Advertisers Likely to Buy More TV Time

Advertising spending on individual TV stations is expected to grow more quickly in 1998 because of the Winter Olympics and continuing economic expansion. The Television Bureau of Advertising expects national advertisers will boost spending on air time for commercials by between 5% and 7%, while local advertisers will spend between 6% and 8% more--about double the percentage increases in TV ad spending expected in 1997. TV stations can also expect to get more pharmaceutical advertising in 1998, thanks to relaxed government rules for drug ads.