Internet Ad Revenue Breaks Record With $37 Billion in Profits Last Year

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Internet ad revenue hit a record-breaking high of $37 billion in 2012, according to a recent study by the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

IAB reports that digital ad revenue has scored all-time highs two years running. According to the firm, major gains in digital video and mobile ad revenues were seen because of the growth.

"For the third consecutive year, digital media ad revenue has racked up double-digit growth, demonstrating the strength of interactive advertising and marketers' commitment to be where consumers are," said senior vice president of research, analytics, and measurement at IAB Sherrill Mane.

The IAB says Internet advertising increased 15 percent from 2011 to 2012. Last year, the firm found that Internet advertisers scored over $31 billion in revenues. Specifically, the firm's report found that revenue grew over 14 percent from Q4 2011 to Q4 2012.

Growth culminated with major revenue numbers for mobile and digital video advertising. The IAB found that mobile ads made over $3 billion in revenue for 2012. According to the firm, mobile made up 9 percent of total Internet ad revenues last year.

Digital video also performed well over the course of 2012. IAB reports that digital video ads brought in over $2 billion in revenue last year. The number represented a 29 percent jump from 2011. Two years ago, digital video ads only made $1.8 billion in revenue.

"These record-breaking numbers represent a paradigm shift when it comes to marketers recognizing the role a multiplicity of screens plays in effectively reaching today's consumers," said IAB President and CEO Randall Rothenberg.

"Mobile, in particular, soared due to its ubiquity and intrinsic ability to serve as a powerful digital dashboard that travels with you from morning commute to nighttime video viewing and beyond."

The IAB's numbers comes from its twice annual Internet Advertising Revenue Report. IAB officials sponsor the study, which is performed independently by the new media group PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).