SABIDO (INCLUDING e.tv)



		31.5% Sabido Investments (Proprietary) Limited (Sabido) has a range of media interests, the most significant of which is e.tv. During the year under review, Sabido invested in new media initiatives which will build on e.tv’s growing focus on the production, aggregation and distribution of content across multiple platforms in South Africa and abroad.

Overview of the year to 31 March 2007

e.tv
e.tv maintained its position as the largest English-medium television channel in South Africa and the second most watched channel overall. During the period under review, the channel averaged a 24-hour market share of 21.9% and a prime time (18:00-22:00) market share of 18.6%. e.tv has continued to grow its market share among the black middle class, particularly among the celebrated ‘Black Diamond’ group.

Programming costs remained stable. Prime-time news, films, wrestling and the daily local drama Scandal command the highest audience ratings. Television advertising spending continued to grow significantly and e.tv reflected a 30.4% growth in revenue year-on-year. e.tv’s eight-year broadcasting licence was renewed at the end of 2006. In pursuing its strategy to become a multi-channel business, e.tv has been involved actively in the development of a national policy for the introduction of digital terrestrial television in 2008.

Other Sabido projects
Sabido pursued potential investments in free-to-air television and radio broadcasters in various African countries and acquired interests in other media platforms within South Africa. Sabido has a 39.6% shareholding in Cape Town’s Dreamworld Film Studios development and is in the process of investing in several entities complementary to its core business.

BEE

e.tv is a fully black empowered company in both ownership and employment, and has exceeded its employment equity objectives. 74% of its employees are black, 46% are women and 5% are disabled. e.tv spends in excess of 5% of its salary bill on training and has established in-house training programmes for historically disadvantaged individuals in middle-management positions.

The future

Sabido’s vision is to leverage e.tv’s market position to develop a compelling content production and distribution business with a pan-African focus.