Ulster Television this morning reported flat first half profits as earnings from Cork's County Media radio group offset a slump in TV advertising.
Group operating profit at Northern Ireland's main commercial television station - before goodwill amortisation - came in at £6.90 million for the six months to the end of June, compared with 6.87 million the year before.
UTV, part of Britain's ITV group, bought 60% of Cork-based County Media in April and the contribution from the radio station since then has made up for the loss of operating profit caused by a wider decline in ITV advertising.
'Local radio advertising revenue in Ireland has not been subject to the same downward pressures experienced elsewhere in the global media market,' UTV said in its results statement.
UTV raised its interim dividend by 5.6% to 3.60 pence a share.
