Despite a context that remains conditioned by the health emergency in both Italy and Spain, the Mediaset Group closed the first half of 2021 with a significant increase in its results, not only compared with the same period of 2020 but also compared with the first half of 2019, a period not yet affected Covid. The net revenues amounted to €1,387.2 million, compared with the €1,166.4 million of the first half of 2020. In Italy, total revenues came to €963.7 million, compared with €791.3 million in the same period last year. In Spain, revenues came to €423.6 million, compared with €375.1 million in the same period of the previous year.
There was a positive trend in advertising revenues in both geographical areas, with Spain recording sales of €406.1 million, compared with €325.1 million in the previous six months. In Italy, meanwhile, the figure was €979.9 million (+31.7%), compared with €744.2 million inthe same period of 2020.
On the basis of Nielsen data, in the first half of 2021 Mediaset performed better than the overall advertising market, which grew by 26.7%. In particular, in the second quarter Mediaset generated advertising revenues of €526.4 million, an increase not only on the same period of 2020 (66.2%), but also compared with the €501.6 million of 2019.
The Group’s EBIT for the period was positive at €198.7 million, compared with €31.7 million in the same period of 2020, and also up on the €191.6 million of 2019. In Italy EBIT amounted to €94,6 million, better not only compared with the operating loss recorded in the first half of 2020 (- €57.6 million) but also with the figure for the first half of 2019, which was positive at €39.3 million. In Spain the figure was €103.8 million, compared with €88.9 million in the same period of 2020.
The Group’s consolidated net profit for the period came €226.7 million, compared with a loss of -€18.9 million in the same period of last year. It should be noted that the consolidated net result was better also than that of the first half of 2019 (€102.7 million). The 2021 figure includes two items: the capital gain in the second quarter of 2021 from the subsidiary (40%) EI Towers (through the sale of Towertel) and dividends deriving from the stake held in ProSiebenSat1. Excluding these two items, net profit for the first half of 2021 remains higher than that of 2019.
The net financial debt on 30 June 2021 fell to €731.7 million, compared with €1,064.4 million at the beginning of the period. Excluding losses booked from 2019 pursuant to IFRS 16 and the financial liabilities deriving from the acquisition of a stake in ProSiebenSat 1, net consolidated financial debt amounted to €222.0 million, compared with €473.6 million on 31 December 2020.
Also in the first six months of 2021, Mediaset’s channels confirmed their net leadership in the commercial target, both in Italy and Spain, and in all time bands. In Italy, Mediaset recorded a 34.3% share in the 24 hours and a 34.0% share in prime time in the commercial target, with a better performance than all the competitors. Of particular note is the leading position of Canale 5 and the third place of Italia 1 in all time bands among the 15-64-year-old target. In Spain, the Mediaset España channels remain leaders with a 30.8% share in the commercial target in the 24 hours. Telecinco is Spain’s most popular channel with a 16.1% share, also in the 24 hours in the commercial target.
Related News
