While many Canadian producers struggle to find funds to make homegrown television, broadcasters are reaping record gains.

Last year, Canada’s television broadcast industry boasted higher revenues than ever before, according to new data from Statistics Canada, with operating revenues hitting $5.2 billion, an 8.8% increase over 2002.

Private conventional broadcasters increased their returns by 10.6% (the first double-digit gain since 1988) to $2.1 billion, this after suffering a loss of 0.5% in 2002. Public broadcasters by comparison saw their revenues increase by a modest 3.4%.

The numbers match data released by the CRTC in February, which reported a 10% revenue gain and doubling of profits among conventional casters last year. At the time, broadcasters predicted 2003 would be a ‘high point’ in revenue growth, citing disappointing data so far for conventionals in 2004.

Specialty television boasted

revenue growth of 11.9% over 2002 and captured 21.3% of the TV advertising market in 2003, for a 19.2% gain in advertising revenues, which reached $606.2 million.

Meanwhile, digital channels continue to grow their audiences and reduce losses. The digital

customer base expanded to an average 500,000 subscribers per channel by the end of August 2003, up 34.8% over 2002. Revenues for digital channels

hit $100 million in 2003, while they only managed to bring in approximately $50 million the year before. Losses for digital channels have decreased from $140 million in 2002 to $85

million last year.

Pay television remains the most profitable segment of the industry despite revenues only increasing by 4.3% last year. Pay-TV revenues increased by 16.3% in 2002 and by 33.8% in 2001.

-www.statcan.ca