OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canada’s 669 commercial radio stations saw 2011 revenues increase by 4%, on par with pre-recession levels, according to data released Monday by the CRTC.
For the broadcast year ending August 31, 2011, total revenues for AM and FM stations increased from $1.55 billion in 2010 to $1.6 billion in 2011, though 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%.
AM radio
The number of AM stations in Canada continued to decline from 141 in 2010 to 134 in 2011 as many stations converted to the FM band. Nevertheless, total revenues increased by 1.2% to $311 million, up from $307 million generated in 2010.
Revenues for English-language AM stations rose 1% from $272 million in 2010 to $274 million in 2011. For the first time since 2006, French-language AM stations reported an increase in revenues, which climbed by 4.7% to $11.7 million. Ethnic AM stations saw revenues increase by 1.6% to $24.4 million.
FM radio
Canada added 13 FM stations in 2011, bringing the number of FM stations 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 posted revenues of $19.8 million, an 11% jump over the previous year.
Commercial radio stations employed 10,576 people and paid a total of $ 676.3 million in salaries in 2011, an increase of 4.7% from last year when they employed 10,104 people and paid $640.7 million in salaries.
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 from 2007 – 2011.
