Television Advertising breaks record

Wednesday 2 February 2005

Television Advertising breaks record for 4th year running

Television advertising revenue totalled $644.0 million ($591.7m in 2003) for the 12 months to 31 December 2004. This is an increase of $52.3 million or 8.8 per cent over the same period in 2003. It is the 4th annual increase since 2001 and is the highest total ever recorded for television advertising in New Zealand.

Revenue for the quarter ending 31 December 2004 was $184.3 million compared to $176.0 million in the same quarter in 2003, an increase of $8.3 million or 4.7 per cent. The revenue figures are for free to air and pay television.

The New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council said that the annual increase was the product of strong economic growth and stable audiences for television. The average time spent viewing for all people over the age of five years was steady at 2 hours 53 minutes per day.

The NZTBC's Executive Director, Bruce Wallace said that growing levels of local content and increased competition were two factors influencing viewers in 2004. The

NZ Idol Grand Final on TV2 and Coronation Street on TVOne were the top rating local and overseas programmes respectively. The first All Black test against the Wallabies on 3 was its highest rating programme across all viewers. Prime's top show was Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Spending on television advertising in the December quarter as reported by Nielsen Media Research was strong in the categories of leisure, computers, government departments, household products and furnishings, retail, insurance, investment and banking.

All companies in the NZTBC increased their revenues from advertising in the highly competitive broadcasting sector and are also reporting continuing strong demand in 2005. The NZTBC is made up of the three companies operating national broadcast television channels. They are CanWest TVWorks, Prime Television New Zealand and Television New Zealand.

ENDS

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