Atresmedias continues to break records. Antena 3 has closed September, for the 23rd consecutive month, as the most watched channel in Spain. It accumulated an average share of 13% and recorded an excellent start to the season in all its time slots. In this way, it achieved the greatest distance over its main competitor, Telecinco, at the beginning of the year (more than 3.4 share points).
Atresmedia’s success lies in its ability to bring together the country’s political left and right in two completely different channels, but with the same focus: information and entertainment. Antena 3 maintains its tendency towards the center-right and laSexta as a clear commitment to the political left. However, both channels emphasize the importance of information, especially in the morning and midday news programs.
Antena 3 is the leader in 11 of the 17 autonomous communities and in all daytime slots. In the afternoons, it stands out with 15.7% and in prime time with 14.2%. The news programs of Antena 3 Noticias, especially the midday edition directed by Sandra Golpe, have a record of 21.1%. Its quiz shows also continue to be an audience benchmark: Pasapalabra (19.7%), La ruleta de la suerte (19.1%) and The Floor (13.1%). Thus, Antena 3 improved its figures with respect to August by 1.1%.
As second channel, laSextale wins the Cuatro battle, improving its August share by six tenths of a point and achieving an important 6.4%. This is how laSexta has been ahead of its direct competitor for 27 months. These conclusions are drawn from the latest audience study published by the agency Dos30.
Atresmedia’s success lies in resolving internal political pluralism and in uniting, without losing its reputation, around what is considered politically correct. It is once again the leading group compared to Mediaset España, despite having one less channel, and is up 1.2 points, with an average of 26.8%. In fact, its thematic channels achieved their best September in three years with a 7.3% audience share.
Reference in the news field
Both Antena 3 and laSexta have managed to consolidate themselves as two clear examples of benchmarks in the news field. As a result, they have recorded very good audience figures in their news programs and in special editions, such as during the last General Elections in July.
Atresmedia’s commitment to news highlights the investment in a field that supplements fiction, where the powerful pay platforms are building a powerful oligopoly.
Antena 3 Noticias now has 44 consecutive months of leadership and is more than 7.7 points ahead of its main competitor. The 23J General Elections Special achieved a record share for an electoral event since the year 2000, and its best share since 2008.
Antena 3 Noticias 1, directed and presented by Sandra Golpe, is the most watched news program on television with an absolute and consecutive leadership for 68 months. Antena 3 Noticias 2, directed and presented by Vicente Vallés, has been the leading Prime Time news program for 38 months, extending its lead over its main competitor.
Antena 3 Noticias Fin de Semana has been the most watched news program for 36 months and Noticias de la mañana has 12.8%. Espejo Público accumulated a 12.8% share in the 09:00 to 11:00 time slot.
On the other hand, laSexta continues in its position as a news referent with all the daily information through laSexta Noticias, Al Rojo Vivo and Más Vale Tarde, and in August with Jugones due to the controversy over the ‘Rubiales case’. Despite the battle of the mornings, Alfonso Arús with Aruseros and Antonio García Ferreras with Al Rojo Vivo manage to lead the slot from 07:00h to 14:00h with an average of 14% share. This means that laSexta is seen as a reference in political issues.
Atresmedia’s economic balance
Atresmedia’s audience success goes hand in hand with good financial results during the first half of 2023. The group’s share price has increased by 2.70%, an increase of 0.8% compared to the IBEX 35 index.
Atresmedia’s turnover, in net income, during the first half of 2023 was 2.8% higher than during the same period of 2022. Thus, from 459.9 million euros to 472.8 million euros. Revenues increased in all business areas: audiovisual revenues rose from EUR 429 million to EUR 439 million (up 2.4%) and radio revenues from EUR 35.5 million to EUR 38.5 million (up 8.4%).
The EBITDA indicator measures the Group’s capacity to generate resources. Although it has increased in percentage terms less than its revenues, due to the higher increase in expenses, the figures have grown by 0.2% and have been 88.55 million euros compared to the first half of 2022, which was 88.34 million euros.
Atresmedia’s profit has increased in the first half of 2023 with respect to the same period of the previous year by 4.2%, registering an impressive 59.43 million euros. With respect to its liquidity position at the end of the first quarter, it has increased its cash at the end of the period to €216 million, 13.7% more than in 2022 when it booked €26 million. This is due to a lower disbursement on investments and a higher amount for divestments of financial assets (amounting to 75 million euros).