BBC Worldwide's Annual Review (We're Doomed! Part 263)

[Milky Tears]

BBC Worldwide have published their 2006/07 annual review:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbc..._2006_07.shtml

The geeky stats:

BBC Worldwide Press Releases
BBC Worldwide Delivers Record Profits
Date : 27.06.2007

Results for 12 months to 31st March 2007:
profits up 24% to 111.1m

Further investment to develop the
worlds premier content network


BBC Worldwide Ltd, the commercial arm and wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), today published its Annual Review for 2006/07.

The full-year results show in the twelve months to 31st March 2007, record pre-tax profits of 111.1m including exceptional items (2005/06: 89.4m), on sales of 810.4m including BBC Worldwides share of joint ventures (2005/06: 785.1m). The proportion of sales to outside the UK was up by 5% year on year to 46%. Investment in BBC-commissioned programmes was also up at 96.3m from 89.0m in 2005/06, with total programme investment at 103.6m.

Highlights of the year include continued strong profits growth, very strong international sales of hit shows and formats around the world, the refreshing of the companys wholly owned channel portfolio and laying the foundations for strong digital revenue growth.

Following a strategic review and re-organisation three years ago, BBC Worldwide is now focused on profit and growth. It operates six businesses: Global Channels, Global TV Sales, Content & Production, Magazines, Home Entertainment and Digital Media. Both through its own operations and via partnerships and joint ventures, BBC Worldwide seeks to drive commercial benefit from rights and content on behalf of the BBC and other UK rights holders. In the UK its products and services help to extend audiences appreciation of BBC programmes. Internationally the company promotes the best of British talent and culture across a wide range of media.

John Smith, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide, said: BBC Worldwide has achieved a three-fold increase in profits in the last three years. We have exceeded expectations in most of our businesses over the past 12 months, reflecting healthy returns from our new Channels business, strong TV catalogue sales and growing demand internationally for BBC formats. We are now investing to build our digital offering and strengthen our position in markets such as the US, China, India and Australia, creating one of the worlds premier content networks.


Etienne de Villiers, Non-executive Chairman, BBC Worldwide, said: BBC Worldwide has reached a watershed. It has proven capable of delivering against a demanding business plan with commercial efficiency; it now is poised to grow significantly with new product lines and in exciting markets.


Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, commented: "BBC Worldwide continues to deliver excellent returns for licence payers from the content they help fund us to make. Its success is increasingly critical to our ability to invest in original creative programming for audiences in the UK, and the company is playing major part in taking those programmes out to the rest of the world."

The Doctor Whoey bits:

Global TV Sales 216.4m (188.9m); profit 40.2m (33.7m)

Enhanced position as No 1 exporter of UK television programmes, providing a global showcase for great British talent.

BBCWW TV Sales and Content & Production revenue broadly accounted for 38% of total UK TV exports last year (compared to 32% the previous year).
The years most successful new titles included Doctor Who, Robin Hood, Torchwood, Life on Mars, 9/11 The Twin Towers and Planet Earth, the latter being viewed in 95 countries and territories and grossing in excess of 22m in global sales to date.

Magazines sales 171.3m (171.8m); profit 20.0m (19.5m)
BBC Magazines performed well in a flat market, growing its circulation revenues and increasing its share of advertising revenues.

One in four UK adults reads a BBC title every month.

The years best-performing magazines were Top Gear, Good Food, Doctor Who Adventures and CBeebies Weekly in terms of circulation growth.

Home Entertainment sales 186.9m (208.9m); profit 24.4m (27.7m)

2 entertain (jv with Woolworths plc) consolidated its position as the leading UK-owned DVD / video publisher. Unit sales of Planet Earth over 600k and Doctor Who over 1.9 million worldwide.
Losses in Childrens (previously a stand-alone business) continued and the business was moved into Home Entertainment where it can benefit from the combined management expertise in publishing and licensing.
Sales from merchandising licences grew to almost 9m (highest level for five years); Doctor Who was the fastest-growing licence in the UK childrens market in 2006.
Live Entertainment had its most profitable year, with successful shows on four continents;
Creation of two joint ventures with Ragdoll Ltd to manage Ragdolls existing properties and also develop new content such as In The Night Garden.
BBC Worldwide sold a majority stake in BBC Books to Random House. BBC Books continued to perform strongly as part of Random Houses Ebury Publishing business.
BBC Audiobooks lead title was Alan Bennetts The History Boys.
Planet Earth and Coast were two of the UKs best-selling Christmas books with sales of 232,000 and 122,000 units respectively.
Live Lounge CD licensed by BBCW to Sony BMG went double platinum, selling more than 730,000 units.

Top Five Sellers for BBC Worldwide 2006/07

TV sales top titles by revenue
Doctor Who series two
Planet Earth
Robin Hood 2006
Primeval
Extras series two

DVD releases top 5 by volume
(UK Charts online to week 13 of 2007)
Planet Earth
Clarkson: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Little Britain Live
Little Britain series three
Doctor Who series two

[Lord President]

BBC Worldwide are making money hand over fist, and it's great to see that FW & TW are both mentioned as factors in that on the BBC News website!

"John Smith, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide" Perhaps the reason is obvious!!!!

[Dirk Gently]

BBC Worldwide are making money hand over fist, and it's great to see that FW & TW are both mentioned as factors in that on the BBC News website!

"John Smith, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide" Perhaps the reason is obvious!!!!

What's FW?

(I have an idea but its rude!)

[Larry]

so the BBC cash cow gets fatter and fatter.