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CCTV slot auction fails to hit target
By Frederick Yeung (South Morning China Post)
Updated: 2005-11-28 14:14
Intense competition in the advertising market has slowed revenue growth at
China Central Television (CCTV) where an auction for next year's time slots fell
short of its six billion yuan target.
Bidding for the slots realised 5.8 billion yuan, representing growth of just
10.8 per cent -- down on previous years' growth. CCTV blamed increased
competition from rival television stations.
The new CCTV center is
designed as a 230-metre-tall structure, which comprise two
inverted L-shaped towers joined high above the ground. [sina/file
photo] |
"The growth rate this year was
the slowest in recent years, implying that advertisers are more cautious about
putting all the budgets into CCTV only," one media buyer said.
This year, CCTV extended its auction for time slots from prime time to
include specific programmes, such as the World Cup football tournament next
summer.
"The new arrangement helps CCTV to tap into more advertising revenue as local
satellite channels are becoming more aggressive in luring advertisers," the
media buyer said. He said the high ratings of local channels, such as Hunan
Satellite Television, were enticing some existing CCTV advertisers to reallocate
their budgets.
According to Hunan Broadcasting System, which runs Hunan Satellite, the
station generated about 600 million yuan in advertising revenue last year,
ranking first among all satellite television stations on the mainland.
The highest bid at CCTV's annual advertising conference held last Friday came
from US-based Procter and Gamble which offered 394 million yuan.
It was the second consecutive year the company had offered the highest bids
at auction.
The mainland's largest mobile phone operator China Mobile gained the title
sponsorship for two World Cup programmes, including the World Cup Live and World
Cup Top Score shows. The company paid 103 million yuan for the bids.
An industry watcher said the successful bid for the World Cup sponsorship was
short of target by about five million yuan.
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