Alma Media - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

Alma Media Corporation s Q1 Interim Report: Clear growth in net sales and operating profit

ALMA MEDIA CORP.  STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 3 May 2007, 9.00am


ALMA MEDIA CORPORATION'S Q1 INTERIM REPORT: CLEAR GROWTH IN NET SALES
AND OPERATING PROFIT

Alma Media Group's net sales rose 14.8 % to MEUR 81.9 (MEUR 71.3).
The consolidated operating profit was MEUR 16.0 (MEUR 10.0). Earnings
per share were EUR 0.17 (EUR 0.10). Full-year net sales and operating
profit are expected to increase compared to the previous year.

- The first-quarter consolidated operating profit includes a capital
gain of MEUR 1.9, booked as a one-time item, following the disposal
on 1 February 2007 of a property in Rovaniemi used by the Lapin Kansa
newspaper.

- The consolidated profit before taxes was MEUR 17.2 (MEUR 10.3).

- Net sales from the Newspapers segment increased 9.3 % to MEUR 57.5
(MEUR 52.6) and its operating profit rose 39.7 % to MEUR 11.5 (MEUR
8.2). Advertising revenues in the Newspapers segment grew 12.9 %,
driven largely by parliamentary elections in March. Iltalehti showed
further strong success.

- Net sales from the Kauppalehti group increased 25.9 % to MEUR 17.7
(MEUR 14.1) and its operating profit was 20.1 % higher, standing at
MEUR 1.5 (MEUR 1.2). Net sales were boosted by the new units
Kauppalehti 121 and Suomen Business Viestintä. Comparable net sales
increased by 2.9 %. The comparable operating profit remained
unchanged.

- Net sales from the Marketplaces segment grew 42.3 % to MEUR 7.4
(MEUR 5.2). The operating profit more than tripled to MEUR 1.6.

- The company raises its full-year forecast in the light of its
strong first-quarter result. Assuming growth in the media market
continues similar to 2006 for the rest of the year, the Group expects
its net sales and operating profit excluding one-time items to grow
compared to last year.


President and CEO Kai Telanne:
A STRONG FIRST QUARTER FOR ALMA MEDIA

All Alma Media's segments raised both net sales and operating profit
during the first quarter. In March, Alma Media's net sales and
operating profit excluding capital gains were among the best in the
company's history for a single month. The Group's strong growth in
media sales was driven largely by better than expected election
advertising sales (MEUR 1.5), coupled with a surge in recruitment
advertising.

The Newspapers segment developed positively even without the election
advertising. Iltalehti and Aamulehti in particular raised both their
net sales and operating profits.

The Marketplaces segment showed further strong growth and reported an
excellent result. The operating profit tripled, due especially to
Monster and Etuovi.com in Finland and to City24 in Estonia. The
company is continuing to pursue investments in international
expansion and believes that marketplaces will continue to grow
strongly throughout the year. Marketplaces will show improved
profitability compared to last year despite an increase in
investments in foreign marketplaces towards the end of the year.

The personnel negotiations at Kauppalehti were completed in February
and the organization that supports editing in a multimedia
environment accelerates the good development. Kauppalehti's
circulation grew during 2006 and during the period a record was
reached for the number of visitors to the Kauppalehti Online website.

Alma Media's new Helsinki Desk began operating in March,
concentrating on producing political and social news for the
company's various newspapers. The company will further increase this
form of co-operation in all its operations.


ALMA MEDIA CORPORATION

Rauno Heinonen
VP, Corporate Communications & IR


Further information:
Kai Telanne, President and CEO, tel. +358 10 665 3500 or
Teemu Kangas-Kärki, CFO, tel. +358 10 665 2244.


The company will hold a conference for analysts and the media
starting at 11 am on 3 May in the Carl Cabinet of the Scandic Marski
hotel, Mannerheimintie 10, Helsinki. The results will be presented by
CEO Kai Telanne and CFO Teemu Kangas-Kärki with other members of the
Group Executive Team present.

The presentation material in English will be available from 11 am at
www.almamedia.fi.

A webcast will begin at 1.00 pm and last about 20 minutes. The
webcast can be followed at http://www.almamedia.fi. A Conference Call
will begin at 1.30 pm. To participate in the Conference Call, please
call +44 207 162 0125.

Alma Media is a profitably growing, innovative and internationally
expanding company that believes in the future of newspapers and the
online media. Its best known products are Aamulehti, Iltalehti,
Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com.

Net sales in 2006 totalled EUR 302 million and the operating margin
was 16 %. The company's share is listed in the Mid Cap segment of the
OMX Nordic Exchange's Nordic List, trading code ALN1V. More
information at www.almamedia.fi

DISTRIBUTION: Helsinki Stock Exchange, principal media

Viðhengi:

Q1 Interim Report