We are well past the first quarter of 2004, and its time to analyse television advertising for this period. We shall focus on making comparisons between the first quarter of 2003 with that of 2004, as well also take a look at the new brands that have entered the market in 2004.

Looking at categories first, suitings, cellular phones, insurance and shampoos show considerable growths as compared to 2003. All the spends in 2003 have been indexed to 100. To explain this, if the spends on suitings were 100 in 2003, they have risen to nearly 250 in 2004, which is a growth of nearly 150 per cent. Cellular phones and insurance have grown by nearly 75 per cent, while Shampoos by 50 per cent. Few categories like soft drink aerated and biscuits show a drop. Biscuits fell by nearly 50 per cent.

On the advertiser's front, Maruti Udyog shows the maximum growth. It's spends have risen by over 80 per cent. Cadbury's, P&G, Johnson & Johnson, LIC, HLL and Nokia are other significant ones to grow. Coca Cola, Colgate Palmolive, Parle products are some advertisers whose growths have fallen in this quarter compared to Jan-Mar 2003. The jump in the suitings category is because of the phenomenal increase in ad spends by Siyaram silk mills ltd, their ad spends grew almost five times compared to their ad spends in Jan-Mar 03.