On 17 October 2008, AS Kalev group companies AS Kalev Meedia and OÜ Eesti Spordikanal (hereinafter Kalev Meedia) concluded a contract with the telecommunications company Starman on the purchase of the TV channel Neljas. With the contract, the management of channel Neljas will be transferred to Kalev Meedia. The channel, which is currently available only to Starman and ZUUMtv customers, is scheduled to be switched also into other TV operator networks after the entry into force of the transaction. The channel will retain its current frequency on Starman networks and in the ZUUMtv package. According to Alar Pink, managing director of Kalev Meedia, the acquisition is yet another step in the company's long-term strategy of strengthening its position on the Estonian media market. „Specialising on entertainment, channel Neljas is an excellent supplement to the other channel in our TV portfolio - Kalev Sport, a channel focused mainly on news and sports. I am confident that we will create synergy between the two channels to further improve the programme,” Pink said. According to Henri Treude—marketing director of the owner of the channel, the leading cable television service provider in Estonia, AS Starman—the television viewers will benefit from the transaction the most, as Kalev Meedia will be a good owner for the channel, setting long-term goals. Channel Neljas, which was launched in February this year, is an Estonian language television channel which focuses on quality entertainment, TV series and films. AS Kalev Meedia is an independent media group with the goal of developing high-quality Internet, television and print media publications. AS Kalev Meedia issues the Avenüü, Praktiline Arvutikasutaja, Ärielu, Sporditäht, Just, Basket, Jalka and Muumi magazines, and manages the news portal www.kalev.ee. OÜ Eesti Spordikanal owns the television channel Kalev Sport. Starman is the operator of the biggest cable network in Estonia, and renders television, Internet and telephone services to over 135,000 digital and analogue television customers. In addition to the cable network, Starman also broadcasts via the digital terrestrial television ZUUMtv. Starman's shares are listed on the main list of the Tallinn Stock Exchange. The transaction is not a related party transaction in the meaning of the Tallinn Stock Exchange rules. Allan Viirma Head of legal service AS Kalev Telephone: 688 6616
AS Kalev Meedia to purchase channel Neljas
| Source: Luterma