The 2021 update includes the latest trends and figures and describes the changes among the most influential media groups in Israel.
The impact of the COVID-19 crisis is evident, with declining advertising in all sectors other than television and digital. In terms of advertising spending, the pie got 7% smaller. Radio, print and billboard advertising were all hard hit, and cinema advertising suffered the most, with cinemas closed for most of 2020. The share of digital and television in ad spending grew to 82% in 2020 from 74% a year earlier. Sports television channels saw a major drop in advertising, following the shutdown of the sports industry, but once sports activity was resumed, they gained increased ratings and with that, higher advertising revenues.
Radio listenership fell by 10% in the second half of 2020, partly as a result of the restrictions on movement, as most radio listening is done in vehicles. Nearly all daily newspapers suffered significant declines in circulation in 2020.