Google’s UK ad take jumps above ITV1
Revenues collected by web search giant Google from its operations in the UK have outstripped those of the country’s largest commercial channel ITV1 for the first time.
In a move said to be a significant indication of the strength of the trend towards web marketing, Google’s third quarter brought in £327 million through its advertising streams, while ITV1 could only manage £317 million.
This comes despite the TV station enjoying a bumper month of viewing figures thanks to its broadcasts of the Rugby World Cup.
However, a year-long view of the UK advertising market still places ITV1 at the top due to its good start to the year and predictions of good revenues brought in over the upcoming festive season.
Nevertheless, Google’s rapid growth as a major challenger for advertising revenue has prompted calls from ITV executive chairman Michael Grade for a relaxation of regulations for the TV channel.
Commenting after Google overcame Channel 4 in terms of ad revenue, Mr Grade said: "Google, whose advertising revenues have overtaken Channel 4’s and which has 75 per cent of the search advertising market, is wholly unregulated. Yet ITV labours under a host of anachronistic proscriptions about what it can and can’t do."
