Network Radio was in the middle of the pack when it comes to declines in media ad revenue from Q1 2008 to Q1 2009.  The U.S. advertising market was down 12% for the first quarter of this year compared to Q1 2008, according to Nielsen.  “Preliminary figures indicate U.S. ad expenditures declined $3.8 billion to a total of $27.9 billion in the first quarter. All measured media registered declines with Network Radio showing a 12.6% decline. “These first quarter results will hardly come as a surprise to an advertising industry that’s struggling just like many other areas of the American economy,” said Nielsen VP/Sales Development for Monitor-Plus Annie Touliatos. “Television remains the dominant medium for advertisers, accounting for two-thirds of all ad dollars. Network TV, the largest media category with $5.76 billion in ad dollars in the first quarter, declined 4.8%. Spanish-Language Cable TV fared best, falling only 1.1%, while Television Syndication was hit hardest, down 18.8%. A look at the catagories is below:

Q1 2009 Vs. Q1 2008

Spanish-Language Cable TV -1.1%
Cable TV -2.7%
Internet -3.4%
Network TV -4.8%
FSI Coupon -7.5%
Spot Radio -9.0%
Outdoor -10.7%
Network Radio -12.6%
Spanish-Language TV -13.8%
Local Newspaper -14.3%
Spot TV Top 100 DMAs -15.6%
Syndication TV -18.8%
National Magazine -20.6%
Local Magazine -23.6%
National Sunday Supplement -25.9%
National Newspaper -27.7%
Spot TV 101-210 DMAs -28.9%
B-to-B Magazines -29.9% .