Broadcaster Ulster TV today posted a 45% hike in profits to £6.2m (€9.1m) as it maintained its record of outperforming the rest of the ITV network.

MORE people are switching off from the State broadcaster and tuning in to local and regional radio stations, new listenership figures show.

ULSTER TELEVISION saw turnover increase by 14% to £54 million (€79 million) last year. However, profits fell by £0.3 million to £13.6 million as the Belfast-based broadcaster faced higher interest charges and programming costs.

UTV's radio interests in Limerick and Cork had a combined pre-tax profit of over €3m in 2002, according to accounts recently filed with the Companies Office reported in the Irish Independent.

UTV has released its interim results for the six months to June 30, 2003. It reports the group turnover is up 13.9% at £25.7m (€36.58m), and group operating profit is maintained at £7.0m (€9.96m), before goodwill amortisation.

Figures released from JNLR measuring listenership of national and local radio stations indicate few winners or losers overall.

OPERATING profits rose 8% at Ulster Television last year from €19.9m to €21.4m.

COMPETITION between RTÉ and Today FM for key drivetime audiences is hotting up, according to the latest JNLR radio listenership figures published yesterday.

SHARES in UTV and Irish Life & Permanent have been given stronger recommendations by brokers recently, based on similar arguments.

Ulster Television is buying Dublin-based radio station Lite FM in a £9m (€14m) deal.