Many of the companies exhibiting at last month's NAB in Las Vegas will have been fretting about their short-term profitability, according to the findings of the latest IABM ‘Industry Index' research.

The Industry Indices track year-on-year change in overall sales and profitability for the broadcast manufacturing and media technology sector worldwide by examining the latest reported financial data.

According to the latest figures, global sales have increased by 11.7% year-on-year, but market profitability has improved by only 4.3% year-on-year, the lowest rate of improvement since the Index tracking started in 2006.

The IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers) said that indicators for European based companies are that profitability is in significant decline. It said: “2008 was a very good year for growth for this industry, and the latest reports are only just beginning to show weakening.

“Most companies have taken some protective actions to maintain competitivity (sic) in what is universally seen as a challenging current market due to the global economic crisis, and forward looking statements are increasingly cautious.”

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