Total ad expenditure for the first nine months of 2004 increased 10.3% to 102.4 billion compared to the same time period in 2003, according to data released by TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. Almost all of the media measured by TNS Media Intelligence/CMR experienced growth throughout the first nine months of the year, with Local Newspapers leading in total dollar spending at 17.7 billion, up 6.6% over the same time period in 2003. Spending in the automotive, home furnishings/appliances and clothing/department stores categories helped propel the growth in this medium. Network TV, the second highest medium for ad dollars spent, totaled 16.4 billion, up 14% in part due to Olympic spending in Q3.

Nearly half of the media monitored by TNS Media Intelligence/CMR exhibited double digit year-over-year percentage growth, with the Internet continuing its steady rise, up 25.8% to 5.5 billion. Other media showing strong year-over-year growth include outdoor, national syndication, cable TV, local magazines and consumer magazines.

Ad Spending by Media: Jan-Sept. 2004 vs. Jan-Sept 2003 MEDIA Jan-Sept 2003 (Millions) Jan-Sept 2004 (Millions) % Change NEWSPAPERS (LOCAL) $16,649.5 $17,752.4 6.6% NETWORK TV $14,438.2 $16,463.1 14.0% CONSUMER MAGAZINES $13,524.3 $14,879.0 10.0% SPOT TV $11,284.0 $12,343.3 9.4% CABLE TV $9,035.2 $10,489.5 16.1% INTERNET $4,446.1 $5,593.2 25.8% LOCAL RADIO $5,357.1 $5,457.0 1.9% B-TO-B MAGAZINES $3,802.7 $3,859.5 1.5% SYNDICATION - NATIONAL  $2,471.0 $2,898.5 17.3% HISPANIC MEDIA $2,726.3 $2,872.6 5.4% NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS $2,238.4 $2,454.6 9.7% OUTDOOR $2,041.5 $2,400.8 17.6% NATIONAL SPOT RADIO $1,924.6 $1,875.1 -2.6% FSI's $1,017.2 $1,065.4 4.7% SUNDAY MAGAZINES $974.7 $1,053.1 8.0% NETWORK RADIO $735.0 $754.2 2.6% LOCAL MAGAZINES $234.3 $258.5 10.3% TOTAL $92,899.9 $102,469.6 10.3%

The top 10 advertisers for the first nine months of 2004 spent 12.6 billion to communicate their messages to the marketplace, a 6.8% increase from the same time period in 2003.

Procter & Gamble led in spending with a total of 2.1 billion, a 6.7% increase. While P&G utilized all major media for their messages, the company spent a good portion of its budget with network TV, cable and consumer magazines.

Other advertisers exhibiting strong spending include General Motors, whose advertising activity totaled 1.9 billion and Time Warner with a total of 1.3 billion.

Nearly all of the top 10 ad spenders exhibited some level of growth, with Verizon Communications and General Motors posting double digit year-over-year gains at 21.8% and 14.6% respectively. Verizon's promotion of its wireless and Internet services helped fuel its strong growth.

Top Ten Ad Spenders: Jan-Sept 2004 vs. Jan-Sept 2003

COMPANY	Jan-Sept 2003 (Millions)	Jan-Sept 2004 (Millions)	% CHANGE
PROCTER & GAMBLE CO	$1,996.7	$2,131.2	6.7%
GENERAL MOTORS CORP	$1,737.1	$1,990.3	14.6%
TIME WARNER INC	$1,349.8	$1,345.0	-0.4%
DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG	$1,178.9	$1,219.6	3.4%
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC	$935.1	$1,138.6	21.8%
FORD MOTOR CO	$1,090.8	$1,083.5	-0.7%
WALT DISNEY CO	$1,042.3	$1,079.3	3.5%
JOHNSON & JOHNSON	$906.4	$933.8	3.0%
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC	$833.6	$916.4	9.9%
ALTRIA GROUP INC	$796.6	$836.5	5.0%
TOTAL	$11,867.4	$12,674.2	6.8%