Broadcasters and other media companies donated commercial time, ad space, and other support for public-service campaigns worth more than $1.83-billion last year, The New York Times reports.

The total was slightly higher than in 2007 and includes spending on television and radio commercials, outdoor ads, print ads, ads online, public relations, and other types of advertising, the newspaper says.

Public-service ads are continuing to get more time and space in 2009 as the recession makes it harder for media companies to sell all their ad space, said Peggy Conlon, head of the Advertising Council, which calculated the figures. In the first quarter, the total number of placements rose 21 percent compared with the same period a year ago, she said.

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