Digital gaining on newspapers faster than thought

By Daniel Farey-Jones, mediaweek.co.uk, Thursday, 23 August 2012 09:35AM

This year, not the next, will be the point at which digital overtakes newspapers' share of the global advertising market to become the second largest medium, according to the latest spending forecast from Carat.

Digital, which in Carat's view comprises search, display, online video, social media and mobile, will take a 15.3% share this year with newspapers on 14.4%.

The latest prediction revises Carat’s March forecast, which tipped digital for a 14.5% share and newspapers for 15% this year and put the crossing point in 2013.

Jerry Buhlmann, chief executive of Aegis Group, said: "The trend of audiences moving online shows no sign of slowing down, as demand for online content and the proliferation of internet and mobile access increases."

Having previously expected newspapers to show no growth this year, the forecast is now for a 2.8% drop with a further 1.7% decline in 2013.

Digital has been revised up from 16.5% this year to 17.9% and from 13.5% next year to 16.4%.

Television is expected to grow almost in line with the overall advertising market and retain a dominant share of 46% this year, slipping to 45.6% next year.

Global year-on-year % growth at current prices (figures in brackets indicate previous predictions made in March)

	2012	2013
Television	4.4 (5.5)	4.3 (5.3)
Newspapers	-2.8 (0.0)	-1.7 (1.0)
Magazines	1.0 (1.8)	1.7 (1.0)
Radio	3.9 (5.3)	4.5 (5.2)
Cinema	6.2 (4.8)	5.2 (5.4)
Out-of-home	6.9 (8.8)	7.0 (9.2)
Digital	17.9 (16.5)	16.4 (13.5)

Global % share of advertising spend (figures in brackets indicate previous predictions made in March)

	2012	2013
Television	46.0 (45.9)	45.6 (45.7)
Newspapers	14.4 (15.0)	13.5 (14.3)
Magazines	9.4 (9.5)	9.1 (9.2)
Radio	7.0 (7.1)	6.9 (7.1)
Cinema	0.6 (0.6)	0.6 (0.6)
Out-of-home	7.3 (7.4)	7.4 (7.6)
Digital	15.3 (14.5)	16.9 (15.5)

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This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk