Advertising spending in Malaysia reached RM2.9 billion during the first half of this year — up 22% over the same period last year, according to Nielsen.

Terrestrial TV (+37%), point-of-sale (+33%), radio (+22%), and newspapers (+16%) saw the largest growth. 

Overall, newspapers and terrestrial TV accounted for the bulk of ad spending during the first half of the year.  Newspapers cornered 56% of all advertising — or RM1.6 billion, while terrestrial TV claimed 33% (RM948 million), Nielsen reported. 

Telecommunications brands Celcom (RM94.9 million), Digi (RM51 million), and Maxis (RM44.7 million) were the top spenders for the period.

Increased advertising by companies in the mobile line services, local government, face care, shampoo and conditioner, and cinema categories also accounted for a significant portion of the first-half growth.

View the full press release.

Read The Edge Daily’s coverage of Nielsen’s results.