The BBC has announced profits of £55 million for the year, driven by sales of products such as the Little Britain series one DVD and Michael Palin's Himalaya. This represents a 50 per cent increase on 2003/4's figures.
The results mean a £4 million increase to £145 million in cash flow to the BBC. The news puts BBC Worldwide on course to meet its target to double its profits to £74 million by next year.
Profit growth came particularly from the TV sales and magazines businesses, while losses came from the home entertainment, children's and new- media sectors.
BBC Worldwide also saw its first dividend from UKTV, its joint venture with Flextech Television. The new channel provided a £2.1 million profit.
Highlights included 1.3 million sales of the Little Britain DVD and an overall 8 per cent circulation increase in BBC Magazines. The magazine division also divested its women's monthly, Eve, to Haymarket Publishing for an undisclosed sum.
Internationally, a joint venture with Times of India's magazine arm was set up to launch BBC titles in India, while formats such as Strictly Come Dancing were successfully sold worldwide.
Mark Thompson, the dir-ector-general of the BBC, said: "I am delighted to see BBC Worldwide producing such excellent results and delivering more cash back to the BBC.
"This success reflects BBC Worldwide's ability to create products and services that people in the UK enjoy. Internationally, BBC Worldwide's channels and publishing activities are an important showcase for the best of UK culture and creativity."
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