CANADIAN PRIVATE RADIO DOING VERY WELL, THANKYOUVERYMUCH
Private radio stations in Canada have made the highest-ever total revenue quarter ever, according to Canadian Broadcast Sales. Sales rose by 8.2% compared to the same period last year. Ontario radio stations were up a whopping 26.2%. And who’s buying the ads: The top growth categories for Q1 were: Internet/Technology up 298%; Insurance 98.3%; Restaurant/Fast Food 73.2%; Computers & Software 66%; and Movies/Media/Entertainment 33.4%.

SATELLITE RADIO NOT HURTING TERRESTRIAL RADIO
Canadian AM and FM radio stations are showing surprising resilience in the face of competition from satellite radio’s giant new entries, Sirius and XM. [full article] An analysis of Bureau of Broadcast Measurement radio ratings from the last 12 months, which measure how many Canadians tune to the AM and FM dial, shows that conventional radio stations in every major Canadian market have held virtually all their audience.

LAST YEAR DEADLY FOR JOURNALISTS
This past year was the deadliest for journalists in more than a decade, according to media watchdog Reporters without Borders. The Paris-based group said in its annual report released Sunday that at least 81 reporters were killed while on duty in more than 20 countries in 2006. That compares with 63 who died on the job the previous year. Another 32 people working alongside journalists, including translators, drivers and technicians, were killed, compared with five in 2005.

ACTORS’ STRIKE ON HOLD
The union representing Canadian film and TV actors will return to the bargaining table with North American producers on Wednesday in a last-ditch attempt to avert a strike. The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) had voted to walk off the job on Monday if a labour deal was not reached. The union’s agreement with the Canadian Film and Television Production Association ended on Dec. 31.

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