UTV today posted a 45 per cent rise in profits to £6.2 million sterling as it maintained its record of outperforming the rest of the ITV network.
Television advertising revenues soared by 16 per cent during the first half, compared with a 3.8 per cent rise for the whole of ITV.
The group said it was the fifth successive year it had beaten its counterparts - a trend set to continue after confirmation that the performance had continued into the third quarter.
This summer's Euro 2004 football tournament boosted television advertising revenues, and helped the division record a 32 per cent rise in operating profits in the six months to June 30th.
Television advertising revenues are expected to be 15 per cent higher in October, even though
Chairman Mr John McGuckian said: "The year as a whole, therefore, should record another significant outperformance of our television peer group."
A 9 per cent rise in revenues at the group's Cork and Limerick radio stations offset the performance of its recently rebranded Dublin station Q102.
A decline in listenership at the station in 2003 had a negative impact on advertising in the early months of this financial year, while the costs of rebranding Q102 also hit profitability.
But the station, previously called Lite FM, is increasing its listenership and, overall, radio advertising revenues rose by 4.8 per cent in the first half.
UTV now has a record share of the ITV advertising market of 2.67 per cent.