FINANCIAL DATA

Commercial free-to-air television services received income of $4,530.1m in 2006-07. Almost 80% ($3,610.9m) of this income was gross income from the sale of airtime. Commercial free-to-air broadcasters reported an operating profit before tax of $834.3m or an operating profit margin of 19% in 2006-07.

Subscription television broadcasters, with a total income of $2,282.6m, earned around 87% ($1,974.9m) from subscription fees. This income was still not enough for these businesses to record a profit in 2006-07. The operating deficit before tax was $163.0m which meant an operating profit margin of -8%.

17.1 INCOME AND EXPENSES OF TELEVISION BROADCASTERS - 2006-07
			Income
			$m
Commercial free-to-air(a)
	Income
		Gross income from the sale of airtime	3 610.9
		Other	919.2
		Total income	4 530.1
	Expenses
		Labour costs	682.1
		Program rights expensed	725.0
		Depreciation and amortisation	390.7
		Other	1 905.8
		Total expenses	3 703.6
Subscription
	Income
		Subscription fees	1 974.9
		Other(b)	307.6
		Total income	2 282.6
	Expenses
		Labour costs	204.1
		Payments to subscription television channel providers	843.6
		Depreciation and amortisation	336.9
		Rent, leasing and hiring	36.3
		Other contract, subcontract and commission expenses	252.8
		Other	775.8
		Total expenses	2 449.5
(a) Excludes public television broadcasting.
(b) Includes gross income from the sale of airtime.
Source: ABS, Television, Film and Video Production and Post-Production Services, Australia, 2006-07 (cat. no. 8679.0).

The 2006-07 Television, Film and Video Production and Post-Production Services Survey did not collect data from public broadcasters, however, financial data on the activities of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) can be obtained from their Annual Reports which are available from their websites www.abc.net.au and www.sbs.com.au respectively.

Information about commercial radio stations is available from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which reported that in 2006-07 274 commercial radio licenses generated revenue of $21.3m (www.acma.gov.au).

According to the ABS survey of Cultural Funding by Government in 2006-07 the Australian Government provided $1,901.0m for cultural activity, 54% ($1,027.8m) of which was for radio and television services - primarily the ABC and SBS.

Previous Page

Next Page