(28 March 2006 8:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Advertising spends across the Asia Pacific region have touched a record $68.6 billion in 2005, according to Nielsen Media Research. There has been a jump of 15 per cent in ad spends on newspapers, television and magazines in 2005 as compared to 2004.

This growth has been seen due to the nine growing Asian economies of India, Australia, Indonesia, China, Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

The report singled out the fast growing Indian economy as having tremendous potential for the advertising sector.

The findings also revealed that while television captured 66 per cent of ad spends across six countries, yet newspapers were the dominant medium in India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

While China accounted for 57 per cent of ad spends in 2005 in the Asian region, South Korea and Australia stood second with eight per cent, Hong Kong was next at seven per cent followed by India and Indonesia at four per cent each. The Philippines accounted for three per cent, Malaysia and New Zealand accounted for two per cent each while Singapore and Taiwan were at one per cent.

The Nielsen Media report said, "Buoyed by strong growth markets including Australia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and China particularly, the overall expenditure in 2005 reflects how important this region is becoming as an advertising economy."