Strong demand from VOD clients has helped BBC Worldwide pass a £400 million internal revenue target one year early.
The BBC’s commercial division said in its annual report that content sales had increased by 9.9 per cent to £422.4 million.
Headline sales of £1,059.9 million and headline profit of £157.3 million were up 3.0% and 17.6% respectively. It means £210.5 million was returned to the BBC.
BBC Worldwide’s principal content partnership with BBC Studios was complemented by five new equity investments into British talent-led indie start-ups, coupled with increased shareholdings in Lookout Point and Baby Cow, enhancing Worldwide’s access to premium British content.
In branded channels, BBC Earth also launched in India, with Sony Pictures Network, Serbia and Bosnia. BBC First, in scripted, led a portfolio of high-performing channels in Australia, performed well in Benelux, and debuted on four third-party VOD platforms in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. CBeebies launched in East Africa, the Middle East, North Africa and Taiwan, and reached agreement for carriage on digital platform iQIYI in China.
Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide and Director, Global, said: “By concentrating our efforts around core areas of growth and being bold in our transformation ambition, BBC Worldwide has delivered another strong year of results. Ever-closer relationships with producers, driving excellent content, along with acute customer focus, creative deal-making and strategic partnerships, are together enabling us to navigate the rapid shifts in the markets where we operate.
However, channels were closed in Latin America in order to concentrate on programme and format sales.
