The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) today released the Internet Advertising Revenue Report which shows record results for the full year and final quarter of 2006. Internet advertising revenues in the U.S. continued upward totaling $16.9 billion in 2006, 35% over 2005 revenues. Q4 2006 internet advertising revenues totaled $4.8 billion, representing record revenues for a single quarter and a 35% increase over same period in 2005.

“We have every confidence that this growth trend will continue as marketers allocate more of their total marketing dollars to interactive and the industry delivers effective and innovative platforms for connecting with consumers,” said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the IAB.

The increased spending on Internet advertising presents new opportunities for bloggers, podcasters and video podcasters as advertisers fight for the attention of the increasingly important Internet audience.

“The results for 2006 show the internet continues to offer marketers the widest spectrum of advertising formats, from search-based text ads to dynamic rich-media and broadband video ads,” notes Peter Petrusky, director, Advisory, PricewaterhouseCoopers. “Online publishers may continue to experience growth as marketing budget allocations to all interactive forms continue to increase.”

via Clickz