British broadcaster ITV, which expects growth in net advertising revenues to slow to 10% in the current quarter from 16% in the third quarter, said it was cautious about the outlook for next year.
Britain's biggest commercial free-to-air broadcaster said today total sales rose 11% to £1.46 billion sterling in the first nine months of the year, driven by a strong advertising recovery from a low 2009 base.
'The television advertising market has continued to recover strongly. However, this does not disguise the significant challenges ITV faces,' chief executive Adam Crozier said.
'The economic outlook for 2011 is uncertain and we continue to plan on a cautious basis,' he said.
Under Crozier, who joined ITV at the end of April, the broadcaster plans to enter the pay-TV market as part of a plan to generate around half its revenue from more reliable sources than advertising.
ITV made no mention of any reinstatement of a dividend in the new year, something the Sunday Times had reported ITV would consider.
