More analysts warm to ITV


Analysts at Liberum Capital have become the latest to issue bullish forecasts for UK free-to-air broadcaster ITV.

Citing a stronger than expected fourth-quarter and the fact ITV has secured key programming franchises X factor and Got Talent. ITV will take share in 2011, Liberum added: “ITV could take up to as  much as 1% extra share of TV advertising spend, helped by a more aggressive sales effort, competitor issues and appeal to advertisers,” it noted. “This will help it outperform the overall TV ad market growth of 3.5%.”
Liberum forecasts ITV’s full-year 2010 revenues will be £2 billion (€2.25 billion), rising to £2.1 billion in 2011 and £2.2 billion in 2012. Forecast EBITDA profit will be £434 million, £535 million and £556 million respectively across the same three years.