German media company Pro Sieben Group managed to increase turnover and profit during the first nine months of this year. Profit before tax climbed by DM10.3 million (Euro5.3 million) to DM166.4 million, an increase of 7 per cent compared with last year. Pro Sieben Media AG’s turnover increased by 10 per cent to DM1.480 billion, leading to a slightly lower return on capital which amounts to 11.2 per cent this year compared with last year’s 11.6 per cent. Chairman Georg Kofler attributed that to the high startup costs for Pro Sieben’s news channel N24 which is to launch on 24 January 2000. According to Kofler, all business segments – television, multimedia and merchandising – remained profitable. Kofler said that despite investments in N24, news agency ddp/ADN and multimedia activities, Pro Sieben Group was able to increase its profit.
