Quick Hits; TNS reports advertising spending up in first half.(Briefs)

Advertising expenditures in the first half of this year totaled $67.6 billion, up 9.1% from the first half of 2003, according to a new report from TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. Internet spending led the growth in the first half, up 25.9%. Cable TV had the second-highest growth, up 18.2%. Other media showing strong growth in the first half were national syndication (17.5%), national newspapers (10.8%) and local magazines (10.2%). Advertising in b-to-b magazines grew 1.5% in the first half of the year. TNS/CMR President Steven Fredericks said overall ad spending is on track to increas