LONDON: BBC Worldwide has announced that its TV and TV related exports have, once again, made a significant contribution to the UK's total TV export industry, rising at double the pace of the market.
The British Television Distributors Association (BTDA) has announced a 6.6 per cent increase on last year's TV exports bringing this year's total to $666 million (calendar year 2002), compared to 2001's figure of $624 million.
An official release informs that BBC Worldwide's total media exports rose by 13 per cent to $362 million from last year's $322 million. This accounted for 54 per cent of the total UK market
Chief Executive BBC Worldwide Rupert Gavin says; "Our on-going success in the export market is due to our highly visible platforms around the world, which have enabled us to build a substantial global business. Key factors have been the launch of BBC channels, branded blocks, the re-versioning of programmes such as The Weakest Link and Top of the Pops for local markets, and joint venture partnerships, driving significant business growth in key territories such as the USA and Canada."
Across North America, BBC Worldwide has grown its business by 16.7 per cent, the release states. In addition to The Weakest Link format sales around the world (Kamzor Kadii Kaun aired in India on Star Plus), other major BBC properties that contributed to the sales success include the internationally acclaimed factual series, The Blue Planet which is airing in India on Discovery and Walking with Beasts. Children's properties such as Teletubbies and Tweenies continued to expand across media around the world, and the drama series The Lost World proved to be an international hit.
BTDA industry figures represent the best and most accurate measure of Britain's TV exports. The process of aggregating industry numbers was implemented by DCMS recommendations, following its enquiry into the export business in 1999.