Earnings: BBC.com Ads Help BBCWW Soar; Big YouTube And iTunes Income
This story was written by Robert Andrews.
Digital revenue at the BBC's overseas, profit-making BBC Worldwide division nearly doubled from 13.9 million ($27.4 million) to 21.9 million ($43.2 million) in the year to March 31, thanks to ads on the new BBC.com and to sales from the likes of iTunes and YouTube. The controversial BBC.com made 1.5 million ($2.96 million) from ads and sponsorships since its November launch. The site only runs ads outside the UK and plans to increase inventory, while "an international commercial iPlayer functionality is being explored", too.
Distribution and sale of clips to destinations like YouTube, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iTunes, MySpace TV and Playstation reaped a sixfold revenue increase at 7 million ($13.8 million) - testament to the off-site dissemination strategy. Despite the gains, digital losses grew from 3.9 million ($7.7 million) to 10.9 million ($21.5 million) on "substantial investment" in BBC.com and the Kangaroo VOD TV JV. BBCWW pledged to continue investing next year, however. More at paidContent:UK
By Robert Andrews