Ad Revenues Sank for Top 100 Media Cos. in 2009

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Advertising Age reports ad revenues for the nation's  top 100 media companies dropped 4.3 percent for the first half of 2009 compared to the same period a year ago.

Revenue growth figures for the leading 100 media cos. tracked by the advertising industry bible were the lowest since 1991 and the 2009 decline represents the first such decline since Ad Age began tracking the top 100 firms in 1981. Last year, 11 of the top 100 media entities of 2008 filed for bankruptcy, though 6 of those have since emerged from insolvency, including the Chicago Sun-Times and the Star Tribune.

On the flip side, cable networks, cable systems, satellite tv and digital tv all grew in 2009.  Indeed, five of the nation's 10 largest media firms are cable or satellite-related, including Comcast, DirecTV, and Cox Enterprises.