Mediaset takes ad revenue hit

Italian commercial broadcaster Mediaset saw advertising revenues fall by 13% in the first half of 2009.

Gross TV advertising revenues in the first quarter hit €646m, while pay-TV revenues were €72m. Mediaset deputy chairman Piersilvio Berlusconi told investors that the first half revenues were “in line or slightly better” than the first quarter. Mediaset currently has around 3.5 million subscribers.