Canada’s conventional broadcasters spent $485 million on Canadian programs last year, a 4% increase over ’97, according to new data from StatsCan.

Canadian programs represented 46% of all program spending, with $90 million, or 18.5%, of program costs allocated to domestic drama and entertainment.

Total revenue was up 6.9% to $1.8 billion while expenses increased 3.1% to $1.6 billion. Pre tax profit declined more than 30% to $114 million. Specialty and pay-tv spent $304 million on Canadian programs last year, representing 75% of all program spending, and a 16% hike over the previous year. Revenue in ’98 was up 18% to $842 million. Expenditures were also up, 20%, to $700 million. Pre tax profit dipped 2% to $60 million. Subscriber fees accounted for 69% of total revenue.

Private tv paid out $660 million in salaries to 10,700 employees in 1998.