Advertising expenses up in the 4th quarter

Market research According to Media Focus, gross advertising expenditure in the Swiss media grew by around 0.6 percent in the 4th quarter of 2003.2.5 percent over the year; in the 2nd half of the year the decline was around 0.9 percent. The daily newspapers had a pleasing November. With a change of zero percent, there was no percentage decline for the first time in the year (in Swiss francs, the result was minus 50,000). In December, however, the old rut continued: minus 5.3 percent and minus 6.6 percent for the year as a whole. Consumer magazines reported two positive months (5.1 and 7.2 percent), enabling them to make up for the losses they had started to suffer by 0.2 percent. Trade magazines received a Christmas present in December with growth of 12% (annual loss of 5.5%). Radio experienced a black November: a decline of 10.8 percent meant the weakest month of the overall positive year (3.1 percent). Cinema suffered a slump of 23.9% in December. However, this is down on the record figure of December 2002.