RTL Detects ‘Tentative’ Signs Of Recovery

RTL Group, which owns Channel 5, says it can see the first shoots of recovery in the UK advertising market. The pan-European broadcaster says that full-year results are in line with analysts’ expectations.

RTL says that although advertising conditions in Germany and France remain unfavourable, there are ‘tentative’ signs of a revival in the UK and Netherlands.

The trading update for the first six months of 2002 shows that Channel 5’s audience share increased from 5.6% to 6.4% in a year. It’s share of the commercial TV market has grown to 7.3%.

Half-year financial results will be announced by RTL in September and will be closely scrutinized by potential suitors for Channel 5. Proposed changes to UK media ownership laws will allow newspaper publishers, such as News International, to bid for the station from next year.

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