first quarter results over last year but continued to show a loss.

CME, an owner of several television stations worldwide, lost $3.39 million in the first quarter of this year compared to a loss of $3.69 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1994.

Revenue for the quarter was $18.7 million compared to $8.9 million a year earlier, said Bloomberg business news service.

"We continue to be pleased with the performance of Nova TV, the national Czech Republic station, not only because of its extraordinary financial success but also because of its phenomenal audience acceptance,'' said Mr.

John Severino, CME's president and CEO.

Nova is the only private national television station operating in the Czech Republic.

But losses at 1A, the Berlin television station, and FFF, the Nuremberg television station, and expenses related to CME's station and licence developments efforts continue to impact results, the company added.

"Since 1995 began, CME has made advances in our pursuit of additional commercial broadcasting opportunities in the central and eastern European region.

"We are active in more than a dozen markets at various stages of licence and station development,'' said Mr. Leonard Fertig, chief financial officer.

Station operating expenses were $11.8 million compared to $8.8 million a year earlier while station selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.1 million compared to $2.2 million a year earlier.

CME, controlled by cosmetics heir Mr. Ronald Lauder, commenced operations in 1991 to own, operate and develop national and regional private commercial television stations in the emerging markets of central Europe and regional private commercial television stations in Germany.

The company's broadcast operations reach about 17.4 million people daily.