A record $237,648,703 was spent advertising goods and services to subscription television audience during the six month period, up by $26 million on the same time last year.

Over the same period, free-to-air television reported a decline of 0.6 per cent.

“The subscription television model offers advertisers the opportunity to address highly targeted audiences with relatively high spending power, and advertisers are increasingly recognising this value and increasing their investment accordingly,” ASTRA CEO, Andrew Maiden said.

“Despite challenging conditions associated with low consumer and business confidence, subscription television advertising revenues continue to grow strongly, a trend we believe will continue in the future,” he added.

The data also reveals strong double digit percentage growth in subscription television advertising by key industry sectors including automobiles, finance, retail, pharmaceutical and government.

For the full twelve month period ending June 30th 2013, subscription television advertising revenues hit a record $465,360,687, an increase of 9.5 per cent or more than $40 million on the previous financial year.

Last month in its annual Media Outlook report, professional services firm PwC forecast subscription television advertising revenues would increase by a compound annual growth rate of 9.6 per cent until 2017.

Subscription television reaches more than seven million Australians or approximately on in three homes on a weekly basis.