LONDON (dpa-AFX) - ITV Plc. (ITV.L) said its first-half profit before tax declined 6 percent to 309 million pounds from 327 million pounds in the year-ago period. Earnings per share decreased to 6.1 pence from 6.4 pence last year.
The company noted that the decline in statutory earnings per share was primarily as a result of including the Talpa acquisition for a full six months.
Adjusted profit before tax for the half-year period was 425 million pounds, compared to 391 million pounds in the prior-year period. Adjusted earnings per share were 8.5 pence, compared to 7.7 pence last year.
Total external revenue climbed 11 percent to 1.50 billion pounds from 1.36 billion pounds in the prior year.
Broadcast & Online revenue rose 3 percent to 1.06 billion pounds, while ITV Studios revenue increased 31 percent to 651 million pounds.
The Board has declared an interim dividend of 2.4 pence, up 26 percent from last year.
Looking ahead to the year, the company said that ITV NAR is expected to be down around 1 percent in the nine months to the end of September and the company again expects to outperform the television advertising market over the full year.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX