Although network TV lost ground, total ad spending grew 6.8% to hit $61.7 billion during the first half of the year. Total broadcasting rose 4.7% to $31.3 billion and print increased 8.6% to $25.9 billion.
Some of the strongest gains came from cable TV, nationally syndicated broadcasting and Spanish-language TV, according to ad tracking firm TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.
Internet advertising had one of the biggest gains, rising to 15.3%. The shift from newspaper advertising to Internet advertising skyrocketed 71.2% and contributed to the spike in overall Internet advertising gains.
Cable TV had the largest gain, up 16.7% to $5.7 billion. National syndication rose 15.8% to $1.6 billion, while Spanish-language network TV was up 15.4% to $1.1 billion
The only category to fall back was network TV, dropping 0.4% to $10.3 billion. Spot TV, local radio and network radio also remained flat.
The top spenders in the first half of 2003 were automotive, packaged goods and entertainment advertisers. General Motors topped the spending with a 10.5% increase to $1.3 billion.
