Top European Media Companies

According to the CIT Media Map Monitor 1996, which charts the top Media companies in Europe, Bertelsmann heads the chart. CLT is set to become the fastest climber, according to CIT, which says CLT’s recent deal with Bertelsmann will send the Luxembourg-based TV company with a share of Channel 5 from ninth to fifth place in the league table. If the tie-up gets regulatory approval, the commercial TV giant will also displace the BBC as Europe’s second largest broadcaster in terms of media turnover.

Ross Parsons, Editorial Director at CIT Publications said, “Buoyant profit margins at pay-TV broadcasters and BSkyB in particular have helped inspire this recent urge to form alliances.” BSkyB, which has moved up six places from last year’s 29th position, also boasts the fifth best profit margin of the top 100 media companies.

France’s Havas has taken over second position from German ARD, which this year drops to third ranking. The highest ranking British company is Anglo-Dutch Reed Elsevier in fourth place; one place higher than last year when Berlusconi’s Fininvest took fourth place. This year Fininvest has dropped to sixth place, behind the BBC.

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