According to a new study conducted by research company World Wide Worx and the Online Publishers Association (OPA) of South Africa, the country experienced the fastest growth in online advertising spend of any majority English speaking country in the world during 2008.
The study, called “Online Media in South Africa 2009”, shows a 38% increase in online media ad spend for the calendar year 2008, up to ZAR319 million.
According to an article posted on the World Wide Worx website, online media spend will overtake more traditional channels of advertising spend, such as cinema advertising, during 2009. According to Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, the global economic downturn would still influence the growth of all advertising spend, both traditional and online.
Other majority English speaking countries had outpaced South Africa’s online spend growth rate in the past, but fell behind in 2008 with growth rates in online ad spend falling below 30%. These countries include USA, UK, Canada and Australia.
Says Adrian Hewlett, OPA chairperson: “The Online Media in South Africa 2009 study reveals a maturing industry on a strong growth curve. There are obstacles which the industry as a whole need to address, but the forecast for 2009 is strong.”
The study further forecasts an online advertising growth in spend of around 32% for the current year. Original article can be found HERE.
