JCDecaux shows that outdoor is improving

Outdoor media owner JCDecaux has reported a boost in sales for the first half of the year, reflecting an improving advertising market.

JCDecaux outdoor advertising
JCDecaux outdoor advertising

Organic revenues increased 8.7% to €1,11bn (£0.9bn) in the six months to 30 June.

Revenues at JCDecaux’s street furniture business increased 23.7% to €550.1m (£458m) during the first half.

Its transport division saw a 21% increase in revenue to €350.8m (£292m) boosted by the acquisition of the Titan outdoor group in the UK. Excluding Titan, revenue increased 10.2%.

Billboard revenues improved 10.0% to €209.7m (£174.7).

Jean-Charles Decaux, chairman of the board and co-chief executive officer, says: “Our H1 2010 numbers reflect a clear improvement in organic revenues driven by our key markets – France, the United Kingdom, China and the USA – as advertisers raised their levels of spending and increasingly favoured the quality of JCDecaux’s portfolio.”

He adds that while the global economy remains unclear, “short-term trading conditions continue to be positive in most markets”.

The outdoor advertising industry is currently being reviewed by the Office of Fair Trading and may later be formally investigated to scrutinise the concentration of buying and selling power.