Private radio sector slow to recover: StatsCan

OTTAWA - Operating revenues at Canada’s private radio broadcasters topped $1.6 billion in 2010, a modest 3.2% increase from 2009 figures, according to data released by Statistics Canada.Of those revenues, 97.6% were from advertising, however, revenues have yet to surpass those registered in 2008 before the general economic downturn. The year 2009 marked the first year-over-year drop in revenues since 1993.Profit margin before interest and taxes (PBIT) increased by 19.1% last year, compared with 17.9% in 2009. Private radio broadcasters have consistently reported a PBIT in excess of 15% since the late 1990s, the report continued.Ontario radio broadcasters were the most...