• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, February 18, 2008

Ad revenue at Discovery's fleet of U.S. networks jumped 11% in the recently completed fourth quarter and an even higher 13% for the full-year 2007--attributed, in part, to improved ratings at the flagship channel and TLC.

Still, even as ad dollars continue to rise, overall U.S. networks' revenue for Discovery Holding Company (the company will become fully public some time after March) was flat at $504 million for the fourth quarter and up 4% for 2007 to nearly $2 billion.

Overall, Discovery revenues jumped 8% to $886 million in the fourth quarter and 8% to $3.1 billion for 2007, as new CEO David Zaslav took control. With the recently divested Travel Channel not included, revenue increased further, up 13% in the fourth quarter and 12% for 2007.

The company indicated Friday that a new agreement in which Travel Channel owner Cox compensates Discovery for ad sales and distribution for the network provided significant revenue upside.

It also indicated that its expenses rose to higher costs in research operations connected to processing the new "C3" ratings currency.