Fiscal year 2008 was the most successful year for the Highlight Group in operational terms in the Company's 26 year history – despite the financial crisis and the beginning of a recession.

• Group revenues reached CHF 518.4 million, a 7.6% increase over the previous year.
• Profit from operations (EBIT) rose by 4.3% over the previous year to a new record figure of CHF 55.2 million.
• Despite value adjustments of around CHF 10.7 million on financial assets, net consolidated earnings of the Highlight shareholders came in at CHF 29.8 million, almost reaching the same level as in the record year 2007 (CHF 30.7 million).
• Earnings per share of CHF 0.65 or EUR 0.41 are almost exactly the same as last year’s earnings per share (CHF 0.68 or EUR 0.41), despite value adjustments.
• The Highlight Group’s equity base improved significantly by CHF 15.2 million to CHF 98.2 million. Thus, the adjusted equity ratio increased from 22.4% in the previous year to 26.3% as of December 31, 2008.

The significant increase in revenues results from the Film segment, which realised revenues of CHF 442.0 million in fiscal year 2008 – up 9.8% as against the previous year (CHF 402.4 million). The segment result rose from CHF 21.5 million to CHF 28.7 million, representing an improvement of 33.5%. The basis for this development was the significant increase in revenues from licensing of film rights (+ 36.4%) as well as the marketing success in the home entertainment business area (+ 9.8%).

In the Sports and Event Marketing segment, revenues decreased by 3.8% from CHF 79.3 million to CHF 76.3 million. The segment result fell by CHF 4.7 million to CHF 33.3 million compared with the previous year (CHF 38.0 million). This development is mainly a result of more unfavorable exchange rates compared to the previous year as well as necessary investments in connection with the sale of commercial rights to the UEFA Champions League and to the new UEFA Europa League for the 2009/10 to 2011/12 seasons.

In response to the Company’s favorable operating performance in fiscal year 2008, the Board of Directors of Highlight Communications AG will propose a dividend of CHF 0.17 per dividend-entitled bearer share (as in the previous year) for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

Assuming that the proposal is accepted by the Annual General Meeting, the dividend will be paid from June 10, 2009. The Annual General Meeting for fiscal year 2008 will take place on June 5, 2009 at Hotel Hilton in Basel.

Based on the current outlook for fiscal year 2009 and nearly stable exchange rates (CHF/EUR), the Highlight Group expects consolidated revenues of between CHF 490 and CHF 510 million and earnings per share of between EUR 0.42 and EUR 0.44, which reflects an increase in earnings compared to the figures of 2008.

The German annual report for 2008 is available for downloading from the Company’s website www.highlight-communications.ch as of today. The English version will be available from April 3, 2009.

For questions please contact:

HIGHLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS AG
Investor Relations
Netzibodenstrasse 23b
CH-4133 Pratteln BL
Telefon: 0041-61-816 96 91
E-Mail:   ir@hlcom.ch