SMI: TV Ad Revenue Grew 21% in 1Q

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Television ad revenue jumped in the first quarter as automakers and pharmaceutical companies turbocharged their spending, according to new figures from research company Standard Media Index.

Total TV spending for the quarter was up 21.2% from a year ago. March spending was up 18%.

Automotive ad buys on TV were up 45.8% and pharmaceuticals jumped 38.2%, in the quarter according to SMI.

Broadcast TV spending was up 24% in the quarter and up 12% in March. Broadcast got a boost from NBC’s Olympic coverage in the quarter.

Cable TV was up 21% in the quarter and up 18% in March.

Among the cable networks showing the strongest growth in the first quarter were AMC, BET and History.

Syndication was up 11% in the quarter, spot TV grew 22% and local/MSO cable was up 4%.

Ad spending on digital rose 23% in the quarter and 22% in March, according to SMI.

In total, all ad spending was up 18% in the quarter and 17% in March.

SMI pulls it’s data directly from the computers of media agencies representing about 60% of a media buying.

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.