Revenue Flat at TF1

PARIS: Consolidated revenue at the TF1 group was unchanged year-on-year at 2.6 billion euros ($3.5 billion), though channel advertising was 6.7-percent lower than in 2011, at 1.4 billion euros ($1.87 billion).

Revenue from other activities was up 9.2 percent, contributing 1.2 billion euros. Current operating profit was 258 million euros was compared to 2011’s 282.9 million euros. Current operating profit for the TF1 channel was 106.2 million in 2012. Advertising revenue for the group as a whole fell by 2.5 percent to 1.8 billion euros. This marks a solid performance for the group, considering the current economic environment, reflecting increased ad revenues for the DTT channels Eurosport International, growing monetization of online video and the inclusion of advertising from Metro France.

The TF1 channel attracted an average audience share of 22.7 percent of those over 4 for the year. Overall for 2012 the channel attracted 88 of the top 100 audiences across all program types. Programming costs were up for the year, from 905.5 million euros in 2011 to 935.5 million euros reported this year. This increase was attributed to more first-run dramas nearing the end of rights protection and a beneficial rise in investment in terms of audience. Revenue at Eurosport International was up by 10 percent to 406 million euros, on the back of an 18.4-percent spike in ad revenue, driven largely by nice audience figures and the airing of the London Olympics. Subscription revenue was up 7.3 percent, thanks to the international rollout strategy for the Eurosport channels.