Net connections, movies and music are worthy expenditures despite downturn

— -- Even if the economic outlook is dreary, we want to be entertained.

Over the next five years, growth in U.S. consumer spending on Internet access, movies, music, books and video games is expected to outpace that of the gross domestic product. That's the finding of a report out today from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Digital delivery of movies, music and other media is driving the spending swell, says PwC partner Stefanie Kane. "Entertainment is a little bit like comfort food … it is really attractive even in a down economy," she says, "now that you can get it at the right time, price and place."

Spending on entertainment and media in the U.S. is expected to grow about 5% annually over the next five years, from an estimated $490 billion this year to more than $597 billion in 2016. Meanwhile, the GDP is expected to grow 4.8% over the five-year period. Global spending on entertainment is expected to hit $2.1 trillion.

As consumers glom onto all things digital — spending for Internet access at home and on the go will hit $81.5 billion in 2016 — advertisers are following. Digital spending in the U.S. will account for 30% of all entertainment spending in 2016, Kane says, up from 20% in 2011.

•Music. We spent less on recorded music last year, but we doled out more for concerts. Total music spending will rise to $19.8 billion in 2016, up from $15.2 billion in 2011.

•Movies. Box-office ticket sales and spending on digitally delivered movies will help Hollywood offset declines in sales of DVD and Blu-ray movie discs. Overall spending on movies will rise from $30 billion last year to $30.9 billion in 2016.

•Television. Pay-TV subscriptions will continue to increase about 5.4% annually to $92.9 billion in 2016. TV advertising will also rise 6.7% to $98.5 billion.

•Books. Increased sales of e-books will help consumer and education book sales rise about 1% to $32.5 billion.

•Games. Spending on mobile and online games will help the overall video game market grow 4% to $16.4 billion.

•Magazines and newspapers. Increased digital readership will drive overall magazine ad sales up 3% annually to $13.5 billion in 2016, as magazine sales rise to $21.3 billion. Newspaper ads — print and digital combined — will fall 2% annually to $21.6 billion. Spending on newspapers will hold steady at about $9.7 billion as paid digital circulation slowly rises.