NEW ZEALAND’S TV advertising market is showing strong growth with the latest figures revealing revenue grew by a record breaking 14.2% last year and broadcasters reporting a good start to 2004.

According to figures from the New Zealand Television Broadcasters’ Council, TV advertising revenue totalled $NZ591.7m for the 12 months to 31 December 2003 up from $NZ516m in 2002.

Revenue for the quarter ending 31 December 2003 was $NZ176m compared to $NZ151.1m in the same quarter in 2002, an increase of $24.9m or 16.5%.

The NZTBC—representing the TV broadcast industry, said that the annual increase was the product of strong economic growth and stable audiences for television in competition with other media. The revenue figures are for free to air and pay television.

The NZTBC’s executive director Bruce Wallace said that viewing levels for television were stable compared to 2002 with a small rise in the last six months of the year particularly amongst household shoppers with children and in Auckland.

The sectors that contributed the strong rises in the December quarter included home improvements, banking and investment, leisure/entertainment, cosmetics, retail and telecommunications, according to Nielsen Media Research.

All companies in the NZTBC—CanWest New Zealand, Prime Television New Zealand, SKY Network Television and Television New Zealand—reported continuing strong demand in 2004.