*$125.7M top line for Motion

Motion International (Coscient Group, cst.a) has reported total revenues of $125.7 million for the year ending July 31, a 6.8% increase over the previous exercise.

Gross margin for the Montreal-based integrated production and distribution company is $25.7 million, or 20.5%. ebitda totaled $9.8 million while net earnings for the year are $2.6 million or $0.12 a share.

In September, the company announced current and upcoming production commitments in the order of $145 million.

Virtually all entertainment pubco stocks in Canada are depressed, many trading at or below their 52-week low. cst.a shares are currently trading in the $2.80 range on the tse. The stock’s 52-week high/low is $5.90 and $2.60.

*Star Choice reports massive growth

star Choice Communications reports a 122% increase in subscribers for the 1999 fiscal year ending Aug. 31, the day the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancom.

Revenue for the year was $146 million, compared to $85.9 million the previous year, with the growth attributed to major gains in the company’s subscriber base, additional revenue earned from Uplink and srdu customers, and a 40% increase in sales of direct-to-home equipment to retailers.

In addition, Richard Stursberg, Star Choice president and ceo, attributes the rapid growth in revenue to aggressive marketing campaigns and continued growth of dth services in Canada.

Net loss for the year was $73.2 million, compared to $42.6 million for the previous year. The increase was due primarily to the growth in gross subscribers year over year (144,000 in ’99 compared to 106,000 in ’98), higher amortization of equipment subsidies due to the growth in the subscriber base, and higher interest expense reflecting the company’s outstanding debt for the full fiscal year.

*Rogers revenue rises

Rogers Communications reports an 11.7% revenue increase for the third fiscal quarter, ended Sept. 30. Total revenue for the period was $781,877, compared to $700,127 in the same period last year.

Likewise, Rogers Cablesystems saw an 11.6% increase in the third quarter to $290.4 million from $260.3 million in 1998.

According to the cable subsidiary, the rise in revenue reflects increases in core cable tv operations, video store revenue and the inclusion of revenue from Rogers@Home service.

*CTV reports growth

CTV’s revenue has increased 11% to $528 million in fiscal year 1999 ended Aug. 31 from $475 million in fiscal 1998, while net profits rose to $7.7 million from $6.2 million.

Earnings before interest, depreciation, amortization, other and income taxes were $98.5 million, an increase of 30% over the $75.5 million recorded last year.

However, for the final quarter of fiscal 1999, the company recorded a loss of $15,611,000 or $0.27 per share, compared to a loss of $11,627,00 or $0.27 a share for the same period last year.

ctv attributes its overall growth to its consolidation, its owned affiliates and the growth of the specialty sector.

At year end, total assets exceeded $1.1 billion, compared to $760 million at the end of fiscal ’98.

*Record profits at TVA

TVA Group has announced $30.4 million in net earnings or $1.06 a share for the 12-month period ending Aug. 29, a record since the broadcaster’s creation in 1960.

Consolidated operating revenues for the year reached $239.1 million, compared to $212.8 million for fiscal 1998, an increase of 12%. Key broadcasting revenues for Quebec’s top-rated network totaled $215.1 million, up $14 million or 7% in the period, while revenues from other sectors more than doubled, totaling $24 million.

*Cogeco profits jump

Cogeco Inc. has reported year-end profits of $53.2 million, or $3.33 a share, a major increase over last year’s $20.2 million in profits. The Montreal-based bdu/broadcast company reported total revenues of $358.8 million for ’99, up from $316.1 million last year. In ’98, the Cogeco Program Development Fund advanced $270,940 in the development of 22 Canadian tv drama projects. The fund also made grants to three special projects.

Keystone improves

international Keystone Entertainment in Vancouver wrapped up its fiscal 1999 (ended July 31) with earnings of $1.3 million (18 cents per share) on revenues of $16.2 million. The annual tally was much improved over the previous fiscal year when Keystone reported a loss of $2 million ($0.72 per share) on revenues of $5.5 million.

The jump in earnings has been attributed in part to the acquisition of full-service post house Western Post Production, says the company. During the year, Keystone also secured a $5-million private placement through Royal Bank Capital Corporation and b.c.’s Working Opportunity Fund.

In September, Keystone’s AirBud: World Pup, a second sequel in its successful Air Bud franchise, went to camera. Snap Shot, an independent film about a hockey-playing chimp, will be distributed by Keystone in 2000.