Channel 4′;s Report and Financial Statements for 2011 shows a surplus of £34.5m after tax. As a result, the commercially-funded public broadcaster has confirmed a £5m increase to the content budget for UK commissions in 2012, taking it to a new historic high of £455m.

Commenting on the publication of the report, Channel 4 Chairman, Lord Burns, said: “Under the leadership of David Abraham the channel is making an outstanding creative impact on British audiences through the breadth and quality of its content – it has a unique status and important role in supporting the UK creative economy.”

Chief Executive, David Abraham, added: “Across 2011 Channel 4 underwent the biggest diversification of its schedule in a decade. I am proud of the range of content we delivered from Top Boy and Black Mirror to Educating Essex, Hugh’;s Fish Fight and Sri Lanka’;s Killing Fields. We increased investment in UK content by 16% and the number of new or one off programmes in peak by 10%. In our first year without Big Brother we grew portfolio share and stemmed decline on the main channel.”

Expenditure on originated content in 2011 was £419m, up 16% on 2010. Originated content represented 71% of the £592m invested in content, up from 63% in 2010. 252 new or one-off programmes were shown between 6pm and midnight on Channel 4 in 2011, up 10% on 2010.

Creative highlights across Channel 4′;s network in 2011 (according to C4”s own assessment) included 24 Hours in A&E, Mummifying Alan, Made in Chelsea, Fresh Meat, My Transsexual Summer, Friday Night Dinner, The Promise, Submarine and Tyrannosaur.