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16 Dec 2009 10:00
16 December 2009
GRUPO CLARIN S.A.
Statement re fulfillment of antitrust undertakings
On 15 December 2009, Grupo Clarín S.A. (the "Company") informed the Argentine Securities Commission ("CNV") of the fulfillment of the undertakings (the "Undertakings") made in December 2007 to the Argentine National Antitrust Commission (Comisión Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia, or "CNDC") by the Company, Vistone, LLC; Fintech Advisory, Inc.; Fintech Media, LLC; VLG Argentina, LLC and Cablevisión S.A..
During the term of the Undertakings, the parties fulfilled its points one, two and three, which referred to the free availability of television signals produced by the parties, the placement of competitor's signals on the programming grid and the reasonable provision of news, sports and entertainment signals.
The parties exceeded their commitment to extend access to pay television and internet service by developing a network of more than 3,000 kilometers pursuant to an investment plan that exceeded the original investment commitment of US$180 million. With respect to the development of broadband internet services, the parties brought coverage to all cities nationwide that had been included in the Undertakings.
A growing number of cable television subscribers were progressively offered digital services with improved image and sound qualities, a greater programming selection and access to new services, such as digital television, DVR, HDTV and Pay-Per-View.
As provided under the Undertakings, in the cities of La Plata, Necochea, Santa Rosa and Casilda, where the transactions notified to the CNDC resulted in an overlap of physical networks, the basic subscriber fees for cable television did not exceed the representative fees charged for such services in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.
During the term of the Undertakings, the parties also implemented and extended an optional "social" cable television service with a reduced signal package that carried at least 10 signals in addition to broadcast television signals. This service was made available to 10.85% of all homes passed by Cablevisión's network in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. This percentage is greater than the highest percentage included in the Undertakings.
The parties also fulfilled their commitment to provide basic pay television connections free of charge to municipal, provincial and national public establishments and other public welfare organisations.
As described above, the Company has fulfilled its voluntary undertaking of December 2007. Fulfillment of each of the items and their corresponding verification were duly informed to the CNDC on Friday, 11 December 2009.
Enquiries:
In Buenos Aires:
Alfredo Marín/
M. Julia Díaz Ardaya/Alejandro Yu
Grupo Clarín
Email: investors@grupoclarin.com
In London:
Alex Money/Lorna Ellen
Temple Bar Advisory
Tel: +44 20 7002 1080
Email: clarin@templebaradvisory.com
In New York:
Melanie Carpenter/Peter Majeski
I-advize Corporate Communications
Tel: +1 212 406 3692
Email: clarin@i-advize.com
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