This means that Melbourne ad revenue is virtually neck-and-neck with Sydney, which has a larger population. Sydney radio’s ad revenue went up by 7.31% to $18.006 million.
Of the other three capital cities, Adelaide is up by 8.49% to $5.101 million; Perth up 6.09% to $7.384 million; and Brisbane up 5.12% to $8.661 million.
The figures, sourced by Deloitte and released by commercial radio sector’s peak trade body Commercial Radio Association, showed that the five capital cities in total posted an 8.97% rise to $57.004 million in July.
This is a stark contrast to July 2012 when commercial radio ad revenues for the five cities fell by 1.16% to a total of $52.349 million. After a patchy and gloomy last few years, commercial radio revenue has in 2013 shown growth in the first six months of 2013. It is believed that the July rise is due to greater Government spending, with ads for the coming national elections and its warnings of Visa problems for boat refugees.
Joan Warner, CEO of Commercial Radio Australia observed, “Several factors, including recent political ad spend, have contributed to a very positive start for radio in the new financial year. That this growth is part of an ongoing six-month trend highlights the industry’s strength and resilience.”
