Broadband content, accessed using new media tools like wireless smartphones and Internet streams, continues to draw people and money away from traditional media outlets like radio and TV, according to an annual report on the Canadian communications industry.
Even so, broadcast revenues increased three per cent to $14.4 billion, mostly as a result of the specialty and pay television sector.
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (or CRTC) said in its report that overall revenue reached $55.4 billion last year, up about two per cent.
The CRTC says the media nd communications sector accounts for nearly five per cent of Canada's total gross domestic product.
"Internet usage among Canadians reached new highs in 2009, with the consumption of broadcasting content among the most popular activities," the CRTC said. "Twenty-five per cent of anglophones and 20 per cent of francophones reported watching a television program online. Similarly, 17 per cent of anglophones and 14 per cent of francophones listened to a radio station's audio stream over the Internet."
The percentage of Canadians that could access the Internet using cellphones or other portable media devices went from 91 per cent to 96 per cent in one year.
So the wireless and Internet sectors posted positive results, helping the overall telecom industry report a 1.8 per cent increase in revenues to $41 billion.
Revenues for long-distance and local residential telephone services continued to decline.
Broadcasting
In 2009, revenues for the broadcasting industry rose by 3% and totalled $14.4 billion. Growth was primarily driven by the distribution of television signals and by the specialty and pay television sector, which recorded increases of 7.4% and 5.8%, respectively.
These gains were partially offset by a drop off in advertising. The effects were felt most strongly by conventional television stations and radio stations, whose revenues declined by 7.4% and 5.2%, respectively.
Internet usage among Canadians reached new highs in 2009, with the consumption of broadcasting content among the most popular activities. Twenty-five per cent of anglophones and 20% of francophones reported watching a television program online. Similarly, 17% of anglophones and 14% of francophones listened to a radio station's audio stream over the Internet.
In 2009, the broadcasting industry contributed more than $2.8 billion to the development of Canadian talent and the creation and broadcast of Canadian programming.
Telecommunications
The telecommunications industry reported a 1.8% increase in overall revenues to reach $41 billion for 2009. The wireless and Internet sectors posted positive results, while revenues for long-distance and local residential telephone services continued to decline.
Broadband Internet, which enables the streaming and downloading of high-quality broadcasting content, was available to nearly every home through a variety of service providers. In addition, the percentage of Canadians that could access the Internet using their cellphones went from 91% to 96% in one year.
There was competition in all sectors of the telecommunications industry. Competitors of established companies reported $18.1 billion in revenues, which accounted for 44% of all revenues. In particular, cable companies increased their share of local telephone lines and residential Internet subscribers to 27% and 57%, respectively.
For more information, see the CRTC's Communications Monitoring Report [a 7.10 MB download].