Ireland's TV3 was the only television channel operated by Canadian group CanWest Global to deliver increased profits in the three months to the end of November.

In its first-quarter results released yesterday, the Canadian broadcaster and publisher said that the 45 per cent stake it owns in TV3 delivered operating profit of 5.73 million Canadian dollars (€4.1 million) in the quarter, up 23 per cent on the year-earlier period.

Revenue at TV3 was C$12 million, a 6.4 per cent gain on the same period in 2004.

ITV owns 45 per cent of TV3 with a small number of Irish shareholders holding the rest of the stock.

The positive performance at the Irish television channel, which broadcasts from Ballymount Industrial Estate in Dublin, compares with a negative performance by the company's other television operations. Combined they recorded a total operating profit of C$151.5 million, down 22 per cent on the prior period.

Total television revenue was down 5.7 per cent at C$860.5 million.

CanWest operates television stations in Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Overall, CanWest, which also has radio and newspaper interests, reported a 14 per cent drop in net income to C$30 million in the first quarter, from C$35.4 million in the year-earlier period. Revenue slipped 1.4 per cent to C$860 million.

In a statement to the Toronto stock exchange, CanWest said contributions from its international operations had remained solid in the quarter.