DW Helps TV Exports Success

Doctor Who has been namechecked by the UK government as helping with the success story of overseas TV sales.Income from the export of TV shows rose by 20 per cent last year to 593 million pounds.Creative industries minister Shaun Woodward said: "The inventiveness and quality of British TV makers continues to shine through and is recognised across the world."Production teams still deliver on core programmes such as period drama or Doctor Who, but also move television formats forward with shows such as Dancing on Ice, which effortlessly cross continents."The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said a quarter of the increase was down to an 87 per cent rise in income from licensing TV formats.According to the figures, Europe's share was 33 per cent of TV sales, which generated 125 million pounds, compared with 77 million pounds from the USA.The largest rises in sales were to eastern Europe and Scandinavia, which had increases of 54 per cent and 42 per cent respectively, because of new TV channels and the popularity of UK programmes there.John McVay, the chief executive of Pact, which commissioned the research, said: "The quality and range of UK programming, from factual entertainment to sports, to drama and animation, means UK companies always have a broad range of compelling content to offer international buyers."