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CRTC released the statistical and financial summaries for Canadian broadcasting distribution companies. This sector of the broadcasting industry continued its strong performance as its total revenues grew by $1.1 billion to reach $11.4 billion in 2009.
Cable
Revenue growth for cable companies slowed marginally to 11.9% last year after having increased by over 16% in both 2007 and 2008. Total revenues climbed from $8.2 billion in 2008 to $9.2 billion in 2009. Operating expenses rose by 10.6% over the same period, or from $4.6 billion to $5.1 billion.
As a result, profits before interest and taxes (PBIT) improved from $2.1 billion to $2.3 billion in one year. However, there was little change in the PBIT margin, which came in at 25.1% in 2009, compared with 25.3% in 2008.
The number of Canadian households that obtained basic-television service from a cable company grew by 2.2% to 8.1 million subscribers.
DTH and MDS
Between 2008 and 2009, total revenues for direct-to-home (DTH) satellite distribution and multipoint distribution system (MDS) companies increased by 7%, going from $2 billion to $2.2 billion. There was little change in operating expenses as they increased only slightly from $1.66 billion to $1.73 billion.
DTH and MDS companies reported a PBIT of $82 million, up from $81.4 million in 2008, and a PBIT margin of 3.7%, down from 4% the previous year.
The number of DTH and MDS subscribers to basic service was 2.3% higher, rising to 2.8 million.
Contributions to Canadian programming
Broadcasting distribution companies contributed $352.4 million to Canadian programming, an increase of 8.3% in one year. Of this total, $179.3 million was directed to the Canadian Television Fund, $50.3 million to independent funds and $122.8 million to local expression, such as cable community channels.
Affiliation payments
In 2009, cable companies paid $1.7 billion in wholesale fees to the pay and specialty services they distribute, an increase of 10.6% over the $1.6 billion paid in 2007. Similarly, payments made by DTH and MDS companies to their affiliates increased by 8.6% in one year, rising from $740.8 million to $804.5 million.
Source: CRTC, 03/18/2010
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