TargetSpot has just inked a deal with Cox Media Group (CMG) in which it will deliver ads into CMG’s online radio streams. As part of the deal, CMG’s 82 web sites and 86 radio stations covering 19 markets across the U.S. will be integrated into TargetSpot’s Internet ad network.
The partnership will help CMG further monetize its digital properties by connecting to the TargetSpot network and their advertisers and offering them TargetSpot’s full suite of enhanced targeting and analytic capabilities. TargetSpot’s Internet advertising network now includes 76 radio groups and pure-play online music providers, with thousands of music, talk/news and sports channels.
TargetSpot has been bringing aboard some big partners lately and making some headlines including
• Harpo Radio – distribution of ads on Harpo’s new Internet radio offering and syndication of Harpo content for sponsorship across TargetSpot pure-play partners
• Getting measured by comScore to have the largest monthly reach in the Entertainment-Radio category with nearly 30 million unique monthly listeners, surpassing Westwood One and other stalwarts in the category.
TargetSpot Co-President/Sales Andy Lipset tells RBR-TVBR: “We have long admired the Cox Media Group and the audience they amassed through their digital content strategy. Advertisers work with TargetSpot because our sole focus is in the online and mobile space and our technology allows them to better target listeners. We are thrilled to have CMG join the TargetSpot network, tap into our advantages, and help our advertisers scale their marketing programs with us even further.”
Internet radio advertising remained a shining light for the radio industry in 2009 growing both in number of listeners and dollars spent on advertising. Arbitron and Edison Research reported in April 2009 that 42 million Americans, 12+, tune in to Internet radio each week, up from 33 million in 2008.
According to ZenithOptmedia, advertising revenue on Internet radio was up 28 percent in 2009 and estimates that advertisers will spend $394 million on Internet radio by 2011.
TargetSpot’s Internet radio ad network will help CMG further monetize its digital properties by providing leading advertising agencies and brands that utilize TargetSpot with access to CMG’s substantial radio audience. Many of the CMG’s radio stations are located in growing metro areas in the Sun Belt region of the country, including Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa.
