The Daily, Tuesday, July 10, 2001. Private radio broadcasters

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Private radio broadcasters

Revenues of private radio broadcasters surpassed $1.0 billion for the first time in 2000, advancing 5.2% from 1999. This increase was largely the result of the good performance of FM broadcasters, whose revenues grew 7.9%; AM broadcasters' revenue grew 0.8%. Revenues grew at a rate below the national average in New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia, and at a rate above the national average in all other regions.

At the national level, profits before income tax rose from $87.6 million in 1999 to $111.1 million in 2000, an increase of 26.8%. This result seems to confirm the turnaround observed in the late 1990s, after many years of losses for this segment of the industry. This turnaround was largely driven by FM stations; as a group they generated profit margins exceeding 16.0% in the last four years, reaching a high of 22.5% in 2000. During that period, AM stations recorded losses every year.

The downward trend in employment observed through most of the last decade appears to have reversed. Average weekly employment rose from 8,645 in 1999 to 9,156 in 2000, the second increase in three years. Employment was up in every province except Nova Scotia and Alberta.

The growth of revenues from 1999 to 2000 was very similar for French- and English-language broadcasters. However, the profit margin of French-language broadcasters declined slightly, from 11.3% in 1999 to 9.6% in 2000, while the profit margin of English language broadcasters improved, from 8.8% to 11.3%.

Note: The statistics in this release are for the year ended August 31, 2000.

More detailed information will be available soon in the Broadcasting and telecommunications bulletin, Vol. 31, no. 2 (56-001-XIE, $10/$32).

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Daniel April (613-951-3177; daniel.april@statcan.gc.ca), Science, Innovation and Electronic Information Division.