Sagging local ad sales weigh down private radio sector revenues in 2016: StatCan

OTTAWA - Operating revenues at Canada’s private radio broadcasters are down by over $52 million, dropping 3.3% from 2015 to $1.6 billion in 2016, according to data released Tuesday by Statistics Canada.The profit margin before interest and taxes fell from 18.9% in 2015 to 18.6% in 2016, and profits before interest and taxes totalled $289.0 million, leading to the decline in operating revenues.Quebec was the only province to post higher operating revenues and profit margin before interest and taxes, up 1.3% to $311.3 million, making private radio broadcasters in that province the most profitable in the country in 2016. The biggest drop in operating revenues was in the West, where...