The Polish public broadcaster TVP has made a strong start to 2013 financially, posting a record profit of PLN8.8 million (€2.02 million) in the first five months of the year.
Revenues from subscription fees in May amounted to PLN19.9 million, or PLN3.5 million more than planned and compared to PLN14.2 million in the same period last year.
Subscription fees in the first five months of the year were meanwhile PLN34.7 million, or 24%, higher than in the first five months of 2012.
Although ad revenues over the same period were PLN44.5 million, or 10.8%, lower than a year earlier due to the recession in the ad market, income from other sources rose by around PLN11 million, or 23.8%.
Meanwhile, operating expenses were reduced by PLN51.5 million and were PLN5.4 million less than planned for in the first five months of this year.
TVP notes that it expects this positive financial performance, brought about by “tough decision” in restructuring, to be also reflect in its half and full year results.
It also says that savings in programming are making its task more difficult.