$1.4bn
$XXX.Xm
7,850
99
$XXX.Xm
The transition from printed databases and directories to online formats has left the Canadian Database and Directory Publishing industry reeling, with revenue decreasing over the five years to 2023 because of this transition and COVID-19. From the advertisers' perspective, marketing costs are allocated to the media channels that most accurately reflect consumer behaviour. As more consumers shift to digital directory and database substitutes, demand for print advertisements, previously the industry's largest revenue source and profit indicator, has declined. Over the five years to 2023, the number of consumers with smartphones, which come with online directory capabilities via their ability to connect to the internet, has risen alongside internet connectivity. This has coincided with declining demand for industry products. Consequently, industry revenue has been declining an annualized 10.2% over the past five years, and is expected to reach $1.4 billion in 2023. This includes a decrease of 3.6% in 2023 alone.The industry has historically been dominated by several players, mainly telephone companies with access to consumer and business contact information. As the industry has contracted, companies have spun off their directory divisions. This was exemplified by the industry-defining event of Bell Canada handing off what would become Yellow Media Limited to KKR & Co. Inc. and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board. Over the past five years, this trend has continued, with companies selling off their failing segments to larger companies. The purchasing companies have used merger and acquisition activities to diversify their service and product offerings, entering various third-party fields, including market research, data processing and analytics, and database management.Over the five years to 2028, the industry will likely continue its downward spiral. During this period, total advertising expenditure is expected to rise. However, total print advertisement expenditure will likely decline as a share of total spending. The use of print advertisements will likely continue to become obsolete over the next five years. The most significant contributing factor to this decline is expected to be the growing use of digital advertisements. Consequently, IBISWorld forecasts industry revenue will decrease an annualized 3.4% to $1.2 billion over the five years to 2028.
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 10.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.4bn in 2023.
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2023 | Revenue ($m)
2023 | Profit ($m)
2023 | Profit Margin (%)
2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Yellow Pages Limited | 62.8 | 19.3 | 30.7 | |
Scott's Directories | 23.1 | N/A | N/A | |
Metroland Media Group | 10.1 | N/A | N/A |
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Print Directories, Online Databases and Other services. Print Directories is the largest segment of the Database & Directory Publishing in Canada.
Print directories continue to become more expensive and less useful
Operators in this industry publish organized compilations of information or facts in either print or electronic form. Electronic versions can be provided directly to customers by the publisher, offered through online services or by third-party vendors. This industry does not, however, include businesses that publish solely on the internet.
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NAICS 511140 - Database & Directory Publishing in Canada
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Relative market share in directory publishing is going up as revenue falls. Still, many more companies fade and leave their assets to rot.
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
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Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Phone book publishers receive little external assistance. This trend is accelerating as the need for, and sentiment surrounding phone books falls further.
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Costs are falling across the board as directory publishers cut all noncritical outlays. Relative wages are increasing for online directories focusing on automated record coll...
Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in Canada include:
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These sources include:
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The market size of the Database & Directory Publishing industry in Canada is $1.4bn in 2024.
There are 99 businesses in the Database & Directory Publishing industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 6.0 % between 2018 and 2023.
The market size of the Database & Directory Publishing industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 10.2 % between 2018 and 2023.
Over the next five years, the Database & Directory Publishing industry in Canada is expected to decline.
The biggest companies operating in the Database & Directory Publishing market in Canada are Yellow Pages Limited, Scott's Directories and Metroland Media Group
Selling advertising space and Publishing business and telephone directories are part of the Database & Directory Publishing industry.
The company holding the most market share in Canada is Yellow Pages Limited.
The level of competition is high and decreasing in the Database & Directory Publishing industry in Canada.