Automotive Advertising Revenue Up 46% at Sinclair Broadcasting

Today Sinclair Broadcasting Group announced the Q2 earning and part of their annual report caught my attention.

It would seem that automotive manufacturers and retailers have increased their automotive advertising budgets. Here is an exerpt from their press release:

"Broadcast television advertising continues to grow, an indicator that the economy is showing signs of recovery," commented David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair. "In the second quarter, we experienced gains in nearly all of our major core advertising categories, with the largest growth coming from the automotive sector, which was up 46% year-over-year.

Political for the first six months also paced ahead of the same period in 2006, the last non-presidential election year. The more important data points, however, are that the third quarter's core advertising sales are on pace to not only exceed the same period in 2008 by approximately 9% growth, but also to approximate the current year's second quarter core business, which is typically one of our stronger quarters in any given year."

Are You Increasing Traditional Advertising Budgets?

It would be interesting to hear from Automotive Advertising Agencies or from decision makers who set advertising budgets at your dealership as to what percentage increase in Q2 of this year have you spent on advertising compared to Q2 in 2009.

It will be interesting to see what you have to say about their investment in traditional advertising channels that Sinclair represents. Are you increasing traditional advertising spending at your dealership?