M6 makes ad-sales progress, TF1 sees digital revenues jump

French commercial broadcaster M6 posted respectable results for the six months to June, with revenues up 1.6% to €714.6 million and net profit up 11.2% to €88.4 million.

The RTL-owned group said that advertising revenues grew by 2.3% year-on-year.

TV revenue was up 1.4% to €489.5 million, outshone by radio, up 5.8% and production and audiovisual rights revenues, up 25.5%, which was boosted by the success of Astérix – Le Secret de la Potion Magique. .

Diversified revenues were down 7.3% however, impacted by losses from the now-divested monAlbumPhoto.

The group’s comparable top line was impacted by the sale last July of monAlbumPhoto. Comparable net profit was boosted by the negative impact last year of losses incurred by football club FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

M6’s acquisition of Lagardère’s portfolio of channels with the exception of Mezzo, is expected to close on September 2 following approval of the deal by media regulator the CSA.

Publication of M6’s latest financials follow those of larger rival TF1 last week. TF1 posted revenues of €1.084 billion for the first half, up 5.7%. the group posted a net profit of €107.3 million, up 1.6 times.

TF1 was strongly boosted by digital growth, spanning e-commerce as well as digital content, with revenues tripling to €85.6 million for the first half, while revenues from studios and the group’s entertainment businesses fell by 9.1% to €168.8 million.