Westminster Press/Ulster TV Profits

First-half operating profits of the Westminster Press arm of the Pearson empire rose 121% to £4.2m from £1.9m in the first half of last year.

Ulster Television announced pre-tax profits of £1.97m for the six months to the end of June, up 10% from £1.79m. The improvement in profits was after deducting a half year pro-rata cash bid charge of £516,000 compared with a levy charge of £90,000.