Internet ad revenue soars 24% in 2007

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Feb 26, 2008

Internet advertising revenue for 2007 is expected to grow to more than $21 billion, a 24-percent increase over the previous year's record of almost $16.9 billion, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Fourth-quarter 2007 revenue amounted to about $5.9 billion, the highest quarter ever reported. This was a 13-percent rise over the third quarter of 2007 and a 24-percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2006.

David Silverman, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said the record $21.1 billion year is the culmination of consecutive record quarters throughout 2007.

"The continued record growth evidences the importance and uniqueness of interactive media to both consumers and the marketers that are trying to reach them," Silverman said.

Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB, said that interactive media continue their unabated growth.

"I applaud the industry on maintaining this extraordinary momentum of innovation, which has fundamentally changed the way we live today," he said.

Actual third- and fourth-quarter results will be reported in the 2007 Internet Advertising Revenue Report in May 2008.

PricewaterhouseCoopers is a provider of industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services.

The IAB represents more than 375 companies that engage in online advertising.