Message from the CEO
Atresmedia was consolidated as the most profitable audio-visual company in Spain, adding its best historical audience figures to an impeccable brand.
Undoubtedly 2013 was a magnificent year. Likely, one of the best for Atresmedia. A financial year in which, once again, the crisis was unable to stop us, on the contrary, some of the major transformations of the Company occurred during this period. Atresmedia was consolidated as the most profitable audio-visual company in Spain, adding its best historical audience figures to an impeccable brand.
However, what has marked that financial year was the challenge of the integration of laSexta, a complex process which was carried out successfully in much less time than was expected. The merger was completed perfectly and was recognized by the audience, advertisers and investors. We finished 2013 in a much stronger position.
The capacity to adapt ourselves to new times, regardless of the circumstances, led us to mark out our own route with determination and enthusiasm to continue to grow above expectations and become what we are today: the first audio-visual group in the country.
For the fifth consecutive time, Atresmedia again surpassed the market pattern and not only generated substantial confidence among the interest groups, but has the recognition of the Audio-visual and Advertising industries due to a clearly recognizable model based on a plural quality offer, to the team efforts and work, to the support given to talent, to creativity and to the industry; in particular, to consistency.
2013 was a historic year from the economic point of view and from the point of view of the audiences. Atresmedia obtained excellent results despite the persistent economic and advertising crisis. Net revenues reached 829.8 million euros and the EBITDA Margin was 9.7%. The net profits amounted to 46.1 million euros.
We ended 2013 with the certainty that we had done a good job. We had been able to get through the difficult times, we demonstrated the strength of our model, and we now address our future with confidence.Atresmedia Televisión ended a magnificent financial year in its first complete year after the merger with laSexta. The group of channels of Atresmedia grew by three points and reached 28.8% of audience share, which has placed us as co-leaders as regards audiences with one channel less than our competitors.
It was also a marvellous year for Antena 3. It had an average audience share of 13.4%, its best figure in four years and we have achieved the position of co—leader in audiences. It is the absolute leader as regards commercial target (13.4%) and won most slots in 2013: morning, afternoon and evening. The channel was leader in 6 of the 12 months of the year. It should be pointed out that Antena 3 Noticias (Antena 3 News) obtained its best figures since 2010. Furthermore, Noticias 1 (News 1) seized the leadership from “Telediario 1” (Telenews 1) with 15% in the weekly average.
We are very happy to have created a brand with our way to make television. A brand which became a reference due to quality products and to successes such as El tiempo entre costuras (Time among Seams), Tu cara me suena (Your Face Sounds Familiar) and El secreto de Puente Viejo (The Secret of Puente Viejo).
The merger strengthened laSexta, which had its best figures in three years in 2013, growing in all the slots and during all the months. This was quite an achievement thanks to programmes such as El Intermedio (The Interval), Pesadilla en la cocina (Nightmare in the Kitchen) and Salvados (Saved), successes which are added to by releases such as Encarcelados (Imprisoned), produced by our producer Verte, En el aire (On Air) , Más vale tarde (Better Late), laSexta Noche (laSexta Night) and El Objetivo (The Lens).
The thematic channels are also an outstanding part of our strategy as we build up the grand offer of Atresmedia Televisión with these. As a group, although each one has a different, recognizable identity, grew by 0.9 points as compared to 2012, achieving co-leadership. Besides, Neox, Nova, xplora and Nitro are leaders in their genres and public.
Atresmedia Publicidad was able to take advantage of the merger with laSexta and optimized its opportunities, achieving a notable increase in revenues. It has been growing for several years above the market figures owing to its constant efforts to provide the advertisers with new advertising formulas and offer exclusive products which are adapted to the needs of communication. Consequently, it was recognized by the market as the first force in sales in 2013 as regards the service quality and the advertising efficacy.
Atresmedia Radio also registered very positive results with an EBITDA which grew by 54%. In 2013, it again demonstrated its stability despite the fall in the market figures. Onda Cero continues to increase its weight within the Group little by little, as it has done before, contributing more and more to our economic results and is the most profitable radio station in our country. Melodía FM is a good example of the eagerness to innovate and open up routes through a new brand. Europa FM surpasses two million followers and is now the third musical station in Spain.
Atresmedia Cine maintains its obligatory support for the Spanish Cinema Industry. Throughout 2013, we participated in 15 feature films. Seven of these form part of the ten biggest box office hits. The total takings surpassed 40 million euros, which demonstrates that, if it is understood well, Spanish cinema can be profitable.
The times of crisis are when innovation becomes a necessity. Atresmedia Digital is a good example of the capacity of the Group to continue to make progress in new communication, marking out the pattern with regard to the creation of new trends. The launch of the Atresplayer platform set up a landmark which unites all the video and audio offer of the Group with magnificent quality through any kind of device.
In 2013, we created a new department, Atresmedia Diversificación, which groups together all the activity which does not depend on traditional earnings from advertising under a common strategy in order to bolster an additional source of growth.
Finally, I do not wish to end without mentioning our actions regarding Corporate Responsibility. Atresmedia is the first Spanish communication group to join the Media Corporate Social Responsibility Forum (Media CSR Forum), a forum specialized in Corporate Responsibility of the media, composed of some of the largest international communications companies such as the BBC, The Guardian, BSkyB and RTL Group.
In addition, we continue to back transparency with our interest groups. This is shown by the quarterly information provided to the CNMV (National Commission of the Securities Market) concerning non-financial aspects of the Company and the annual meeting with our principal stakeholders in order to hear opinions on the key themes which concern the media with regard to Corporate Responsibility.
We ended 2013 with the certainty that we had done a good job. We had been able to get through the difficult times, we demonstrated the strength of our model, and we now address our future with confidence.
