Canadian networks go Hollywood
Spending up on foreign fare
Tuesday's report from federal regulator the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission showed that the networks' profits before interest and taxes increased to $113.4 million last year, up from $91.3 million a year earlier on total revenue of $2.2 billion, stable from the year before.
Revenue from local advertising increased 3.3% to $390 million, while revenue from national advertising sales remained steady at $1.5 billion. Operating expenses stayed the same, at $2 billion.
Of the spending on Canadian programming, $74 million was for drama, $104 million for general interest programming, $326 million for news programming, $61 million for other information shows, $24 million for musical and variety shows, $8.6 million for sports shows, and $12 million for game shows.
In 2007, these networks employed 7,873 staffers and paid out $597 million in salaries. In 2006, the networks employed 8,197 staffers and paid $596 million in salaries.
