV Pika)
20.0%
Slovenia
Equity-Accounted Affiliate
       
International Media Services Ltd. (“IMS”)
60.0%
Bermuda
Subsidiary
CME Ukraine Holding GmbH
100.0%
Austria
Subsidiary
Innova Film GmbH (“Innova”)
60.0%
Germany
Subsidiary
CME Cyprus Holding Ltd.
100.0%
Cyprus
Subsidiary
TV Media Planet Ltd. (“TV Media Planet”)
60.0%
Cyprus
Subsidiary
Foreign Enterprise “Inter-Media” (“Inter-Media”)
60.0%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
Studio 1+1 LLC (“Studio 1+1”)
60.0%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
Ukraine Media Services LLC (“UMS”)
99.9%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
Ukrpromtorg-2003 LLC (“Ukpromrtorg”)
65.5%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
Gravis LLC (“Gravis”)
60.4%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
Delta JSC
60.4%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
Nart LLC
65.5%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
TV Stimul LLC
49.1%
Ukraine
Equity-Accounted Affiliate
Tor LLC (“Tor”)
60.4%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
Zhysa LLC (“Zhysa”)
60.4%
Ukraine
Subsidiary
       
Central European Media Enterprises N.V.
100.0%
Netherlands Antilles
Subsidiary
Central European Media Enterprises II B.V.
100.0%
Netherlands Antilles
Subsidiary
CME Media Enterprises B.V.
100.0%
Netherlands
Subsidiary
CME Development Corporation
100.0%
Delaware (USA)
Subsidiary
       
CME SR d.o.o.
100.0%
Serbia
Subsidiary
CME Czech Republic II B.V.
100.0%
Netherlands
Subsidiary
       

 
Page 9

 
CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)



 
Page 10

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Croatia

We own 100% of Nova TV (Croatia), which holds a national terrestrial broadcast license for Croatia that expires in April 2010.

Czech Republic

We own 100% of CET 21, which holds the national terrestrial broadcast license for TV NOVA (Czech Republic) that expires in 2017 and a satellite license for NOVA CINEMA that expires in November 2019. CET 21 owns 100% of Galaxie Sport, which holds the broadcast license for GALAXIE SPORT.  
 
Romania

We own a 95.0% interest in each of Pro TV, MPI and Media Vision, a production, dubbing and subtitling company.  The remaining shares of each of these companies are owned by companies, or individuals associated with, Adrian Sarbu, our Chief Operating Officer.  Pro TV holds the licenses for the PRO TV, ACASA, PRO TV INTERNATIONAL, PRO CINEMA, SPORT.RO and MTV ROMANIA channels. These licenses expire on various dates between November 2008 and February 2016.

We own 10.0% of Media Pro BV and 8.7% of Media Pro Management S.A., the parent companies of the Media Pro group of companies (“Media Pro”). Substantially all of the remaining shares of Media Pro are owned directly or indirectly by Adrian Sarbu, our Chief Operating Officer. Media Pro comprises a number of companies with operations in the fields of publishing, information, printing, cinema, entertainment and radio in Romania.

Slovak Republic

We own 100.0% of Markiza, which holds a national terrestrial broadcast license for the Slovak Republic that expires in September 2019.

Slovenia

We own 100.0% of Pro Plus, the operating company for our Slovenia operations.  Pro Plus has a 100.0% interest in each of Pop TV, which holds the licenses for the POP TV channel, and Kanal A, which holds the licenses for the KANAL A channel.  All such licenses expire in August 2012.

Ukraine (Studio 1+1)

The Studio 1+1 group is comprised of several entities in which we hold direct or indirect interests.  We hold a 60.0% voting and economic interest in each of Studio 1+1, Innova, IMS and TV Media Planet.  Innova owns 100.0% of Inter-Media, a Ukrainian company, which in turn holds a 30.0% voting and economic interest in Studio 1+1, the license holder for the STUDIO 1+1 channel. In addition, we hold a 99.9% interest in UMS, which owns a 42.0% direct voting and economic interest in Studio 1+1.  The license covering fifteen hours including prime time expires in December 2016. The second license for the remaining nine hours expires in August 2014.

On January 31, 2008, we entered into agreements with Igor Kolomoisky to assign options over certain interests on the Studio 1+1 group held by him and with Boris Fuchsmann and Alexander Rodnyansky to acquire their 40% interest in the Studio 1+1 group. Upon completion of an initial sale transaction, we will own 90.0% of the Studio 1+1 group and Messrs. Fuchsmann and Rodnyansky will have the right to put to us, and we will have the right to call from them, the remaining 10.0% interest (See Note 17 “Commitment and Contingencies: Ukraine Buyout Agreement”).

 
Page 11

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Ukraine (KINO, CITI)

We hold a 65.5% interest in Ukrpromtorg. Ukrpromtorg owns (i) 92.2% of Gravis, which operates the local channels KINO and CITI; (ii) 100.0% of Nart LLC, which holds a satellite broadcasting license; and (iii) 75.0% of TV Stimul LLC.  We also own a 60.4% interest in each of Zhysa and Tor, two regional broadcasters. Licenses for KINO and CITI expire on dates ranging from November 2008 to July 2016.


2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The interim financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2008 should be read in conjunction with the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2007.  Our significant accounting policies have not changed since December 31, 2007, except as noted below.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying interim unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).  The consolidated results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting year.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. and our subsidiaries, after the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.  Entities in which we hold less than a majority voting interest but over which we have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for using the equity method.  Other investments are accounted for using the cost method.

We, like other television operators, experience seasonality, with advertising sales tending to be lower during the first and third quarters of each calendar year, particularly during the summer holiday period (typically July and August) and higher during the second and fourth quarters of each calendar year, particularly toward the end of the year.

The terms “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” are used in this Form 10-Q to refer collectively to the parent company and the subsidiaries through which our various businesses are actually conducted.  Unless otherwise noted, all statistical and financial information presented in this report has been converted into US dollars using appropriate exchange rates.  All references to “US$” or “dollars” are to US dollars, all references to “HRK” are to Croatian kuna, all references to “CZK” are to Czech korunas, all references to “RON” are to the New Romanian lei, all references to “SKK” are to Slovak korunas, all references to “UAH” are to Ukrainian hryvna, all references to “Euro” or “EUR” are to the European Union Euro and all references to “GBP” are to British pounds.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”).  FAS 157 addresses the need for increased consistency in fair value measurements and defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements. FAS 157 was to be effective in its entirety for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, however in February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FSP FAS 157-2 “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP FAS 157-2”). Under FSP FAS 157-2, application of FAS 157 may be deferred until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis.

 
Page 12

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

We adopted those parts of FAS 157 not deferred by FSP FAS 157-2 on January 1, 2008. There was no impact on the carrying value of any asset or liability recognized at adoption and additional disclosure is provided in Note 11,“Financial instruments” to comply with the enhanced disclosure requirements of the standard. We do not expect that the adoption of those parts of FAS 157 deferred by FSP FAS 157-2 will result in a material impact on our financial position and results of operations.

On January 1, 2008 we adopted FASB Statement No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" ("FAS 159") which gives entities the option to prospectively measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value in the balance sheet with changes in the fair value recognized in the income statement. We did not elect to apply the fair value option to any assets and liability upon, or since, adoption, therefore there was no impact on our financial position and results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141(R)”), which establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer:  (a) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; (b) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and (c) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.  FAS 141(R) requires contingent consideration to be recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date and, for certain arrangements, changes in fair value to be recognized in earnings until settled.  FAS 141(R) also requires acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs to be expensed rather than treated as part of the cost of the acquisition.  FAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have on our financial position and results of operations. 
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements an Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“FAS 160”), which establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  FAS 160 clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements.  FAS 160 also requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest.  It also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated statement of income, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest.  FAS 160 also provides guidance when a subsidiary is deconsolidated and requires expanded disclosures in the consolidated financial statements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent’s owners and the interests of the noncontrolling owners of a subsidiary.  FAS 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have on our financial position and results of operations. 

In March 2008, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 161 “Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“FAS 161”) which enhances the disclosure requirements about derivatives and hedging activities. FAS 161 requires additional narrative disclosure about how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how they are accounted for under FASB Statement No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 133”), and what impact they have on financial position, results of operations and cash flows. FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after November 15, 2008. Although certain additional narrative disclosures may be required in our future financial statements, our limited use of derivative instruments means we do not expect the adoption of FAS 161 will result in a material impact on our financial position and results of operations.
 
On April 25, 2008 the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 142-3 “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets,” which aims to improve consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB Statement No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FAS 141 (R), especially where the underlying arrangement includes renewal or extension terms. The FSP is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and early adoption is prohibited. We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have on our financial position and results of operations.

 
Page 13

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

3.  GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Our goodwill and intangible assets are the result of acquisitions in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.  No goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Goodwill:

Goodwill by operating segment as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is summarized as follows:
 
   
Balance
   
Additions / Allocations
   
Foreign
currency
movement
   
Balance
 
                         
Croatia
  $ 773     $ -     $ 64     $ 837  
Czech Republic
    951,286       -       121,939       1,073,225  
Romania (1)
    74,667       (525 )     10,540       84,682  
Slovak Republic
    57,635       -       6,211       63,846  
Slovenia
    18,393       -       1,363       19,756  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    4,096       -       -       4,096  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    7,497       (59 )     -       7,438  
Total
  $ 1,114,347     $ (584 )   $ 140,117     $ 1,253,880  
(1) At December 31, 2007, we had not completed our purchase price allocation for the acquisition of MTS in Romania. The carrying value of goodwill was adjusted during the first quarter of 2008 to reflect the finalization of the valuation of certain assets and liabilities of MTS.

Broadcast licenses:

The net book value of our broadcast licenses as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is summarized as follows:

   
Indefinite-Lived
Broadcast
Licenses
   
Amortized
Broadcast
Licenses
   
Total
 
                   
  $ 50,748     $ 187,178     $ 237,926  
Additions
    -       -       -  
Amortization
    -       (5,415 )     (5,415 )
Foreign currency movements
    6,542       23,264       29,806  
  $ 57,290     $ 205,027     $ 262,317  

Our broadcast licenses in Croatia, Romania and Slovenia have indefinite lives because we expect the cash flows generated by those assets to continue indefinitely.  These licenses are subject to annual impairment reviews.  The licenses in Ukraine have economic useful lives of, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over, between two and ten years.  The license in the Czech Republic has an economic useful life of, and is amortized on a straight-line basis over, twelve years.  The license in the Slovak Republic has an economic useful life of, and is amortized on a straight-line basis over, thirteen years.

 
Page 14

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The gross value and accumulated amortization of amortized broadcast licenses was as follows at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

         
             
Gross value
  $ 271,286     $ 241,100  
Accumulated amortization
    (66,259 )     (53,922 )
Total net book value
  $ 205,027     $ 187,178  

Other intangible assets:

The net book value of our other intangible assets as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is summarized as follows:

   
Trademarks
   
Customer Relationships
   
Other
   
Total
 
                         
  $ 60,084     $ 73,267     $ 2,381     $ 135,732  
Reallocation (1)
    -       -       624       624  
Amortization
    (84 )     (2,011 )     (156 )     (2,251 )
Foreign currency movements
    9,599       8,770       129       18,498  
  $ 69,599     $ 80,026     $ 2,978     $ 152,603  
(1) At December 31, 2007 we had not completed our purchase price allocation of MTS in Romania. The carrying value of other intangible assets was adjusted during the first quarter of 2008 to reflect the final value of our Trademark and Programming Agreement with MTV NE which allows MTS access to MTV programming and to use the MTV name.

Customer relationships are deemed to have an economic useful life of, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over, five to fourteen years.  Other than the trademark acquired with Sport.ro, which has an economic life of, and is being amortized on a straight line basis over, two years, trademarks have an indefinite life.
 
The gross value and accumulated amortization of other intangible assets was as follows at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

         
             
Gross value
  $ 168,664     $ 147,514  
Accumulated amortization
    (16,061 )     (11,782 )
Total net book value
  $ 152,603     $ 135,732  

 
Page 15

 
CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

4.  SENIOR DEBT

Our senior debt comprised the following as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

   
Carrying Value
   
Fair Value
 
                 
                         
EUR 245.0 million 8.25% Senior Notes
  $ 387,394     $ 360,664     $ 376,741     $ 366,976  
EUR 150.0 million Floating Rate Senior Notes
    237,180       220,815       190,930       204,806  
USD 475.0 million 3.5% Senior Convertible Notes
    475,000       -       517,156       -  
    $ 1,099,574     $ 581,479     $ 1,084,827     $ 571,782  

On May 5, 2005, we issued EUR 245.0 million of 8.25% senior notes (the “Fixed Rate Notes”). The Fixed Rate Notes mature on May 15, 2012.

On May 16, 2007 we issued EUR 150.0 million of floating rate senior notes (the “Floating Rate Notes”, and collectively with the Fixed Rate Notes, the “Senior Notes”) which bear interest at six-month Euro Inter Bank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”) plus 1.625% (6.198% was applicable at March  31, 2008). The Floating Rate Notes mature on May 15, 2014.

On March 10, 2008 we issued US$ 475.0 million of 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes (the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes mature on March 15, 2013.

Fixed Rate Notes

Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 15 and November 15.  The fair value of the Fixed Rate Notes as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was calculated by multiplying the outstanding debt by the traded market price.

The Fixed Rate Notes are secured senior obligations and rank pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries.  The amounts outstanding are guaranteed by two subsidiary holding companies and are secured by a pledge of shares of those subsidiaries as well as an assignment of certain contractual rights.  The terms of our Fixed Rate Notes restrict the manner in which our business is conducted, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the making of investments, the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, entering into certain affiliate transactions and the sale of assets.

In the event that (A) there is a change in control by which (i) any party other than our present shareholders becomes the beneficial owner of more than 35.0% of our total voting power; (ii) we agree to sell substantially all of our operating assets; or (iii) there is a change in the composition of a majority of our Board of Directors; and (B) on the 60th day following any such change of control the rating of the Fixed Rate Notes is either withdrawn or downgraded from the rating in effect prior to the announcement of such change of control, we can be required to repurchase the Fixed Rate Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101.0% of the principal amount of the Fixed Rate Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

 
Page 16

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The Fixed Rate Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices set forth below:

From:
 
Fixed Rate Notes
Redemption Price
 
       
    104.125 %
    102.063 %
May 15, 2011 and thereafter
    100.000 %

At any time prior to May 15, 2008, we may redeem up to 35.0% of the Fixed Rate Notes with the proceeds of any public equity offering at a price of 108.250% of the principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

In addition, prior to May 15, 2009, we may redeem all or a part of the Fixed Rate Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of such notes, plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

Certain derivative instruments, including redemption call options and change of control and asset disposition put options, have been identified as being embedded in the Fixed Rate Notes; but as they are considered clearly and closely related to those notes, they are not accounted for separately.

Floating Rate Notes

Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 15 and November 15.  The fair value of the Floating Rate Notes as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 was calculated by multiplying the outstanding debt by the traded market price.

The Floating Rate Notes are secured senior obligations and rank pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries.  The amounts outstanding are guaranteed by two subsidiary holding companies and are secured by a pledge of shares of those subsidiaries as well as an assignment of certain contractual rights.  The terms of our Floating Rate Notes restrict the manner in which our business is conducted, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the making of investments, the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, entering into certain affiliate transactions and the sale of assets.

In the event that (A) there is a change in control by which (i) any party other than our present shareholders becomes the beneficial owner of more than 35.0% of our total voting power; (ii) we agree to sell substantially all of our operating assets; or (iii) there is a change in the composition of a majority of our Board of Directors; and (B) on the 60th day following any such change of control the rating of the Floating Rate Notes is either withdrawn or downgraded from the rating in effect prior to the announcement of such change of control, we can be required to repurchase the Floating Rate Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101.0% of the principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

 
Page 17

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The Floating Rate Notes are redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices set forth below:

From:
 
Floating Rate Notes
Redemption Price
 
       
    102.000 %
    101.000 %
May 15, 2009 and thereafter
    100.000 %

Certain derivative instruments, including redemption call options and change of control and asset disposition put options, have been identified as being embedded in the Floating Rate Notes; but as they are considered clearly and closely related to those notes, they are not accounted for separately.
 
Convertible Notes

Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15.  The fair value of the Convertible Notes as at March 31, 2008 was calculated by multiplying the outstanding debt by the traded market price.

The Convertible Notes are secured senior obligations and rank pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries.  The amounts outstanding are guaranteed by two subsidiary holding companies and are secured by a pledge of shares of those subsidiaries as well as an assignment of certain contractual rights.
 
Prior to December 15, 2012, the Convertible Notes are convertible following certain events and from that date, at any time, based on an initial conversion rate of 9.5238 shares of our Class A Common Stock per US$ 1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$ 105.00 or a 25% conversion premium based on the closing sale price of US$ 84.00 per share of our Class A Common Stock on March 4, 2008). The conversion rate is subject to adjustment if we make certain distributions to the holders of our Class A Common Stock, undergo certain corporate transactions or a fundamental change, and in other circumstances specified in the Convertible Notes.   From time to time up to and including December 15, 2012, we will have the right to elect  to deliver (i) shares of our Class A Common Stock or (ii) cash and, if applicable, shares of our Class A Common Stock upon conversion of the Convertible Notes. At present, we have elected to deliver cash and, if applicable, shares of our Class A Common Stock. As at March 31, 2008 the Convertible Notes may not be converted.  In addition, the holders of the Convertible Notes have the right to put the Convertible Notes to us for cash equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon following the occurrence of certain specified fundamental changes (including a change of control, certain mergers, insolvency and a delisting).

In order to increase the effective conversion price of our Convertible Notes, on March 4, 2008 we purchased, for aggregate consideration of US$ 63.3 million, capped call options over 4,523,809 shares of our Common Stock (This amount corresponds to the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock that would be issuable on a conversion of the Convertible Notes at the initial conversion price if we elected to settle the Convertible Notes solely in shares of Class A Common Stock). The options entitle us to receive, at our election, cash or shares of Class A Common Stock with a value equal to the difference between the trading price of our shares at the time the option is exercised and US$ 105.00, up to a maximum trading price of US$ 151.20. At present, we have elected to receive shares of our Class A Common Stock on exercise of the options. The table below shows how many shares of our Class A Common Stock would be issued under the Convertible Notes and received on the exercise of the capped call options for a variety of share price scenarios assuming the currently selected settlement methods continue to apply and no event that would result in an adjustment to the conversion rate or the value of the option has occured:

 
Page 18

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Stock Price
   
Shares issued on conversion of Convertible Notes
   
Shares received on exercise of capped call options
   
Net shares issued
   
Value of shares issued (US$ ‘000)
 
$105.00 and below
      -       -       -     $ -  
  $110.00       (205,628 )     205,628       -       -  
  $120.00       (565,476 )     565,476       -       -  
  $130.00       (869,963 )     869,963       -       -  
  $140.00       (1,130,951 )     1,130,951       -       -  
  $151.20       (1,382,274 )     1,382,274       -       -  
  $200.00       (2,148,807 )     1,044,997       (1,103,810 )   $ 220,762  
 
Under these assumptions current shareholders do not suffer dilution to their shareholding until the price of our Class A common shares reaches US$ 151.20 per share. We determined that these capped call options meet the definition of an equity instrument in EITF Issue No. 00-19 “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock” and consequently recognize it on issuance at fair value within Shareholders’ Equity. Subsequent changes in fair value are not recognized as long as the instrument continues to be classified in Shareholders’ Equity. At March 31, 2008, the options could not be exercised because no conversion of any Convertible Notes had occurred. In the event any Convertible Notes had been converted at March 31, 2008, no shares of our Class A Common Stock would have been issuable because the closing price of our shares was below US$ 105.00 per share. The  fair value of the capped call options at March 31, 2008 was US$ 59.8 million.

Certain derivative instruments, including put options and conversion options, have been identified as being embedded in the Convertible Notes, but as they are either considered to be clearly and closely related to those Convertible Notes, or would be treated as equity instruments if free-standing, they are not accounted for separately.

 
Page 19

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)


5.  RESTRICTED CASH

Restricted cash consists of the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:
 
         
             
Croatia
  $ 470     $ 424  
Slovenia
    870       810  
Ukraine
    56       52  
Total restricted cash
  $ 1,396     $ 1,286  
 
The balances in Slovenia represent minimum balances required to be kept in our accounts with ING Bank N.V (“ING”) pursuant to the terms of our revolving facility (see Note 10,“Credit Facilities and Obligations under Capital Leases”).


6.  ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Accounts receivable comprised the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

         
Trading:
           
Third-party customers
  $ 234,790     $ 231,467  
Less: allowance for bad debts and credit notes
    (15,596 )     (13,908 )
Related parties
    7,434       7,978  
Less: allowance for bad debts and credit notes
    (637 )     (656 )
Total trading
  $ 225,991     $ 224,881  
                 
Other:
               
Third-party customers
  $ 116     $ 57  
Less: allowance for bad debts and credit notes
    (27 )     (27 )
Related parties
    87       187  
Less: allowance for bad debts and credit notes
    (61 )     (61 )
Total other
  $ 115     $ 156  
                 
Total accounts receivable
  $ 226,106     $ 225,037  

At March 31, 2008, CZK 525.9 million (approximately US$ 32.8 million) (December 31, 2007: CZK 695.6 million, US$ 43.4 million) of receivables in the Czech Republic were pledged as collateral subject to a factoring agreement (see Note 10, “Credit Facilities and Obligations under Capital Leases”).

 
Page 20

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

7.  OTHER ASSETS

Other current and non-current assets comprised the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

         
Current:
           
Prepaid programming
  $ 42,106     $ 50,914  
Other prepaid expenses
    15,553       11,785  
Deferred tax
    3,873       3,652  
VAT recoverable
    5,233       4,520  
Loan to related party
    1,961       1,924  
Capitalized debt costs
    5,194       3,104  
Other
    10,013       6,430  
Total other current assets
  $ 83,933     $ 82,329  
                 
Non-current:
               
Capitalized debt costs
  $ 18,554     $ 10,310  
Deferred  tax
    1,838       2,147  
Other
    4,550       2,917  
Total other non-current assets
  $ 24,942     $ 15,374  

Capitalized debt costs primarily comprise the costs incurred in connection with the issuance of our Senior Notes and Convertible Notes (see Note 4, “Senior Debt”), and are being amortized over the term of the Senior Notes and Convertible Notes using the effective interest method.


8.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment comprised the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

         
             
Land and buildings
  $ 95,078     $ 84,515  
Station machinery, fixtures and equipment
    198,653       173,123  
Other equipment
    35,605       31,512  
Software licenses
    24,214       21,517  
Construction in progress
    11,948       11,406  
Total cost
    365,498       322,073  
Less:  Accumulated depreciation
    (155,757 )     (141,762 )
Total net book value
  $ 209,741     $ 180,311  
                 
                 
Assets held under capital leases (included above)
               
Land and buildings
  $ 6,652     $ 6,193  
Station machinery, fixtures and equipment
    1,458       800  
Total cost
    8,110       6,993  
Less: Accumulated depreciation
    (1,686 )     (1,368 )
Net book value
  $ 6,424     $ 5,625  

 
Page 21

 
CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

9.  ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities comprised the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:
 
         
Accounts payable
  $ 31,302     $ 37,977  
Programming liabilities
    42,735       49,457  
Deferred income
    29,040       7,126  
Accrued staff costs
    20,636       29,202  
Accrued production costs
    9,407       4,982  
Accrued interest payable
    19,107       5,930  
Accrued legal costs
    2,533       2,475  
Accrued rent costs
    1,386       999  
Authors’ rights
    5,105       5,522  
Onerous contracts
    2,995       2,832  
Obligation to repurchase shares
    -       488  
Other accrued liabilities
    15,979       9,334  
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 180,225     $ 156,324  
 
The accrued interest payable balance relates primarily to interest calculated on our Senior Notes and our Convertible Notes (see Note 4, “Senior Debt”).

 
Page 22

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

10.  CREDIT FACILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES

Group loan obligations and overdraft facilities comprised the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:

           
Credit facilities:
             
Corporate
(a)
  $ -     $ -  
Czech Republic
(b) – (d)
    15,602       13,829  
Romania
(e)
    -       683  
Slovenia
(f)
    -       -  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
(g)
    1,700       1,700  
Total credit facilities
    $ 17,302     $ 16,212  
                   
Capital leases:
                 
Croatia operations, net of interest
    $ -     $ -  
Romania operations, net of interest
      583       242  
Slovak Republic operations, net of interest
      79       86  
Slovenia operations, net of interest
      4,653       4,412  
Total capital leases
    $ 5,315     $ 4,740  
                   
Total credit facilities and capital leases
    $ 22,617     $ 20,952  
Less current maturities
      (16,381 )     ( 15,090 )
Total non-current maturities
    $ 6,236     $ 5,862  

Corporate

(a) On July 21, 2006, we entered into a five-year revolving loan agreement for EUR 100.0 million (approximately US$ 158.1 million) arranged by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) and on August 22, 2007, we entered into a second revolving loan agreement for EUR 50.0 million (approximately US$ 79.1 million) also arranged by EBRD (together with the EUR 100.0 million facility, the “EBRD Loan”).  ING and Ceska Sporitelna, a.s. (“CS”) are each participating in the EBRD Loan for EUR 37.5 million (approximately US$ 59.3 million). At March 31, 2008, the full EUR 150.0 million facility is available to be drawn.

We also entered into a supplemental agreement with EBRD on August 22, 2007 to amend the interest rate payable on the initial EUR 100.0 million loan, as a result of which the EBRD Loan bears interest at a rate of three-month EURIBOR plus 1.625% on the drawn amount. A commitment charge of 0.8125% is payable on any undrawn portion of the EBRD Loan.  The available amount of the EBRD Loan amortizes by 15.0% every six months from May 2009 to November 2010 and by 40.0% in May 2011.

Covenants contained in the EBRD Loan are similar to those contained in our Senior Notes (see below and Note 4, “Senior Debt”).  In addition, the EBRD Loan’s covenants restrict us from making principal repayments on other new debt of greater than US$ 20.0 million per year for the life of the EBRD Loan.  This restriction is not applicable to our existing facilities with ING or CS or to any refinancing of our Senior Notes.

The EBRD Loan is a secured senior obligation and ranks pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Senior Notes and the Convertible Notes, and is effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries.  The amount drawn is guaranteed by two subsidiary holding companies and is secured by a pledge of shares of those subsidiaries as well as an assignment of certain contractual rights.  The terms of the EBRD Loan restrict the manner in which our business is conducted, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the making of investments, the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, entering into certain affiliate transactions and the sale of assets.

 
Page 23

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Czech Republic

(b) As at March 31, 2008, there were no drawings by CET 21 under a credit facility of CZK 1.2 billion (approximately US$ 74.9 million) available until December 31, 2010 with CS.  This facility may, at the option of CET 21, be drawn in CZK, US$ or EUR and bears interest at the three-month, six-month or twelve-month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), EURIBOR or Prague Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“PRIBOR”) rate plus 1.65%. A utilization interest of 0.25% is payable on the undrawn portion of this facility.  This percentage decreases to 0.125% of the undrawn portion if more than 50% of the loan is drawn.  This facility is secured by a pledge of receivables, which are also subject to a factoring arrangement with Factoring Ceska Sporitelna, a.s., a subsidiary of CS.

(c) As at March 31, 2008, CZK 250 million (approximately US$ 15.6 million), the full amount of the facility, had been drawn by CET 21 under a working capital facility agreement with CS with a maturity date of December 31, 2010. The facility bears interest at three-month PRIBOR plus 1.65% (three-month PRIBOR relevant to drawings under this facility at March 31, 2008 was 3.93%). This facility is secured by a pledge of receivables, which are also subject to a factoring arrangement with Factoring Ceska Sporitelna, a.s.

(d) As at March 31, 2008, there were no drawings under a CZK 300.0 million (approximately US$ 18.7 million) factoring facility with Factoring Ceska Sporitelna, a.s. available until June 30, 2011.  The facility bears interest at one-month PRIBOR plus 1.40% for the period that actively assigned accounts receivable are outstanding.

Romania

(e) Two loans from San Paolo IMI Bank, assumed on our acquisition of MTS, were repaid in January 2008. On August 31, 2007 we completed scheduled repayments of an interest-free loan provided by one of the founding shareholders, assumed on our acquisition of Sport.ro.
 
Slovenia

(f) On July 29, 2005, Pro Plus entered into a revolving facility agreement for up to EUR 37.5 million (approximately US$ 59.3 million) in aggregate principal amount with ING, Nova Ljubljanska Banka d.d., Ljubljana and Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d., Ljubljana.  The facility amortizes by 10.0% each year for four years commencing one year after signing, with 60.0% repayable after five years.  This facility is secured by a pledge of the bank accounts of Pro Plus, the assignment of certain receivables, a pledge of our interest in Pro Plus and a guarantee of our wholly-owned subsidiary CME Media Enterprises B.V.  Loans drawn under this facility will bear interest at a rate of EURIBOR for the period of drawing plus a margin of between 2.1% and 3.6% that varies according to the ratio of consolidated net debt to consolidated broadcasting cash flow for Pro Plus.  As at March 31, 2008, EUR 30.0 million (approximately US$ 47.4 million) was available for drawing under this revolving facility and there were no drawings outstanding.

Ukraine (KINO, CITI)

(g) Our Ukraine (KINO, CITI) operations have entered into a number of three-year unsecured loans with Glavred-Media, LLC, the minority shareholder in Ukrpromtorg.  As at March 31, 2008, the total value of loans drawn was US$ 1.7 million.  The loans are repayable between August 2009 and December 2009 and bear interest at 9.0%.

 
Page 24

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Total Group

At March 31, 2008, the maturity of our debt (including our Senior Notes and Convertible Notes) is as follows:

2008
  $ 15,602  
2009
    1,700  
2010
    -  
2011
    -  
2012
    387,394  
2013 and thereafter
    712,180  
Total
  $ 1,116,876  
 
Capital Lease Commitments

We lease certain of our office and broadcast facilities as well as machinery and equipment under various leasing arrangements.  The future minimum lease payments from continuing operations, by year and in the aggregate, under capital leases with initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year, consisted of the following at March 31, 2008:

2008
  $ 870  
2009
    1,054  
2010
    602  
2011
    538  
2012
    722  
2013 and thereafter
    3,731  
    $ 7,517  
Less: amount representing interest
    (2,202 )
Present value of net minimum lease payments
  $ 5,315  


11.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAS 157 establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to those valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under FAS 157 are:

Basis of Fair value Measurement

Level 1
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted instruments.

Level 2
Quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3
Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 
Page 25

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

We evaluate the position of each financial instrument measured at fair value in the hierarchy individually based on the valuation methodology we apply. At March 31, 2008, we have no material financial assets or liabilities carried at fair value using significant level 1 or level 3 inputs and the only instruments we value using level 3 inputs are currency swap agreements as follows:

Currency Swap

On April 27, 2006, we entered into currency swap agreements with two counterparties whereby we swapped a fixed annual coupon interest rate (of 9.0%) on notional principal of CZK 10.7 billion (approximately US$ 667.7 million), payable on July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15, to the termination date of April 15, 2012, for a fixed annual coupon interest rate (of 9.0%) on notional principal of EUR 375.9 million (approximately US$ 594.4 million) receivable on July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15, to the termination date of April 15, 2012.

These currency swap agreements reduce our exposure to movements in foreign exchange rates on a part of the CZK-denominated cash flows generated by our Czech Republic operations that is approximately equivalent in value to the Euro-denominated interest payments on our Senior Notes (see Note 4, “Senior Debt”). They are financial instruments that are used to minimize currency risk and are considered an economic hedge of foreign exchange rates.  These instruments have not been designated as hedging instruments as defined under FAS 133 and so changes in their fair value are recorded in the consolidated statement of operations and in the consolidated balance sheet in other non-current liabilities.

We value our currency swap agreements using an industry-standard currency swap pricing model which calculates the fair value on the basis of the net present value of the estimated future cash flows receivable or payable. These instruments are allocated to level 2 of the FAS 157 fair value hierarchy because the critical inputs to this model, including the relevant yield curves and the known contractual terms of the instrument are readily observable.

The fair value of these instruments as at March 31, 2008, was a US$ 26.5 million liability, which represented a US$ 10.3 million increase from the US$ 16.2 million liability as at December 31, 2007 and was recognized as a loss in the consolidated statement of operations.


12.  SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred Stock

5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with a US$ 0.08 par value, were authorized as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.  None were issued and outstanding as at March 31, 2008, and December 31, 2007.

Class A and B Common Stock

100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 15,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock were authorized as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.  The rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are identical except for voting rights.  The shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and the shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock for no additional consideration on a one-for-one basis.  Holders of each class of shares are entitled to receive dividends and upon liquidation or dissolution are entitled to receive all assets available for distribution to shareholders.  The holders of each class have no preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to such shares.

 
Page 26

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

13.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The charge for stock-based compensation in our condensed consolidated statements of operations was as follows:

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
       
2007
 
             
Stock-based compensation charged under SFAS 123(R)
  $ 1,813     $ 1,262  
 
Under the provisions of SFAS 123(R), the fair value of stock options is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and recognized ratably over the requisite service period. No options were granted in the three months ended March 31, 2008.
 
A summary of option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2008 is presented below:

   
Shares
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share
   
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)
   
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
                         
Outstanding at January 1, 2008
    1,176,117     $ 56.72       7.04     $ 69,693  
Granted
    -       -                  
Exercised
    (125 )     72.05                  
Forfeited
    (9,125 )     75.08                  
Outstanding at March 31, 2008
    1,166,867     $ 56.58       6.78     $ 39,112  
Vested or expected to vest
    1,077,859       55.56       6.72       31,976  
Exercisable at March 31, 2008
    486,117     $ 30.92       6.43     $ 26,403  

The exercise of stock options is expected to generate a net operating loss carry forward in our Delaware subsidiary of US$ 11.6 million.  In the three months ended March 31, 2008 a tax benefit of US$ 0.1 million was recognized in respect of the utilization of part of this loss, which was recorded as additional paid in capital.

The aggregate intrinsic value (the difference between the stock price on the last day of trading of the first quarter of 2008 and the exercise prices multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) represents the total intrinsic value that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of March 31, 2008.  This amount changes based on the fair value of our Common Stock.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was US$ 1.8 thousand and US$ 14.7 million, respectively.  As of March 31, 2008, there was US$ 15.9 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to options.  The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.  Proceeds received from the exercise of stock options were US$ 9.0 thousand and US$ 2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 
Page 27

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

14.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

The components of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
       
2007
 
             
Net income / (loss) available for common shareholders
  $ 14,895     $ (250 )
                 
Weighted average outstanding shares of Common Stock (000’s)
    42,316       40,793  
Dilutive effect of employee stock options (000’s)
    416       -  
Common Stock and Common Stock equivalents (000’s)
    42,732       40,793  
                 
Income / (loss) per share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.35     $ (0.01 )
Diluted
  $ 0.35     $ (0.01 )

At March 31, 2008, 269,500 (December 31, 2007: 258,500) stock options were antidilutive to income from continuing operations and excluded from the calculation of earnings per share. These may become dilutive in the future. Common shares potentially issuable under our Convertible Notes may also become dilutive in the future although were antidilutive to income at March 31, 2008.

15.  SEGMENT DATA

We manage our business on a geographic basis and review the performance of each business segment using data that reflects 100% of operating and license company results.  Our business segments are comprised of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and our two businesses in Ukraine.

We evaluate the performance of our business segments based on Segment Net Revenues and Segment EBITDA.

Our key performance measure of the efficiency of our business segments is EBITDA margin.  We define Segment EBITDA margin as the ratio of Segment EBITDA to Segment Net Revenues.

Segment EBITDA is determined as segment net income / (loss), which includes program rights amortization costs, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets.  Items that are not allocated to our business segments for purposes of evaluating their performance and therefore are not included in Segment EBITDA, include:

·
expenses presented as corporate operating costs in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income;

·
stock-based compensation charges;

·
foreign currency exchange gains and losses;

·
changes in fair value of derivatives; and

·
certain unusual or infrequent items (e.g., extraordinary gains and losses, impairments of assets or investments).

 
Page 28

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Below are tables showing our Segment Net Revenues, Segment EBITDA, segment depreciation and segment asset information by operation, including a reconciliation of Segment EBITDA and segment depreciation and asset information amounts to our consolidated results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 for condensed consolidated statement of operations data and as at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 for condensed consolidated balance sheet data:
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
Segment Net Revenues (1)
   
Segment EBITDA
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Country:
                       
Croatia (NOVA TV)
  $ 11,534     $ 7,232     $ (2,730 )   $ (4,652 )
Czech Republic (TV NOVA, NOVA CINEMA and GALAXIE SPORT)
    85,558       51,519       43,845       25,667  
Romania (2)
    57,996       39,342       23,376       15,136  
Slovak Republic (TV MARKIZA)
    26,234       18,677       9,137       5,756  
Slovenia (POP TV and KANAL A)
    17,951       12,669       4,340       3,001  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    23,219       18,075       (2,063 )     (2,370 )
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    978       398       (1,206 )     (2,417 )
Total segment data
  $ 223,470     $ 147,912     $ 74,699     $ 40,121  
                                 
Reconciliation to condensed consolidated statement of operations:
                               
Consolidated net revenues / income  before provision for income taxes and minority interest
  $ 223,470     $ 147,912     $ 5,578     $ 4,449  
Corporate operating costs
    -       -       10,017       14,773  
Depreciation of station property, plant and equipment
    -       -       12,340       6,899  
Amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles
    -       -       7,666       5,162  
Interest income
    -       -       (2,180 )     (1,414 )
Interest expense
    -       -       14,250       11,396  
Change in fair value of derivatives
    -       -       10,258       (4,524 )
Foreign currency exchange loss, net
    -       -       17,430       3,136  
Other expense / (income)
    -       -       (660 )     244  
Total segment data
  $ 223,470     $ 147,912     $ 74,699     $ 40,121  
 
(1) All net revenues are derived from external customers.  There are no inter-segmental revenues.
(2) Romania channels are PRO TV, PRO CINEMA, ACASA, PRO TV INTERNATIONAL, SPORT.RO and MTV ROMANIA for the three months ended March 31, 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 the Romanian channels were PRO TV, PRO CINEMA, ACASA, PRO TV INTERNATIONAL and SPORT.RO. We acquired SPORT.RO on February 20, 2007.

 
Page 29

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Depreciation of station property, plant and equipment and amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles:
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
Croatia
  $ 1,410     $ 785  
Czech Republic
    10,146       6,461  
Romania
    3,540       1,747  
Slovak Republic
    2,576       1,187  
Slovenia
    1,283       986  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    791       745  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    260       150  
Total
  $ 20,006     $ 12,061  
Represented as follows:
               
Depreciation of station property, plant & equipment
    12,340       6,899  
Amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles
    7,666       5,162  

Total assets (1):
       
             
Croatia
  $ 56,925     $ 44,787  
Czech Republic
    1,621,136       1,429,256  
Romania
    395,484       360,144  
Slovak Republic
    227,166       203,302  
Slovenia
    101,738       89,984  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    93,358       90,064  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    18,288       17,854  
Total segment assets
  $ 2,514,095     $ 2,235,391  
                 
Reconciliation to condensed consolidated balance sheets:
               
Corporate
    538,541       103,044  
Total assets
  $ 3,052,636     $ 2,338,435  

(1) Segment assets exclude any inter-company investments, loans, payables and receivables.

 
Page 30

 

CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Long-lived assets (1):
       
             
Croatia
  $ 18,561     $ 12,144  
Czech Republic
    70,905       58,809  
Romania
    51,435       44,808  
Slovak Republic
    32,120       29,345  
Slovenia
    23,495       21,524  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    7,056       7,380  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    4,896       5,003  
Total long-lived assets
  $ 208,468     $ 179,013  
                 
Reconciliation to condensed consolidated balance sheets:
               
Corporate
    1,273       1,298  
Total long-lived assets
  $ 209,741     $ 180,311  

(1) Reflects property, plant and equipment

We do not rely on any single major customer or group of major customers.


16.  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On May 19, 2003, we received US$ 358.6 million from the Czech Republic in final settlement of our UNCITRAL arbitration in respect of our former operations in the Czech Republic.

On June 19, 2003, our Board of Directors decided to withdraw from operations in the Czech Republic. The revenues and expenses of our former Czech Republic operations and the award income and related legal expenses have therefore all been accounted for as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

On February 9, 2004, we entered into an agreement with the Dutch tax authorities to settle all tax liabilities outstanding for the years up to and including 2003, including receipts in respect of our 2003 award in the arbitration against the Czech Republic, for a payment of US$ 9.0 million.  We expected to continue to pay tax in the Netherlands of between US$ 1.0 and US$ 2.5 million for the foreseeable future and therefore agreed to a minimum payment of US$ 2.0 million per year for the years 2004 - 2008 and US$ 1.0 million for 2009.

We have since re-evaluated our forecasts of the amount of taxable income we expect to earn in the Netherlands in the period to 2009.  As the expected tax payable on this income is lower than the minimum amounts agreed with the Dutch tax authorities, we have provided for the shortfall.

The settlement with the Dutch tax authorities also provides that if any decision is issued at any time prior to December 31, 2008 exempting awards under Bilateral Investment Treaties from taxation in the Netherlands, we will be allowed to recover losses previously used against the 2003 arbitration award, which could be up to US$ 195.0 million, to offset other income within the applicable carry forward rules. This would not reduce the minimum amount of tax agreed payable under the settlement agreement.  At this time there is no indication that the Dutch tax authorities will issue such a decision.

 
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CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The settlement with the Dutch tax authorities has also resulted in a deductible temporary difference in the form of a ruling deficit against which a full valuation allowance has been recorded.


17.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

a) Ukraine Buyout Agreements

On January 31, 2008, we entered into a series of agreements to purchase a 30.0% beneficial ownership interest in the Studio 1+1 group from our partners, Alexander Rodnyansky and Boris Fuchsmann, and to provide Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann with a put option and us with a call option for the remaining 10.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group that will be held by Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann following a successful completion of the initial purchase. We currently hold a 60.0% beneficial ownership interest in the Studio 1+1 group. In conjunction with the initial transaction, we also entered into an assignment agreement with Igor Kolomoisky, one of our shareholders and a member of the Board of Directors of Central European Media Enterprises Ltd, pursuant to which Mr. Kolomoisky has assigned option interests in the Studio 1+1 group to us.  The consideration payable by us for the initial purchases, exclusive of the put and call options, is approximately US$ 219.6 million.
 
We entered into a framework agreement (the “Framework Agreement”) with Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann on January 31, 2008. Pursuant to the terms of the Framework Agreement, we shall acquire a 30.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group.  The interests to be acquired consist of (i) an 8.335% direct and indirect ownership interest in the Studio 1+1 group currently held by Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann (the “RF Interests”) and (ii) a 21.665% direct and indirect interest in Studio 1+1, Innova and IMS over which Mr. Kolomoisky currently holds options (the “Optioned Interests”).  We entered into an agreement with Mr. Kolomoisky on October 30, 2007 (the “October Agreement”) to acquire such Optioned Interests from Mr. Kolomoisky following a successful exercise by him of these options over the Optioned Interests. The Assignment Agreement as defined below between us and Mr. Kolomoisky supersedes the October Agreement.

At completion Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann will receive a combined total cash consideration of US$ 79.6 million, including a de minimus amount of consideration upon exercise of the Optioned Interests and the remainder for the RF Interests, in exchange for the 30.0% beneficial ownership interest in the Studio 1+1 group.  Following the completion of this transaction, we will hold a 90.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group and Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann will each hold a 5.0% interest.

In addition, under the Framework Agreement we have granted Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann the right to jointly put both of their remaining 5.0% interests in the Studio 1+1 group to us. The consideration upon exercise of the put option is: (i) US$ 95.4 million if exercised at any time from the closing date of the transaction to the first anniversary of the closing date; (ii) US$ 102.3 million if exercised after the first anniversary up to the second anniversary of the closing date; and (iii) the greater of US$ 109.1 million and an agreed valuation if exercised at any time after the second anniversary of the closing date. Under the Framework Agreement Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann granted us the right from the closing date to call their combined 10.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group for a consideration of US$ 109.1 million. From the first anniversary of the closing date, Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann have the option of electing to have an agreed valuation conducted, in which case the call price will be the greater of US$ 109.1 million and the agreed valuation.  In the event we exercise the call option, Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann have the right to elect to receive their consideration in the form of cash or shares of our Class A Common Stock. Both the put and call options may only be exercised for the entire 10.0% interest held by Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann.

 
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CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Simultaneous with entering into the Framework Agreement, the parties to the Framework Agreement entered into a termination agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which our historical partnership agreements with respect to our Ukrainian operations have been terminated and Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann have resigned all positions within the Studio 1+1 group. Messrs Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann have entered into consultancy agreements with us providing for total annual aggregate compensation under both agreements not to exceed Euro 1 million that terminate at the time either sells his remaining 5.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group. The Termination Agreement contains non-solicitation provisions as well as limited non-compete provisions that restrict the ability of Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann to compete against us in the television business in Ukraine directly or through companies controlled by them.   

Following the completion of our purchase of the 30.0% ownership interest in the Studio 1+1 group, Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann intend to acquire 10.0% of our interest in the entities operating the channels KINO and CITI in Ukraine for consideration of US$ 1.92 million. In the event Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann exercise the put or we exercise the call described above, this 10.0% interest will be transferred to us together with the 10.0% interest held by Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann in the Studio 1+1 Group, and Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann shall not be entitled to any additional consideration other than as described above in respect of the put and call options.

On January 31, 2008, we entered into an Assignment Agreement with Mr. Kolomoisky pursuant to which Mr. Kolomoisky has assigned his right to acquire the Optioned Interests to us. In consideration of this assignment, we will pay Mr. Kolomoisky an amount equal to the lesser of (i) US$ 140.0 million and (ii) 4% of the number of outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock at the time we acquire the Optioned Interests (using a weighted average trading price), provided, that in the event the lesser amount is US$ 140.0 million, Mr. Kolomoisky will have the option of receiving his consideration in cash or shares of our Class A Common Stock.  We are not obligated to pay this consideration to Mr. Kolomoisky prior to the acquisition of the RF Interests and the Optioned Interests from Messrs. Rodnyansky and Fuchsmann. The October Agreement shall terminate and no consideration will be payable thereunder following the completion of this transaction.

The Framework Agreement and the Assignment Agreement also provide that Messrs. Rodnyansky, Fuchsmann and Kolomoisky, as well as other parties who entered into historical arrangements with respect to the Optioned Interests, enter into mutual release arrangements on the closing date to confirm the performance of the transactions contemplated by those previous arrangements and to release any claims arising out of or in connection with those arrangements or the ownership of the Studio 1+1 group. In addition, Mr. Kolomoisky and other parties who obtained rights in respect of the Optioned Interests are releasing us and the Studio 1+1 group from any claims in respect of the ownership of the Studio 1+1 group on the closing date.

Completion of the transactions described above is expected to occur by the end of the second quarter of this years but under the terms of the Framework Agreement, the ownership of the Studio 1+1 Group is being restructured in order to facilitate these transactions and such restructuring will require certain regulatory approvals. Once the completion of the conditions to closing is sufficiently probable, we will account for the acquisition as a purchase business combination in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141 “Business Combinations.”

 
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CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

b)  Station Programming Rights Agreements

At March 31, 2008, we had the following commitments in respect of future programming, including contracts signed with license periods starting after the balance sheet date:

     
       
Croatia
  $ 6,424  
Czech Republic
    33,130  
Romania
    26,478  
Slovak Republic
    13,513  
Slovenia
    3,681  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    7,256  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    162  
Total
  $ 90,644  

Of the amount shown in the table above, US$ 75.4 million is payable within one year.

c) Operating Lease Commitments

For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 we incurred aggregate rent on all facilities of US$ 3.6 million and US$ 2.9 million, respectively.  Future minimum operating lease payments at March 31, 2008 for non-cancellable operating leases with remaining terms in excess of one year (net of amounts to be recharged to third parties) are payable as follows:

     
       
2008
  $ 3,322  
2009
    4,741  
2010
    2,283  
2011
    867  
2012
    306  
2013 and thereafter
    10  
Total
  $ 11,529  

d) Acquisition of Minority Shareholdings in Romania

Adrian Sarbu, our Chief Operating Officer, has the right to sell to us his remaining shareholding in Pro TV and MPI under a put option agreement entered into in July 2004 at a price to be determined by an independent valuation, subject to a floor price of US$ 1.45 million for each 1.0% interest sold. Mr. Sarbu’s right to put his remaining shareholding’ is exercisable from November 12, 2009, provided that we have not enforced a pledge over this shareholding which Mr. Sarbu granted as security for our right to put him our shareholding in Media Pro. As at March 31, 2008, we consider the fair value of the put option of Mr. Sarbu to be approximately US$ nil.

 
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CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

e) Other

Dutch Tax

On February 9, 2004 we entered into an agreement with the Dutch tax authorities to settle all tax liabilities outstanding for the years up to and including 2003, including receipts in respect of our 2003 award in the arbitration against the Czech Republic, for a payment of US$ 9.0 million.  We expected to continue to pay tax in the Netherlands of between US$ 1.0 and US$ 2.5 million for the foreseeable future and therefore also agreed to a minimum tax payable of US$ 2.0 million per year for the years 2004 - 2008 and US$ 1.0 million for 2009.

We have since re-evaluated our forecasts of the amount of taxable income we expect to earn in the Netherlands in the period to 2009.  As the expected tax payable on this income is lower than the minimum amounts agreed with the Dutch tax authorities, we have provided for the shortfall.

The settlement with the Dutch tax authorities also provides that if any decision is issued at any time prior to December 31, 2008 exempting awards under Bilateral Investment Treaties from taxation in the Netherlands, we will be allowed to recover losses previously used against the 2003 arbitration award, which could be up to US$ 195.0 million, to offset other income within the applicable carry forward rules. This would not reduce the minimum amount of tax agreed payable under the settlement agreement.  At this time there is no indication that the Dutch tax authorities will issue such a decision.

As at March 31, 2008 we provided US$ 1.6 million (US$ 0.7 million in non-current liabilities and US$ 0.9 million in current liabilities) and as at December 31, 2007 we provided US$ 3.3 million (US$ 1.0 million in non-current liabilities and US$ 2.3 million in current liabilities) of tax in the Netherlands as the difference between our obligation under this agreement and our estimate of tax in the Netherlands that may fall due over this period from business operations, based on current business structures and economic conditions.

Czech Republic - Factoring of Trade Receivables

CET 21 has a working capital credit facility of CZK 250 million (approximately US$ 15.6 million) with CS.  This facility is secured by a pledge of receivables under the factoring agreement with Factoring Ceska Sporitelna.

The transfer of the receivables is accounted for as a secured borrowing under FASB Statement No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”, with the proceeds received recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a liability and included in current credit facilities and obligations under capital leases.  The corresponding receivables are a part of accounts receivable, as we retain the risks of ownership.

Contingencies

a) Litigation

We are, from time to time, a party to litigation that arises in the normal course of our business operations.  Other than those claims discussed below, we are not presently a party to any such litigation which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business or operations. Unless otherwise disclosed, no provision has been made against any potential losses that could arise.

We present below a summary of our more significant proceedings by country.

Croatia

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in Croatia.

 
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CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

Czech Republic

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in the Czech Republic.

Romania

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in Romania.

Slovenia

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in Slovenia.

Slovak Republic

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in the Slovak Republic.

Ukraine

On December 23, 2005, we initiated international arbitration proceedings against our partners Alexander Rodnyansky and Boris Fuchsmann to enforce our contractual rights and compel a restructuring of the ownership of Studio 1+1 in order to permit us to hold a 60.0% interest in Studio 1+1. Following the adoption of an amendment to the Ukraine Media Law in March 2006, our partners acknowledged their obligation to restructure to permit us to hold a 60.0% interest had ripened; and in September 2006, they entered into agreements to effect a restructuring. On November 9, 2006, the arbitration proceedings were suspended by mutual consent to permit the parties to implement the restructuring. On August 30, 2007, we registered our Ukrainian subsidiary UMS as the owner of 42.0% of Studio 1+1. Together with our 18.0% indirect interest in Studio 1+1 held through Inter-Media, we now have a 60.0% interest in Studio 1+1.

On September 4, 2007, Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky sought to file a cross action in these international arbitration proceedings to compel the transfer by us of an interest in Ukrpromtorg to Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr.Rodnyansky. They allege that they are entitled to participate on a pro rata basis in our investment in Ukrpromtorg. This claim is based on the terms of our shareholders’ agreement pursuant to which we and our partners have a limited right to participate on a pro rata basis in investment opportunities in the Ukrainian media sector undertaken by the other. In our response to this cross action, we denied any breach of our shareholders’ agreement and requested that the tribunal hold the cross action inadmissible in the current arbitration proceedings, whose subject matter is the restructuring, and terminate these proceedings.

On January 31, 2008, we entered into a Framework Agreement with Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky.  Pursuant to the Framework Agreement, we have agreed to (i) purchase a 30.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group from Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky, (ii) grant Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky a put option and CME a call option on Mr. Fuchsmann’s and Mr. Rodnyansky’s remaining 10.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group and (iii) sell to Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky 10.0% of our interest in the companies that operate KINO and CITI. Prior to the completion of these transactions, we have agreed to suspend the arbitration proceedings. Following completion of the transaction, we have agreed with Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky to terminate the arbitration proceedings described above. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2008.

 
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CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Tabular amounts in US$ 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

b) Licenses

Regulatory bodies in each country in which we operate control access to the available frequencies through licensing regimes.  The analog licenses to operate our terrestrial broadcast operations are effective for the following periods:


Croatia
The license of NOVA TV (Croatia) expires in April 2010.

Czech Republic
The license of TV NOVA (Czech Republic) expires in January 2017. The NOVA Cinema license expires in November 2019. The GALAXIE SPORT license expires in March 2014.

Romania
Licenses expire on dates ranging from November 2008 to February 2016.

Slovak Republic
The license of MARKIZA TV in the Slovak Republic expires in September 2019.

Slovenia
The licenses of POP TV and KANAL A expire in August 2012.

Ukraine
The 15-hour prime time and off prime time license of STUDIO 1+1 expires in December 2016. The license to broadcast for the remaining nine hours in off prime expires in August 2014.  Licenses held by Ukrpromtorg expire on dates ranging from November 2008 to July 2016.
 
Management believes that the licenses for our television license companies will be renewed prior to expiry or that we will receive digital licenses for our channels in replacement of current analog licenses (see Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Executive Summary”).  In Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine local regulations contain a qualified presumption for extensions of broadcast licenses according to which a license may be renewed if the licensee has operated substantially in compliance with the relevant licensing regime.

c) Restrictions on dividends from Consolidated Subsidiaries and Unconsolidated Affiliates

Corporate law in the Central and Eastern European countries in which we have operations stipulates generally that dividends may be declared by shareholders, out of yearly profits, subject to the maintenance of registered capital and required reserves after the recovery of accumulated losses. The reserve requirement restriction generally provides that before dividends may be distributed, a portion of annual net profits (typically 5%) be allocated to a reserve, which reserve is capped at a proportion of the registered capital of a company (ranging from 5% to 25%).  The restricted net assets of our consolidated subsidiaries and equity in earnings of investments accounted for under the equity method together are less than 25% of consolidated net assets.


18.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Acquisition - Romania

On April 17, 2008 we acquired the assets of Compania de Radio Pro s.r.l. (“Radio Pro”) which owns two leading radio channels in Romania.  Total consideration was RON 47.2 million (approximately US$ 20.6 million at the date of payment).  Radio Pro is owned by Media Pro Management S.A., in which we hold an 8.7% interest and the remainder is owned by Adrian Sarbu, our Chief Operating Officer.   

 
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Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Contents

I.
Forward-looking Statements
II.
Executive Summary
III.
Analysis of Segment Results
IV.
Analysis of the Results of Consolidated Operations
V.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
VI.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates


I. Forward-looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our capital needs, business strategy, expectations and intentions. Statements that use the terms “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “intend” and similar expressions of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. For these statements and all other forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy or are otherwise beyond our control and some of which might not even be anticipated.  Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and because our business is subject to such risks and uncertainties, actual results, our strategic plan, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could differ materially from those described in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report.

Important factors that contribute to such risks include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth under “Risk Factors” as well as the following: general market and economic conditions in our markets as well as in the United States and Western Europe;  the results of additional investment in Croatia and Ukraine; the expected completion dates and the impact of the buyout of our partners in the Studio 1+1 group in Ukraine; the growth of television advertising spending and the rate of development of advertising in our markets; our ability to make future investments in television broadcast operations; our ability to develop and  implement strategies regarding sales and multi-channel distribution; the performance of obligations by third parties with whom we have entered into agreements; the general political, economic and regulatory environments where we operate and application of relevant laws and regulations; the renewals of broadcasting licenses and our ability to obtain additional frequencies and licenses; and our ability to acquire necessary programming and attract audiences. The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other cautionary statements that are included in this report. We undertake no obligation to publically update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 
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The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our interim financial statements and notes included elsewhere in this report.

II. Executive Summary

Continuing Operations

The following table provides a summary of our consolidated results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
(US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Net revenues
  $ 223,470     $ 147,912       51.1 %
Operating income
    44,676       13,287       236.2 %
Net income / (loss)
  $ 14,895     $ (250 )     6,058.0 %

The principal events for the three months ended March 31, 2008 are as follows:

·
Performance: In the three months ended March 31, 2008, we reported growth in both Segment Net Revenues and Segment EBITDA of 51% and 86%, respectively compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, delivering a Segment EBITDA margin of 33% compared to the 27% margin reported in the three months ended March 31, 2007 (Segment EBITDA is defined and reconciled to our consolidated results in Item 1, Note 15, “Segment Data”).

·
Each of our stations reported revenue growth in excess of 28% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, with particularly strong growth reported in Croatia and the Czech Republic.

·
Acquisition: On January 31, 2008, we entered into agreements with Igor Kolomoisky to assign options over certain interests on the Studio 1+1 group held by him and with Boris Fuchsmann and Alexander Rodnyansky to acquire their 40% interest in the Studio 1+1 group. Upon completion of the initial purchase, we will own 90.0% of the Studio 1+1 group and Messrs. Fuchsmann and Rodnyansky will have the right to put to us, and we will have the right to call from them, their remaining 10.0% interest.

·
Financing: On March 10, 2008 we issued US$ 475.0 million of 3.50% Convertible Notes, maturing on March 15, 2013. In order to increase the effective conversion price of our Convertible Notes, on March 4, 2008 we purchased, for aggregate consideration of US$ 63.3 million, capped call options over 4,523,809 shares of our Common Stock (see Item 1, Note 4, “Senior Debt”).

·
Debt Ratings: On March 19, 2008, Moody’s Investors Services upgraded our senior unsecured debt rating for our Senior Notes and our corporate credit rating from Ba3 to Ba2.

Subsequent to the quarter-end:

·
Acquisition: On April 17, 2008 we acquired the assets of Compania de Radio Pro s.r.l. (“Radio Pro”) which owns two leading radio channels in Romania.  Total consideration was RON 47.2 million (approximately US$ 20.6 million at the date of payment).  Radio Pro is owned by Media Pro Management S.A., in which we hold an 8.7% interest and the remainder is owned by Adrian Sarbu, our Chief Operating Officer (See Item I, Note 18, “Subsequent Events”).

·
Debt Rating: On April 23, 2008, Standard & Poor’s upgraded the rating of our Senior Notes from BB- to BB and assigned a BB debt rating to our US$ 475.0 million of 3.5% Convertible Notes.

 
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Future Trends

CME Strategy: We believe over the medium term that we will see higher levels of GDP growth as well as general advertising and television advertising spending growth in our markets than in Western European or U.S. markets. The largest portion of advertising spending in our markets is on television advertising and it makes up a larger proportion than in Western European or U.S. markets. We expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. We believe the fastest growth in television advertising in our markets will continue to be in Ukraine and Romania, our markets with the largest populations and, currently, the lowest levels of television advertising spending per capita.

The large audience share that we enjoy in most of our markets is due both to the commercial strength of our channels and to the constraints on bandwidth that limit the number of free-to-air broadcasters in our markets. The only markets where we currently face significant competition from other distribution platforms are Romania and Slovenia, where cable penetration exceeds 50% of television households.

As our markets mature, we anticipate more intense competition for audience share and advertising spending from other incumbent terrestrial broadcasters and from cable, satellite and digital terrestrial broadcasters as the coverage of these technologies grows. The impact on our advertising share will be less significant due to the small audience rating each individual channel can attract. The advent of digital terrestrial broadcasting as well as the introduction of alternative distribution platforms for content (including additional direct-to-home (“DTH”) services, the internet, internet protocol TV (“IPTV”), mobile television and video-on-demand services) will cause audience fragmentation and change the competitive dynamics in our operating countries in the medium term.

We believe that our leading position in our operating countries and the strength of our existing brands place us in a solid position to manage increased competition and to launch new niche channels as these new technologies develop.  In the near term we intend to continue to pursue further improvements in the performance of our existing operations in order to maximize the potential for organic growth in our existing businesses.

Our priorities in this regard include:

·
completing the buyout of our partners in the Studio 1+1 group and restructuring our Ukraine operations in order to secure consistent performance and a leading position in the Ukrainian market;

·
ensuring that our leading position in our operating countries is secured during the transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting and the anticipated growth of DTH offerings;

·
launching or acquiring additional channels in our markets in order to expand our offerings, target niche audiences and increase our advertising inventory;

·
improving margins by leveraging expertise from our best-performing operations;

·
expanding our capabilities in production and the development of local content; and

·
achieving EBITDA break even in our Croatia operations during the fourth quarter of 2008.

In addition, we continue to review opportunities to develop our business and expand our footprint through strategic acquisitions, the adoption and implementation of new technologies and expansion into additional markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Internet broadband penetration is low in all of our markets in comparison to Western European and U.S. markets. As the GDP per capita of our markets grows over the medium term, we anticipate broadband penetration will increase significantly and will foster the development of significant new opportunities for generating advertising and other revenues in new media. We believe that the strength of our brands, our news programming and locally produced content, our relationships with advertisers and the opportunities for cross promotion afforded by the large audiences of our broadcast operations put us in a strong position to achieve leading positions in these new forms of media as they develop. We intend to continue our program of investment into our non-broadcast activities in order to develop offerings and launch services on the internet and mobile platforms that complement our broadcast offerings and generate revenues.

 
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Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting: The transition from analog to digital terrestrial broadcasting is beginning to accelerate in our markets.  While the approach being applied is not uniform, there are certain steps that each jurisdiction appears to be following.  Typically, legislation governing the transition to digital is adopted which addresses the licensing of operators of the digital networks as well as the licensing of digital broadcasters, technical parameters concerning the allocation of frequencies to be used for digital services (including those currently being used for analog services), broadcasting standards to be provided, the timing of the transition and, ideally, principles to be applied in the transition, including transparency and non-discrimination. As a rule, these are embodied in a technical transition plan (“TTP”) that is agreed among the relevant Media Council, the national telecommunications agency (which is generally responsible for the allocation and use of frequencies) and the broadcasters.

The TTP will typically include the following: the timeline and final switchover date, time allowances for the phases of the transition, allocation of frequencies for digital broadcasting and other digital services, methods for calculating digital terrestrial signal coverage and penetration of set top boxes, parameters for determining whether the conditions for switchover have been satisfied for any phase, the technical specifications for broadcasting standards to be utilized and technical restrictions on parallel broadcasting in analog and terrestrial during the transition phase.

Of our markets, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia are the furthest advanced in the transition to digital.  All three have adopted new legislation or amendments to existing legislation.  Generally, this legislation provides that incumbent analog broadcasters are entitled to receive a digital license, although broadcasters in a specific jurisdiction may be required to formally file an application in order for such a digital license to be issued.

In that regard, both of our Slovenian channels, POP TV and KANAL A, were issued digital licenses in November 2007. We anticipate that the switchover to digital in Slovenia will be completed by 2012, when the current licenses of POP TV and KANAL A expire.  TV NOVA (Czech Republic) is also entitled to receive a digital license under recent amendments to the Czech Republic Media Law. The receipt of this license is subject to CET 21 agreeing to the switchover plan under the TTP, which is still under negotiation.  In the Slovak Republic, TV MARKIZA is entitled to receive a digital license under recently adopted legislation and intends to apply for one following the completion of negotiations with respect to the TTP for the Slovak Republic.

Draft legislation governing the transition to digital is under discussion in Romania and Croatia.  We anticipate that legislation will be adopted during 2008 that will address digital licensing and the TTP for each market in a comprehensive way.  We expect that all of our channels will receive digital licenses in these markets.

The Ukrainian governmental authorities have issued generic legislation in respect of the transition to digital. In addition, the Ukraine Media Council has recently issued decisions confirming that STUDIO 1+1 would be included in one of the multiplexes to be launched in connection with the transition to digital broadcasting. No additional decisions specifically addressing the licensing regime have been issued. Moreover the Ukraine Media Council has also recently suspended a tender announced in December 2007 for licenses to additional digital frequencies that will be made available for niche channels in the switchover to digital.  However, there have been no discussions or indication that a TTP is being adopted or currently contemplated in Ukraine.

We intend to apply for and obtain digital licenses that are issued in replacement of analog licenses in our operating countries and to apply for additional digital licenses and for licenses to operate digital networks where such applications are permissible and prudent.

 
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III. Analysis of Segment Results

OVERVIEW

We manage our business on a geographic basis and review the performance of each business segment using data that reflects 100% of operating and license company results.  We also consider how much of our total revenues and earnings are derived from our broadcast and non-broadcast operations. Our business segments are comprised of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and our two businesses in Ukraine.

We evaluate the performance of our business segments based on Segment Net Revenues and Segment EBITDA.

Our key performance measure of the efficiency of our business segments is EBITDA margin.  We define Segment EBITDA margin as the ratio of Segment EBITDA to Segment Net Revenues.

Segment EBITDA is determined as segment net income/loss, which includes program rights amortization costs, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets.  Items that are not allocated to our segments for purposes of evaluating their performance, and therefore are not included in Segment EBITDA, include:

·
expenses presented as corporate operating costs in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income;

·
stock-based compensation charges;

·
foreign currency exchange gains and losses;

·
change in fair value of derivatives; and

·
certain unusual or infrequent items (e.g., extraordinary gains and losses, impairments of assets or investments).

EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies.  Non-GAAP measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, US GAAP financial measures.

We believe Segment EBITDA is useful to investors because it provides a more meaningful representation of our performance as it excludes certain items that either do not impact our cash flows or the operating results of our stations.  Segment EBITDA is also used as a component in determining management bonuses.

For a full reconciliation of our Segment EBITDA by operation to our consolidated results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 see Item 1, Note 15.

A summary of our total Segment Net Revenues, Segment EBITDA and Segment EBITDA margin showing the relative contribution of each Segment, is as follows:

 
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SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)

   
2008
      (1 )  
2007
      (1 )
Segment Net Revenues
                           
Croatia (NOVA TV)
  $ 11,534       5 %   $ 7,232       5 %
Czech Republic (TV NOVA, NOVA CINEMA and GALAXIE SPORT)
    85,558       38 %     51,519       34 %
Romania (2)
    57,996       26 %     39,342       27 %
Slovak Republic (TV MARKIZA)
    26,234       12 %     18,677       13 %
Slovenia (POP TV and KANAL A)
    17,951       8 %     12,669       9 %
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    23,219       10 %     18,075       12 %
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    978       1 %     398       - %
Total Segment Net Revenues
  $ 223,470       100 %   $ 147,912       100 %
                                 
Represented by:
                               
Broadcast operations
  $ 221,497       99 %   $ 147,422       100 %
Non-broadcast operations
    1,973       1 %     490       - %
Total Segment Net Revenues
  $ 223,470       100 %   $ 147,912       100 %
                                 
Segment EBITDA
                               
Croatia (NOVA TV)
  $ (2,730 )     (4 )%   $ (4,652 )     (12 )%
Czech Republic (TV NOVA, NOVA CINEMA and GALAXIE SPORT)
    43,845       59 %     25,667       65 %
Romania (2)
    23,376       32 %     15,136       38 %
Slovak Republic (TV MARKIZA)
    9,137       12 %     5,756       14 %
Slovenia (POP TV and KANAL A)
    4,340       6 %     3,001       7 %
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    (2,063 )     (3 )%     (2,370 )     (6 )%
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    (1,206 )     (2 )%     (2,417 )     (6 )%
Total Segment EBITDA
  $ 74,699       100 %   $ 40,121       100 %
                                 
Represented by:
                               
Broadcast operations
  $ 76,177       102 %   $ 40,714       101 %
Non-broadcast operations
    (1,478 )     (2 )%     (593 )     (1 )%
Total Segment EBITDA
  $ 74,699       100 %   $ 40,121       100 %
                                 
Segment EBITDA Margin (3)
    33 %             27 %        

(1) Percentage of Total Segment Net Revenues and Total Segment EBITDA.
(2) Romania channels are PRO TV, PRO CINEMA, ACASA, PRO TV INTERNATIONAL, SPORT.RO and MTV ROMANIA for the three months ended March 31, 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 Romania were PRO TV, PRO CINEMA, ACASA, PRO TV INTERNATIONAL and SPORT.RO. We acquired SPORT.RO on February 20, 2007
(3) We define Segment EBITDA margin as the ratio of Segment EBITDA to Segment Net Revenues.

 
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ANALYSIS BY GEOGRAPHIC SEGMENT

Pricing. In the countries in which we operate, advertisers tend to allocate their television advertising budgets among channels based on each channel’s audience share, audience demographic profile and pricing policy.  We generally offer two different bases of pricing to our advertising customers.  The first basis is cost per gross rating point (“GRP”).  A GRP represents the percentage of audience (from the population over the age of four) reached by a television advertisement and the number of GRPs achieved for a defined time period is the product of the proportion of that total viewing population watching that television advertisement and the frequency that it is viewed (as measured by international measurement agencies using peoplemeters).  The second basis is rate-card pricing, which reflects the timing and duration of an advertisement.  Whether advertising is sold on a GRP basis or a rate-card basis depends on the dynamics of a particular market and our relative audience share.

Advertising priced on a cost per GRP basis allows an advertiser to specify the number of GRPs that it wants to achieve with an advertisement within a defined period of time.  We schedule the timing of the airing of the advertisements during such defined period of time in a manner that enables us both to meet the advertiser’s GRP target and to maximize the use and profitability of our available advertising programming time.  The price per GRP package varies depending on the demographic group that the advertisement is targeting, the flexibility given to us by advertisers in scheduling their advertisements and the rebates offered by us to advertising agencies and their clients.  GRP package sales generally allow for better inventory control than rate-card pricing and optimize the net price per GRP achieved.

Advertising priced on a rate-card basis is applied to advertisements scheduled at a specific time.  Consistent with industry practice, we provide an incentive rebate on rate-card prices to a number of advertising agencies and their clients.  We recognize our advertising revenue at the time the relevant advertisement is broadcast net of rebates.

The majority of our advertising customers commit to annual minimum spending levels.  We usually schedule specific advertisements one month in advance of their broadcasting.  Prices paid by advertisers, whether they purchase advertising time on a GRP package or rate-card basis, tend to be higher during peak viewing months, particularly during the fourth quarter, than during off-peak months such as July and August.

Audience Share and Ratings. When describing relative performance against other competitors in attracting audience we refer to “ratings”, which represents the number of people watching a channel as a proportion of the total population, and “audience share”, which represents the share attracted by a channel as a proportion of the total audience watching television. For 2007 and 2006, we have calculated audience share by dividing the ratings generated by a given broadcaster during a particular period by the ratings generated by the audience as a whole.   In previous years we calculated audience share by averaging the relevant underlying months’ audience shares. The effect of changing the method of calculation was not significant in any period presented. Audience share and ratings information is available for many differently defined audience groups, for example target audiences, and for timeframes such as all-day or prime-time. In this document we provide in tabular form national all day and prime time audience share and ratings information on a 4+ (all audience) basis. We also provide share information in respect of groups targeted by specific channels.

Spot and Non-Spot Revenues. For the purposes of our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, total television advertising revenue net of rebates is referred to as “spot revenues”.  “Non-spot revenues” refers to all other revenues, including those from sponsorship, game shows, program sales, short message service (“SMS”) messaging, cable subscriptions and barter transactions.  The total of spot revenues and non-spot revenues is equal to Segment Net Revenues.

Our goal is to increase revenues from advertising in local currency year-on-year in every market through disciplined management of our advertising inventory.  In any given period, revenue increases can be attributable to combinations of price increases, higher inventory sales, seasonal or time-of-day incentives, target-audience delivery of specific campaigns, introductory pricing for new clients or audience movements based on our competitors’ program schedule.

 
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(A) CROATIA

Market Background:  We estimate that the television advertising market in Croatia experienced local currency growth of approximately 4% to 7% in 2007 and expect it to show 6% to 8%  growth during 2008.

In the three months ended March 31, 2008, national all day audience share for NOVA TV (Croatia) grew to 23.1% from 18.1% in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The major competitors are the two state-owned channels HRT1 and HRT2, with national all day audience shares for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of 24.2% and 14.2% respectively, and privately owned broadcaster RTL with 27.8%.

Prime time audience share for NOVA TV (Croatia), which is our principal focus, grew to 26.4% in the three months ended March 31, 2008 from 19.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Our average prime time ratings increased from 8.4% to 10.7% over comparable periods, while prime time ratings for the whole market decreased from 42.7% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 40.4% in the three months ended March 31, 2008.

For advertising sales purposes, the NOVA TV (Croatia) target audience is the 18-49 demographic. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share in this group was 26.4%, an increase compared to the 19.5% achieved in the same period in 2007.

In July 2005 we initiated a multi-year investment plan to develop our transmission infrastructure and improve the quality of our programming, particularly locally produced content, in order to secure a larger audience share and increased revenues.  We expect that Segment EBITDA will break even during the fourth quarter of 2008.

 
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Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

   
CROATIA SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Spot revenues
  $ 9,662     $ 5,020       92.5 %
Non-spot revenues
    1,872       2,212       (15.4 )%
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 11,534     $ 7,232       59.5 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 11,405     $ 7,227       57.8 %
Non-broadcast operations
    129       5       2,480.0 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 11,534     $ 7,232       59.5 %
                         
Segment EBITDA
  $ (2,730 )   $ (4,652 )     41.3 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ (2,587 )   $ (4,623 )     44.0 %
Non-broadcast operations
    (143 )     (29 )     (393.1 )%
Segment EBITDA
  $ (2,730 )   $ (4,652 )     41.3 %
                         
Segment EBITDA Margin
    (24 )%     (64 )%     40 %

·
Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 60% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  In local currency, Segment Net Revenues grew by 37%.  Spot revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 93% compared to the same period in 2007 because our ratings improvement in 2007 has improved our position in the market and this supported the sale of significantly higher volumes of GRPs at increased prices. Non-spot revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2007, primarily due to lower sponsorship revenue as a result of broadcasting fewer programs suited to sponsorship and also lower revenue arising from ‘Nova Lova’ (‘Call TV’).

·
Segment EBITDA losses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 fell by 41% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  In local currency, Segment EBITDA losses fell by 50%.

Costs charged in arriving at Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 20% compared to the same period in 2007.  Cost of programming grew by 23% as a result of continued investment in high-quality programming to improve performance, driven by a 54% increase in production expenses due to the broadcast of popular locally-produced content such as ‘The Farm’ and ‘Don’t Forget The Lyrics’. Program syndication increased by 8% during the same period. Other operating costs increased by 33%, primarily due increased expenditure in developing our non-broadcast operations.  Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 10% primarily due to a reduction in our provision for doubtful debts.

 
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(B) CZECH REPUBLIC

Market Background:  We estimate that the television advertising market in the Czech Republic grew by approximately 6% to 10% in local currency during 2007 and expect 4% to 8% growth in 2008.

The national all day audience share of our main channel, TV NOVA (Czech Republic), for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was 38.3% compared to 40.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The major competitors are the two state-owned channels CT1 and CT2, with national all day audience shares for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of 21.9% and 7.7% respectively, and privately owned broadcaster TV Prima with a national all day audience share of 17.5%.

Prime time audience share was 41.9% in the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 45.2% in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Our average prime time ratings decreased from 18.3% to 16.7% over comparable periods, while prime time ratings for the whole market decreased from 40.5% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 39.7% in the three months ended March 31, 2008.

For advertising sales purposes, the TV NOVA (Czech Republic) target audience is the 15-54 demographic. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share in this group was 45.9% compared to the 49.1% achieved in the same period in 2007.

Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

   
CZECH REPUBLIC SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Spot revenues
  $ 77,603     $ 46,664       66.3 %
Non-spot revenues
    7,955       4,855       63.9 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 85,558     $ 51,519       66.1 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 85,383     $ 51,480       65.9 %
Non-broadcast operations
    175       39       348.7 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 85,558     $ 51,519       66.1 %
                         
Segment EBITDA
  $ 43,845     $ 25,667       70.8 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 44,236     $ 25,937       70.6 %
Non-broadcast operations
    (391 )     (270 )     44.8 %
Segment EBITDA
  $ 43,845     $ 25,667       70.8 %
                         
Segment EBITDA Margin
    51 %     50 %     1 %
 
·
Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 66% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  In local currency, Segment Net Revenues increased by 32%.  Spot revenues increased by 66%, primarily due to an increase in the volume of GRPs sold, as well as increased average revenue per GRP sold.  This increase in volume was partially due to a change in sales policy, which incentivized both clients and agencies to spend more of their budgets during the low season. We expect this change to have pulled spending forward from the high season months of the second quarter.  Non-spot revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 64% compared to the same period in 2007, primarily due to increased sponsorship.

 
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·
Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 71% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 51% compared to 50% for the same period in 2007. In local currency, Segment EBITDA increased by 36%.

Costs charged in arriving at Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 61% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Cost of programming grew by 73%. Production costs showed an increase of 50% due to the broadcast of the show ‘X Factor’, with no comparable entertainment show having been broadcast during the three months ended March 31, 2007 as well as due to an increase in the number of hours of news programming.  Program syndication increased by 99% over comparable periods due to an increase in the number of hours of syndicated programming being broadcast as well as an increase in the cost of such programming.  Other operating costs increased by 44%, primarily due to higher salary costs and accruals for performance-related bonuses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 53% primarily due to increased office running costs, increased provisions for doubtful debts and increased marketing and research costs.


(C) ROMANIA

Market Background:  We estimate that the television advertising market grew by approximately 50% to 60% in dollars during 2007 and expect continued growth in the range of 20% to 30% in local currency in 2008.

The combined national all day audience share of our PRO TV, ACASA and PRO CINEMA was 21.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 22.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  SPORT.RO had a national all day audience share of 1.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 1.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  MTV ROMANIA, which we acquired on December 12, 2007, had a national all day audience share of 0.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2008.   Our main competitors are the two channels operated by the public broadcaster, TVR1 and TVR2, with national all day audience shares for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of 4.9% and 1.9%, respectively, and privately owned broadcaster Antena 1, with a national all day audience share of 8.6%.

The combined average prime time ratings of PRO TV, ACASA and PRO CINEMA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was 11.4%, compared to 10.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2007. SPORT.RO had a prime time rating of 0.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 0.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  MTV ROMANIA had a prime time rating of 0.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Total prime time ratings in the market increased from 43.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 45.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the combined prime time audience share of PRO TV, ACASA and PRO CINEMA grew to 25.3% from 24.2% in the same period in 2007. SPORT.RO had a prime time audience share of 1.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 1.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2007. MTV ROMANIA had a prime time audience share of 0.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The prime time audience share of TVR 1 fell from 16.3% to 5.5% in the same period and the share of Antena 1 fell from 17.0% to 11.5%.

For advertising sales purposes, PRO TV’s target audience is the 18-49 urban demographic. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share in this group was 20.6% compared to 23.7% achieved in the same period in 2007.  For advertising sales purposes, ACASA’s target audience is the female 15-49 urban demographic. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share in this group was 12.8% compared to 9.0% achieved in the same period in 2007.

 
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The functional currency of our Romania operations changed from the U.S. dollar to the Romanian Lei with effect from January 1, 2008.

Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

   
ROMANIA SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Spot revenues
  $ 53,032     $ 36,535       45.2 %
Non-spot revenues
    4,964       2,807       76.8 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 57,996     $ 39,342       47.4 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 57,799     $ 39,342       46.9 %
Non-broadcast operations
    197       -       - %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 57,996     $ 39,342       47.4 %
                         
Segment EBITDA
  $ 23,376     $ 15,136       54.4 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 23,566     $ 15,274       54.3 %
Non-broadcast operations
    (190 )     (138 )     (37.7 %)
Segment EBITDA
  $ 23,376     $ 15,136       54.4 %
                         
Segment EBITDA Margin
    40 %     38 %     2 %

·
Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 47% compared to the three months March 31, 2007.  Spot revenues increased by 45% and non-spot revenues increased by 77% over comparable periods.  The increase in spot revenues was driven by increases in the average revenue per GRP sold on our Romanian channels. The increase in non-spot revenue was primarily due to increased cable tariff revenue, as SPORT.RO and MTV ROMANIA benefited from an increased channel offering to generate income from this revenue stream.

The inclusion of SPORT.RO for a full three months (as opposed to a single month in 2007) contributed approximately US $ 1.8 million to Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008. MTV ROMANIA contributed approximately US $ 1.5 million to Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

·
Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 54% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 40%, compared to 38% for the same period in 2007.

Costs charged in arriving at Segment EBITDA for the year three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 43% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Cost of programming grew 38%, reflecting increased investment to enable us to maintain our ratings in the face of increased competition. Production expenses increased by 50% due to an increase in production hours broadcast, primarily due to the SPORT.RO acquisition, and also increased investment to expand the news and news-related content on PRO TV and ACASA.  Programming syndication increased by 27%, primarily driven by investment in the programming schedule as well as an increase in syndicated hours broadcast, that was mainly due to the impact of the SPORT.RO acquisition.  Other operating costs increased by 56%, reflecting increased salary costs following the SPORT.RO acquisition as well as the impact of the weakening of the dollar against the Romanian lei, the currency in which salaries are paid. In addition there was an increase in the cost of music rights and repeats following the acquisition of MTV ROMANIA.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 57%, primarily due to increases in office running costs, consultancy fees and marketing and research costs.

 
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D) SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Market Background:  We estimate that the television advertising market in the Slovak Republic grew by approximately 25% to 30% in local currency in 2007 and anticipate growth of 10% to 15% in 2008.

The national all day audience share for TV MARKIZA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was 37.0% compared to 34.1% for the same period in 2007.  Our principal competitor is the main channel operated by the public broadcaster, STV1, with a national all day audience share of 17.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The national all day audience share of TV JOJ, the only other significant privately owned channel, was 15.7% during the same period.

The average prime time rating for TV MARKIZA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was 15.8% compared to 15.9% for the same period in 2007.  Total prime time ratings in the market fell from 41.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 39.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

During the three month period ended March 31, 2008, the prime time audience share of TV MARKIZA increased to 40.1%, from 38.2% in the same period in 2007. The prime time audience share of STV 1 fell from 19.2% to 18.5%, while TV JOJ’s audience share increased from 18.1% to 18.4% in the same period.

For advertising sales purposes, TV MARKIZA’s target audience is the 12+ demographic. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share in this group was 40.0%, an increase compared to the 38.1% achieved in the same period in 2007.

 
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Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

   
SLOVAK REPUBLIC SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Spot revenues
  $ 24,479     $ 18,075       35.4 %
Non-spot revenues
    1,755       602       191.5 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 26,234     $ 18,677       40.5 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 26,213     $ 18,662       40.5 %
Non-broadcast operations
    21       15       40.0 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 26,234     $ 18,677       40.5 %
                         
Segment EBITDA
  $ 9,137     $ 5,756       58.7 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 9,380     $ 5,859       60.1 %
Non-broadcast operations
    (243 )     (103 )     (135.9 )%
Segment EBITDA
  $ 9,137     $ 5,756       58.7 %
                         
Segment EBITDA Margin
    35 %     31 %     4 %
 
·
Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 41% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  In local currency, Segment Net Revenues increased by 20%.  The increase in Segment Net Revenues was due to increases of 35% in spot revenues and 192% in non-spot revenues.  The increase in spot revenues is mainly due to increases in the average revenue per GRP sold, as well as an increase in the volume of GRPs sold, partially as a result of some advertisers pulling spending forward from the high season months of the second quarter.  The increase in non-spot revenues was due to sponsorship revenue generated from the music show ‘Elan Je Elan’, whereas no programs suitable for sponsorship were broadcast during the comparable period in 2007.

·
Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 59% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, and the EBITDA margin increased to 35% from 31% over comparable periods.  In local currency, Segment EBITDA increased by 36%.

Costs charged in arriving at Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 32% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. The cost of programming increased by 60%, reflecting the level of competition for acquired programming and increased investment in local production and also the reclassification of production staff salaries to production costs from other operating costs; without this reclassification, cost of programming increased by 33%. Other operating costs decreased by 4%, primarily due to the reclassification described above, partially offset by increased broadcast operating costs. Selling, general and administrative costs increased by 24% primarily as a result of increased office running costs and marketing and research costs.

 
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(E) SLOVENIA

Market Background:  We estimate the television advertising market in Slovenia grew by approximately 8% to 10% in local currency during 2007.  We expect the television advertising market to show lower growth in 2008, in the range of 4% to 6%.

The combined national all day audience share of our two channels, POP TV and KANAL A, decreased from 37.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 35.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2008.  Our major competitors are the two channels operated by the public broadcaster, SL01 and SL02, with national all day audience shares for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of 23.9% and 10.2%, respectively, and privately owned broadcaster TV3 (which was acquired by the Modern Times Group in 2006) with a national all day audience share of 4.2%.

The combined average prime time ratings for our Slovenian channels for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were 15.4% compared to 15.7% for the same period in 2007.  Overall total prime time ratings in the market increased from 36.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 37.5% for the same period in 2008.

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, our combined prime time audience share decreased from 43.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 41.1% for the same period in 2008. The prime time audience share of SLO 1 grew to 28.2% from 26.8% in the same period; SLO 2 increased from 6.3% to 6.9%; and the prime time audience share of TV3 increased from 2.7% to 3.5%.

For advertising sales purposes, POP TV and KANAL A’s target audience is the 18-49 demographic. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience shares were 30.4% and 15.1% respectively in this group, compared to 31.1% and 17.2% achieved in the same period in 2007.

Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

   
SLOVENIA SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Spot revenues
  $ 15,307     $ 11,325       35.2 %
Non-spot revenues
    2,644       1,344       96.7 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 17,951     $ 12,669       41.7 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 16,500     $ 12,238       34.8 %
Non-broadcast operations
    1,451       431       236.7 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 17,951     $ 12,669       41.7 %
                         
Segment EBITDA
  $ 4,340     $ 3,001       44.6 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 4,652     $ 3,022       53.9 %
Non-broadcast operations
    (312 )     (21 )     1385.7 %
Segment EBITDA
  $ 4,340     $ 3,001       44.6 %
                         
Segment EBITDA Margin
    24 %     24 %     - %

 
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Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 42% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  In local currency Segment Net Revenues increased by 24%.

Spot revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 35% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, driven by double-digit price increases. Non-spot revenues increased by 97% over comparable periods primarily due to increased non-broadcast advertising revenue.

Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 45% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. In local currency, Segment EBITDA increased by 26%.

Costs charged in arriving at Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 41% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Cost of programming increased by 51% due to investments in programming to maintain our leading position in the market in the face of increased competition. Other operating costs increased by 28% primarily due to higher staff costs as a result of the development of non-broadcast operations. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 29% primarily due to increased office running costs and increased provisions for doubtful debts.


(F) UKRAINE (STUDIO 1+1)

Market Background:  We estimate that the television advertising market in Ukraine, where sales are denominated primarily in dollars, grew by approximately 25% to 35% in 2007 excluding political advertising and we expect similar growth in 2008.

STUDIO 1+1 had a national all day audience share of 13.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to 16.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Our main competitors include Inter, with a national all day audience share for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of 22.7%, Novy Kanal with 8.5%, ICTV with 7.2% and STB with 7.2%.

The average prime time ratings for STUDIO 1+1 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were 5.2% compared to 7.2% for the same period in 2007. Total prime time ratings in the market decreased from 38.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 to 38.1% for the same period in 2008.

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the prime time audience share of STUDIO 1+1 declined to 13.7%, from 18.7% for the same period in 2007. Inter increased its prime time audience share to 30.2% from 22.2% in the same periods, Novy Kanal grew to 8.1% from 7.3%, ICTV’s prime time share grew to 6.9% from 6.3% and STB fell to 6.7% from 8.3%.

For advertising sales purposes, STUDIO 1+1’s target audience is the 18+ demographic. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share in this group was 14.8% compared to 18.9% for the same period in 2007.

The audience shares quoted above reflect the shares sampled in cities with a population of 50,000 inhabitants or more and is the audience measurement on which sales are currently based. From January 1, 2008 a new additional panel has been introduced which includes audiences in smaller centers of population. In this panel the all audience prime time  share of Studio 1+1 in the three months ended March 31, 2008 was 18.1% and the target audience prime time share was 19.1% for the same period.
 
The functional currency for our Ukraine operations is the dollar.

 
Page 53

 

Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

   
UKRAINE (STUDIO 1+1) SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Spot revenues
  $ 18,376     $ 14,821       24.0 %
Non-spot revenues
    4,843       3,254       48.8 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 23,219     $ 18,075       28.5 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 23,219     $ 18,075       28.5 %
Non-broadcast operations
    -       -       -  
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 23,219     $ 18,075       28.5 %
                         
Segment EBITDA
  $ (2,063 )   $ (2,370 )     13.0 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ (1,864 )   $ (2,338 )     20.3 %
Non-broadcast operations
    (199 )     (32 )     (521.9 )%
Segment EBITDA
  $ (2,063 )   $ (2,370 )     13.0 %
                         
Segment EBITDA Margin
    (9 )%     (13 )%     4 %

·
Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 29% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. Spot revenues increased by 24%, driven by an increase in the average revenue per GRP sold, as well as an increase in the volume of GRPs sold, partially as a result of some advertisers pulling spending forward from the high season months of the second quarter.  Non-spot revenues increased by 49% over comparable periods primarily due to the sale of surplus programming.

·
Segment EBITDA losses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased by 13% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, resulting in an EBITDA margin of (9)% compared to an EBITDA margin of (13)% in the three months ended 31, 2007.

Costs charged in arriving at Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 24% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Cost of programming grew by 28%, reflecting the continued price inflation for Russian programming, which drives strong ratings in the Ukrainian market, as well as increased investment in such programming to improve our programming schedule and boost ratings following strong programming on Inter.  Other operating costs increased by 16% due to increased salary costs and increased broadcast operating expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 12%, primarily due to increased office running costs and increased marketing and research costs.


(G) UKRAINE (KINO, CITI)

For advertising sales purposes, KINO’s target audience is the 15-50 demographic nationally. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share of this group was 0.5%, unchanged from the same period in 2007.

 
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For advertising sales purposes, CITI’s target audience is the 15-50 demographic in Kiev. In the three months ended March 31, 2008 the prime time audience share of this group was 1.7% compared to 1.8% for the same period in 2007.

Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to three months ended March 31, 2007

   
UKRAINE (KINO, CITI) SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
Spot revenues
  $ 377     $ 143       163.6 %
Non-spot revenues
    601       255       135.7 %
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 978     $ 398       145.7 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ 978     $ 398       145.7 %
Non-broadcast operations
    -       -       -  
Segment Net Revenues
  $ 978     $ 398       145.7 %
                         
Segment EBITDA
  $ (1,206 )   $ (2,417 )     50.1 %
                         
Represented by:
                       
Broadcast operations
  $ (1,206 )   $ (2,417 )     50.1 %
Non-broadcast operations
    -       -       -  
Segment EBITDA
  $ (1,206 )   $ (2,417 )     50.1 %
                         
Segment EBITDA Margin
    (123 )%     (607 )%     484 %

Segment Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by 146% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. Spot revenues increased by 164% as a result of an increase in the volume of GRPs sold. Non-spot revenues increased by 136%, primarily due to increased sponsorship.

Segment EBITDA losses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased by 50% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Costs charged in arriving at Segment EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased by 22% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. Cost of programming fell by 31% over comparable periods, as we sought to minimize programming costs during the low season.  Other operating costs increased by 13% while selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 40% due to decreases in office running costs and marketing and research costs.
 
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PROGRAMMING PAYMENTS AND PROGRAM AMORTIZATION

Our consolidated cost of programming for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was as follows:

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Production expenses
  $ 42,169     $ 27,558  
Program amortization
    52,585       38,795  
Cost of programming
  $ 94,754     $ 66,353  

Production expenses represent the cost of in-house productions as well as locally commissioned programming, such as news, current affairs and game shows.  The cost of broadcasting all other purchased programming is recorded as program amortization.

Total consolidated programming costs (including amortization of programming rights and production costs) increased by US$ 28.4 million, or 43%, in the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007 primarily due to:

 
·
US$ 10.1 million of additional programming costs from our Czech Republic operations;

 
·
US$ 6.5 million of additional programming costs from our Romania operations;

 
·
US$ 3.9 million of additional programming costs from our Slovak Republic operations;

 
·
US$ 3.9 million of additional programming costs from our Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1) operations;

 
·
US$ 2.7 million of additional programming costs from our Slovenia operations;

 
·
US$ 1.8 million of additional programming costs from our Croatia operations; and

 
·
US$ 0.5 million of reduced programming costs from our Ukraine (KINO, CITI) operations.

The amortization of acquired programming for each of our consolidated operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 is set out in the table below.  For comparison, the table also shows the cash paid for programming by each of our operations in the respective periods.  The cash paid for programming by our operations in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine is reflected within net cash provided by continuing operating activities in our consolidated statement of cash flows.

 
Page 56

 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Program amortization:
           
Croatia (NOVA TV)
  $ 5,855     $ 5,399  
Czech Republic (TV NOVA, NOVA CINEMA and GALAXIE SPORT)
    13,055       6,556  
Romania (1)
    11,988       9,429  
Slovak Republic (TV MARKIZA)
    3,963       3,207  
Slovenia (POP TV and KANAL A)
    2,956       2,196  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    14,171       10,927  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    597       1,081  
    $ 52,585     $ 38,795  
                 
Cash paid for programming:
               
Croatia (NOVA TV)
  $ 7,423     $ 905  
Czech Republic (TV NOVA, NOVA CINEMA and GALAXIE SPORT)
    11,869       6,579  
Romania (1)
    13,866       10,046  
Slovak Republic (TV MARKIZA)
    5,568       3,699  
Slovenia (POP TV and KANAL A)
    2,242       2,172  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    7,052       10,484  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    279       742  
    $ 48,299     $ 34,627  
(1) Romania channels are PRO TV, PRO CINEMA, ACASA, PRO TV INTERNATIONAL, SPORT.RO and MTV ROMANIA for the three months ended March 31, 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 Romania were PRO TV, PRO CINEMA, ACASA, PRO TV INTERNATIONAL and SPORT.RO. We acquired SPORT.RO on February 20, 2007
 
 
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IV. Analysis of the Results of Consolidated Operations

IV (a) Net Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007

   
Consolidated Net Revenues
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
                   
Croatia
  $ 11,534     $ 7,232       59,5 %
Czech Republic
    85,558       51,519       66.1 %
Romania
    57,996       39,342       47.4 %
Slovak Republic
    26,234       18,677       40.5 %
Slovenia
    17,951       12,669       41.7 %
Ukraine (Studio 1+1)
    23,219       18,075       28.5 %
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    978       398       145.7 %
Total Consolidated Net Revenues
  $ 223,470     $ 147,912       51.1 %

Our consolidated net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 75.6 million, or 51%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  See III. “Analysis of Segment Results”.
 
IV (b) Cost of Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007

   
Consolidated Cost of Revenues
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
                   
Operating costs
  $ 33,262     $ 25,657       29.6 %
Cost of programming
    94,754       66,353       42.8 %
Depreciation of station property, plant and equipment
    12,340       6,899       78.9 %
Amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles
    7,666       5,162       48.5 %
Total Consolidated Cost of Revenues
  $ 148,022     $ 104,071       42.2 %

Total cost of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 44.0 million, or 42%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Operating costs:  Total consolidated operating costs (excluding programming costs, depreciation of station property, plant and equipment, amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles as well as station selling, general and administrative expenses) for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 7.6 million, or 30%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  See III. “Analysis of Segment Results”.

Cost of programming:  Consolidated programming costs (including amortization of programming rights and production costs) for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 28.4 million, or 43%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  See III. “Analysis of Segment Results”.

 
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Depreciation of property, plant and equipment:  Total consolidated depreciation of property, plant and equipment for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 5.4 million, or 79%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, primarily due to depreciation of newly acquired production equipment assets in our Czech Republic and Romania operations.

Amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles:  Total consolidated amortization of broadcast licenses and other intangibles for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 2.5 million, or 49%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, primarily as a result of the amortization of the broadcast license and customer relationships of our Romania and Slovak Republic operations arising from our acquisition of increased stakes in the second and third quarters of 2007.

IV (c) Station Selling, General and Administrative Expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007

   
Consolidated Station Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
 
   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
                   
Croatia
  $ 1,559     $ 1,726       (9.7 )%
Czech Republic
    7,775       5,093       52.7 %
Romania
    3,813       2,425       57.2 %
Slovak Republic
    2,398       1,939       23.7 %
Slovenia
    2,193       1,704       28.7 %
Ukraine (Studio 1+1)
    2,757       2,467       11.8 %
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    260       427       (39.1 )%
Total Consolidated Station Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
  $ 20,755     $ 15,781       31.5 %

Consolidated station selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 4.9 million, or 32%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007  (see III. “Analysis of Segment Results”).


IV (d) Corporate Operating Costs for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
                   
Corporate operating costs (excluding stock-based compensation)
  $ 8,204     $ 13,511       (39.3 )%
Stock-based compensation
    1,813       1,262       43.7 %
Corporate Operating Costs (including  stock-based compensation)
  $ 10,017     $ 14,773       (32.2 )%

Corporate operating costs (excluding non-cash stock-based compensation) for the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased by US$ 5.3 million, or 39%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, primarily due to a charge of US$ 6.0 million in respect of the expected cost of settling our Croatian litigation during the three months ended March 31, 2007.

The increase in the charge for non-cash stock-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007 reflects an increase in the number of stock options granted, as well as an increase in the fair value of those options largely as a function of significant increase in our stock price in recent years (see Item 1, Note 13, “Stock-Based Compensation”).
 
 
Page 59


IV (e) Operating Income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
                   
Operating Income
  $ 44,676     $ 13,287       236.2 %

Due to the foregoing, operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 31.4 million, or 236%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  Operating margin was 20%, compared to 9% for the three months ended March 31, 2007.


IV (f) Other income / (expense) items for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Movement
 
                   
Interest income
  $ 2,180     $ 1,414       54.2 %
Interest expense
    (14,250 )     (11,396 )     25.0 %
Foreign currency exchange loss, net
    (17,430 )     (3,136 )     455.8 %
Change in fair value of derivatives
    (10,258 )     4,524       (326.7 )%
Other income / (expense)
    660       (244 )     (370.5 )%
Provision for income taxes
    10,342       (5,059 )     (304.4 )%
Minority interest in (income) / loss of consolidated subsidiaries
    (1,025 )     360       (384.7 )%

Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 0.8 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, primarily as a result of our maintaining higher average cash balances.

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by US$ 2.9 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, and included approximately US$ 1.0 million of interest on the Convertible Notes issued in March 2008. The annual interest expense of the Convertible Notes, excluding the amortization of capitalized debt costs is approximately US$ 16.6 million.

Foreign currency exchange loss, net:  For the three months ended March 31, 2008 we recognized a US$ 17.4 million loss primarily as a result of the strengthening of the Euro against the dollar during the three-month period.  Our fixed and floating rate Senior Notes are denominated in Euros, and we incurred a transaction loss of approximately US$ 43.1 million due to movements in the spot rate between December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008. The transaction loss was partially offset by gains of US$ 9.5 million relating to the revaluation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the US dollar and US$ 16.2 million relating to the revaluation of intercompany loans.

Change in fair value of derivatives: For the three months ended March 31, 2008 we recognized a US$ 10.3 million loss as a result of the change in the fair value of the currency swaps entered into on April 27, 2006 compared to US$ 4.5 million gain for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

 
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Other income/ (expense):  For the three months ended March 31, 2008 we incurred other income of US$ 0.7 million compared to US$ 0.2 million of expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Provision for income taxes:  The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was a credit of US$ 10.3 million compared to charge of US$ 5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2008 includes a credit of US$ 19.3 million relating to movements in foreign exchange rates on intercompany loans, with a corresponding charge recognized in other comprehensive income. Our stations pay income taxes at rates ranging from 16.0% in Romania to 25.0% in Ukraine.

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries:  For the three months ended March 31, 2008, we recognized a loss of US$ 1.0 million in respect of the minority interest in the income of consolidated subsidiaries, compared to a gain of US$ 0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 reflecting the increased profitability of our Romania operations.


IV (g) Condensed consolidated balance sheet as at March 31, 2008 compared to December 31, 2007

Summarized Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (US$ 000’s)
           
Movement
 
                   
Current assets
  $ 1,003,385     $ 529,824       89.4 %
Non-current assets
    2,049,251       1,808,611       13.3 %
Current liabilities
    259,976       232,770       11.7 %
Non-current liabilities
    1,223,277       682,703       79.2 %
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
    24,179       23,155       4.4 %
Shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,545,204     $ 1,399,807       10.4 %
 
Current assets:  Current assets at March 31, 2008 increased US$ 473.6 million compared to December 31, 2007, primarily as a result of an increase in cash and cash equivalents following the receipt of the unutilized proceeds of our issuance of Convertible Notes and an increase in program rights.

Non-current assets:  Non-current assets at March 31, 2008 increased US$ 240.6 million compared to December 31, 2007, primarily as a result of the impact of the weakening dollar on the value of our non-current assets denominated in foreign currencies.  The increase also reflects continued investment in our broadcasting facilities and in program rights.

Current liabilities:  Current liabilities at March 31, 2008 increased US$ 27.2 million compared to December 31, 2007, reflecting increases in deferred income and accrued interest.

Non-current liabilities:  Non-current liabilities at March 31, 2008 increased US$ 540.6 million compared to December 31, 2007.  The movement reflects a US$ 43.1 million increase in the carrying value of our Senior Notes as a result of the movement in the spot rate between December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008; issuance of US$ 475.0 million of Convertible Notes and US$ 10.3 million increase in the value of our liabilities under currency swaps.

Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries:  Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries at March 31, 2008 increased to US$ 24.2 million compared to December 31, 2007 due to the increased profitability of our Romania operations..

 
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Shareholders’ equity:  Total shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2008 increased US$ 145.4 million compared to December 31, 2007, primarily as a result of recognizing US$ 63.3 million of the cost of the capped call options we entered into in conjunction with our Convertible Notes in Shareholders’ Equity, partially offset by the increase in Other Comprehensive Income (US$ 192.0 million) and net income of US$ 14.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Included in the total shareholders’ equity was a stock-based compensation charge of US$ 1.8 million.


V. Liquidity and Capital Resources

V (a) Summary of cash flows

Cash and cash equivalents increased by US$ 451.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2008.  The change in cash and cash equivalents is summarized as follows:

   
For the Three Months Ended March 31, (US$ 000's)
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net cash generated from continuing operating activities
  $ 84,091     $ 31,913  
Net cash used in continuing investing activities
    (23,743 )     (20,901 )
Net cash received from financing activities
    398,270       809  
Net cash used in discontinued operations – operating activities
    (1,710 )     (1,624 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 451,730     $ 11,436  

Operating Activities

Cash generated from continuing operations in the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased from US$ 31.9 million to US$ 84.1 million, reflecting the level of cash generated by our Czech Republic, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia operations, partially offset by negative cash flows of our Croatia and Ukraine operations.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased from US$ 20.9 million to US$ 23.7 million.  Our investing cash flows in the three months ended March 31, 2008 were primarily comprised of capital expenditures of US$ 23.8 million.

Financing Activities

Net cash received from financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2008 was US$ 398.3 million compared to US$ 0.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The amount of cash received in the three months ended March 31, 2008 reflects the net proceeds of US$ 400.5 million from the issuance of Convertible Notes.

Discontinued Operations

In the three months ended March 31, 2008, we paid taxes of US$ 1.7 million to the Dutch tax authorities pursuant to the agreement we entered into with them on February 9, 2004, compared to US$ 1.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007.


V (b) Sources and Uses of Cash

We believe that our current cash resources are sufficient to allow us to continue operating for at least the next 12 months and we do not anticipate additional cash requirements in the near future, subject to the matters disclosed under “Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” and “Cash Outlook” below.

 
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Our ongoing source of cash at the operating stations is primarily the receipt of payments from advertisers and advertising agencies. This may be supplemented from time to time by local borrowing. Surplus cash generated in this manner, after funding the ongoing station operations, may be remitted to us, or to other shareholders where appropriate.  Surplus cash is remitted to us in the form of debt interest payments and capital repayments, dividends, and other distributions and loans from our subsidiaries.

Corporate law in the Central and Eastern European countries in which we operate stipulates generally that dividends may be declared by the partners or shareholders out of yearly profits subject to the maintenance of registered capital, required reserves and after the recovery of accumulated losses.

The reserve requirement restriction generally provides that before dividends may be distributed, a portion of annual net profits (typically 5%) be allocated to a reserve, which reserve is capped at a proportion of the registered capital of a company (ranging from 5% to 25%).  The restricted net assets of our consolidated subsidiaries and equity in earnings of investments accounted for under the equity method together are less than 25% of consolidated net assets.

As at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 the operations had the following unsecured balances owing to their respective holding companies:

Operating segment (US$ 000’s)
       
Croatia
  $ 143,167     $ 119,910  
Czech Republic
    666,950       604,474  
Romania
    92,763       105,540  
Slovak Republic
    15       5,164  
Slovenia
    42,895       39,162  
Ukraine (STUDIO 1+1)
    -       -  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI)
    18,055       16,040  
Total
  $ 963,845     $ 890,290  


V (c) Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Our future contractual obligations as of March 31, 2008 are as follows:

Contractual Obligations
 
Payments due by period (US$ 000’s)
 
   
Total
   
Less than 1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than 5 years
 
Long-Term Debt– principal
  $ 1,116,876     $ 15,602     $ 1,700     $ 862,394     $ 237,180  
Long-Term Debt – interest (1)
    321,938       64,545       126,696       109,259       21,438  
Capital Lease Obligations
    7,517       1,143       1,523       1,280       3,571  
Operating Leases
    11,529       4,416       6,488       625       -  
Unconditional Purchase Obligations
    101,723       84,938       10,822       4,591       1,372  
Other Long-Term Obligations
    2,502       1,752       750       -       -  
FIN 48 Obligations
    2,330       435       1,895       -       -  
Total Contractual Obligations
  $ 1,564,415     $ 172,831     $ 149,874     $ 978,149     $ 263,561  
(1) Interest obligations on variable rate debt are calculated using the rate applicable at the balance sheet date.

 
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Long-Term Debt

As at March 31, 2008 we had the following debt outstanding:

         
 (US$ 000’s)
 
Corporate
    (1 ) – (3)   $ 1,099,574  
Czech Republic operations
    (4 ) – (6)     15,602  
Slovenia operations
     
(7)
    -  
Ukraine (KINO, CITI) operations
     
(8)
    1,700  
Total
          $ 1,116,876  
 
(1)
As at March 31, 2008 we had EUR 395.0 million (approximately US$ 624.6 million) of Senior Notes outstanding, comprising EUR 245.0 million (approximately US$ 387.4 million) of 8.25% senior notes due May 2012 (the “Fixed Rate Notes”) and EUR 150.0 million (approximately US$ 237.2 million) of floating rate Senior Notes due May 2014, (the “Floating Rate Notes”, collectively the “Senior Notes”) which bear interest at six-month Euro Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”) plus 1.625% (6.198% was applicable at March 31, 2008).  .

The Senior Notes are secured senior obligations and rank pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries.  The amounts outstanding are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries and are secured by a pledge of shares of these subsidiaries and an assignment of certain contractual rights.  The terms of the Senior Notes restrict the manner in which our business is conducted, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the making of investments, the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, entering into certain affiliate transactions and the sale of assets.

In the event that (A) there is a change in control by which (i) any party other than our present shareholders becomes the beneficial owner of more than 35.0% of our total voting power; (ii) we agree to sell substantially all of our operating assets; or (iii) there is a change in the composition of a majority of our Board of Directors; and (B) on the 60th day following any such change of control the rating of the Senior Notes is either withdrawn or downgraded from the rating in effect prior to the announcement of such change of control, we can be required to repurchase the Senior Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101.0% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.

At any time prior to May 15, 2008, we may redeem up to 35.0% of the Fixed Rate Notes with the proceeds of any public equity offering at a price of 108.250% of the principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.  In addition, prior to May 15, 2009, we may redeem all or a part of the Fixed Rate Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of such notes, plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

As of March 31, 2008, Standard & Poor’s senior unsecured debt rating for our Senior Notes was BB- and our corporate credit rating was BB. On April 23, 2008 the rating of our Senior Notes was upgraded to BB. At March 31, 2008 Moody’s Investors Services senior unsecured debt rating for our Senior Notes and our corporate credit rating was Ba2. These were both upgraded from Ba3 on March 19, 2008. Our corporate rating of BB remains unchanged.

(2)
As at March 31, 2008 we had US$ 475.0 million of 3.50% Convertible Notes outstanding that mature on March 15, 2013 (the “Convertible Notes”).  Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15.

The Convertible Notes are secured senior obligations and rank pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness and are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries. The amounts outstanding are guaranteed by two subsidiary holding companies and are secured by a pledge of shares of those subsidiaries as well as an assignment of certain contractual rights.

 
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(3)
On July 21, 2006, we entered into a five-year revolving loan agreement for EUR 100.0 million (approximately US$ 158.1 million) arranged by EBRD and on August 22, 2007, we entered into a second revolving loan agreement for EUR 50.0 million (approximately US$ 79.1 million) also arranged by EBRD (collectively the “EBRD Loan”). ING Bank N.V. (“ING”) and Ceska Sporitelna, a.s. (“CS”) are each participating in the EBRD Loan for EUR 37.5 million.

We also entered into a supplemental agreement on August 22, 2007 to amend the interest rate payable on the initial EUR 100.0 million loan, as a result of which the EBRD Loan bears interest at a rate of three-month EURIBOR plus 1.625% on the drawn amount. A commitment charge of 0.8125% is payable on any undrawn portion of the EBRD Loan. The available amount of the EBRD Loan amortizes by 15% every six months from May 2009 to November 2010 and by 40% in May 2011. There were no drawings under this facility as at March 31, 2008.

Covenants contained in the EBRD Loan are similar to those contained in our Senior Notes.  In addition, the EBRD Loan’s covenants restrict us from making principal repayments on other new debt of greater than US$ 20.0 million per year for the life of the EBRD Loan.  This restriction is not applicable to our existing facilities with ING or CS or to any refinancing of our Senior Notes.

The EBRD Loan is a secured senior obligation and ranks pari passu with all existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Senior Notes, and is effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries.  The amount drawn is guaranteed by two subsidiary holding companies and is secured by a pledge of shares of those subsidiaries as well as an assignment of certain contractual rights.  The terms of the EBRD Loan restrict the manner in which our business is conducted, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the making of investments, the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, entering into certain affiliate transactions and the sale of assets.

(4)
CET 21 has a credit facility of CZK 1.2 billion (approximately US$ 74.9 million) with Ceska Sporitelna, a.s. (CS).  The final repayment date is December 31, 2010.  This facility may, at the option of CET 21, be drawn in CZK, US$ or EUR and bears interest at the three-month, six-month or twelve-month London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), EURIBOR or Prague Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“PRIBOR”) plus 1.65%.  A utilization interest of 0.25% is payable on the undrawn portion of this facility.  This percentage decreases to 0.125% of the undrawn portion if more than 50% of the loan is drawn. This facility is secured by a pledge of receivables, which are also subject to a factoring arrangement with Factoring Ceska Sporitelna, a.s., a subsidiary of CS.  As at March 31, 2008, there were no drawings under this facility.

(5)
CET 21 has a working capital credit facility of CZK 250.0 million (approximately US$ 15.6 million) with CS, which matures on December 31, 2010.  This working capital facility bears interest at the three-month PRIBOR rate plus 1.65%. This facility is secured by a pledge of receivables, which are also subject to a factoring arrangement with Factoring Ceska Sporitelna, a.s.  As at March 31, 2008, the full CZK 250.0 million (approximately US$ 15.6 million) was drawn under this facility bearing interest at an aggregate 5.58% (the applicable three-month PRIBOR rate at March 31, 2008 was 3.93%).

(6)
As at March 31, 2008, there were no drawings under a CZK 300.0 million (approximately US$ 18.7 million) factoring facility with Factoring Ceska Sporitelna, a.s., a subsidiary of CS.  This facility is available until June 30, 2011 2010 and bears interest at the rate of one-month PRIBOR plus 1.40% for the period that actively assigned accounts receivable are outstanding.
 
(7)
A revolving five-year facility agreement was entered into by Pro Plus for up to EUR 37.5 million (approximately US$ 59.3 million) in aggregate principal amount with ING Bank N.V., Nova Ljubljanska Banka d.d., Ljubljana and Bank Austria Creditanstalt d.d., Ljubljana.  The facility availability amortizes by 10.0% each year for four years commencing one year after signing, with 60.0% repayable after five years.  This facility is secured by a pledge of the bank accounts of Pro Plus, the assignment of certain receivables, a pledge of our interest in Pro Plus and a guarantee of our wholly-owned subsidiary CME Media Enterprises B.V.  Loans drawn under this facility will bear interest at a rate of EURIBOR for the period of drawing plus a margin of between 2.10% and 3.60% that varies according to the ratio of consolidated net debt to consolidated broadcasting cash flow for Pro Plus.  As at March 31, 2008, EUR 30.0 million (approximately US$ 47.4 million)  was available for drawing under this revolving facility; there were no drawings outstanding.

 
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(8)
Our Ukraine (KINO, CITI) operations have entered into a number of three-year unsecured loans with Glavred-Media, LLC, the minority shareholder in Ukrpromtorg.  As at March 31, 2008, the total value of loans drawn was US$ 1.7 million.  The loans are repayable between August 2009 and December 2009 and bear interest at 9.0%.

Capital Lease Obligations

Capital lease obligations include future interest payments of US$ 2.2 million (see Item 1, Note 10,.”Credit Facilities and Obligations Under Capital Leases”)

Operating Leases

For more information on our operating lease commitments see Item 1, Note 17, “Commitments and Contingencies”.

Unconditional Purchase Obligations

Unconditional purchase obligations largely comprise future programming commitments.  At March 31, 2008, we had commitments in respect of future programming US$ 90.6 million (December 31, 2007: US$ 107.6 million).  This includes contracts signed with license periods starting after March 31, 2008.  For more information on our programming commitments see Item 1, Note 17, “Commitments and Contingencies”.

Other Long-Term Obligations

Included in Other Long-Term Obligations are our commitments to the Dutch tax authorities of US$ 1.6 million (see Item 1, Note 17, “Commitments and Contingencies”).

In addition to the amounts disclosed above, Adrian Sarbu, our Chief Operating Officer, has the right to sell his 5.0% shareholdings in each of Pro TV and MPI to us under a put option agreement entered into in July 2004 at a price to be determined by an independent valuation, subject to a floor price of US$ 1.45 million for each 1.0% interest sold.  A put option of 5.21% of this 10.0% shareholding is exercisable from November 12, 2009 for a twenty-year period thereafter.  Mr. Sarbu’s right to put the remaining 4.79% is also exercisable from November 12, 2009, provided that we have not enforced a pledge over this 4.79% shareholding which Mr. Sarbu granted as security for our right to put to him our 8.7% shareholding in Media Pro. As at March 31, 2008, we consider the fair value of the put option of Mr. Sarbu to be approximately US$ nil.


V (d) Cash Outlook

We have significant debt service obligations in respect of our Senior Notes and Convertible Notes. We also have several undrawn credit facilities, including the EBRD Loan which is currently undrawn. EUR 100.0 million of the EBRD Loan is available for general corporate purposes and the remaining EUR 50.0 million, once fully drawn for permitted projects, can be used for general corporate purposes, which further increases our financing flexibility and will reduce our average cost of debt.  As at March 31, 2008, there were no drawings under these facilities or our available facilities in the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Our future cash needs will depend on our overall financial performance, debt service requirements under the Senior Notes, the Convertible Notes and the EBRD Loan as well as under other indebtedness incurred by us as well as any future acquisition, investment and development decisions.  Our ability to raise further funds through external debt facilities depends on our satisfaction of leverage ratios under the Senior Notes, which are also incorporated into the drawing conditions of the EBRD Loan.  In the short-term, subject to compliance with the covenants of our other indebtedness, we are able to fund our operations and committed investments from cash generated from operations, our current cash and cash equivalents (approximately US$ 594.6 million, at March 31, 2008) and available undrawn credit facilities (US$ 378.2 million, at March 31, 2008), plus an unutilized, uncommitted EUR 10.0 million (approximately US$ 15.8 million) overdraft facility from ING. In order to use cash held in our operating companies more effectively, we have also entered into a cash pooling arrangement with Bank Mendes Gans (“BMG”), a subsidiary of ING. This arrangement enables us to receive credit at the corporate level in respect of cash balances which our subsidiaries in the Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia deposit with BMG.

 
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We expect to invest up to US$ 140.0 million on capital expenditure in 2008 across our broadcast and non-broadcast operations and approximately US$ 10.0-15.0 million in operating expenditure in our non-broadcast operations.

Our Croatia operations continue to require funding to improve their performance.  We expect the funding required to support Nova TV (Croatia) to be in excess of US$ 28.0 million during 2008. Our Ukraine (KINO, CITI) operations continue to require funding in order to achieve improved ratings and market share. We expect the funding required to support KINO and CITI to be approximately US$ 10.0 million during 2008.

On January 31, 2008 we entered into agreements to acquire the 40% interest in the Studio 1+1 group held by our partners. The total consideration payable on completion of the purchase of the initial 30.0% interest will be approximately US$ 219.6 million. Up to US$ 140.0 million of this consideration may, in certain circumstances, be satisfied in shares of our Class A Common Stock at the option of the transferor. On completion our partners will also have put options to sell their remaining 10% interest to us. The options have an initial minimum price of US$ 95.4 million in the first year, US$ 102.3 during the second year and thereafter US$ 109.1 million or an independent valuation, whichever is the greater. The call price for the remaining 10% interest is set at US$ 109.1 million from completion.  After a year, the call price will be based on an independent valuation with a minimum price of US$ 109.1 million. If we exercise our call rights, our partners have the right to receive consideration in cash or shares of our Class A Common Stock (see Item 1, Note 17, “Commitments and Contingencies: Ukraine Buyout Agreements”).

The initial purchase of a 30% interest in the Studio 1+1 group is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2008 but is contingent on the receipt of certain regulatory approvals.

Our credit facilities, following the acquisition, taken together with internally generated cash flow, provides us with adequate financial resources to meet our debt service and other existing financial obligations for the next twelve months.
 
V (e) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.

VI.  Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our accounting policies affecting our financial condition and results of operations are more fully described in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make judgments in selecting appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates, which inherently contain some degree of uncertainty.  We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 
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We believe our critical accounting policies are as follows: program rights, goodwill and intangible assets, impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, revenue recognition, income taxes, foreign exchange and contingencies.  These critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements.  There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies since December 31, 2007.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”).  FAS 157 addresses the need for increased consistency in fair value measurements, defining fair value, establishing a framework for measuring fair value and expanding disclosure requirements. FAS 157 was to be effective in its entirety for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, however in February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FSP FAS 157-2 “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP FAS 157-2”) which allows application of FAS 157 to be deferred until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis.  We adopted those parts of FAS 157 not deferred by FSP FAS 157-2 on January 1, 2008 and we do not expect that the adoption of the remaining requirements will result in a material impact on our financial position and results of operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141(R)”), which establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer:  (a) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; (b) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and (c) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.  FAS 141(R) requires contingent consideration to be recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date and, for certain arrangements, changes in fair value to be recognized in earnings until settled.  FAS 141(R) also requires acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs to be expensed rather than treated as part of the cost of the acquisition.  FAS 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have on our financial position and results of operations. 

In December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements an Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“FAS 160”), which establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  FAS 160 clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements.  FAS 160 also requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest.  It also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated statement of income, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest.  FAS 160 also provides guidance when a subsidiary is deconsolidated and requires expanded disclosures in the consolidated financial statements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent’s owners and the interests of the noncontrolling owners of a subsidiary.  FAS 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008.  We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have on our financial position and results of operations. 

In March 2008, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 161 “Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“FAS 161”) which enhances the disclosure requirements about derivatives and hedging activities. FAS 161 requires enhanced narrative disclosure about how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how they are accounted for under FASB Statement No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 133”), and what impact they have on financial position, results of operations and cash flows. FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after November 15, 2008. Although certain additional narrative disclosures may be required in our financial statements, our limited use of derivative instruments means that we do not expect the adoption of FAS 161 will result in a material impact on our financial position and results of operations.
 
On April 25, 2008 the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 142-3 “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets,” which aims to improve consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FASB Statement No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FAS 141 (R), especially where the underlying arrangement includes renewal or extension terms. The FSP is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and early adoption is prohibited. We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have on our financial position and results of operations.
 
 
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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We engage in activities that expose us to various market risks, including the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.  We do not regularly engage in speculative transactions, nor do we regularly hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Management

We conduct business in a number of foreign currencies and our Senior Notes are denominated in Euros.  As a result, we are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk due to the effects that foreign exchange rate movements of these currencies have on our costs and on the cash flows we receive from certain subsidiaries.  In limited instances, we enter into forward foreign exchange contracts to minimize foreign currency exchange rate risk.

We have not attempted to hedge the Senior Notes and therefore may continue to experience significant gains and losses on the translation of the Senior Notes into US dollars due to movements in exchange rates between the Euro and the US dollar.

On April 27, 2006, we entered into currency swap agreements with two counterparties whereby we swapped a fixed annual coupon interest rate (of 9.0%) on notional principal of CZK 10.7 billion (approximately US$ 667.7 million), payable on July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15, to the termination date of April 15, 2012, for a fixed annual coupon interest rate (of 9.0%) on EUR 375.9 million (approximately US$ 594.4 million) receivable on July 15, October 15, January 15, and April 15, to the termination date of April 15, 2012.

The fair value of these financial instruments as at March 31, 2008 was a liability of US$ 26.5 million.

These currency swap agreements reduce our exposure to movements in foreign exchange rates on a part of the CZK-denominated cash flows generated by our Czech Republic operations that is approximately equivalent in value to the Euro-denominated interest payments on our Senior Notes (see Item 1, Note 4, “Senior Debt”).  They are financial instruments that are used to minimize currency risk and are considered an economic hedge of foreign exchange rates.  These instruments have not been designated as hedging instruments as defined under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, and so changes in their fair value are recorded in the consolidated statement of operations and in the consolidated balance sheet in other non-current liabilities.

 
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Interest Rate Risk Management

As at March 31, 2008, we have two tranches of debt that provide for interest at a spread above a base rate EURIBOR or PRIBOR, and five tranches of debt, which were maintained with a fixed interest rate.  A significant rise in the EURIBOR or PRIBOR base rate would have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Interest Rate Table as at March 31, 2008

Expected Maturity Dates
 
2008
   
2009
   
2010
   
2011
   
2012
   
Thereafter
 
                                     
Total debt in Euro (000's)
                                   
Fixed rate
    -       -       -       -       245,000       -  
Average interest rate (%)
    -       -       -       -       8.25 %     -  
Variable rate
    -       -       -       -       -       150,000  
Average interest rate (%)
    -       -       -       -       -       6.20 %
                                                 
Total debt in US$ (000's)
                                               
Fixed rate
    -       1,700       -       -       -       475,000  
Average interest rate (%)
    -       9.00 %     -       -       -       3.5 %
                                                 
Total debt in CZK (000's)
                                               
Fixed rate
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Average interest rate (%)
    -       -       -       -       -       -  
Variable rate
    250,000       -       -       -       -       -  
Average interest rate (%)
    5.58 %     -       -       -       -       -  

Variable Interest Rate Sensitivity as at March 31, 2008

             
Yearly interest charge if interest rates increase by (US$ 000s):
 
Value of Debt as at March 31, 2008
(US$ 000's)
 
Interest Rate as at March 31, 2008
 
Yearly Interest Charge
(US$ 000’s)
     
1%
     
2%
     
3%
     
4%
     
5%
 
                                                   
237,180
(EUR 150.0 million)
 
6.20%
    14,700       17,072       19,444       21,816       24,188       26,559  
15,602
(CZK 250.0 million)
 
5.58%
    871       1,027       1,183       1,339       1,495       1,651  
Total
        15,571       18,099       20,627       23,155       25,683       28,210  

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.  There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

General

We are, from time to time, a party to litigation that arises in the normal course of our business operations.  Other than those claims discussed below, we are not presently a party to any such litigation which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business or operations. Unless otherwise disclosed, no provision has been made against any potential losses that could arise.

We present below a summary of our more significant proceedings by country.

Croatia

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in Croatia.

Czech Republic

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in the Czech Republic.

Romania

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in Romania.

Slovenia

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in Slovenia.

Slovak Republic

There are no significant outstanding legal actions that relate to our business in the Slovak Republic.
 
 
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Ukraine

On January 31, 2008, we entered into a Framework Agreement with Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky (see Part I, Item 1, Note 17, “Commitments and Contingencies: Ukraine Buyout Agreements).  Pursuant to the Framework Agreement, we have agreed to (i) purchase a 30.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group from Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky, (ii) grant Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky a put option and CME a call option on Mr. Fuchsmann’s and Mr. Rodnyansky’s remaining 10.0% interest in the Studio 1+1 group and (iii) sell to Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky 10.0% of our interest in the companies that operate KINO and CITI. Prior to the completion of these transactions, we have agreed to suspend the arbitration proceedings. Following completion of the transaction, we have agreed with Mr. Fuchsmann and Mr. Rodnyansky to terminate the arbitration proceedings described above. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2008.
 
 
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Item 1A.  Risk Factors

This report and the following discussion of risk factors contain forward-looking statements as discussed in Part 1, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Information”. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks and uncertainties described below and elsewhere in this report. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are not aware, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also become important factors that affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Risks Relating to our Operations

Our operating results are dependent on favorable economic and political conditions in countries in which we operate.

The results of our operations rely heavily on advertising revenue and demand for advertising is affected by prevailing general and regional economic conditions.  Although recently there has been growth in the economies of our operating countries, there can be no assurance that these trends will continue or that any such improvement in economic conditions will generate increased advertising revenue.  Adverse economic conditions generally and downturns in the economies of our operating countries specifically are likely to negatively impact the advertising industries in those countries by reducing the amounts our customers spend on advertising, which could result in a decrease in demand for our advertising airtime. In addition, disasters, acts of terrorism, civil or military conflicts or general political uncertainty may create economic uncertainty that reduces advertising spending.  The occurrence of any of these events may have a material adverse affect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Our operating results depend on our ability to generate advertising sales.

We generate almost all of our revenues from the sale of advertising airtime on our television channels. Our advertising revenues generally depend on the pricing of our advertising time as well as other factors, including television viewing levels, changes in audience preferences, our stations’ technical reach, technological developments relating to media and broadcasting, competition from other broadcasters and operators of other media platforms, seasonal trends in the advertising market in the countries in which we operate, and shifts in population and other demographics. Therefore, in order to maintain and increase our advertising sales, we must be able to offer programming which appeals to our target audiences in order to generate GRPs, respond to technological developments in media, compete effectively with other broadcasters seeking to attract similar audiences and manage the impact of any seasonal trends as well as respond successfully to changes in other factors affecting advertising sales generally, particularly in Ukraine. Any decline in advertising sales due to a failure to respond to such changes or to successfully implement our advertising sales strategies could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

We will not have management control of our affiliate in Ukraine until we complete the Ukraine Buyout.

Prior to the completion of the initial sale transactions to acquire an additional 30% interest in the Studio 1+1 Group from our partners (the “Ukraine Buyout”) (see Part I, Item 1, Note 17, “Commitments and Contingencies, Ukraine Buyout Agreements”), we continue to own our operations in Ukraine jointly with our partners through subsidiaries and affiliates.  We currently hold a direct 42% ownership interest and an indirect 18% ownership interest in Studio 1+1.

Although our partners have resigned their management and board positions in the Studio 1+1 Group in connection with entering into transaction documents in respect of the Ukraine Buyout, we believe that to unilaterally assert management control or unilaterally direct the strategies, operations and financial decisions prior to the completion of the Ukraine Buyout may impede the successful completion of the transaction. Therefore, prior to the closing of the Ukraine Buyout, we do not intend to institute material operational changes, which may delay the implementation of all of the financial reporting and management processes that exist in our other operations, including ensuring compliance with relevant tax and other obligations of Studio 1+1.  Until the Ukraine Buyout is completed, decisions may be taken that do not fully reflect our strategic objectives or may result in Studio 1+1 being in breach of such tax or other obligations.  In addition, Studio 1+1 may not adopt decisions in respect of advertising and sponsorship, programming, production, scheduling, personnel or otherwise that we believe are necessary in order to respond to competitive market dynamics in Ukraine for audience share and advertising.  The occurrence of any or all of these events may have an adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 
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We may not be aware of all related party transactions, which may involve risks of conflicts of interest that result in concluding transactions on less favorable terms than could be obtained in arms-length transactions.

In Romania and Ukraine, the local shareholders, general directors or other members of the management of our operating companies have other business interests in their respective countries, including interests in television and other media-related companies. We may not be aware of all such business interests or relationships that exist with respect to entities with which our operating companies enter into transactions. Transactions with companies, whether or not we are aware of any business relationship between our employees and third parties, may present conflicts of interests which may in turn result in the conclusion of transactions on terms that are not arms-length. It is likely that our subsidiaries will continue to enter into related party transactions in the future. In the event there are transactions with persons who subsequently are determined to be related parties, we may be required to make additional disclosure and, if such contracts are material, may not be in compliance with certain covenants under the Senior Notes, the Convertible Notes and the EBRD Loan. In addition, there have been instances in the past where certain related party receivables have been collected more slowly than unrelated third party receivables, which have resulted in slower cash flow to our operating companies. Any related party transaction that is entered into on terms that are not arms-length may result in a negative impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

We may not be able to prevent the management of our operating companies from entering into transactions that are outside their authority and not in the best interests of shareholders.

The general directors of our operating companies have significant management authority on a local level, subject to the overall supervision by the corresponding company board of directors.  In addition, we typically grant authority to other members of management through delegated authorities. Our internal controls have detected transactions that have been entered into by managers acting outside of their authority.  Internal controls may not be able to prevent an employee from acting outside his authority.  There is therefore a risk that employees with delegated authorities may act outside their authority and that our operating companies will enter into transactions that are not duly authorized.  Unauthorized transactions may not be in the best interests of our shareholders, may create the risk of fraud or the breach of applicable law, which may result in transactions or sanctions that may have an adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Our programming content may become more expensive to produce or acquire or we may not be able to develop or acquire content that is attractive to our audiences.

Television programming is one of the most significant components of our operating costs, particularly in Ukraine.  The commercial success of our channels depends substantially on our ability to develop, produce or acquire programming that matches audience tastes, attracts high audience shares and generates advertising revenues.  The costs of acquiring content attractive to our viewers, such as feature films and popular television series and formats, may increase as a result of greater competition from existing and new television broadcasting channels. Our expenditure in respect of locally produced programming may also increase due to the implementation of new laws and regulations mandating the broadcast of a greater number of locally produced programs, changes in audience tastes in our markets in favor of locally produced content, and competition for talent.  In addition, we typically acquire syndicated programming rights under multi-year commitments before we can predict whether such programming will perform well in our markets.  In the event any such programming does not attract adequate audience share, it may be necessary to increase our expenditures by investing in additional programming as well as write down the value of such underperforming programming.  Any increase in programming costs or write-downs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 
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Our broadcasting licenses may not be renewed and may be subject to revocation.

We require broadcasting, and in some cases, other operating licenses as well as other authorizations from national regulatory authorities in our markets, in order to conduct our broadcasting business.  We cannot guarantee that our current licenses or other authorizations will be renewed or extended, or that they will not be subject to revocation, particularly in markets where there is relatively greater political risk as a result of less developed political and legal institutions.  The failure to comply in all material respects with the terms of broadcasting licenses or other authorizations or with applications filed in respect thereto may result in such licenses or other authorizations not being renewed or otherwise being terminated.  Furthermore, no assurances can be given that renewals or extensions of existing licenses will be issued on the same terms as existing licenses or that further restrictions or conditions will not be imposed in the future.

Our current broadcasting licenses expire at various times between November 2008 and 2019.  Any non-renewal or termination of any other broadcasting or operating licenses or other authorizations or material modification of the terms of any renewed licenses may have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Our operations are in developing markets where there is a risk of economic uncertainty, biased treatment and loss of business.

Our revenue generating operations are located in Central and Eastern Europe.  These markets pose different risks from those posed by investments in more developed markets and the impact in our markets of unforeseen circumstances on economic, political or social life is greater.  The economic and political systems, legal and tax regimes, standards of corporate governance and business practices of countries in this region continue to develop.  Government policies may be subject to significant adjustments, especially in the event of a change in leadership. This may result in social or political instability or disruptions, potential political influence on the media, inconsistent application of tax and legal regulations, arbitrary treatment before judicial or other regulatory authorities and other general business risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our on our financial positions, results of operations and cash flows.  Other potential risks inherent in markets with evolving economic and political environments include exchange controls, higher tariffs and other levies as well as longer payment cycles.

The relative level of development of our markets and the influence of local political parties also present a potential for biased treatment of us before regulators or courts in the event of disputes involving our investments. If such a dispute occurs, those regulators or courts might favor local interests over our interests. Ultimately, this could lead to loss of our business operations, as occurred in the Czech Republic in 1999. The loss of a material business would have an adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

We may seek to make acquisitions of other stations, networks, content providers or other companies in the future, and we may fail to acquire them on acceptable terms or successfully integrate them or we may fail to identify suitable targets.

Our business and operations continue to experience rapid growth, including through acquisition. The acquisition and integration of new businesses pose significant risks to our existing operations, including:

·
additional demands placed on our senior management, who are also responsible for managing our existing operations;

·
increased overall operating complexity of our business, requiring greater personnel and other resources;

 
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·
difficulties of expanding beyond our core expertise in the event that we acquire ancillary businesses;

·
significant initial cash expenditures to acquire and integrate new businesses; and

·
in the event that debt is incurred to finance acquisitions, additional debt service costs related thereto as well as limitations that may arise under our Senior Notes, the Convertible Notes and the EBRD Loan.

To effectively manage our growth and achieve pre-acquisition performance objectives, we will need to integrate any new acquisitions, implement financial and management controls and produce required financial statements in those operations.  The integration of new businesses may also be difficult due to differing cultures or management styles, poor internal controls and an inability to establish control over cash flows.  If any acquisition and integration is not implemented successfully, our ability to manage our growth will be impaired and we may have to make significant additional expenditures to address these issues, which could harm our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, even if we are successful in integrating new businesses, expected synergies and cost savings may not materialize, resulting in lower than expected profit margins.

In addition, prospective competitors may have greater financial resources than us and increased competition for target broadcasters may decrease the number of potential acquisitions that are available on acceptable terms.

Our operating results are dependent on the importance of television as an advertising medium.

We generate almost all of our revenues from the sale of advertising airtime on television channels in our markets.  Television competes with various other media, such as print, radio, the internet and outdoor advertising, for advertising spending.  In all of the countries in which we operate, television constitutes the single largest component of all advertising spending.  There can be no assurances that the television advertising market will maintain its current position among advertising media in our markets or that changes in the regulatory environment or improvements in technology will not favor other advertising media or other television broadcasters. Increases in competition among advertising media arising from the development of new forms of advertising media and distribution could result in a decline in the appeal of television as an advertising medium generally or of our channels specifically.  A decline in television advertising spending in any period or in specific markets could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The transition to digital broadcasting may require substantial additional investments and the timing of such investments is uncertain.

Countries in which we have operations are initiating the migration from analog terrestrial broadcasting to digital terrestrial broadcasting.  Each country has independent plans with its own timeframe and regulatory and investment regime.  The specific timing and approach to implementing such plans is subject to change. We cannot predict the effect of the migration on our existing operations or predict our ability to receive any additional rights or licenses to broadcast for our existing channels or any additional channels if such additional rights or licenses should be required under any relevant regulatory regime.  Furthermore, we may be required to make substantial additional capital investment and commit substantial other resources to implement digital terrestrial broadcasting and the availability of competing alternative distribution systems, such as direct-to-home platforms, may require us to acquire additional distribution and content rights. We may not have access to resources sufficient to make such investments when required.

Our operations are subject to significant changes in technology that could adversely affect our business.

The television broadcasting industry may be affected by rapid innovations in technology.  The implementation of new technologies and the introduction of broadcasting distribution systems other than analog terrestrial broadcasting, such as digital broadcasting, direct-to-home cable and satellite distribution systems, the internet, video-on-demand and the availability of television programming on portable digital devices, have fragmented television audiences in more developed markets and could adversely affect our ability to attract advertisers as such technologies penetrate our markets. New technologies that enable viewers to choose when and what content to watch, as well as to fast-forward or skip advertisements, may cause changes in consumer behavior that could impact our business. In addition, compression techniques and other technological developments allow for expanded programming offerings to be offered to highly targeted audiences.  Reductions in the cost of creating additional channel capacity could lower entry barriers for new channels and encourage the development of increasingly targeted niche programming on various distribution platforms.  Our television broadcasting operations may be required to expend substantial financial and managerial resources on the implementation of new broadcasting technologies or distribution systems.  In addition, an expansion in competition due to technological innovation may increase competition for audiences and advertising revenue as well as the competitive demand for programming.  Any requirement for substantial further investment to address competition that arises on account of technological innovations in broadcasting may have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 
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Our success depends on attracting and retaining key personnel.

Our success depends partly upon the efforts and abilities of our key personnel and our ability to attract and retain key personnel.  Our management teams have significant experience in the media industry and have made an important contribution to our growth and success.  Although we have been successful in attracting and retaining such people in the past, competition for highly skilled individuals is intense.  There can be no assurance that we will continue to be successful in attracting and retaining such individuals in the future. The loss of the services of any of these individuals could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flow.


Risks Relating to our Financial Position

We may require additional external sources of capital, which may not be available or may not be available on acceptable terms.

The acquisition, ownership and operation of television broadcasting operations require substantial investment.  Our ability to meet our total capital requirements is based on our expected cash resources, including our debt facilities, as well as estimates of future operating results, which are derived from a variety of assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate.  If our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, if our assumptions or our investment plans change in light of additional acquisitions or other investments, or if our costs increase due to competitive pressures or other unanticipated developments, we may need to obtain additional financing.  Such financings, if available at all, may not be available on acceptable terms. Sources of financing may include public or private debt or equity financings, proceeds from the sale of assets or other financing arrangements. Any additional debt or equity securities issued to raise funds may have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to shares of our common stock, and the issuance of additional equity may dilute the economic interest of the holders of shares of our common stock. It is also not possible to ensure that such debt financings will be available within the limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness contained in the Indentures pursuant to which our Senior Notes were issued in 2005 (the “2005 Indenture) and in 2007 (the “2007 Indenture) and collectively with the 2005 Indenture, the Indentures) or pursuant to the terms of the EBRD Loan or as a result of general economic conditions. If we cannot obtain adequate capital or on obtain it on acceptable terms, this could have an adverse effect on our financial positions, results of operations and cash flows.

Our cash flow and capital resources may not be sufficient for future debt service and other obligations.

Our ability to make debt service payments under our Senior Notes, Convertible Notes, the EBRD Loan and other indebtedness depends on our future operating performance and our ability to generate sufficient cash, which in turn depends in part on factors that are not within our control, including general economic, financial, competitive, market, legislative, regulatory and other factors.  If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we would face substantial liquidity problems. We may not be able to maintain the ratings of our Senior Notes or Convertible Notes without adequate liquidity, which would have an adverse impact on our ability to raise additional debt financing.  We may be obliged to reduce or delay capital or other material expenditures at our stations, restructure our debt, obtain additional debt or equity capital (if available on acceptable terms), or dispose of material assets or businesses to meet our debt service and other obligations. It may not be possible to accomplish any of these alternatives on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms, if at all, which may have an adverse effect on our financial positions, results of operations and cash flows.

 
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Our increased debt service obligations following the issuance of the Senior Notes, Convertible Notes and any drawdowns under the EBRD Loan may restrict our ability to fund our operations.

We have significant debt service obligations under our Senior Notes and Convertible Notes and we are restricted in the manner in which our business is conducted (see Part I, Item 1, Note 4 “Senior Debt”).  Our high leverage could have important consequences to our business and results of operations, including but not limited to increasing our vulnerability to a downturn in our business or economic and industry conditions, as well as limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, business opportunities and other corporate requirements.  We may have a higher level of debt than certain of our competitors, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage. A substantial portion of our cash flow from operations is required to be dedicated to the payment of principal of, and interest on, our indebtedness, which means that this cash flow is not available to fund our operations, capital expenditures or other corporate purposes. Therefore, our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business, the competitive environment and the industry in which we operate is somewhat limited. Any of these or other consequences or events could have a material adverse effect on our ability to satisfy our debt obligations and would therefore have potentially harmful consequences for the development of our business and strategic plan.

Under the Senior Notes, Convertible Notes and the EBRD Loan, we have pledged shares in our two principal subsidiary holding companies that hold substantially all of our assets and a default on our obligations could result in our inability to continue to conduct our business.

Pursuant to the terms of the Indentures, the Indenture pursuant to which our Convertible Notes were issued (the “2008 Indenture) and the EBRD Loan, we have pledged shares in our two principal subsidiary holding companies, which own substantially all of our interests in our operating companies, including the TV Nova (Czech Republic) group, Pro TV, Markiza, Pro Plus and Studio 1+1.  If we were to default on any of the Indentures, the 2008 Indenture or the EBRD Loan, the trustees under our Indentures, the 2008 Indenture or the EBRD Loan would have the ability to sell all or a portion of all of these assets in order to pay amounts outstanding under our Indentures, the 2008 Indenture or the EBRD Loan.

We may be adversely affected by fluctuations in exchange rates.

Our reporting currency is the dollar but a significant portion of our consolidated revenues and costs, including programming rights expenses and interest on debt, are in other currencies.  Furthermore, the functional currency of our operations in Ukraine is the dollar.  This is subject to annual review and new circumstances that may be identified during these annual reviews may result in the use of a functional currency that differs from our reporting currency.  In addition, our Senior Notes are denominated in Euros.  We have not attempted to hedge the Senior Notes.  We have in the past and may therefore in the future continue to experience significant gains and losses on the translation of the Senior Notes into dollars due to movements in exchange rates between the Euro and the dollar.

If our goodwill or intangible assets become impaired we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings.

We review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.  Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are required to be tested for impairment at least annually.  Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable include a decline in stock price and market capitalization, future cash flows, and slower growth rates in our industry.  We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets is determined resulting in a negative impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 
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Our holding company structure may limit our access to cash.

We are a holding company and we conduct our operations through subsidiaries and affiliates.  The primary internal source of our cash to fund our operating expenses as well as service our existing and future debt depends on debt repayments from our subsidiaries, the earnings of our operating subsidiaries, earnings generated from our equity interest in certain of our affiliates and distributions of such earnings to us.  Substantially all of our assets consist of ownership of and loans to our subsidiaries and affiliates.  We currently rely on the repayment of intercompany indebtedness and the declaration of dividends to receive distributions of cash from our operating subsidiaries and affiliates.  The distribution of dividends is generally subject to conformity with requirements of local law, including the funding of a reserve account and, in certain instances, the affirmative vote of our partners.  If our operating subsidiaries or affiliates are unable to distribute to us funds to which we are entitled, we may be unable to cover our operating expenses.  Such inability would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Risks Relating to Enforcement Rights

We are a Bermuda company and enforcement of civil liabilities and judgments may be difficult.

Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. is a Bermuda company; substantially all of our assets and all of our operations are located, and all of our revenues are derived, outside the United States.  In addition, several of our directors and officers are non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons are or may be located outside the United States.  As a result, investors may be unable to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons, or to enforce against them judgments obtained in the United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal and state securities laws.  There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of Bermuda and the countries in which we operate would enforce (i) judgments of United States courts obtained against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal and state securities laws or (ii) in original actions brought in such countries, liabilities against us or such persons predicated upon the United States federal and state securities laws.

Our bye-laws restrict shareholders from bringing legal action against our officers and directors.

Our bye-laws contain a broad waiver by our shareholders of any claim or right of action in Bermuda, both individually and on our behalf, against any of our officers or directors. The waiver applies to any action taken by an officer or director, or the failure of an officer or director to take any action, in the performance of his or her duties, except with respect to any matter involving any fraud or dishonesty on the part of the officer or director. This waiver limits the right of shareholders to assert claims against our officers and directors unless the act or failure to act involves fraud or dishonesty.

Risks Relating to Our common stock

CME Holdco L.P. is in a position to decide corporate actions that require shareholder approval and may have interests that differ from those of other shareholders.

CME Holdco L.P. owns all our outstanding shares of Class B common stock, each of which carries 10 votes per share.  Ronald Lauder, the chairman of our Board of Directors, is the majority owner of CME Holdco L.P. and, subject to certain limitations described below, is entitled to vote those shares on behalf of CME Holdco L.P.  The shares over which Ronald Lauder has voting power represent 63.7% of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding common stock.  On September 1, 2006, Adele (Guernsey) L.P., a fund affiliated with Apax Partners, acquired 49.7% of CME Holdco L.P.  Under the terms of the limited partnership agreement of CME Holdco L.P., Adele (Guernsey) L.P. has certain consent rights in respect of the voting and disposition of the shares of Class B common stock.  CME Holdco L.P. is in a position to control the outcome of corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, such as the election of directors (including two directors Adele (Guernsey) L.P. is entitled to recommend for appointment) and transactions involving a change of control.  The interests of CME Holdco L.P. may not be the same as those of other shareholders, and such shareholders will be unable to affect the outcome of such corporate actions for so long as CME Holdco L.P. retains voting control.

 
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The price of our Class A common stock is likely to remain volatile.

The market price of shares of our Class A common stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including those described above under “Risks Relating to our Business and Operations” as well as the following: license renewals, general economic and business trends, variations in quarterly operating results, regulatory developments in our operating countries and the European Union, the condition of the media industry in our operating countries, the volume of trading in shares of our Class A common stock, future issuances of shares of our Class A common stock and investor and securities analyst perception of us and other companies that investors or securities analysts deem comparable in the television broadcasting industry.  In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated to and disproportionate to the operating performance of broadcasting companies.  These broad market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of shares of our Class A common stock, regardless of our operating performance.

Our share price may be adversely affected by future issuances and sales of our shares.

As at April 25, 2008, we have a total of 1.1 million options to purchase Class A common stock outstanding and 0.1 million options to purchase shares of Class B common stock outstanding.  An affiliate of PPF a.s., from whom we acquired the TV Nova (Czech) group, holds 3,500,000 unregistered shares of Class A common stock and Igor Kolomoisky, a member of our Board of Directors and a party to the Ukraine Buyout, holds 1,275,227 unregistered shares of Class A common stock.  In addition, the Convertible Notes are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock and mature on March 15, 2013. Holders of the Convertible Notes have registration rights with respect to the shares underlying the Notes. Prior to December 15, 2012, the Convertible Notes will be convertible following certain events and from that date, at any time. From time to time up to and including December 15, 2012, we will have the right to elect  to deliver (i) shares of our Class A common stock or (ii) cash and, if applicable, shares of our Class A common stock upon conversion of the Convertible Notes. At present, we have elected to deliver cash and, if applicable, shares of our Class A common stock. (see Part I, Item 1, Note 4 “Senior Debt”). To mitigate the dilutive effect of a conversion of the Convertible Notes on our Class A common stock, we have entered into several capped call transactions, and in connection therewith we have purchased call options with respect to shares of our Class A common stock that are exercisable in the event of a conversion of the Convertible Notes or at maturity on March 15, 2013.   We may receive cash or shares of our Class A common stock upon the exercise of an option (see Part I, Item 1, Note 4 “Senior Debt”). Furthermore, a portion of the consideration for the Ukraine Buyout may be paid in shares of Class A common stock (see Part I, Item 1, Note 1, “Organization and Business”). We cannot predict what effect, if any, the issuance of shares underlying options or the Convertible Notes or in connection with the Ukraine Buyout, or the entry into trading of such registered or unregistered shares or any future issuances of our shares will have on the market price of our shares.  If more shares are issued, the economic interest of current shareholders may be diluted and the price of our shares may be adversely affected.

 
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Item 6.  Exhibits

a) The following exhibits are attached:

4.1
Registration Rights Agreement among the Company, Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas and ING Bank N.V., London Branch, dated March 10, 2008.
   
4.2
Indenture among the Company, Central European Media Enterprises N.V., CME Media Enterprises B.V. and The Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
10.1
Purchase Agreement among the Company, Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas and ING Bank N.V., London Branch, dated March 4, 2008.
   
10.2
Deed of Amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement dated July 21, 2006, as amended, among the Company, Central European Media Enterprises N.V., CME Media Enterprises B.V., The Bank of New York, BNY Corporate Trustee Services Limited and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, dated March 10, 2008.
   
10.3
Security Assignment between the Company, CME Media Enterprises B.V. and The Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
10.4
Pledge Agreement among the Company, Central European Media Enterprises N.V. and The Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
10.5
Deed of Pledge of Shares among Central European Media Enterprises N.V., CME Media Enterprises B.V. and the Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
10.6
Capped Call Transaction between the Company and Lehman Brothers OTC Derivatives Inc., dated March 4, 2008.
   
10.7
Capped Call Transaction between the Company, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., dated March 4, 2008.
   
10.8
Capped Call Transaction between the Company and BNP Paribas, dated March 4, 2008.
   
31.01
Sarbanes-Oxley Certification s. 302 CEO, dated April 30, 2008.
   
31.02
Sarbanes-Oxley Certification s. 302 CFO, dated April 30, 2008.
   
32.01
Sarbanes-Oxley Certification – CEO and CFO, dated April 30, 2008 (furnished only).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
Michael Garin
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
(Duly Authorized Officer)
   
 
Wallace Macmillan
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
(Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer)

 
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EXHIBIT INDEX

Registration Rights Agreement among the Company, Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas and ING Bank N.V., London Branch, dated March 10, 2008.
   
Indenture among the Company, Central European Media Enterprises N.V., CME Media Enterprises B.V. and The Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
Purchase Agreement among the Company, Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas and ING Bank N.V., London Branch, dated March 4, 2008.
   
Deed of Amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement dated July 21, 2006, as amended, among the Company, Central European Media Enterprises N.V., CME Media Enterprises B.V., The Bank of New York, BNY Corporate Trustee Services Limited and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, dated March 10, 2008.
   
Security Assignment between the Company, CME Media Enterprises B.V. and The Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
Pledge Agreement among the Company, Central European Media Enterprises N.V. and The Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
 Deed of Pledge of Shares among Central European Media Enterprises N.V., CME Media Enterprises B.V. and the Bank of New York, dated March 10, 2008.
   
Capped Call Transaction between the Company and Lehman Brothers OTC Derivatives Inc., dated March 4, 2008.
   
Capped Call Transaction between the Company, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., dated March 4, 2008.
   
Capped Call Transaction between the Company and BNP Paribas, dated March 4, 2008.
   
s. 302 Sarbanes-Oxley Certification - CEO, dated April 30, 2008.
   
s. 302 Sarbanes-Oxley Certification - CFO, dated April 30, 2008.
   
s. 906 Sarbanes-Oxley Certification - CEO and CFO, dated April 30, 2008 (furnished only).
 
 
Page 82


Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

This ‘10-Q’ Filing    Date    Other Filings
5/15/14
3/15/13
12/15/12
5/15/12
4/15/12
6/30/1110-Q,  4
5/15/11
5/14/11
12/31/1010-K
5/15/10
5/14/10
11/12/09
5/15/094,  4/A,  DEF 14A,  PRE 14A
5/14/09
12/31/0810-K,  8-K
12/15/08
11/15/08
5/15/08
5/14/08
Filed on:4/30/088-K
4/25/08
4/23/08
4/17/08
For Period End:3/31/08
3/19/08
3/10/088-K
3/4/088-K
1/31/088-K
1/1/08
12/31/0710-K
12/12/07
11/15/07
10/30/07
9/4/07
8/31/07
8/30/073,  8-K
8/22/078-K
5/16/078-K
3/31/0710-Q,  10-Q/A
2/20/07
12/31/0610-K,  10-K/A
11/9/0610-Q,  8-K
9/1/063,  4
7/21/068-K
4/27/06
12/23/05
7/29/05
5/5/05
2/9/04
6/19/03
5/19/03
 List all Filings 
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