Singapore – BBC Worldwide has announced a 9.5 percent increase in global revenues to over £1billion, but profits, at £103m, were down 12.8 percent for financial year ended 31 March 2009. Explaining this year’s overall decline in global profits, John Smith, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, cited organic investment and two exceptional items in particular: a write-down associated with Kangaroo – its proposed UK online video service with ITV and Channel 4 – and a one-time charge related to 2 entertain, the DVD distribution joint venture with Woolworths Group plc. The exceptional items reflected investment costs at Kangaroo, which was blocked by the UK’s Competition Commission, and pension liability at 2 entertain following the collapse of Woolworths. Double digit revenue growth was reported in the Channels, Content & Production and Digital Media businesses, while Sales & Distribution remained the company’s single largest profit centre. Smith added that the company’s share of income generated outside the UK was 51.3%, up from 48.6%, with continued progress in priority markets such as the US and Australia. Sales and Distribution revenue across Asia Pacific increased 9.3 percent year on year, to £34.0m, and profit by 3.6 percent, to £11.5m. Significant deals included the launch of Top Gear in China and Taiwan, while In the Night Garden was sold in China, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia. The channels division as a whole recorded improvements across all regions resulting in a 22.7 percent increase in sales to £225.6m and a 135 percent increase in profits to £29.6m. In Asia Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand, channel sales were £18.8m, up from £9.9m, while the region made a loss of £4.2m, an improvement on last year’s loss of £7.1m.