Local broadcast TV ad revenues for the first quarter of 2007 were down 3% from the same period in 2006, according to a Television Bureau of Advertising analysis of TNS Media Intelligence/CMR estimates for the top 100 markets' shows.
Syndicated TV revenues were down 5.9% in the first quarter of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006, and revenues for network TV fell 6.5%. All told, broadcast TV revenues decreased 5.3%.
The drop came despite increases in 16 of the top 25 advertising categories.
Automotive was the top local broadcast ad category, but revenues from auto ads still fell 8.9% in the first quarter of 2007 compared with the first quarter of 2006.
Restaurants were the second biggest local broadcast TV ad revenue source, posting a 3.8% gain. Telecommunications ad revenues were up 7.1%, while car and truck dealers and furniture stores were both down.