UTV Announces New Television Channel in Ireland

UTV ANNOUNCES NEW TELEVISION CHANNEL IN IRELAND CREATING MORE THAN 100 NEW JOBS UTV Media plc is delighted to announce that its subsidiary UTV Ireland Limited(UTV) plans to launch a new Irish TV channel which will create more than 100new jobs. An application to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for a ContentProvision Contract will be submitted today. This announcement follows the signing of an agreement with ITV Studios GlobalEntertainment, which will give UTV the exclusive broadcasting rights for ITVStudios programmes for the Republic of Ireland audience, including popularsoaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale from early 2015, once appropriatestatutory broadcasting licences are in place. The new channel will be based in Dublin with additional newsgathering andreporting presence in Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick. UTV plans to havethis new channel on air in early 2015. John McCann, Group Chief Executive, UTV Media plc said: "The audience in Ireland has known the UTV brand for more than 50 years throughour station for Northern Ireland and we're delighted to announce our plans fora new dedicated channel for viewers in the Republic of Ireland. "UTV Media already has a very strong presence in the Republic of Irelandemploying more than 300 people in our various businesses including our marketleading Irish radio stations. We look forward to building on that success withthe launch of a new Irish TV channel. "After incurring start-up costs in 2014 we expect the new channel to breakevenin its first full year of operation and then move into profit from 2016. "Today's announcement represents a strong vote of confidence in Irishbroadcasting and our investment in the Irish economy." Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV Television said: "UTV was the first commercial TV channel in Ireland when it launched as part ofthe ITV Network back in 1959 and for many years the only place where you couldwatch Coronation Street and the hugely popular ITV network programming. "We intend to introduce UTV Ireland in early 2015 utilising the existing UTVwinning formula of combining high quality news, current affairs, entertainmentand drama. "We plan to make this new channel available on as many platforms as possible,subject to contract approval, with a catch up service also available online." For further information contact: UTV Media plc Orla McKibbin: + 44 (0) 7879 666427 /+44 (0) 2890 262188

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