View source for BBC hits £8.5m. mark in overseas sales

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| publication = Financial Times
| file = 1977-04-21 Financial Times.jpg
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| date = 1977-04-21
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| pages = 11
| language = English 
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SALES of BBC programmes and spin-offs earned the corporation a record £8.5m. last year—and the boom could continue.

Mr. Bryon Parkin, general manager of BBC Enterprises, said: "We have done outstandingly well with an 18 per cent increase in sales over the previous year's figure, which was itself a record." Mr. Parkin said the BBC would try hard for deals at the International Television Market in Cannes next week.

Among the top sellers abroad were The Fall of Eagles, which was sold in 32 countries, and Explorers, which was sold in 23 countries. Twenty-one countries bought series of The Two Ronnies and The Picnic, with Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett.

The children's serial David Copperfield sold to 20 countries. and among other money earners were Fight Against Slavery, Private Lives and The Black Tulip.

There was a steep increase in exports of programmes to industry, libraries and business and educational institutions.

Western European countries bought a record 1,051 hours of programmes and more shows than ever were sold to the expanding Middle East market. BBC records and tapes increased business.

The trusty leaders in BBC merchandising—Basil Brush, Dr. Who and the Wombles—were joined by new favourites, Paddington Bear and Noah and Nellie from Skylark.

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