Spain’s TV advertising revenues down

Iñaki Ferreras | 21-07-2012

Television advertising revenues in Spain have fallen year-on-year by 16.4%, from €502.5 million in the first quarter of 2011 to €419.9 in the first three months of 2012, according to the latest report by Telecommunications Market Commission (CMT).

The channels most affected by the economic crisis were the public channels, whose advertising revenues fell 30.55% compared with the same period last year, from €51.9 million to €36.1 million. Meanwhile, advertising revenue of private channelsfell 14.8%.

Also the amount of subsidies received by public radio and television decreased during this period, although to a lesser extent. In the first quarter of 2011 the subsidies were cut 7.7% from €474.5 million in the first three months of 2011 to €437.9 million in the same period in 2012.

Radio advertising revenues were also affected by the economic crisis, and decreased by 7.9%.

However, the status of pay-TV shows a changing landscape. While revenue from subscriber fees - representing the largest share of revenue for these channels - grew in the first quarter by 5% the income of pay per view and video on demand (VOD) fell 47.9%.

The number of subscribers to satellite pay-TV fell 0.8%, while cable subscribers fell 3.4%. Subscribers to internet TV rose 2.8% and the pay-DTT decreased by 0.11%.

In total, revenues of the country’s audiovisual sector - counting both radio and television - were down 9.2% in the first quarter to €1,397.7 million, €142.7 million less than in the first quarter last year.