Stable Revenues for M6

PARIS: Despite the downturn, M6 is recording stable 2008 revenues of 1.35 billion euros, helped along by ad gains at its digital channels.

The RTL-owned broadcaster also expanded its market share in the year, both in terms of viewership and advertisers. A highlight in the year was the broadcast of the EURO 2008 match between France and Italy, viewed by more than 13.2 million people. Overall ad revenues were up 1.3 percent to 752.9 million euros, with revenues from the digital channels and other platforms, outside of the flagship terrestrial network, up by 40.3 percent to 94.9 million euros. At the main M6 channel, however, revenues fell 2.6 percent to 658 million euros. Non-advertising revenues were down slightly to 602 million euros.

For the quarter, revenues were also stable, at 374.6 million euros, including 169 million euros from non-advertising revenues, 29.2 million euros from the digital channels, and 176.3 million euros from the M6 channel.