Wife Swap television firm reports profits leap

The TV team behind Wife Swap and Scrapheap Challenge celebrated a bumper boost in profits today and announced deals to make a string of shows in the US.

RDF Media said pre-tax profits before flotation costs and one-off accountancy matters lifted 46% to £2.2m (€3.27m) during the six months to July 31, as the firm made a total of 40 series and one-off shows.

The London-based firm supplied productions worth £8.5m (€126.4m) to the BBC, compared with £1.1m (€1.63m) in the 12 months before its flotation in April last year.

It also saw revenues lift 57% to £37.5m (€55.79m) over the half-year, with a helping hand from poker TV channel Presentable, which it acquired in April.

He said: “We believe this will become an important source of income for the group in the future.”