First quarter revenues at global outdoor advertising group JCDecaux declined by 1.6% to €352.9 million, driven down by currency movements, according to the company. After adjusting for foreign exchange, organic revenues increased by 2.6%, it said.
The company’s strongest sector was billboards, which saw a 3.8% rise in revenue to €96.7 million. Markets in the UK and France were principal drivers of this growth. Street furniture and transport advertising revenues, meanwhile, fell by 3.7% and 2.8% respectively.
Chairman Jean-Charles Decaux expects that the decline in street furniture advertising will ease moving into the second quarter, following some indications of improvement. The rate of billboard-related revenue increase is predicted to fall in Q2, whilst the transport sector is likely to be hit by the effect of the SARS outbreak.
“The advertising market as a whole remains challenging with no improvement in short term visibility,” said Decaux.
