U.S. Advertising Spending Rose 0.6% in 2007, Nielsen Reports

U.S. Advertising Spending Rose 0.6% in 2007, Nielsen Reports

NEW YORK, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nielsen Company today reported that advertising spending for the full year 2007 rose 0.6% compared to full year 2006, with Internet continuing to demonstrate the strongest performance (+18.9%) of any media category.

According to preliminary figures from Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the leading provider of competitive advertising information, advertising spending was mixed across media with gains in some categories and declines in others. In addition to Internet advertising, other media categories that showed an increase in 2007 were National Magazines (7.6%), Outdoor (7.2%), National Sunday Supplements (4.9%), National Cable TV (2.2%), and Spanish-Language TV (1.5%).

"Several traditional media outlets are demonstrating resilience and strong growth in an overall softening economy, with Outdoor continuing a five-year steady climb in advertising spending," said Annie Touliatos, Director, Product Development and Marketing, Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

   Media Category                             2006 vs. 2007                                                 % Change   Internet                                         18.9 %   National Magazines                                7.6 %   Outdoor                                           7.2 %   Nat'l Sunday Supplements                          4.9 %   National Cable TV                                 2.2 %   Spanish-Language TV                               1.5 %   Network TV                                       -1.5 %   Local Magazines                                  -1.7 %   Spot Radio                                       -2.0 %   Spot TV Markets 101-210                          -2.6 %   Network Radio                                    -3.9 %   B-to-B Magazines                                 -4.0 %   Local Sunday Supplements                         -4.9 %   Spot TV Markets 1-100                            -5.1 %   Local Newspaper                                  -7.5 %   Nat'l Newspaper                                  -7.7 %   Total Advertising Spending                        0.6 %    Source:  Nielsen Monitor-Plus   -Syndicated TV and FSI Coupons were excluded due to methodology changes   -Newspaper reflects display ads only   

U.S. advertising growth was substantially lower than other regions of the globe, with Asia-Pacific reporting a 12.1% increase and EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) up nearly 5%. Specifically, Newspapers have shown a steady decline year-over-year in the U.S., while all other countries measured by The Nielsen Company reported growth for this media category.

Advertiser Spending

Advertising spending across monitored media for the top 10 companies in 2007 reached $17.9 billion, down an average of 4% from 2006. Seven out of the ten advertisers decreased budgets. The three companies that increased their spending were Procter & Gamble, Verizon Communications (+6% each), and AT&T (+2%). Procter & Gamble, the largest advertiser and also the advertiser with the largest increase in budget (+$205 million), boosted spending for many brands including Pantene Pro-V Hair Care Products, Gillette Fusion Razor- Electric Power, Cover Girl Volume Exact Mascara, and Olay Definity Moisturizing Facial Deep Penetrating Foaming. In addition, many new brands were introduced; of these, Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant/Deodorant Advanced Solid had the largest advertising budget.

In contrast, General Motors showed the largest advertising spending decline in terms of dollars (-$267 million). In 2007, GM cut back on advertising for Chevrolet Tahoe Trucks, GMC Yukon Trucks, Buick Lucerne Autos, and Hummer H3 Trucks, among others.

   Parent Company                   Jan - Dec     $ Change vs.    % Change                                   2007 ($ mil)    2006 ($ mil)  vs. 2006   Procter & Gamble Co.                 $3,728         $205           6 %   AT&T Inc.                            $2,151          $40           2 %   General Motors Corp.                 $2,028        -$267         -12 %   Ford Motor Co.                       $1,761         -$70          -4 %   Verizon Communications Inc.          $1,659          $96           6 %   Time Warner Inc.                     $1,467        -$232         -14 %   Cerberus Capital Management    (Chrysler, Dodge, GMAC, Jeep)       $1,363        -$144         -10 %   Johnson & Johnson                    $1,291        -$109          -8 %   Toyota Motor Corp.                   $1,255         -$97          -7 %   Walt Disney Co.                      $1,191        -$111          -9 %   Total Top 10 Companies              $17,895        -$688          -4 %    Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus   Based on spending estimates in the following media: Network TV, Cable TV,    Spot TV, Syndicated TV, Hispanic TV, Nat'l/Local Magazine, Network/Spot    Radio, Outdoor, Coupons (CPGs only), Nat'l/Local Newspapers (display ads    only), Nat'l/Local Sunday Supplements    Category Spending  

Spending for the 10 largest product categories reached $44.6 billion in 2007, 3% less than in 2006. In all, six categories showed decreased spending in 2007. The top category in terms of total dollars, Automotive, also had the greatest dollar and percent decline (-$1.48 billion; -11%). Financial/Investment Services had the fastest percentage growth (+14%), while Wireless Telephone Services had the greatest dollar increase (+$422 million). Within the Financial Services category, FMR Corp. was the top spender ($220.7 million), followed by Scottrade Inc. and Wachovia Corp., each with a budget of $119 million. In the Wireless Product category, Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc. were the top two advertisers in terms of total spending for 2007, each with a budget of $1.2 billion.

   Product Category                  Jan - Dec 2007    $ Change vs.  % Change                                         ($ mil)       2006 ($ mil)  vs. 2006   Automotive/Auto Dealer Assoc.          $12,261        -$1,479       -11 %   Pharmaceuticals                         $5,375          -$173        -3 %   Automotive - Dealership (Local)         $4,657          -$195        -4 %   Department Stores                       $4,113          -$260        -6 %   Wireless Telephone Services             $4,084           $422        12 %   Quick Service Restaurants               $3,959          -$166        -4 %   Motion Picture                          $3,842           -$77        -2 %   Direct Response Products                $2,366           $125         6 %   Credit Card Services                    $2,160           $127         6 %   Financial-Investment Svcs.              $1,776           $212        14 %   Top 10 Categories                      $44,592        -$1,464        -3 %    Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus   Based on spending estimates in the following media: Network TV, Cable    TV, Spot TV, Syndicated TV, Hispanic TV, Nat'l/Local Magazine,    Network/Spot Radio, Outdoor, Coupons (CPGs only), Nat'l/Local    Newspapers (display ads only), Nat'l/Local Sunday Supplements    Product Placement    Broadcast Network Product Placement  

Nielsen Product Placement Service reported an overall 13% increase in the number of product placement occurrences in prime-time broadcast network programming for 2007. The Top 10 programs featured 25,950 occurrences in 2007, compared with 22,553 occurrences in 2006. "American Idol," with 4,349 occurrences, was the #1 show in terms of the number of product placements in 2007; the show held the same position in 2006, when it aired 4,086 brand occurrences.

The Top 10 featured brands on prime-time broadcast network television for 2007 accounted for 11,666 occurrences; in comparison, the top ten brands accounted for 10,320 occurrences in 2006. Coca-Cola, primarily through its association with "American Idol," was the top brand in both 2206 and 2007, with 3,174 occurrences in the last year. 24 Hour Fitness Centers (1,931 occurrences) and Chef Revival Apparel (1,257 occurrences) round out the top three brands on Broadcast television in 2007.

                         Top 10 Programs for 2007:                     Product Placement on Broadcast TV                                                        Total #   Program                            Network        Occurrences   American Idol                        FOX             4,349   The Biggest Loser                    NBC             3,286   Fast Cars and Superstars             ABC             3,231   America's Next Top Model              CW             2,694   Extreme Makeover Home Edition        ABC             2,612   Deal or No Deal                      NBC             2,144   CW Now                                CW             2,049   Pussycat Dolls Present                CW             1,934   Amazing Race All Stars               CBS             1,893   Beauty and the Geek                   CW             1,758   Total                                               25,950    Source: Place*Views, Nielsen Product Placement Service    Cable Network Product Placement  

Nielsen Product Placement Service reports an overall decrease of 9% in the number of product placement occurrences in prime-time cable network programming for 2007, based on the cable programs tracked on A&E, Bravo, HGTV, MTV, and TLC. The Top 10 programs featured 163,737 occurrences for 2007 -- compared with 206,054 occurrences for 2006. "American Chopper," which premiered on TLC in January 2007, was the #1 cable network show in terms of the number of product placements, with 52,503 occurrences. "Miami Ink" (TLC, 20,594 occurrences) and "Dog the Bounty Hunter" (A&E, 19,179 occurrences) held the second and third positions, respectively.

The Top 10 featured brands on prime-time cable network television for 2007 accounted for 43,475 occurrences -- a decrease from 53,530 in 2006. Three apparel categories made the top 10: Orange County Chopper Apparel (the top brand overall with 9,772 occurrences), Nike Apparel (3,002 occurrences), and DeVille (2,557 occurrences).

                         Top 10 Programs for 2007:                       Product Placement on Cable TV                                                                     Total #   Program                                        Network         Occurrences   American Chopper                                 TLC              52,503   Miami Ink                                        TLC              20,594   Dog The Bounty Hunter                            A&E              19,179   American Hot Rod                                 TLC              14,281   Overhaulin'                                      TLC              13,738   Run's House                                      MTV               9,898   L.A. Ink                                         TLC               9,462   Little People Big World                          TLC               8,400   Real Housewives of Orange County                BRAVO              7,958   Flip This House                                  A&E               7,724   Total                                                            163,737    Source: Place*Views, Nielsen Product Placement Service    About The Nielsen Company  

Nielsen Monitor-Plus is a service of The Nielsen Company, a global information and media company with leading market positions in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information (Nielsen Media Research), online intelligence (NetRatings and BuzzMetrics), mobile measurement, trade shows and business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York, USA. For more information, please visit, www.nielsen.com.

Source: The Nielsen Company

CONTACT: Anne Saini of The Nielsen Company, +1-646-654-8691

Web site: http://www.nielsen.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment