Irish radio boosts UTV

UTV’s Irish radio division — which includes Cork stations 103 and 96FM, Dublin’s Q102 and FM104 and Limerick’s Live 95FM — provided the main impetus to the Belfast- based-broadcasting group’s first half results.

Pre-tax profits at UTV for the first six months of this year, grew by 12% year-on-year to £10.4 million (€13m). Group turnover was up by 8% to £62m and the group set an interim dividend of £3.30.

There was an overall increase in non-television generated operating profit of 32% to £9.9m. Indeed, tv operating profit was down 5% on the same period last year, to £4.7m.