Local television stations were the strongest broadcast TV performers during the first quarter of 2010, posting a cumulative advertising revenue increase of 20.8 percent over last year to $3.4 billion, according to an analysis of Kantar Media data by the Television Bureau of Advertising.
Broadcast network TV took in $7.2 billion in ad revenue in the first quarter, up 10.9 percent compared to last year.
Syndicated television took a hit though, with first quarter ad revenue down 13.2 percent in the first quarter to $954 million.
The category showing the biggest rebound for local TV stations was automotive, up 75 percent. Next was the financial category, with ad revenues up 25 percent.
Other categories showing double-digit first quarter increases were legal services (up 20 percent), telecommunications (up 18 percent), furniture stores (up 17 percent) and restaurants (up 12 percent).
In the auto category, by company, General Motors' local TV ad spending was up 382 percent, Chrysler was up 108 percent, Toyota was up 83 percent, Ford was up 70 percent and Honda was up 39 percent.
