$1.73 bln spent on advertising in 2001

Last year, the country spent 1 billion 730 million dollars on advertising, that is, 54% more than in the previous year, Russia's deputy Minister for Press, Television, Radio Broadcasting and Mass Communications Andrei Romanchenko announced on Thursday.

According to his words, radio advertising costs in 2001 reached 55 million dollars, which was a 13% increase as compared to the year 2000, and 4 million dollars were spent on Internet advertising /a 67% increase/, stated Romanchenko, addressing a session of the Federation Council Committee on Information Policy. The session was dedicated to the state and prospects for radio broadcasting in Russia.

As of today, there are more than 2,000 registered radio programs in Russia, of which about 1,600, or 80%, are privately-owned. The country has issued 1,200 radio broadcasting licenses, of which 908 went to privately-owned enterprises, noted Romanchenko.