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Revenue growth among the largest publishers drove the Canadian periodical publishing industry past the $2 billion mark in 2006.
The industry earned total operating revenues of $2.07 billion in 2006, a 5.3% increase from $1.97 billion in 2005. Profits and revenue growth were concentrated among the largest firms.
The 10 largest publishing companies accounted for just over half of industry operating revenues ($1.17 billion), representing 82% of industry profits and 68% of revenue growth in 2006. These companies recorded an operating profit margin of 15.9%, up from 11.4% in 2005. By comparison, the remaining companies posted a profit margin of 4.5% in 2006, down from 6.2% the previous year.
Firms in Ontario and Quebec combined accounted for the majority of the total national operating revenues. Ontario firms dominated Canadian periodical publishing, earning 57% of total operating revenues in 2006. Quebec firms accounted for 24%, while those on the Prairies represented 10%.
Operating expenses rose 3.2% from $1.79 billion to $1.85 billion. One-quarter of industry operating expenses were spent on salaries, wages and benefits, which rose 2.4% to $512 million. The industry as a whole posted an operating profit margin of 10.9% in 2006, up from 9.1% in 2005.
Atlantic Canada was the only region where the industry posted a loss, reporting an operating profit margin of -1.0%. Periodical publishers in British Columbia and the territories had a profit margin of 8.7% while publishers in other regions of the country had profit margins in double digits: Quebec with 12.4%, Ontario with 10.5%, and the Prairies with 13.7%.
Note: Starting this survey year (2006), Statistics Canada's Annual Survey of Periodical Publishers will alternate between releasing basic financial statistics in even survey years and more comprehensive data, including advertising and circulation revenues, in odd years.
The periodical publishing industry consists of magazine or periodical publishers whose main activities include gathering, writing, soliciting and editing articles, and preparing and selling advertisements. Periodicals with little or no editorial content such as shoppers and real estate guides are included in this survey. Periodicals are published at regular intervals, typically on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis.
Beginning in 2004, survey estimates are produced for the industry as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Periodical publishing industry estimates of 2004 and beyond should not be compared with survey results prior to 2004 due to significant differences in definitions of the survey populations.
Available on CANSIM: table 361-0010.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5091.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Les Reid (613-951-2246; les.reid@statcan.gc.ca; fax: 613-951-6696), Service Industries Division.
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