Ad spending posts increase over 2001

Advertising spending for the first half of 2002 rose 2.3 percent over the same period last year, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen Monitor-Plus, a service of Nielsen Media Research. Six of the nine reported media categories saw increases in advertising activity, led by local newspaper, up 9 percent, which was followed by Hispanic TV, up almost 7 percent, an increase that was partly attributable to this year’s World Cup.

Network, cable and spot TV all were up in the 2 percent to 3 percent range, while spot radio rose only 1 percent. Syndicated television and Internet advertising were the biggest decliners, both down more than 8 percent compared with the first half of 2001, while national magazines declined slightly.

The automobile category continues to be the largest advertising category overall, followed by restaurants, motion pictures, department stores and prescription drugs.

Rodriguez moves to Telemundo’s WSCV: Michael Rodriguez has been named VP and general manager of Telemundo station WSCV-TV in Miami. Mr. Rodriguez, who starts today and will report to Don Browne, president and general manager of NBC-owned WTVJ-TV, has been local sales manager at CBS-owned WFOR-TV across town. He fills the position left vacant in June when Luis Fernandez-Rocha jumped to Univision as general manager of Miami’s WLTV-TV and TeleFutura station WAMI-TV. Mr. Rodriguez is the brother of Univision Networks President and Chief Operating Officer Ray Rodriguez.