IAB: Second Quarter Ad Spending Up 20 Percent

The Internet Advertising Bureau said second quarter spending on Internet ads rose 20 percent to $423 million compared to the same period a year ago.

Figures from the IAB’s “Advertising Revenue Reporting Program” showed Internet ad spending rose for the ninth consecutive quarter.

According to the report, which was presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers at the IAB’s annual Fall East Coast meeting in New York this week, Internet advertising continues its billion dollar run-rate for the third consecutive quarter.

“The continuing growth of online advertising revenue only reaffirms the vitality of the medium as an increasingly important component for advertisers’ campaigns,” said IAB Chairman Rich LeFurgy in a statement.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of large advertisers integrate online spending into their overall media plans. Additionally, the industry is experiencing a surge of interest from all quarters — agencies, advertisers, publishers, technology enablers and research companies.”

Leading online spending categories were computing, 26 percent; consumer goods, 24 percent; financial services, 13 percent; new media, 13 percent; and telecommunications, 9 percent.

The survey also found that 95 percent of ad deals remain cash-based, with barter deals accounting for the remainder.

Banner advertisements continue to dominate spending with a 58 percent share. Other leading expenditures are sponsorships, 37 percent and interstitials 3 percent.

Conducted by the New Media Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the “Advertising Revenue Report” was started by the IAB in 1996 and represents data from more than 200 companies representing more than 1,200 Web sites. Results are released quarterly.