UTV Media advertising down by 7%

UTV MEDIA has seen a further 7% fall in advertising revenue from its Irish radio operations since the beginning of this year, following a 16% fall for the whole of 2009.

The Belfast-headquartered broadcasting and media company, comprising Ulster Television and radio stations across Britain and Ireland, said group revenue was up 5% in the first four months of this year compared with the corresponding period in 2009.

The revenue decline in the Irish radio division – made up of seven stations, including FM104 and Q102 in Dublin and Cork stations 96FM and C103 – was compounded by sterling exchange rate losses, which accounted for 2% of the fall. This meant that basic like-for-like revenues were down 5%.