BEIJING, March 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- XFMedia (Nasdaq: XFML), a leading media group in China, announced that two of the Fortune China financial television programs ("Fortune China") have added landing coverage to a total of eighty terrestrial television channels across 24 of China’s 31 provinces and provincial-level municipalities. The programs are Fortune China Weekly and Fortune Celebrity, the two weekly programs in the series.
Building upon the existing coverage Fortune China enjoys on the nationwide satellite television NMTV, the programs are now available on more than one channel to the local households in these regions. This development deepens the reach of the programs, enhances the brand visibility and hence is expected to increase the advertising revenues.
The Fortune China series, broadcast in Chinese, is composed of six programs which focus on financial and investment related information and analysis and includes interviews with influential business people. The shows target China’s upwardly mobile demographic who have a keen interest in investment.
The Fortune China shows now reach a total potential viewing audience of approximately 225 million through the NMTV satellite channel and a total of 80 terrestrial channels. According to data from CSM Media Research, ratings for the six programs on NMTV averaged 0.144% in the fourth quarter of 2007; 32% higher than the third quarter of 2007, with five of the shows recording new monthly highs.
"XFMedia is strong in financial content, and these are among the most popular and widely watched financial programs in the market," XFMedia CEO Ms Fredy Bush said. "Combined with our strong ad sales capability, we believe we are the market leader in this area."
Ms Bush said she expects the expanded broadcasting coverage of the Fortune China shows will help promote the Fortune China brand, and increase advertising revenues. "It is encouraging to note that the Fortune China shows in February saw a 54% growth in gross advertising revenues over January. Management expects the show’s revenues for this year to see continued growth over last year," added Ms Bush.
The company who produces the Fortune China just won the "2008 Top TMT (Technology, Media & Telecom) Enterprises with The Best Investment Value" Award on January 19. This award was presented at the China International Private Equity Forum to the enterprises in the industry of Technology, Media and Telecom which have the highest growth potential as an investment target for investors.
The Fortune China program series itself has recently won the "2007 Most Globalized Financial Program Award" awarded on March 15 by the New Weekly news magazine. This award was established to give credit to financial TV programs in China that provide good international standards and quality in terms of program content and production style. The shows, amongst the best known financial TV series in China, also won the Award of the TV Media with the Best Investment Value in 2006 and 2007 consecutively. The award recognizes the shows in China that provide the best return for the advertising dollars spent.
XFMedia derives revenue through advertising sales and licensing of TV programs, including the Fortune China series. The six programs in the Fortune China financial television series are Fortune Morning, Fortune Guide, Fortune Broadway, Fortune Talk Show, Fortune China Weekly and Fortune Celebrity.
About Xinhua Finance Media
Xinhua Finance Media ("XFMedia"; NASDAQ: XFML) is a leading media group in China with nationwide access to the upwardly mobile demographic. Through its five synergistic business groups, Advertising, Broadcast, Print, Production and Research, XFMedia offers a total solution empowering clients at every stage of the media process and connecting them with their target audience. Its unique platform covers a wide range of media assets, including television, radio, newspaper, magazine, outdoor, online and other media assets.
Headquartered in Beijing, the company has offices and affiliates in major cities of China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.xinhuafinancemedia.com .
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