Profits at BBC Worldwide rise 62% to hit £89.4m

LONDON - BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, made record profits of £89.4m for 2005/2006, a year-on-year increase of 62%.

The corporation revealed that sales at BBC Worldwide, which publishes magazines such as Top Gear and Radio Times as well as exporting BBC brands overseas, were up 11% to £784.4m.

The BBC said this was achieved through a combination of "trading and efficiency improvements across the business", and by selling, closing and turning around its loss-making operations. It sold a majority stake in its BBC Books division to Random House last week.

BBC Worldwide recorded profits of £37m for 2003/2004, rising 50% to £55m over the course of 2004/2005.

Underlying profits, excluding one-offs, disposals, restructuring and legal costs, recorded a £92.1m return, up 73% from £53.3m across 2004/2005.

John Smith, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said: "It's been an outstanding year. Our turnaround and repositioning strategy has enabled us to exceed our targets, streamline the business and prepare for significant growth both in the UK and abroad."

He added that the BBC's growing commitment to digital media and the proposed development of the commercial iPlayer and BBC.com would ensure that BBC Worldwide would continue to maximise returns across its media platforms.

Mark Thompson, director-general of the BBC, added: "We set BBC Worldwide an ambitious target to double profits over two years, and I'm delighted they've managed to exceed it. The ongoing work in focusing the business and increasing efficiency is drawing direct investment back into programmes and services for UK licence payers."

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