Internet ad sales set record 9.6 billion dollars in 2004

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Internet advertising sales set a record last year of 9.6 billion dollars, an industry survey showed.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers said the figure was up 33 percent from 2003 and exceeded the previous record, set in 2000, by almost 20 percent.

"Interactive advertising has clearly become a mainstream medium and one that can no longer be ignored as a critical piece of any marketing mix," said Greg Stuart, president and chief executive of the IAB, said in a statement.

"Interactive is firing on all cylinders and is squarely on track to surpass consumer magazine revenues."

Consumer advertisers accounted for 49 percent of last year's interactive ad spending, with the strongest categories being retail,...