As advertising markets weakened, Paris-based advertising firm Publicis Groupe SA, owner of Saatchi and Saatchi, posted a 1.1 percent decrease in organic revenue growth for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2008, compared to the 4.2 percent growth posted a year ago, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report, posted by CNN Money. The growth beat an average forecast of 0.4 percent from seven analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

The decline was mainly due to losses at recently closed Web TV channel Honeyshed and other non-recurring impairments.

Digital makes up 19 percent of Publicis' revenue, compared with 15 percent in 2007, and was a major growth driver particularly in the United States. Overall, 90 percent of the group's digital activities are in the United States and Europe, and grew 29 percent organically in 2008, according to the Dow Jones report.

Emerging economies accounted for 22.9 percent of revenue in 2008, compared with 21.3 percent last year.

Chief Executive Maurice Levy told journalists at a briefing that, while he expects the global advertising market to post a decline between 2 percent to 3 percent in 2009, the group's push into digital and emerging markets is expected to partially offset declines in other regions and activities. He added that in 2009 the sector would show the best profitability, according to Dow Jones.

The company reminded reporters of its goal to derive 25 percent of revenue from digital and 25 percent from emerging markets by 2010. Levy said the company will continue to tighten its budget, but is not currently planning to restructure, Dow Jones reported.