Five’s parent company RTL has reported year-on-year revenue growth of 7% in the first quarter, its best results since 2008.

The group, which also owns FremantleMedia, increased revenues to £1.1bn in the first three months of the quarter with a 15% EBITDA margin helped by a recovering ad market.

RTL now expects to improve its year-end position from the £37m losses it made in 2009 but warned against over optimism given the unpredicatability of the market.

“Given the positive business development in the first months of 2010, RTL Group expects to improve on last year’s results. However, developments on the various advertising markets can only be predicted to a very limited degree,” it said in a statement.

“At the moment, no one can tell what the fourth quarter will look like this year, given the low visibility and economic environment.”

RTL slashed the value of Five by £20m in March after it reported an annual loss of £37m in 2009.

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