BBC Worldwide posts record profits

BBC Worldwide has posted sales of £1.158 billion (€1.31 billion) for the year to March 31, up 7.8%.

International sales accounted for 55.5% of total revenues, and were up 9.6% year-on-year. Digital sales accounted to 8.1% of net sales, with the BBC.com website seeing revenues grow by 113% in the US. Headline sales in the channels business grew by 18.8%, while revenues from the UKTV joint venture with UK MSO Virgin Media grew by 15.6%.

The BBC’s commercial arm posted headline profits of £160.2 million, up 10.3%. Pre-tax profit including discontinued operations was £201.2 million, thanks in part to BBC Worldwide’s exit from a channels investment sold to Discovery in November.