EM.TV

EM.TV AG (formerly EM.TV & Merchandising AG) is a Munich-based media group. The company was founded by Thomas Haffa.

"Note: EM.TV stands for "Entertainment, Merchandising, TV."

History

* EM.TV was founded by Thomas Haffa.

* 1997 - EM.TV went public and started to expand in various businesses.

* 1998 - The company acquired Junior.TV, a company that held licenses to most of the animated TV shows in the library of the KirchGruppe, the Media Group of Leo Kirch, where Thomas Haffa started his career.

* 1999 - EM.TV acquired TMG (Tele München Gruppe).

* 2000 - In February, EM.TV buys The Jim Henson Company for $680 million.

* 2000 - When EM.TV's market capitalization was about €10 billion, the company acquired the Jim Henson Company and 50% of SLEC Ltd., the holding company of the famous Formula One racing series. Because of an option to purchase another 25% of SLEC Ltd. from Bernie Ecclestone for 1 Billon EUR, EM.TV had problems funding the transaction via the capital markets.

* Between late 2000, when the company reported incorrect quarterly results, and 2002, EM.TV's stock fell from its price of €120 EUR to penny stock status.

* 2001 - In September, Werner Klatten, the former CEO of Sat.1, became the new CEO of EM.TV. He restructured the company: sold SLEC, Jim Henson Company, and TMG; and he directed the purchase of DSF, a German sports TV station. During the restructuring, the bondholders of a 1999-issued €400 million bond got nearly 60% in company stock in exchange for their bonds.

* 2003 - In July, The Jim Henson Company was purchased by the Henson family from EM.TV for $78 million.

* 2008 - company changed name to em.sport media ag

External links

* [http://www.em.tv EM.TV official site]
* [http://www.worldscreen.com/interviewsarchive.php?filename=klatten0402.txt 2002 interview with Werner Klatten on his plans for EM.TV]