In China, online ad revenue in growing since 1998, according to Shanghai iResearch Co. Ltd., SFN's World Digital Media Trends 2008 reported.

The once tiny market surged to about US$40 million in 2000, with an annual growth rate of nearly 300 percent. In 2004, online ad spending exceeded $200 million, and reached about $500 million in 2006.

The data from Shanghai iResearch Co. Ltd. showed that the growth, although slowing in recent years, is still at about 50 percent per year, according to the World Digital Media Trends 2008 report, released by SFN and the World Association of Newspapers.