Ireland

Belfast-headquartered UTV Media reaped the benefits of the 2014 FIFA World Cup as its pre-tax profit increased by 62 per cent.

The total pre-tax profit of £9.96m for the six months ending 30 June 2014 was up from the £6.2m reported for the same period in 2013.

Revenue also grew, from £51.2m to £57.8m, while total profit also increased, from £4.84m to £7.9m.

UTV subsidiary talkSPORT in particular benefited from the World Cup, as it enjoyed "strong growth" during the period as a result of a boost to advertising spend.

talkSPORT International also maintained profitability throughout the 2013/14 football season, as it extended its coverage of the Premier League to broadcasters in 25 markets, including China, USA and Egypt.

John McCann, group chief executive, UTV Media plc, said: "The improving economic conditions in the UK and Ireland, which underpin these strong results, bode well for the launch of our new television channel in January 2015."

The new channel will launch on 1 January 2015, with the board "confident" that the programme schedule will prove attractive to Irish audiences.