SMG puts on a strong show

SMG is on track for full-year pre-tax profits of about £15 million after "outperforming" the wider ITV network in national and regional TV advertising sales.

However, the Glasgow-based media group also revealed at its annual shareholder meeting yesterday that its cinema advertising sales had been 10 per cent lower in the first quarter, while radio advertising was likely to be weaker in quarter two.

Despite this, broker Numis Securities said it did not expect to change its full-year estimates. SMG added that it expected a strong film season to boost cinema advertising by 18 per cent in June.