M6 Posts Slight Profit Increase

PARIS: M6 says its first-half results demonstrate its resiliency in a tough economy, with profit up 1 percent to 80.1 million euros, on revenues that were down just 4.3 percent to 678.3 million euros.

M6’s ad revenues did take a hit, falling 14.1 percent to 315.2 million euros, however other ad revenues gained 18.6 percent to 55.6 million euros and non-advertising revenues rose 4.2 percent to 307.5 million euros. 

The company attributed its profit gain to a 23.7-percent reduction in programming expenses as compared with the year-ago period, which included an investment in EURO 08; cost-saving efficiencies and gains at the digital channels and in the diversification and audiovisual rights segments. Total digital channel revenues gained 12 percent to 70.5 million euros and diversification and audiovisual rights revenues were up 4.9 percent to 289.5 million euros.