ITV has posted a 17% rise in 2012 profit before tax, helped by growth in non-advertising revenues, and said it would pay shareholders a £156m special dividend.
The broadcaster reported adjusted earnings for 2012 of £520m on total external revenues up 3% to £2.2bn.
The jump was helped by the sale of rights to programmes such as Mr Selfridge (see above) and Titanic.
Having ended the year with net cash of £206m, the firm is paying a full year dividend of 2.6p and a special dividend of 4.0p.
We last saw her on screen during the live finals of The X Factor just before Christmas and now singer Jade Ellis has helped us to launch our new look here at ITV. She spoke to Daniel Harris after wowing staff with her special singing performance.
As part of our new look ITV, the staff at our studios in Leeds were treated to a surprise appearance from the boys of the ITV2 hit show 'The Only Way is Essex'.
The trio including Bobby Norris, Charlie King and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Kirk Norcross chatted to Calendar's Daniel Harris about reality tv, the new series of TOWIE and the all important ITV rebrand!
It has been a massive day for ITV across the country as the company launches it's brand new image. The rebrand has taken place at all ITV outlets, including here in Leeds.
If you haven't already seen the new set watch the programme tonight when you will also be able to welcome back a familiar face. To find out more about the rebrand click here.
Former ITV Accountant who stole thousands from employer has been jailed
Darren Smith, of Leeds, has today been jailed for three and a half years for his part in defrauding ITV, the company he used to work for.
The former accountant was accused of defrauding ITV by providing false invoices. Steve Marsden, who conspired with Smith has been sentenced to 2 years in jail.
The pair were found guilty of providing 29 false invoices that came to a total of £141, 960. They set up a fake company to claim the pay for fictitious work.
The Judge at Leeds Crown Court today, said Smith stole a serious amount of money through a serious breach of the company's trust.
"You set out on a repeated act of criminality, which you carried out over a protracted period of time, recruiting Marsden, sending false invoices and setting up a fictitious company"
– James Spencer QC
The court heard that Darren Smith, who has two children aged 7 and 9 years old, had racked up a debt totalling £846,000. The court also heard that Mr Smith has told his children he is going away to train as a teacher and that he will make it up to them when he gets out.
A former accountant based in Leeds has admitted plotting to defraud ITV of over £140,000. Darren Smith was paid £142,000 by ITV for work that hadn't been carried out. He admitted two counts of conspiracy to defraud - and one charge of acquiring criminal property.
The judge at Leeds Crown Court told him to expect a 'substantial' prison sentence.
