Good start to fiscal '09 at Astral, but rest of year "unclear"

MONTREAL – So far, so good in fiscal 2009, reported Astral Media Wednesday morning. The radio, pay & specialty TV and outdoor advertising company reported 24% revenue growth, a 13% increase in net earnings from continuing operations and a 21% increase in EBITDA for the quarter ended November 30, 2008. New brands just launched such as Virgin Radio and HBO Canada are faring well and advertising revenues in Quebec on the company’s French specialty channels grew at a rate of 7% while the rest of the TV ad market in Quebec took a 2% dip, said company CEO Ian Greenberg...