CRTC releases 2011 financial results for Canadian commercial radio stations

OTTAWA AND GATINEAU, June 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released statistical and financial information on the 669 commercial radio stations operating in Canada.  Revenues for the broadcast year ended August 31, 2011, increased by approximately 4% over the previous year, demonstrating steady growth and continued confidence in an industry whose revenues are now back to pre-recession levels.
While total revenues for AM and FM stations increased from $1.55 billion in 2010 to $1.6 billion in 2011, expenses also rose from $1.21 billion to $1.26 billion during the same period. As a result, profits before interest and taxes (PBIT) climbed from $298.3 million to $311 million, and the PBIT margin went from 19.2% to 19.3%.

FM radio
There were 13 additional FM stations in 2011, bringing the number of FM stations operating in Canada to 535. These stations combined for $1.3 billion in total revenues, up from $1.24 billion in 2010.
Revenues for English-language FM stations grew by 4.9% to $1.04 billion, while those for French-language FM stations increased by 2.8% to $246.7 million. Ethnic FM stations, for their part, posted revenues of $19.8 million, representing an 11% increase over the previous year.

AM radio
The number of AM stations in Canada continued to decline from 141 in 2010 to 134 in 2011 as a number of stations converted to the FM band.  Nevertheless, total revenues increased by 1.2% for a total of $311 million, surpassing the $307 million generated in 2010.
Revenues for English-language AM stations went from $272 million in 2010 to $274 million in 2011, a 1% increase. For the first time since 2006, the French-language AM stations reported an increase in revenues, which climbed by 4.7% to $11.7 million.  Finally, ethnic AM stations saw their revenues increase by 1.6% for a total of $24.4 million.

Employment
In 2011, commercial radio stations employed 10,576 people and paid a total of $676.3 million in salaries, an increase of 4.7% from last year when they employed 10,104 people and paid $640.7 million in salaries.

CRTC reports
Each year, the CRTC compiles financial data on the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications industries to produce a series of reports. This year's report on the radio industry provides data on a national basis and by individual markets, as well as on the 82 radio stations operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
The CRTC recently published the 2011 financial results for conventional television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view television services and video-on-demand services, and broadcasting distribution companies. It will soon publish the Communications Monitoring Report.
These annual reports allow interested parties to stay informed about the state of the Canadian communications industry.

Commercial Radio - Statistical and Financial Summaries 2007-2011
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/branalysis/radio2011/radio2011.htm

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