March 28, 2006
OTTAWA-GATINEAU -- The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released its annual report with statistical and financial data on conventional Canadian private television stations for 2001-2005. Overall, these stations remain profitable, and posted increased revenues and profits over this period.
From 2004 to 2005, total revenue and profit before interest and taxes (PBIT) for private television stations rose by close to 4%, coming in at $2.2 billion and $242.2 million respectively in 2005. The national advertising revenues for these stations grew by nearly 5%, totalling $1.5 billion, while local time sales decreased by 1.1% to $362.9 million.
Overall, broadcasters’ operating expenses increased by 4.3% from 2004 to 2005, reaching $1.9 billion in 2005. Of that amount, $1.3 billion was invested in acquiring and producing programming, including $587 million for Canadian programs. This figure includes the $138.5 million that broadcasters paid to independent producers in order to acquire programming.
Private broadcasters’ spending on Canadian programs included $86.6 million for drama, $310.2 million for news programs, $59.4 million for other information programs, $83.1 million for general interest programming, and $29.2 million for musical and variety shows.
The report being released today was produced using the financial summaries of private Canadian television undertakings. It also provides data from the CBC’s financial summaries. It is the first in a series of reports on broadcasting that the CRTC publishes every year in order to inform interested parties of the current financial situation of this industry in Canada.
The CRTC
The CRTC is an independent, public authority which was established to sustain and promote Canadian culture and achieve key social and economic objectives by regulating and supervising Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications in the public interest. As an expert tribunal it takes into account the wants and needs of Canadian citizens, industries and various interest groups. The CRTC is governed by the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Reference document: Television, Statistical and Financial Summaries 2001-2005 [.htm][.pdf] [.xls]
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Copies of today’s documents are available through our Internet site (http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the documentation centre of any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.
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