TalkSport drives UTV's profits up

The World Cup and a loyal male audience helped radio station TalkSport deliver market-beating advertising sales last year, parent company UTV Media said yesterday.

The Belfast-based group, which is also the ITV licence holder for Northern Ireland, said advertising turnover at TalkSport grew 27 per cent to 28.2 million in 2010.

The station reported a 36 per cent increase in operating profits to 6.4m, helping UTV record pre-tax profits of 21.1m, an increase of 17 per cent on 2009. Group revenues were up 7 per cent at 120.2m.