TV deals fuel Swiss group

Highlight Communications profits up 4121%

By ED MEZA

BERLIN -- Pretax profits for Swiss entertainment group Highlight Communications skyrocketed 4121% to Sfr 4.6 million ($2.8 million) in the first half of the year as a result of "increased deals with leading TV broadcasters," according to company officials. Revenues rose 125% to $22 million, compared with the same period last year.

Established in 1983, Highlight has become one of the leading brokers of film and TV rights in the German-speaking territories. The company controls an archive of more than 700 movies and is one of the biggest video distributors in Switzerland and Austria. It went public in May.