Game Of Thrones broadcaster Sky has brushed aside economic uncertainty surrounding Britain's referendum on the European Union to drive up revenues and profits.

The firm lifted operating profits 12% to £1.6 billion in the full year to June 30, while revenues climbed 7% to £11.9 billion over the period.

The financial boost came as revenues leapt above £8 billion in the UK for the first time in its history to £8.3 billion after adding 445,000 customers, including 93,000 in the fourth quarter.

In total, the company bolstered customer numbers to 808,000 across the group to 21.8 million.

Sky said more than six million people watched each episode of Game Of Thrones, while high finance drama Billions, starring Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti, broke on-demand records with 11 million views.

Shares were up 6% on the London market.

Group chief executive Jeremy Darroch said the results underscored "another excellent year for Sky".

He added: "Each of our markets is making very strong progress. In the UK and Ireland we passed £8 billion in revenue for the first time by giving consumers more and more reasons to choose Sky including our new premium service, Sky Q.

"In Germany and Austria, we have broadened our TV offering to attract more customers.

"Today we are announcing the launch of Sky 1, which combines with our new Sky Arts channel, Sky Atlantic and increased on-demand content to create a compelling entertainment portfolio."

The company said it was on course to deliver its "biggest year" when it came to driving down costs, as it targeted more than £200 million worth of savings on a run rate basis for 2016/17.

It is also aiming for £400 million worth of savings by the end of 2020.

However, the firm said total costs were up 6% across the group for 2016, as it drove more investment into new programming and box sets, but saved money by not renewing Champions League football in the UK and Italy.

Rival BT snapped up the Champions League football coverage from Sky and ITV last year, paying £897 million for live coverage over three seasons.

Sky said that churn - the number of people leaving its service - rose to 11.2% in the UK and Ireland for 2016, compared to 9.8% the year before.

Full-year pre-tax profits came in at £752 million, down from £1.5 billion in 2015.

In Europe, the broadcaster recorded its first ever operating profit in Germany and Austria, while its Italian business saw revenues step up 2% to £2.1 billion despite operating profit slipping 14% to £50 million over the period.

Bridie Barrett, analyst at Edison Investment Research, said: "With premium rights holders squeezing their distribution partners, Sky growth is coming at a greater cost.

"Nevertheless, by offering a wider array of services, it has continued to steadily expand its UK subscriber base and the addition of mobile in the coming year provides it with another reason to go back to consumers.

"Alongside this, the overseas operations also seem to eventually be turning a corner, which given a potential UK Brexit slowdown may well prove very timely, as are the additional £400 million of cost savings which will go a long way to offsetting rights inflation."