Top Gear sales boost ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ profits
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Top Gear is one of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's most successful exports
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's commercial arm, has reported total sales worth £1bn for the last financial year.
Sales were up 7% on the previous 12 months, the company said, with brands including Top Gear and Doctor Who performing particularly well.
Profits rose 36.5% to £145.2m, excluding exceptional items, the company added.
More than half of sales were generated overseas, where ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide sells ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ content and runs a network of channels.
Its channels, which include ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ America, registered a 34.2% rise in profits.
Sales of programmes abroad, including Top Gear, Doctor Who, and Planet Earth, saw a 26.4% rise in profits.
Domestically, DVD sales continued to grow but magazine sales were steady, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide said.
Lonely Planet, the travel guide brand bought in 2007, also returned to profit.
"³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide continues to give consumers around the world more and more content from the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and other British production companies," said John Smith, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide's chief executive.