FOOTBALL AND pop star hopefuls helped media group UTV to increase its overall revenue by 9 per cent in the first 10 months of this year, compared to the same period in 2009, according to its latest trading statement.
The Belfast group, which operates the ITV franchise in the North, enjoyed a strong advertising return from the World Cup earlier this year and a subsequent lift from the X Factor show.
The trading statement shows that, after adjusting for the impact of foreign exchange and a magazine acquisition last May, like-for-like growth was 8 per cent. The group has warned that “uncertain economic conditions” have prompted it to be “cautious” in its outlook.
UTV says TV advertising revenue to the end of October increased by 11 per cent compared to the ITV network, which increased its advertising revenue overall by 17 per cent. It expects television revenue to grow by another 11 per cent in the last two months of this year.
One of the highlights for the Northern Ireland media group in the 10 months to October has been the strong performance of its Radio GB division, which has enjoyed a 17 per cent jump in revenue. According to UTV, division revenue increased on a like-for-like basis by 12 per cent.
At UTV’s Radio Ireland division, revenue slumped by 2 per cent on a like-for-like basis before sterling translation exchange losses were factored in. Overall, there was a 5 per cent decline in Radio Ireland’s performance.
