Network's Ad Haul Bodes Well for China's Economy

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142412788732335320457812701094784711...

BEIJING—Companies looking to advertise on China's biggest television network committed 15.9 billion yuan ($2.55 billion) to run ads in 2013, up 11% from a year earlier, signaling confidence in China's economy from marketers and increased competition for China's 1.3 billion consumers.

The increase in state-run CCTV's total ad sales from an annual auction held Sunday night compares with a 13% increase for air time in 2012 from 2011, showing only a slight weakening in the ad-growth rate despite China's slowing economy. CCTV's advertising auction is typically considered one barometer for China's domestic economy.