Exports of British TV Shows Up 20 Percent

LONDON, April 11: The sale of British programming on the
international market generated revenues of £593 million in 2006, up 20 percent
on 2005, according to the British trade body Pact.

According to the data, compiled by the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), format sales drove the increase, with
licensing revenues up 87 percent to £56 million. Completed program sales rose
by 21 percent to $294 million. Video/DVD revenues gained 13 percent to £63
million, and co-production revenues were up 7 percent to £51 million.

Europe accounted for 33 percent of total television sales,
generating £125 million. The largest rises in sales overall were to the
countries of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, which posted increases of 54
percent and 42 percent respectively. The only market to show a reduction on
revenues was Germany, where sales fell 20 percent to £24 million. Sales to
France were up 10 percent, Spain 25 percent, Italy 16 percent and the rest of
Western Europe 12 percent.

North America accounted for 41 percent of all the revenue
from the overseas sales of UK TV programs. Total revenue from the U.S.
increased by 30 percent to £215 million, while sales to Canada rose 26 percent
to £25 million.

Sales to Australia and New Zealand posted a 12 percent gain
to £60 million, and Latin American revenues rose 30 percent to £11 million.
Sales to Asia rose 23 percent to £45 million.

Among the best-selling shows were BBC Worldwide’s Dancing
with the Stars, Parthenon’s Castro:
Man and Myth, Granada International’s Megastructures and FremantleMedia’s Prehistoric Park.

Creative Industries Minister Shaun Woodward commented: “The
inventiveness and quality of British TV makers continues to shine through and
is recognized across the world. Production teams still deliver on core programs
such as period drama or Doctor Who, but
also move television formats forwards with shows such as Dancing on
Ice, which effortlessly cross continents.”

John McVay, the chief executive of Pact, added: “The 2006 TV
export figures show the appetite for U.K. programming around the world
continues to grow. The quality and range of U.K. programming, from factual
entertainment to sports to drama and animation, means U.K. companies always
have a broad range of compelling content to offer international buyers. They
consistently deliver significant revenues back to U.K. PLC.”