Canadians spent more time watching TV, listening to radio in 2011

Canadians' love affair with television programs remains undiminished, despite the proliferation of new online and wireless platforms that were supposed to threaten traditional media.
The CRTC's new report on the communications industry shows Canadians watched an average of 28.5 hours of TV last year, up 30 minutes from 2010, even though they had more media choices than ever before.
In fact, Canadians increased their TV program viewing even more -- if the 2.8 hours spent watching television shows online is included.
Radio listening was also up only more moderately, from 17.6 to 17.7 hours a week.
"Canadians are enthusiastic consumers of creative content, whether it is offered on television, radio or through digital platforms," said Jean-Pierre Blais, chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, in the annual report from the federal regulator.
"The fact that they are spending more time watching or listening to programming is good news for Canadian creators."
It's also good news for communications companies.
Broadcast revenues climbed 5.5 per cent to $16.6 billion from 2010, and revenues from telecommunications services increased by 2.5 per cent to $42.7 billion. On average, consumers spent an average of $180 a month on services.
Overall, the communications industry accounted for about 4.6 per cent of Canada's gross domestic product in 2011.

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