Ad surge pushes UTV first-half profits to over €9m

A SURGE in television advertising has helped push up first-half profits at Ulster Television to £6.2 million (€9.1m).

The Belfast-based company, owner of the UTV channel and a number of radio stations, said turnover was ahead by 17% at just over £30m (€44m).

UTV, which owns the ITV franchise for Northern Ireland, said its television advertising revenues rose by 16% in the six months to end June 2004.