News release

October 30, 2001

OTTAWA-HULL — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued its second annual Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report 2001 today. The report, a valuable reference tool for anyone interested in the Canadian broadcasting industry, shows that this Canadian industry is healthy and dynamic.

• Industry growth combined with a number of ownership transactions meant that more money was made available for the Canadian broadcasting system and Canadian programming.
  
• There was an increase in viewing to English-language Canadian television programming.
  
• Although cable is still dominant, there is growing competition in distribution. More Canadians are choosing alternative providers such as Multi-point Distribution Services (MDS) and Direct-to-Home (DTH) for their television services.
  
• Pay, pay-per-view and specialty television showed strong growth in both total revenues and viewing.
  
• Commercial radio in Canada is now a billion dollar industry.

• Canadian conventional, specialty and pay TV services (combined English, French, public and private) spent over $1.5 billion on Canadian programming in 2000.
  
• Since the new television policy was introduced in June 1999, transfer of control benefits directed to the Canadian broadcasting system have exceeded $429 million.
  
• Contributions to the Canadian Television Fund and other programming funds by broadcast distributors (cable, DTH and MDS) have increased by 24% over 1999 to $98 million in 2000.
  
• Since the introduction of the Commercial Radio Policy in April 1998, commitments to Canadian talent development from the licensing of new stations and ownership changes have totaled $68 million.
  
• Viewing to English-language Canadian programs as a percentage of all English-language programs rose from 31% in 1999 to 33% in 2000.
  
• Viewing to Canadian pay and specialty services continues to increase. These services captured almost 20% of the Canadian viewing share in 2000.
  
• Total pay, pay-per-view and specialty television revenues grew by $230 million in 2000 to over $1 billion.
  
• MDS and DTH operators together accounted for 10% of Canadian basic subscribers by August 2000.
  
• Total revenues for all Canadian commercial radio exceed $1 billion in 2000.
  
• The top 10 radio industry players increased their national revenue share to 73% in 2000, up from 63% in 1999.

The monitoring report presents data as well as a number of performance indicators used by the Commission to examine the broadcasting industry in Canada. The CRTC also uses this information to measure the success of its broadcasting policies, regulations and decisions, as well as to identify areas that may require further review or adjustment. The report will also help to foster a more open and better-informed public discussion of broadcasting policy in Canada.

The full report can be viewed on the CRTC’s web-site at www.crtc.gc.ca

Reference document: Broadcasting Policy Monitoring Report 2001
[.htm] [.pdf]

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Media Inquiries:
   Denis Carmel, Tel: (819) 997-9403, eMail: denis.carmel@crtc.gc.ca

General Inquiries:
   Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
   Tel: (819) 997-0313, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218
   Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), eMail: info@crtc.gc.ca
   TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-2782

Copies of today’s documents are available through our Internet site (http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the public examination room of any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

Date Modified: 2001-10-30

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