The advertising market is still short but has picked up in the current March quarter, according to Nine Entertainment.
The media group, releasing its December half results, reported growth in its core digital and subscription assets.
And advertising revenues have started the year on a “more positive” note.
CEO Matt Stanton, answering questions from analysts in a briefing, said the market “feels better” in the current March quarter than it was in the three months to December.
However, the market was still short and it was too early to call the June quarter.
“It was choppy through Q4 (June quarter) last year, and you might see a lift,” he said.
In total television, audiences have this March quarter been strong with the Australian Open reporting growth of around 25%.
Married at First Sight has returned with audiences around 7% above last season and the Winter Olympics reached more than 14 million people across total TV while also setting an all time record for weekly Stan Sport users.
Nine is expecting total TV revenue to be broadly flat in the March quarter, against a strong comparison in the same three months last year.
Stanton said Nine remains focused on cost effectiveness across the whole of streaming and broadcast.
For the full year, Nine now expects total television costs to be down in the mid single digits.
A slide from a presentation to analysts:
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