Operating revenues in the television broadcasting sector reached $7.1 billion in 2010, up 8% from 2009, and the largest annual increase since 2003.
Statistics Canada reports TV advertising revenues grew 9.2% last year to $3.4 billion, close to 2008 revenues, before the economic slowdown.
The agency says that increase comes on the heels of an 8.3% drop in ad revenues in 2009, the first decline in 15 years.
While private conventional television operating revenues rose 8.8% to $2.2 billion in 2010, they remained below their peak in 2007.
Private conventional television posted a profit margin before interest and taxes of 0.2% last year to $5.4 million in profits, reversing a $113.4-million loss in 2009.
Pay and specialty television continued its upward trend in 2010, with operating revenues increasing 11.1% to $3.5 billion.
The profit margin before interest and taxes of the pay and specialty television segments rose to 25.4% in 2010, for profits before interest and taxes of $877.3 million.
Advertising accounted for 48.2% of all operating revenues for the industry in 2010, up slightly from 47.7% in 2009, but well below the 60% it represented 10 years ago.
