Press Release: CMR/TNS Media Intelligence Forecasts Moderate Rise In Overall Ad Spending For 2003…

MediaPost: Rebound Continues

CMR/TNS Media Intelligence (that's a heck of a brand, eh?) predicts that the Internet advertising market is going to grow by 7.4% in 2003. I'm pleased to see they predict growth. I'd even venture to say we may see low double-digits again in our lifetime, if not this year. I think CMR has always been a bit too old-school in its predictions of ad spending online, which it consistently pegs well below the IAB, which is the benchmark I prefer.

Folks, we're in for a recovery, I can feel it in my bones. Just consider the following:

• Kick-butt 2002 holiday shopping season online (what would that have looked like were the rest of the economy booming)
• The IAB just noted the first positive blip in revenue in Q3 2002 in six consecutive quarters
• I am talking to loads of companies — publishers, agencies, technology providers — who are all singing the same song: business is booming. In fact, I have to look no farther than my own business, which hasn't been so busy in two years!

CMR may think growth will be only 7.4%, but you can put me down for at least a baker's dozen, please.