$10 bln online ads bought in 2004

Online ad spending will total nearly $10 bln by year's end. Net advertising is seen growing between 30% and 35% this year to $9.8 bln, American Technology Research estimated, basing the figures on the latest data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The IAB said that online advertising grew 40% to $4.6 bln in Q1 and Q2 of this year, due to the acceleration in online ads in Q2. Online ad revenue in Q2 hit $2.37 bln, up 43% compared with the 37% growth rate in Q1 2004. The Q2 growth rate marks the fastest growth rate since the 2000 and 2001 period. The analyst also sees next year's online advertising revenue growing in the 30% range, hitting $12.8 bln by the end of 2005.