Commercial Radio Australia releases ad revenue figures for February 2022

Advertising revenue for metropolitan commercial radio stations increased by 0.5% in February to $51.638 million compared to the same month a year ago, for a twelfth consecutive month of gains since the start of the recovery, according to data released by industry body Commercial Radio Australia.

CRA chief executive officer Joan Warner said the slower rate of growth reflected a hangover from the Omicron outbreak in December and January.

“There were some lingering effects from the Omicron wave which impacted business supply chains, but the market has weathered it well and the outlook for the rest of the year remains positive.

“With state and international borders reopening and a federal election ahead, we hope to see advertising growth get back to a stronger footing in the months ahead,” she said.

Sydney stations reported a 2.7% year on year increase in ad revenue to $15.155 million in the month of February but the Melbourne market was 1.3% lower to $17.433 million. Brisbane rose 0.6% to $7.844 million, Perth dipped 0.3% to $6.585 million and South Australia increased 1.1% to $4.620 million.

The figures are compiled by media data analytics company Milton Data and include agency and direct ad revenue.

Earlier this week, Commercial Radio Australia chairman and SCA CEO Grant Blackley announced the appointment of Ford Ennals as the industry body’s new CEO, replacing Joan Warner who steps down at the end of March.

Ennals has experience in media transformation and digitisation from his time as the founding CEO of Digital UK and most recently as the CEO of Digital Radio UK. Digital UK was a consortium of British commercial and public service broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel Five where Ennals was responsible for working with broadcasters and the UK Government to successfully convert UK homes to digital TV.