Mediapro hails ‘best year ever’ as it plans for digital investments

Spanish broadcaster and producer Mediapro has hailed 2016 as “its best year in history” after posting solid revenue and EBITDA numbers, and has forecast stronger growth this year.

Mediapro also said it intends to invest further in the digital arena, particular eSports. It highlighted its significant investment in eSports league the Liga de Videojuegos Profesional (LVP), which grew its audience by 20% in the first quarter.

Mediapro will also invest further in content production for the international market, in 4K UHD broadcasting and in expanding its presence in America and Asia.

eSports is becoming increasingly competitive in Spain, with Telefónica announcing a major investment programme in partnership with Modern Times Group-backed ESL in January, and Vodafone and Orange also making investments.

Mediapro posted sales of €1.536 billion for the full year, up from €1.51 billion in 2015, and EBITDA of €162 million, up from €130 million.

The group now says it will archive revenue of €1.6 billion and EBITDA of €200 million this year.

The company’s net debt fell from €231 million in 2015 to €143 million last year.

Mediapro said that 70% of its turnover was generated via international clients.

As well as growth in Spanish and international production, Mediapro highlighted the bedding in of its three new sports channels – pay TV service BeIN La Liga, free-to-air channel Gol and Canal F1 Latin America. Mediapro said that BeIN La Liga was now the audience leader in pay-per-view channels and Gol was the top performing free sports channel, experiencing the fastest growth among new free channels last year.