CNet Inc. reportedly will raise advertising
rates 15 percent to 20 percent, and the move is being construed by some
analysts as a sign that Internet leaders can boost prices even as ad rates
fall across the Web.
The biggest rate hikes will come in the commerce and buying- related areas,
analysts told Bloomberg News.
The company declined to
comment on the rate increases.
Only the Internet leaders in their markets have been able to boost rates.
Yahoo! raised its ad rates this month, followed by Lycos, Excite@Home,
MarketWatch.com and TMP Worldwide Inc.’s Monster.com, analysts said.
“The leader in any category has been able to raise prices,” Lanny Baker,
an analyst at Salomon Smith Barney, was quoted as saying.