UTV Group reveals profit despite poor radio figures

The UTV Group has announced a 4% increase in operating profits to £13m from £12.5m last year despite a disappointing performance from its Irish and Scottish radio stations.

The UTV Group has announced a 4% increase in operating profits to £13m from £12.5m last year despite a disappointing performance from its Irish and Scottish radio stations.

Its interim results for the six months to June 30 also shows the media group took £1.3m at Talk 107 Edinburgh and U105 in Belfast but still saw a 7% increase in radio operating profits from £6.4m to £6.8m

Group chief executive John McCann says UTV performed strongly in a challenging period for the media industry and he was disappointed with the performance of its Irish radio station. Radio, including national commercial station TalkSport (pictured), accounts for 55% of group revenues.

He adds: “We have taken steps to address this and are confident of an improvement in the second half of this year.”