Triggered by a leap in advertising revenues, champagne financial results for 2000 were reported yesterday by leading French TV station TF1.
Boosted by 16% ad revenue growth, profits soared 58% to $230 million. The broadcaster credited a surge in adspend by online and telecoms advertisers, together with an increased share of French viewers – 33.4% overall during 2000, according to ratings by monitoring firm Mediametrie. This eclipses the nation’s state-owned channels FR2 and FR3, which respectively garnered 22.1% and 16.8%.
The contribution of online activity to group profits was scant, although TF1’s flagship website (www.tf1.fr) is the news media leader in France.
A new joint venture in partnership with Credit Agricole bank offering online banking, financial services plus a news portal is also under development. This is expected to enhance internet ad revenues together with the network's brand image.
News source: Advertising Age - International Daily
