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BBC Worldwide profits up 36.5%, losses online
BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the BBC saw sales rise by 7 per cent to £1.074 billion (E1.3bn) in the 12 months to 31 March 2010. Operating profits increased 36.5 per cent to £145.2 million, with dividend payments to the BBC of £73.6 million. This helped lift the overall cash return to the BBC to more than £150 million for the second year running.
However digital and online activities returned a loss. Sales of advertising on the international news site BBC.com grew 41.7 per cent to £14.5 million. But the annual loss widened eight per cent £13 million after what the company says was "additional co-investment with the BBC in the technology infrastructure and investment in sales capability."
BBCWW is planning more regionalised BBC.com editions against which to sell more local ads it also maintains it will internationalise iPlayer and is planning "a travel site within BBC.com" presumably a merger with LonelyPlanet.com. It also wants to get into mobile and Internet apps.
BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the BBC saw sales rise by 7 per cent to £1.074 billion (E1.3bn) in the 12 months to 31 March 2010. Operating profits increased 36.5 per cent to £145.2 million, with dividend payments to the BBC of £73.6 million. This helped lift the overall cash return to the BBC to more than £150 million for the second year running.
However digital and online activities returned a loss. Sales of advertising on the international news site BBC.com grew 41.7 per cent to £14.5 million. But the annual loss widened eight per cent £13 million after what the company says was "additional co-investment with the BBC in the technology infrastructure and investment in sales capability."
BBCWW is planning more regionalised BBC.com editions against which to sell more local ads it also maintains it will internationalise iPlayer and is planning "a travel site within BBC.com" presumably a merger with LonelyPlanet.com. It also wants to get into mobile and Internet apps.