Revenues grew at UTV Radio Ireland by 6% in the first nine months of 2014 on a constant currency basis, 2% on a local level.
But the company is anticipating revenues will decrease by 1% on a constant currency basis in the final quarter, with the impact of the strength of sterling converting this into a decline of 7%.
Meanwhile in England and Wales, revenues grew by 15% in the nine months to September. The World Cup helped to lift talkSPORT’s revenue by 23%, outperforming a national market which was up by 8%. Revenues from UTV’s local radio stations increased by 2% compared to a market growth of 3%.
In Q4 UTV anticipate GB revenues will increase by 7%, with talkSPORT up by 11% and local radio station revenues growing by 2%.
UTV says the main focus of activity continues to be the strategically important launch of the new television channel, UTV Ireland, in January 2015. “Plans are well advanced on transmission and distribution infrastructure, key staff have been appointed, programmes commissioned and the Dublin studio is now ready,” the company said today.