Bertelsmann and Axel Springer, two of Europe’s largest media companies, both reported slight improvements in their business during the third quarter on Wednesday.

Bertelsmann, a privately held publishing-to-television conglomerate reported revenues down 4.5 per cent in the three months to the end of September to €3.6bn ($5.41bn), but operating profits rose 14 per cent to €284m. However, there were one-off costs in the third quarter of 2008, which slightly flatter this year’s performance.