Media group UTV has reported pre-tax profits of £9.4m for the first half of 2010, an increase of 17% from a year earlier, as revenue rose by 9% to £59.2m.
The group said it had reduced its net debt and declared an interim dividend of 1p.
Chief executive John McCann said an improving economic environment and the World Cup led to a better performance in the six months, and the pick-up appeared to be continuing in the third quarter of the year. The World Cup helped boost television advertising revenue by 7% to £15m.
A breakdown showed that radio profits increased by 17% to £9.8m, but television profits fell to £1.4m. Its TalkSPORT radio station in the UK was helped by the World Cup, while UTV said profits at its Irish radio business fell to £3.2m from £3.6m a year earlier.
The group said the significant declines in advertising revenue in Ireland last year 'moderated' in the first six months of 2010.
