Profits up for FHM publisher

Heat, Motor Cycle News and Max Power were Emap's best performers

A Cambridgeshire media group remains cautious about the industry's fortunes despite predicting increases in its half-yearly profits.

Emap, the Peterborough-based company which publishes titles including Angling Times and FHM and owns the Smash Hits and Kerrang! music TV stations, is expecting a 3% increase in profits.

In the last six months the company said it had seen a revenue growth of 5% in consumer magazine advertising.

But it added although there had been "a degree of short-term optimism" in the market, it was much too early to forecast a major upturn.

TV revenue down

Emap has recorded healthy performances across most of its consumer titles over the half-year with strong advertising growth in magazines such as Heat, Motor Cycle News and Max Power.

In an update covering the six months to 30 September, Emap forecast a 3% rise in total group revenues.

It also expected to exceed previous full year profits.

Emap publishes a string of magazine titles and runs 18 local radio stations across the country.

Among its best performers were Heat, Max Power, Empire, Match, Mojo and the Angling Times.

Airtime revenues in its radio division increased 9% while revenues in the company's fledgling music TV channels fell 10%.