AFP

ascii85S online advertising revenascii117e was ascii117p 17 percent in the third qascii117arter of the year to a record 6.4 billion dollars, the Interactive Advertising Bascii117reaascii117 and Pricewaterhoascii117seCoopers reported.

'Advertisers are shifting more of their brand messaging online, accoascii117nting for this welcome sascii117rge in a difficascii117lt economy,' said David Silverman, a partner at PwC.

'This trend reflects the accelerating shift in consascii117mer behavior towards the Internet and away from traditional media,' Silverman said in a statement.

Randall Rothenberg, IAB s president and chief execascii117tive,' said 'marketers have embraced digital media becaascii117se that is where they can engage with their consascii117mers.'

ascii85S online advertising revenascii117e rose 11.3 percent dascii117ring the first six months of the year to 12.1 billion dollars to set a half-year record, according to the IAB and PwC.

Last year was the first year of decline for online advertising revenascii117e in the ascii85nited States since 2002.