ORS expresses intention to invest in Bulgarian broadcasting operations network

Sofia (OTS) - In the beginning of December 2008, ORS signed an
agreement with BTC Group for the acquisition of the National Unit for
Broadcasting Operations (NURTS). It is expected that the procedure
will be finished after the responsible regulator authorities approve
the deal. The choice of ORS as buyer results from an international
tender, consulted by the investment bank Lazard.

By the sale of NURTS the main purpose of BTC Group is the system
to be acquired by a well positioned company, with rich experience in
the field of radio and television systems. A total of 70 financial
and strategic investors took part in the tender procedure for the
sale of NURTS. The offers of 8 of them went to second examination.
According to the procedure, the buyers and the seller will file
documents for approval of the agreement by the regulator authorities.

"The system for radio and television broadcasting is not directly
connected to the development of telecommunication services, which are
our main priority. The sale of NURTS gave BTC the chance to focus on
its main activity - fixed and mobile services, as well as internet
and data transfer. The acquisition of NURTS by ORS will contribute to
the development of the network and the improvement of the service
quality, since the company has solid background in this area",
Bernard Moscheni, BTC CEO commented.

According ORS, NURTS has stable positions on the analog
broadcasting market in Bulgaria, which supposes the system to have a
leading role by the digitalization in the near future. ORS plans
modernization of the equipment and switch-over to digital
broadcasting. The investments earmarked for infrastructure amount
more than 100 million BGN.

"We have more than 40 years of experience in running TV and radio
networks. Being a company of proved commitments and responsibilities
on different markets, ORS guarantees stability, security and
transparency of its activities and smooth switch-over to
digitalization in cooperation with its clients and the responsible
institutions", said Michael Wagenhofer, CEO ORS. "Among our
priorities is not only high quality and program diversity, but also
nation-wide access for all consumers".

After the successful launch of terrestrial digital television in
Austria in 2006, ORS disposes of solid experience in the realization
of national coverage, in the technical provision and the maintenance
of the DVB-T network.

Bulgaria is one of the countries within the economic area of
Central and East Europe and it has to meet the requirements for
digitalization in line with the European initiatives for Information
society eEurope and for Information society of growth and employment
i2010.

About the Austrian Broadcasting Services (ORS GmbH & Co KG)
The Austrian Broadcasting Services (ORS GmbH & Co KG) is among others
responsible for setup, operation and maintenance of technical DVB-T
infrastructure in Austria. The company derived from the ORF
Broadcasting Technology and was founded in the beginning of 2005. Its
shareholders are ORF (60%) and Medicur Sendeanlagen GmbH - a member
of the Raiffeisen-Group (40%). As the Austrian leading service
provider for analogue and digital broadcast technology, ORS operates
a spacious station network of around 500 stations. Furthermore ORS is
a technical service operator for digital satellite transmission in
Europe. Among its customers are well-known TV and radio program
operators as ORF, ATV, Puls 4, p3tv, Ö1, Ö3 and mobile network
operators like mobilkom austria, ONE and telering or Energy operators
as EVN.

Rückfragehinweis:

Mag. Michael Weber
   Head of Marketing, Sales & CC
   Austrian Broadcasting Services (ORS GmbH & Co KG)
   Würzburggasse 30
   1136 Wien 
   Austria
   Tel.: + 43 | 1 | 870 40 - 12942
   Fax: + 43 | 1 | 870 40 - 12964
   E-Mail: michael.weber@ors.
   www.ors.at

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