Advanced Television

Mediaset and Atresmedia under fire for exceeding ad limits

October 30, 2014

From David Del Valle in Madrid

The Spanish Competition Authority, CNMC, has started legal proceedings against Mediaset Spain and Atresmedia for exceeding advertising limits and interrupting programmes with adverts to the detriment of viewers.

Both groups face fines of up to €500,000 each one for breaking the TV law. The channels have 15 days to make allegations with the CNMC making a decision in six month’s time.

Mediaset Spain, operator of 6 FTA TV channels (Tele 5, Cuatro, Factoría de Ficción, Energy, Divinity and Boing), has recovered economically due to the recovery of the TV ad market.

In the first nine months of the year, the TV group managed to increase by 68.1 per cent its EBITDA to €96.98 million and by 85.4 per cent its EBIT to €84.2 million, with a net profit of €25.2 million, up 14 per cent. Total revenues amounted to €658.2 million, up 12.7 per cent mainly thanks to its 11.3 per cent rise in TV ad revenues (to €628.3 million), a higher percentage than the average TV ad growth in the market at 9.9 per cent.

Mediaset claims to have become the market leader in terms of audience ratings, market share and operational results. The company takes 44.4 per cent of the total TV ad pie and 30.6 per cent of the total audience, with Tele 5 as the dominant leader with an average rating share of 14.5 per cent.

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