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BIA/Kelsey Raises Forecast for 2010 Radio Industry Revenues As First-Quarter Returns Show Slight Increases

Growth will come from utilization of OTA assets with mobile and online
 

CHANTILLY, VA. May 27, 2010 – BIA/Kelsey, adviser to companies in the local media space, has slightly raised its outlook for the radio industry in 2010. Based on first-quarter results from a number of radio ownership groups, other market intelligence and a renewed optimism for the industry as a whole, BIA/Kelsey now expects total radio industry revenues to hit $14.21 billion, an increase of 3.7 percent over last year. The higher forecast, which appears in the second edition of BIA/Kelsey’s quarterly "Investing In Radio^® Market Report," also reflects radio’s continued success in incorporating digital and mobile plans into its overall strategy.

“We’re confident that there is still a lot of room for growth in radio, but it will be a slow and steady rise that shouldn’t be measured by the results of a single quarter,” said Mark Fratrik, Ph.D and vice president, BIA/Kelsey. “The impact of this year’s growth will be seen across many markets and is likely to reflect the areas around the country that have seen an economic upturn.”

The chart below represents BIA/Kelsey’s updated five-year forecast for the radio industry:

Click here for a larger image of this chart

Radio’s position in the overall local marketplace is also significant when compared with the revenues of other local media including direct mail, newspapers, television and Yellow Pages. According to BIA/Kelsey’s Media Ad View reports, over-the-air radio ranks fourth in 2009 U.S. local media revenues, with 10.5 percent of the $130.2 billion total. Media Ad View provides research, trending and analysis across 12 media categories.

“In order for radio to maintain its position in the wider local media marketplace, it needs to continue to grow its broadcast revenues concurrent with its digital prospects,” said Fratrik. ”Returning to revenues that were last seen by the radio industry in the early part of the last decade will come from utilizing traditional over-the-air assets combined with mobile and other digital solutions.”

Fratrik points to examples shared during the recent BIA/Kelsey conference, Digital Strategies for Broadcasting, and documented in his BIA/Kelsey blog found at http://blog.bia.com/bia/author/mfratrik. His recent blog on some of the presentations from DSB 2010 - “Does the Emperor Have Any Clothes, Or Were We Just Looking at One Outfit?” - references the success of Davis Media, GapWest and others, all of which are seeing impressive increases in revenues through innovative online ventures, many that zero in on hyperlocal.

The chart below represents BIA/Kelsey’s Media Ad View of 2009 U.S. local media revenues:

Click here for a larger image of this chart

Investing in Radio

A comprehensive profile of each of the 300 Arbitron-rated markets with historic and projected market demographic and financial statistics is available in the second edition of the quarterly "Investing In Radio^® Market Report" and the new 2010 "Investing In Radio^® Ownership Report" published by BIA/Kelsey.  Both publications are part of the Investing In financial guide series that includes estimated advertising revenues, technical data, ownership and acquisition information, and more for every market. Information on these publications is available at http://www.bia.com/publications_reference_radio.asp#radio2.

BIA also publishes investment reference guides and provides data services for the television and newspaper industries. For more information, call (800) 331-5086 or email info@bia.com.

 

About BIA/Kelsey
BIA/Kelsey advises companies in the local media space through consulting and valuation services, research, Continuous Advisory Services, and conferences. Since 1983 BIA/Kelsey has been a resource to the media, mobile advertising, telecommunications, Yellow Pages and electronic directory markets, as well as to government agencies, law firms and investment companies looking to understand trends and revenue drivers. BIA/Kelsey’s annual conferences draw executives from across industries seeking expert guidance on how companies are finding innovative ways to grow. Additional information is available at www.bia.com and www.kelseygroup.com. The company’s blogs are located at http://blog.bia.com/bia/ and http://blog.kelseygroup.com/, and it can be found on Twitter through http://twitter.com/BIAKelsey.