ComScore: Paid content up

The Online Publishers Association (OPA) reported that spending on paid content grew to $748 million in the first half of 2003, an increase of 23% over the same period last year. The study, conducted by ComScore Networks for OPA, showed 25% growth in the first quarter of 2003, with spending reaching $368 million, compared with $294 million for the first quarter of 2002. OPA said the top three paid content categories--personals and dating, business and investment, and entertainment and lifestyles--accounted for 65% of spending in the first half of 2003, up from 61% in 2002. U.S. consumers spent $214.3 million on personals content in the first half of 2003, a 76% increase for the segment over the first half of 2002, according to the report.