LONDON: ITV has reported a 6% rise in annual pre-tax profits to £641m as revenue from ITV Studios jumped by a third to £1.24bn.
The UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster said it expected to outperform the television advertising market in 2016.
Advertising revenue rose 6% to £1.72bn, with total revenue up 14% to £3.38bn.
However, total viewing across its channels fell by 3% last year, with the share for the main ITV channel falling from 15.6% to just 15%.
The broadcaster, which shows dramas such as Downton Abbey and Coronation Street, said ratings came under pressure in 2015 from the launch of new digital channels, a strong year for the BBC and a poor performance from some programmes.
Chief executive Adam Crozier said ITV had an additional 50 hours of drama in the schedules for 2016 as well as major sporting fixtures including the Euro 2016 tournament.
