Report Says Rich Media Boom Just Beginning

Rich media, online advertising that incorporates features such as audio, video, animation and interactivity, is projected to grow by more than 25% through 2007 and reach $2.2 billion by 2008, compared to less than 10% of all online advertising representing $800 million advertising last year, according to a new market research report released by E-Marketer Inc., based in New York.

The report says that by the end of this year one-third of all U.S. households will have high-speed broadband Internet access, which is already the impetus behind a boom in the use of rich media for advertising that’s expected to continue over the next five years.

During 2004 rich media advertising grew by nearly 37%. It will continue growing more than 20% annually through 2008, predicted the report.

“Rich media advertising will increasingly influence how advertisers and agencies approach online marketing and how publishers compete for advertising revenue, said in a prepared statement Scott Ferber, CEO of Advertising.com, which sponsored the research.