CRTC issues 2014 report on state of Canadian broadcasting industry

OTTAWA and GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today released information on the broadcasting sector from the 2014 Communications Monitoring Report.

The latest edition of this annual report indicates that Canadians are watching television programming across multiple platforms. This resulted in a modest increase in the overall average number of weekly television viewing hours.

In 2013, the time spent watching traditional television each week decreased slightly across all age groups. The greatest decline occurred among 18-to-34-year-olds, where average viewing dropped by 3.9%, from 22.8 hours in 2012 to 21.9 hours in 2013.

Adult Canadians supplemented this viewing by watching 1.9 hours of television content over the Internet per week, an increase from 1.3 hours in 2012. In particular, Netflix adoption among English speakers grew from 21% to 29% and for French speakers increased from 5% to 7%.

The percentage of households subscribing to cable, satellite and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) services decreased slightly from 85.6%, or 11.93 million households, to 84.9%, or 11.92 million households.

Canadians are also listening to audio content on a variety of devices. On average, Canadians listened to 19.3 hours of radio per week in 2013, down slightly from 19.6 hours in 2012. Twenty percent of Canadians streamed the signal of an AM or FM station online and 18% accessed personalized online music streaming services.

In 2013, total broadcast revenues increased 1.3% to reach $17.1 billion. The sector invested $2.7 billion in the creation of new television content made by Canadians, as well as $52 million in the creation of Canadian audio content and to support Canadian artists.

The 2014 Communications Monitoring Report provides a comprehensive overview of the Canadian communication industry for the year ended August 31, 2013. The report provides data and information on the industry, including emerging trends and issues.

This year, the CRTC will release the report in three parts. In the coming weeks, the Commission will publish data related to telecommunications, and then information about consumer spending on communications services, pricing and international comparisons.

Quick Facts

• Choice of services
  • Canadians had access to 644 television services authorized to broadcast in 2013, including 374 English-language services, 84 French-language services and 186 services in other languages.
  • The total number of authorized radio services was 1,174, including 885 English-language services, 244 French-language services and 45 services in other languages.

• Television
  • Average weekly viewing of traditional television remained consistent, going from 28.2 hours in 2012 to 27.9 hours in 2013. Among Canadians 18 years of age and up, average weekly viewing decreased slightly, going from 29.5 hours in 2012 to 29.3 hours in 2013.
  • The percentage of households subscribing to cable and satellite services decreased slightly from 85.6%, or 11.93 million, to 84.9%, or 11.92 million.
  • For Canadians 18 years or older, average weekly viewing of Internet television increased from 1.3 hours in 2012 to 1.9 hours in 2013.
  • The adoption of Internet TV among English speakers increased from 38% to 42%. Internet TV adoption for French speakers increased from 34% to 39%. Nationally, over 40% of adults used Internet TV in 2013.
  • The percentage of English speakers that watched Internet TV on a tablet doubled from 6% in 2012 to 12% in 2013. Among French speakers, watching Internet TV on a tablet more than doubled, going from 4% in 2012 to 10% in 2013.
  • Access of Internet TV via mobile phone for English speakers increased from 7% in 2012 to 12% in 2013. Mobile-phone Internet TV access among French speakers increased from 4% to 7%.
  • Netflix adoption among English speakers grew from 21% to 29%. Adoption for French speakers increased from 5% to 7%.

• Radio
  • On average, Canadians listened to 19.3 hours of radio per week in 2013, down slightly from 19.6 hours in 2012.
  • Growth of satellite radio subscription was essentially static. Among English speakers, adoption increased slightly from 16% in 2012 to 17% in 2013. Among French speakers, 7% subscribed, the same as in 2012.
  • Adoption of AM/FM online streaming remained the same: 22% among English speakers and 14% among French speakers. Nationally, 20% of Canadians streamed AM/FM radio online in 2013.
  • Approximately 18% of Canadians used personalized online music streaming services in 2013.

• Investments in content made by Canadians
  • The television industry as a whole spent $2.7 billion on Canadian programming, 16% of which was spent on programs of national interest such as dramas, comedies, award shows and documentaries.
    • Private conventional television stations invested $605 million in Canadian programs.
    • Pay, specialty, pay-per-view and video-on-demand services invested $1.3 billion in Canadian programs.
    • The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada (CBC/SRC) invested $701 million in Canadian programs.
    • Other public and not-for-profit conventional television stations invested $75 million in Canadian programs.
    • Cable and satellite companies contributed $467 million to fund Canadian programming, including programs for community channels. 
  • Radio stations invested over $52 million to the creation of Canadian content and the support of Canadian artists.
  • The production and acquisition of programming is a broadcaster's largest expense, representing 63 cents of every revenue dollar.

• Revenues
  • Broadcast sector revenues totaled $17.1 billion in 2013, a 1.3% increase from 2012.
  • Revenues for private commercial radio stations increased by 0.1%, going from $1.62 billion in 2012 to $1.623 billion in 2013.
  • Overall television revenues decreased 0.2%, from $6.51 billion in 2012 to $6.50 billion in 2013.
    • Private conventional television broadcasters' revenues decreased by 4.6%, from $2.04 billion to $1.94 billion.
    • Pay, specialty, pay-per-view and video-on-demand service revenues increased by 3.1%, from $3.97 billion to $4.09 billion.
    • Revenues for CBC/Radio-Canada decreased from $508 million to $464 million.
  • Revenues for broadcast distribution companies such as cable, satellite and Internet protocol television (IPTV) providers increased 2.7% from $8.8 billion in 2012 to $9 billion in 2013.
    • Revenues for providers of IPTV service over a managed network increased 58.2% from $585.4 million to $926.1 million.

Quote

"The 2014 Communications Monitoring Report provides timely information on the broadcasting sector, particularly as we prepare our Let's Talk TV public hearing to discuss the future of television beginning on September 8. The data appears to show that Canadians are maintaining their subscriptions to traditional television services, even as they are making greater use of Internet-based services. We look forward to gathering more input during the hearing to ensure that Canadian television is able to adapt to changing viewing habits and technologies." 

Jean-Pierre Blais, CRTC Chairman

Related links

• 2014 Communications Monitoring Report broadcast section 
• 2014-190 - Notice of hearing. 8 September 2014. Gatineau, Quebec. Let's Talk TV. Deadline for submission of interventions/comments: 25 June 2014

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SOURCE: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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