London-based Carlton Communications Plc had another good year, although the contribution by its computer-centred division is dwindling as a proportion. Carlton’s turnover rose rose 39.8% to UKP1,404m. Its Video & Sound Product Division achieved an increase in turnover of 18% to UKP167m which was 11.9% of the group’s turnover; last year its contribution was 14.2% of Carlton’s turnover. Its operating profits rose to UKP22.8m from UKP21.9m. This division makes equipment for professional film, television, video, sound and pre-press industries. Its Quantel division, which had a weak year in 1993, turned in a strong performance, especially in the second half, when newly launched products’ sales began to kick in. But Carlton said success resulted also from a general expansion in the broadcast and post-production market, because of the increasing number of television companies, in which Quantel’s products – Hal, Henry and Paintbox – had done well. Editbox, a non-linear, on-line editing system that was launched earlier this year, was another popular product. Solid State Logic, provider of digital audio equipment, increased sales as well. The only downside was with Abekas and ImMIX. Abekas, which specialises in digital effects equipment, closed its UK manufacturing plant and consolidated manufacture in the US. And although ImMIX, maker of a Macintosh-based VideoCube digital video post-production workstation, had sales of UKP12.3m, it made a loss of UKP1.1m and was sold in September (CI No 2,512). For Carlton, as a group, part of the sizeable increase in turnover resulted from the acquisition of Central Independent Television Plc, which added UKP219m to revenues and UKP47m to pre-interest operational profits. Without this acquisition the company’s operating profits rose by 19%, rather than 58%. Central Television and Carlton Television cover 35% of the UK population and account for 30% of Independent Television’s advertising revenue. The year end dividend is up by 10% at 20.65p.
