Radio revenues may have been flat in Q1, but the picture for TV was much brighter. The Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) reports that local TV stations saw ad revenues grow 7.1% in Q1, with network up 12.8% and syndicated TV growing 6.2%.

1ST QUARTER 2006 SUMMARY
LOCAL BROADCAST: Top 100 Markets
	1st Qtr 2006	1st Qtr 2005	% Change
LOCAL BROADCAST TV*	$4,163,327,300	$3,887,717,300	7.1
SYNDICATED TV	1,048,620,800	987,594,900	6.2
NETWORK TV**	7,192,137,500	6,376,018,100	12.8
TOTAL BROADCAST TV	$12,404,085,600	$11,251,330,300	10.2
* Includes both local and national spot activity in the top 100 markets.
**Network figures include WB, UPN and PAX.
Source: Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) from estimates supplied by
TNS Media Intelligence.

RBR observation:
Folks in radio can only hope that the TV guys do even better as the year goes on. Sold-out TV inventory as the November election approaches could cause some advertisers to turn to radio. But we wouldn't count on any major windfall, since auto advertising continues to be soft for TV. That Q1 gain came despite a 2.8% decline for local TV's #1 ad category. In any case, radio needs to focus on building business, not hoping for scraps to fall from the TV table.