The total revenue from TV shows exported from the UK grew by 20% last year, according to new statistics released by Pact, the trade body for independent TV, feature film, animation and interactive media companies.

According to the report, the total revenue from the international exploitation of TV program sales and their ancillary activities reached US$1.1 billion in 2006, up from US$976 million in 2005. Pure TV program sales shot up 21% to US$581 million.

The biggest buyers of UK programming? Eastern Europe and Scandinavia seemed particularly hungry for Brit content, with sales to those territories jumping 54% and 42%, respectively.

Meanwhile, North American sales were up 30% in 2006 and accounted for 41% of all revenue from overseas sales of TV series and their associated activities.