MADRID -- Having plunged 7.85% from E2.3 billion ($2.5 billion) in 2000 to E2.1 billion ($2.3 billion) in 2001, Spain's TV ad spending appears to be bottoming out.
Total TV advertising placed in Spain in 2002 came in at E2.1 billion ($2.3 billion), 1.5% up on the previous year, per a report published by Spanish research company InfoAdex.
In 1999, total ad spending reached E2.1 billion ($2.3 billion ).
Figures reflect increased business at pubcaster RTVE, driven by talent reality show "Operacion Triunfo." Ad spending on RTVE's two channels, TVE-1 and La2, rose 12.8% to $725.4 million.
Advertising dropped 4.2% to $588.2 million at Telefonica-owned Antena 3, and was down 1.9% at $629.6 million at the Berlusconi-controlled rival Telecinco.
"Advertising picked up in the final months of 2002 and January looks somewhat up on last year," InfoAdex director Pedro Villa told
Daily Variety.
Figures are based on broadcasters' own estimations at Spain's biggest TV stations including pubcaster RTVE, commercial nets Antena 3 and Telecinco, Spanish regional pubcasters and premium paybox Canal Plus Espana.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com