TV news ads to cross Rs.18 bn in 2010

New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) The ad market on television news channels will cross the Rs.1,800 crore (Rs.18 billion/$390 million) mark this year, says a study.

The media lab of the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) says the the size of TV news ad market has increased 16 times in the last decade, from Rs.100 crore in 2000 to Rs.1,600 crore in 2009. It will grow more in the current year, at a rate of 13 percent.

The upward movement is because the number of TV channels has increased 48 times in nine years, resulting in a massive expansion of viewership and ad market size.

Parliamentary elections in 2009 also came as a boon for the news channels as political ads brought in a considerable revenue.