Newsquest ad revenues down 17.9%

Advertising revenue at regional publisher Newsquest was down 17.9% year on year in the three months to 27 December 2009, according to results from US parent company Gannett.

Overall, Gannett’s ad revenues totalled $790.8 million for the fourth quarter, a 17.9% decline, with US ad revenues down 18%.

Classified revenues fell 21.9% in Q4, reflecting declines of 1.8% in the US and 23.5% at Newsquest, said Gannett. Automotive, employment, and real estate were down 26.9%, 38.5% and 9.4% year on year in the UK respectively.

Craig Dubow, Gannett chief executive, said: “Advertising demand firmed with the stabilisation of the economies of the US and UK. Our fourth quarter revenues comparisons were the best of the year with sequential improvement during the quarter. We are much stronger and well positioned as we move into 2010.”

Newsquest is part of two groups, in Wales and the Tyne Tees and Borders region, bidding for the government’s independently funded news consortium scheme, with the Department for Culture Media and Sport to give its decision in March.