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Week ending August 10, 2007

Search Engine Exalead Joins ACAP Pilot Project – August 6, 2007

from Heidi Lambert/ACAP

The Automated Content Access Protocol (ACAP) Pilot Project, established to create a new, open standard to enable owners of content to speed machine-interpretable permissions, today announced that Exalead, a global provider of search software for business and the Web, has joined the initiative and will undertake the necessary technical implementation to provide concept validation by November 2007, when a working proposal will be presented at the project’s final conference.

“Exalead offers the technical capacity, capability and enthusiasm to ensure the pilot project succeeds and to enable ACAP to demonstrate a fully workable proposal by the final project conference, which is to be held on 29 November in New York,” said Gavin O’Reilly, president of WAN, one of the pilot’s sponsors. “The involvement of Exalead is a vital and exciting development for ACAP, which is now well on track to fulfil its original objectives.”

Exalead, headquartered in Paris, offers the first and only unified search technology platform that features its patented Search by Serendipity® navigation system – exalead one:search™ – that adapts to user habits for a less frustrating and uniquely satisfying search experience. Exalead has also recently expanded its vertical search offerings to allow users to search their favorite images and videos, as well as the popular Wikipedia™ database. This series of innovations underscores Exalead’s commitment to continuously provide new and improved search options for Internet user.

ACAP, which has been endorsed by the European Commission, will provide permissions information in a form that can be recognized and interpreted by a search engine spider so that the search engine operator is enabled systematically to comply with the permissions granted by the owner. The new standard will remove the need for proprietary mechanisms that would oblige every publisher or content owner to negotiate their own agreement with each different online relationship. Publishers and other content providers invest huge sums in their content. ACAP gives them control over who gets to use that content, and under what condition.

“We are excited to participate as the search engine partner in this important initiative,” said François Bourdoncle, Exalead’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “It is our belief that this collaboration will benefit the online publishing and media industries. Being a part of this project allows us to apply our deep expertise in Web search to the ACAP to help finalize this critical standard.”

BBC Chinese stages joint Beijing Olympics Countdown debate – August 6, 2007

from Christine George/BBC World Service

There is one year to go before the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics andBBC Chinese has teamed up with theBeijing Sports Radio to host a joint debate on the opportunities and issues surrounding the globes biggest sporting event. Beijing Olympics Countdown on Wednesday, 8 August 2007 will webcast live onbbcchina.com.cn andbjradio.com.cn. It will also broadcast on BBC Chinese radio and Beijing Sports Radio.

Up to twenty Beijing residents will join BBC producer Jiyang Qiao and Beijing Sports Radio presenter Ms Hong Wei in the studio to share their views on how preparations for the Olympics has affected their city and their lives. Visitors tobbcchina.com.cn andbjradio.com.cn can leave their opinions on the subject or put questions to the panelists.

Raymond Li, BBC Chinese Business Development Manager, said: “All eyes will be on Beijing in August 2008 which is why we are webcasting this important debate. We are very pleased to be co-producing it with Beijing Radio Sports Channel, a great opportunity to get both a local and international perspective on the key issues. We are especially pleased to have Beijing citizens joining us in the studio. They can let us know what feel the event will bring to the city and its people, what their expectations are and whether they feel those expectations will be met. We also want to hear from listeners across the world and make this a truly global conversation.”

Mr Chen Hui, Director of Beijing Sports Radio said: “We are honored to be joining forces with BBC Chinese to prepare and organize this special event discussing important issues leading up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Our listeners will appreciate and truly benefit from discussing essential matters with an international audience. I also believe it paves the way for further development and cooperation between BBC Chinese and Beijing Sports Radio.”

RCS MediaGroup: Dada share capital – August 6, 2007

from Maria Verdiana Tardi/RCS MediaGroup

RCS MediaGroup acquired today 121,395 Dada shares from several managers of Dada who are members of the existing Shareholders’ Agreement and who had granted the shares to said Agreement. This purchase was made as the result of the preemption right in compliance with the Shareholders’ Agreement at a unit price of € 22.357. RCS MediaGroup has granted the aforesaid shares, combined with others already in the portfolio, for a total of 122,445, to the Shareholders’ Agreement. Taking into account the 234,500 Dada shares previously granted on 30 July, also following purchases from members of the Shareholders’ Agreement (on this point please see the notice published in today’s Corriere della Sera pursuant to art. 122 of Legislative Decree no. 58/1998 and related implementation provisions) this brings the contribution of RCS to the Shareholders’ Agreement to approx. 46.1% of Dada’s share capital and to about 78.8% of the tied-up total.

Central European Media Enterprises Reports Second Quarter 2007 Results – August 2, 2007

from Romana Tomasova/CME

Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (CME (NASDAQ/Prague Stock Exchange: CETV) today announced financial results for the quarter and half-year ended June 30, 2007.

Net revenues for the second quarter of 2007 increased 38% to $216.3 million, compared to the second quarter of 2006. Operating income for the quarter increased $22.5 million to $66.6 million. Net income from continuing operations increased $27.3 million to $34.6 million, and fully diluted earnings per share in respect of continuing operations increased to $0.83 from $0.18 for the quarter. Segment(1) EBITDA for the quarter increased 38% to $86.9 million, compared to the second quarter of 2006.

Net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased 32% to $364.2 million, compared to the first half of 2006. Operating income for the first half increased $25.6 million to $85.8 million. Net income from continuing operations increased $41.6 million to $34.3 million, and fully diluted earnings per share in respect of continuing operations increased to $0.83 from a loss of $(0.18). Our consolidated results for the first half of 2007 include Markiza in the Slovak Republic, which was not consolidated until January 23, 2006. Segment(1) EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased 32% to $127.0 million, compared to the first half of 2006.

Michael Garin, Chief Executive Officer of CME, said “Five of our six markets continue to deliver record performances in the second quarter as shown by the 38% EBITDA increase over the same period last year. While we were disappointed with the EBITDA performance of Studio 1+1, we are convinced that in the next few years Ukraine will become the largest market in which we operate. We remain completely committed to Ukraine and will continue to aggressively but prudently pursue opportunities to further strengthen our presence there. The 2007 outlook for Ukraine is expected to remain uncertain until the outcome of the parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 30, is known. As a result, we are expanding our full year Segment(1) Net Revenues and Segment(1) EBITDA guidance without lowering the upper end of our ranges to reflect the current political and economic environment in Ukraine that may impact our 2007 results. This expanded guidance enables us to share with our investors our best current thinking about the year and underscores our commitment to keep investors well informed about both our prospects and challenges.”

Consolidated Net Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 38% to $216.3 million from $156.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Operating income for the quarter was $66.6 million compared with $44.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Net income for the quarter was $34.6 million compared to $8.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Fully diluted earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $0.83, increasing $0.62 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2006.

Consolidated Net Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased by 32% to $364.2 million from $276.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Operating income for the period was $85.8 million compared with $60.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $34.3 million compared to a net loss of $9.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Fully diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $0.83, increasing $1.08 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2006.