Broadcasters brought in more money in 2004 but they couldn’t hang on to it, according to stats released this month by the CRTC. Canadian private broadcasters saw revenues climb 1% last year, to $2.1 billion, while costs took a 22.7% bite out of the year’s overall earnings.

Casters enjoyed higher ad revenues last year – local sales were up 6.1% to $364.1 million while nationals rose 1.5% to $1.4 billion – but programming and other operating costs jumped 5% and 5.8%, respectively, continuing a trend that has seen broadcaster earnings drop 2.7% per year over the past five years. Private broadcasters earned a total of $232 million in 2004.

Spending on Canuck programming rose 5.8% last year to $575.5 million, although drama and comedy spends dropped 13.1% to $86.5 million. The feds also noted that private TV spent less on independent producers, paying out $68.3 million in 2004, down from $79.6 million in ’03.

Spending did jump by more than 50%, however, on reality shows, which took home $81.4 million from casters in ’04, up from $51.7 million. Music and variety programming also saw a massive 63.6% surge, to $18 million, while news enjoyed a slight 3.6% uptick.

The report echoes the CRTC’s most recent Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report, released in January, which also noted higher revenues and lower drama spending among private and public broadcasters. The BPMR includes stats up to 2003.

ACTRA did not miss its cue to criticize the feds and broadcasters for the low numbers, repeating its claims that the 1999 Television Policy has undercut Canuck drama. ‘U.S. programming is a cash cow. Instead of investing in our own industry, Canada’s private broadcasters are sending their money to Los Angeles,’ says ACTRA national executive director Stephen Waddell.

The CRTC goes on to note, however, that since 2000, drama spending has increased year over year by an average of 2.4%, while spending on independents is up 3.6%.

-www.crtc.gc.ca