NRJ Group sees Q1 French radio revenues falling

PARIS Jan 27 (Reuters) - NRJ Group (SONO.PA) said on Tuesday its full year sales fell 7.9 percent to 331.3 million euros ($437.4 million) and forecast a drop in French radio revenues in the first quarter of 2009.

The group said lower 2008 sales reflected its gradually reducing stake in NRJ Mobile and the end of the musical "Le Roi Soleil" in July 2007.

The group said its French radio business posted a 7.3 percent drop in sales to 222.1 million euros, following a "particularly difficult fourth quarter due to the economic environment." International radio activities rose 5.3 percent compared with 2007, to 33.8 million euros, driven by growth in the Germanic region, NRJ said.

The group said television activities generated 25 million euros of sales in 2008, a 187.4 percent increase year-on-year.

Sales from non-media activities fell to 17.4 million euros in 2008, from 41.5 million euros in 2007.

"Within the current economic environment, the group has confirmed that it will be approaching 2009 with a great deal of caution," it said.

The group is due to publish full year results on Mar 25.

($1=.7573 Euro)

(Reporting by Helen Massy-Beresford; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)