PA Group Annual Report 2007
extensive words and pictures for Looking ahead, a major challenge and the outlook is generally positive.
use on a pool basis and rightly remains the continuing pressures However, a note of caution should
received widespread praise for their facing our traditional customers. With be aired around the cost of acquiring
performance. the focus for growth now on digital sports data rights. Sports governing
We also performed well as the markets, the task will be to develop bodies now show greater awareness
national video agency as our range these new revenues at a rate which of the value of these rights and are
and reach rolled out across the UK. makes up for the loss of print revenues. increasingly expecting minimum
This enabled us to establish Other objectives will be to broaden our revenue guarantees from their data
The Press Association as a leading product range for the online market; partners. We expect this trend to
provider of pooled video from major further develop video capability to win accelerate. As a consequence, the
national events for new online business with broadcasters as well as group management carried out a
customers as well as newspaper the online market and develop smart strategic review of options for the
websites. technology solutions to create new PA Sport business which is referred
Accordingly, revenue from digital products and deliver efficiencies. to in the Chairman’s statement.
markets grew by 25% against 2006.
Growth was particularly strong in PA SPORT PA PHOTOS
entertainment, driven by web-ready red Difficult market conditions created 2007 saw the successful re-branding
carpet and celebrity coverage as well a tough year for PA Sport. However, of the group’s photo syndication
as an overhauled arts and events listing action taken by management, business as PA Photos. This was linked
offering. combined with an improvement in the to a redesign and improvement of the
While revenues from some traditional market during the second half of 2007, website which now houses more than
areas declined, the division secured a ensured the business began 2008 in 4.6 million images.
number of major new contracts for TV good shape. Archive and live production
listings and page-ready real-life features Significant costs were removed from photography has been strengthened
for magazines. the business during the year without with a continued focus on current
Our two production centres in India impinging on quality and management entertainment material and an exclusive
have played a key role in the ongoing was strengthened in key areas, representation agreement with UK
development of the group, assimilating including the appointment of managing Press, European royalty specialists.
increased volumes of business and directors for the UK, US and Asian Photographers have also been
making us more efficient. More than businesses. UK management focused deployed to the USA and Australia
200 jobs have now been created at on improving and strengthening the to build on entertainment and sport
our operation centres in Mangalore sales operation and the result was a coverage and we plan to extend this
and Pune. Staff in India have quickly significant upturn in sales during the in 2008.
embraced the values we stand for second half of the year – a trend that Once again, our photographers had
and are making an ever increasing has continued into 2008. a successful year, winning a number
contribution to the group. We continue to invest in our US of awards including the prestigious
In 2007 we launched the second business PA SportsTicker, which is Photographer of the Year award for
annual survey of our wire customers. making encouraging progress in the Cathal McNaughton at the Picture
The continuing improvements to the world’s largest sports market. Towards Editors Awards. Niall Carson, one of
service were recognised by the 81% the end of the year, PA SportsTicker two photographers based in Dublin,
of respondents who rated it as very won a significant contract to become was named AIB Photojournalist of the
good or good, up by 14% on the the sports content partner of CanWest, Year 2007.
previous year. one of Canada’s largest newspaper Division revenues during the year
Press Association Training also publishers and in 2008 has agreed a increased by 5% to £9.3 million despite
performed well in the year, increasing deal with the New York Daily News. the market becoming increasingly
revenue to over £1 million. PA Sport has started 2008 strongly competitive. We added 240,000
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