Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Struggling British broadcaster ITV expects the rate of advertising revenue decline to ease slightly in the second half of the year, after it posted a more than 60 per cent fall in first-half underlying earnings.

ITV, Britain's biggest commercial free-to-air broadcaster, said operating earnings before one-off items was down to £46 million from £121 million in 2008.