New Agreement

Milestone Group PLC 05 April 2004 Immediate Release 5 March 2004 MILESTONE GROUP EXTENDS LOCAL TELEVISION INTERESTS IN HAMPSHIRE Milestone Group PLC ('Milestone'), the cross media group focussed on local markets, has today announced it has reached an agreement for its television division to acquire the free-to-air terrestrial Local Television licences for Southampton and Portsmouth ('the licences'). Milestone has entered into an agreement with My TV Network Limited ('My TV'), currently in administrative receivership, and its subsidiaries Southampton Television Limited and Portsmouth Television Limited, to acquire the licences and a number of the other assets of the My TV group for an aggregate consideration of £25,000. The transfer of the licences remains subject to formal approval by the Office of Communications. The licences will extend Milestone's reach to a potential audience of approximately 360,000 in the city of Southampton and approximately 230,000 in the city of Portsmouth. Southampton is currently on-air broadcasting a mixture of archive programming and local information. Milestone's other assets in Hampshire include 100% ownership of the Basingstoke Observer newspaper and a majority holding in Kestrel FM, the radio station for North Hampshire. Milestone intends to re-launch the licences under its 'SIX TV' brand which attracts a daily reach of 18% of the potential audience for its existing Oxfordshire-based service. Andy Craig, Chief Executive of Milestone, said: 'Whilst these South Hampshire television channels may have found it difficult to survive as stand-alone entities we are confident that, as part of the enlarged Milestone Group, we will be able to operate a successful commercial service that will enjoy strong synergies and economies with our existing Local Television licence, SIX TV The Oxford Channel. With our existing publishing and radio assets within Hampshire, we have the opportunity of establishing a comprehensive local media offering in the region and generating a comprehensive offering for clients and audience whilst maintaining a low-cost and efficient media business.' For further information: Milestone Group PLC Tel: 01235 547 800 Daniel Cass Buchanan Communications Tel: 020 7466 5000 Bobby Morse / James Strong This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings