Publicly owned UK broadcaster Channel 4 has reported a 4.9% increase in 2005 pre-tax profits, helped by increased ad and sponsorship revenues from shows like 'Big Brother' and 'Jamie's School Dinners'.
The group, which is owned by government but funded by advertising, said pre-tax profits were £66.8m from £63.7m a year earlier. Revenues rose to £894.3m from £841.4m as the group launched the More4 channel and added its E4 channel to the popular Freeview platform.
Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has warned of a looming funding shortfall as Britain shifts to multichannel TV, fragmenting audiences and hurting the ratings and ad revenues of terrestrial broadcasters.
'We may have defied gravity in 2005, but it would be naive to assume we can do so forever,' he said.
