Ownership

Five is wholly owned by RTL Group part of Bertelsmann AG.

RTL is the largest TV and Radio Broadcaster in Europe with 39 TV channels and 29 Radio stations in 10 countries. It is the global leader in content (production and rights) with over 10,000 hours of programming per year, delivering more than 300 programmes in 22 countries and produces top prime-time shows for major broadcasters in almost every major TV market in the world. It is the largest independent distribution company outside US and has broadcasting rights for 19,000 programming hours in 150 countries worldwide.

RTL Group was born of the merger between CLT-UFA and Pearson TV in April 2000. CLT-UFA itself was created in 1997 when Bertelsmann, shareholder of UFA, and Audiofina, shareholder of CLT, merged their TV, radio and production businesses. In July 2001, Bertelsmann became majority shareholder of RTL Group following a stock swap with GBL. In December 2001, Bertelsmann entered into an agreement with Pearson plc to acquire its 22 percent stake in RTL Group. Bertelsmann’s interest in RTL Group is now 89.8 per cent. The remaining 10.2 per cent of RTL Group are publicly traded on the Brussels and Luxembourg stock exchanges.

www.rtl.com

One of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world. With more than 600 individual companies, Bertelsmann AG has significant interests in all areas of media including television, music, books, magazines, direct marketing and media services.

Bertelsmann produces, serves and markets media. Content is contributed by RTL Group, the No. 1 European broadcaster; Random House, the world's largest book-publishing group; Gruner + Jahr, Europe's biggest magazine publisher; and BMG, the division which holds the joint venture stake in Sony BMG Music Entertainment, the second-largest music company worldwide. Arvato provides media and communication services, while Direct Group is the global market leader in media distribution through clubs and on the internet.

Geographically, Bertelsmann’s core markets are located in Western Europe and the U.S., with over 90 percent of total revenues generated here in 2006. Business in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe and Asia will continue to become increasingly important. To systematically develop new business approaches related to its core businesses, Bertelsmann is dealing intensively with the technology challenges in media markets. In the years ahead, the advancing digitization of content and distribution channels will be formative for developments in the global media industry.

www.bertelsmann.com