AOL still on the slide

AOL is still struggling to make up lost revenues as subscribers continue to flee the service. The internet giant has lost more than three million customers over the last year as the number of US subscribers fell to 18.6m - down 835,000 over the last three months alone.

Publishing Q1 results for the three months to March, AOL (owned by media giant Time Warner) reported that revenues fell seven per cent ($152m) to just under $2bn, compared to the same period last year.

This was due to a 13 per cent decrease ($236m) in subscription revenues although it was partly offset 26 per cent increase ($81m) in ad revenues.

At the same time, operating income decreased 14 per cent ($45m).

AOL's decline is also being mirrored in Europe. At the end of March AOL Europe had 5.9m punters - down 147,000 on the previous three months and a slide of 452,000 on the same period last year. ®