UTV revenues fall but Talksport thrives

A sharp 26 per cent rise in sales at its radio station Talksport failed to prevent a 10 per cent slide in annual profits at UTV Media as television advertising revenues fell.

The Northern Irish broadcaster yesterday posted pre-tax profits for 2012 of £21m as group revenues fell 1 per cent to £120m.

Operating profit at UTV's television business – which accounted for about a third of overall sales in 2011 – was down 39 per cent at £3.9m. The group said Talksport, which has the rights to broadcast 380 Premier League matches outside Europe, benefited from last year's Uefa Euro football championships.