Broadcaster Five generated £314 million in advertising revenue in 2007, compared with £290.3 million in 2006, an 8.2% boost.
The growth is a result of new revenue from Five’s digital channels, Five Life and Five US, and an almost 3% improvement in total television advertising.
Five chief executive, Jane Lighting, told The Times: “Five is doing better than a lot of people think it is. We grew faster than the market last year and we think we can do the same again this year.”
She said she hoped the launch of Aussie soap Neighbours next Monday would help the channel maintain its growth.
Last year, Five posted a £2 million underlying profit, in light of a £15 million investment in the new channel launches at the end of 2006.
In August, Five’s German-based owner, RTL, sliced £83 million off the value of Five because of what it described as higher than expected programming costs (see RTL Earnings Rise 7.7%). The broadcaster is currently valued at £510 million.
RTL will report its full-year results in March.
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