Scottish Radio Holdings, which owns radio stations FM 104 and Today FM here as well as several provincial newspapers including the Longford Leader, said its group operating profit for the six months to the end of March was up 14% to £10.9m sterling.
Group turnover was up 14% to £47.2m, while like for like revenues rose by 10%. After interest, profit before exceptionals and goodwill increased by 13% from £8.6m to £9.7m.
During the six month period, SRH completed the acquisition of Dublin's FM 104. The company said that including acquisitions, radio broadcast revenues were up 19% ahead of the same period last year.
The company's Score Press division publishes 45 local weekly newspaper titles of which five are in Ireland, 16 are in Scotland and 24 are in Northern Ireland. Press revenues rose by 7% compared with the same period the previous year. Advertising revenues increased by 7% with circulation revenues up 6%.
SRH said its net expenditure on digital radio and internet operations for the six month period was £0.8m.
The company said it is well placed for continued growth.
'The good first half growth in operating profits in both radio and publishing is extremely encouraging', the company said in a statement. 'Trading to date in the second half has shown continued growth, underpinning the board's expectation of a good result for a year as a while,' the statement added.
* SRH also announced this morning that its Chief Executive Richard Findlay is to retire in September and will be succeeded by David Goode, who is currently managing director of radio.
