TV advertising set for boost as spending soars

ADVERTISING revenues are set to jump this year due to a sharp increase in spending on television ads, a leading media buyer predicted yesterday, forecasting growth of 4.2 per cent.

WPP's GroupM, which had predicted an overall flat market in the UK, said it now expected TV advertising to be up by almost 11.6 per cent.

National newspapers and radio advertising are also in line for strong lifts as advertisers who held off from spending during the recession return to the market.

GroupM said TV rates for advertising had been extremely low and WPP's chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell has also said he expects a boost this year from the World Cup tournament in South Africa.

The main categories driving TV advertising were food, entertainment and the media, retail and finance.

GroupM expects overall revenue growth to remain at double-digit levels into September due to very weak comparatives. It is then forecast to be up about 3 per cent year-on-year each month for the rest of 2010.

It expects 3 per cent overall advertising growth in 2011.