Ad spending is up 5.1 percent in the first three quarters of 2006, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

Nielsen on Tuesday reported its latest figures, which showed spending on the Internet up 49.2 percent from a year ago. Spanish-language television also showed a big gain, growing 16.6 percent.

Spot TV in markets 1 through 100 showed a 7.4 percent increase, network TV was up 4.1 percent, national edged up 1.3 percent and spot TV in the smaller markets was up just 0.6 percent.

“The recent midterm elections have contributed significantly in increased ad spending in the top 100 television markets, and because all the political ads were local, it led to an uplift in spot TV ad revenues, particularly in the third quarter,” said Jeff King, managing director of Nielsen Monitor-Plus.