CRTC releases 2009 financial results for Canada's commercial radio industry

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, June 3 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today released the statistical and financial summaries for Canada's commercial radio stations. The report provides information on the sector's revenues and expenditures for the broadcast year ending August 31, 2009, and is presented on a national basis, as well as by individual markets.

Canada's AM and FM radio stations generated $1.5 billion in revenues in 2009, representing a reduction of 5.2% over the previous period. Expenses, however, also fell by approximately 1.7% to $1.2 billion in 2009, meaning that total profits before interest and taxes (PBIT) were $272 million for the fiscal year. The PBIT margin in 2009 fell to 18%, from 21% in 2008.

FM radio

In 2009, 23 new FM stations were added. Canada's 495 FM radio stations generated over $1.2 billion in total revenues. Revenues for English-language FM stations dropped by 5.8% from the previous year to just under $1 billion, while their French-language counterparts generated $227 million, a slight increase from the year before. Ethnic FM stations' revenues fell by 3.3% to $16 million.

AM radio

The number of AM stations continued to decline in 2009, ending with seven fewer AM stations than in the previous year. In 2009, Canada's 149 AM radio stations generated just over $300 million. This represented a 7.4% decrease from the previous year. English-language AM stations' revenues fell by almost 8% to $272 million, while their French-language counterparts decreased 8.5% to $11.6 million. Canada's 11 ethnic AM stations experienced a slight increase in revenues to just over $22 million.

Employment

As of August 31, 2009, Canada's commercial radio industry employed 10,191 people and had paid $632 million in total salaries for the fiscal year.

CRTC reports

The data contained in this report were drawn from the annual financial returns of commercial radio stations and cover the period of September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009. It therefore reflects the worldwide economic downturn and the accompanying decline in advertising revenues.

The CRTC recently released the financial results for specialty, pay and pay-per-view television services, video-on-demand services (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2010/r100422.htm), conventional television stations (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2010/r100318.htm) and broadcasting distribution companies (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2010/r100318-1.htm). These annual reports allow interested parties to stay informed about the state of the Canadian broadcasting industry.

Commercial Radio - Statistical and Financial Summaries 2005-2009

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/BrAnalysis/radio2009/radio2009.htm

The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

For further information: Media Relations: http://support.crtc.gc.ca/CRTCSubmissionMU/forms/Mediarelations.aspx?lang=e, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]; General Inquiries: Tel: [phone], TDD: [phone], Fax: [phone], Toll-free No. 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), TDD - Toll-free No. 1-877-909-CRTC (2782), http://crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=E