Total advertising expenditures for the first half of 2004 increased by 9.1 percent to $67.6 billion compared to the same time period last year, according to a report by TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.

In response to increased advertiser interest, the Internet exhibited the most vigorous year-over-year growth, up 25.9 percent to $3.6 billion in ad spending. Cable TV totaled the second highest year-over-year growth with an 18.2 percent increase to $6.8 billion. The robust spending for Cable TV is a strong indication of increased demand for targeted advertising opportunities.