Mediaset closed the first nine months of the year with a loss of 116,6 million, up on the loss of 36,1 million a year ago. The red in the third quarter is equal to 88,8 million, up by 47,5% (against 60,2 million). Consolidated net revenues rose to 2.563,9 million euros, an increase of 149,5 million from 2.414,4 million in the same period a year ago. Ebitda rose to 892,9 million from 871,4
million, Ebit was positive by 32,7 million, down from 82,4 million in the first nine months of 2015. Net financial debt went from 859,4 million at the end of 2015 to 1.123,3 million as of 30 September 2016.
The disappointing results of Mediaset Premium, the group's pay TV, weigh on the company negatively affected by the deadlock in the agreement with Vivendi, which should have bought the Italian company. 'At the end of the first half, economic performance was in line with the budget for the period, while the third quarter was heavily conditioned by the non-compliance with the binding contract signed with Vivendi', reads a note. Revenues from Mediaset's pay business in the nine months increased by 12,6% in the first few months of the same period of 2015. However, while revenue growth was 16% in the first half, they slowed down in the third quarter to +5%. Precisely in relation to the lawsuit with Vivendi on Premium, in the second and third quarters the group incurred one-off extraordinary charges of 50 million euros.
