• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, November 12, 2010

Coupons are a big, growing business in the U.S., especially in light of recent economic woes. A number of major media groups will begin offering consumers coupons via their Web sites through partnerships with eDeals.com.

Partners include Post Newsweek TV, Cordillera Communications, Journal Broadcasting and various CBS Radio affiliates. The partners will integrate eDeals.com's retail platform into their network of sites, giving visitors access to savings, deals and special offers from thousands of retailers, including local merchants and national chains like Target, Sears, and Nordstrom's.

Altogether, the new eDeal.com partnerships represent 37 TV stations and more than 40 radio stations in various markets, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Detroit, Milwaukee, Tucson, Tulsa, Boise and San Antonio.

Under the terms of the deal, partners get an even commission split. The company said more major markets will follow.

Digital coupons are in demand. Earlier this year, Coupons.com said the total volume of coupons redeemed from the Coupons.com network reached $858 million in 2009 -- up from about $320 million in 2008 and $140 million in 2007, for a total increase of over 500% in just two years.

Overall, 45 million consumers used digital coupons in 2009 -- up almost 20% from 38 million in 2008. In percentage terms, that represents an increase from about 12% to 14% of the total U.S. population. Of this group, 13.1 million are exclusive digital coupon users, meaning they don't clip coupons from the newspaper -- up about 39% from 9.4 million in 2008.