OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canada’s 654 commercial radio stations saw 2010 revenues increase by only 2.9%, according to data released Wednesday by the CRTC.
For the broadcast year ending August 31, 2010, FM stations reported higher revenues and profits on the strength of improved local and national advertising sales, but there was little change in the results for AM stations. Total revenues for AM and FM stations increased to $1.55 billion, while expenses rose by 1.5% to $1.21 billion. As a result, profits before interest and taxes (PBIT) climbed from $271.6 million in 2009 to $298.4 million in 2010, and the PBIT margin went from 18% to 19.2%.
AM radio
There were 9 fewer AM stations in 2010, continuing a trend that has seen the total number of AM stations drop from 177 in 2006 to 141 in 2010. Total revenues were relatively unchanged at $307.3 million, an increase of only 0.4% from the previous year.
Revenues for English-language AM stations held steady at $272 million, while revenues for French-language AM stations declined by 3.6% to $11.2 million in 2010. Ethnic AM stations increased their revenues by 5.7% for a total of $24 million.
FM radio
Canada added 17 additional FM stations in 2010, bringing the total number of FM stations to 513. These stations combined for $1.24 billion in total revenues, up from $1.2 billion in 2009.
Revenues for English-language FM stations grew by 2.9% to $986.6 million, while those for French-language FM stations increased by 5.8% to $239.9 million. Ethnic FM stations posted revenues of $17.9 million, representing a 10.2% increase in one year.
Commercial radio stations employed 10,100 people and paid a total of $640.6 million in salaries in 2010, compared to 10,196 people earning $632.9 million in the previous year.
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 CBC. Click here for more on the country’s radio’s statistical and financial summaries.
