Zoo helps keep Emap on track

LADS' magazine Zoo and celeb gossip sheet Closer are the new drivers in Emap's stable of consumer magazines, helping it to predict ontrack profits and growth this year.

Decent sales from magazine stand staples like FHM, Match and Bliss in Britain helped outweigh a downturn in France where Emap has suffered in the war of the TV listings and a below-par performance in radio, which includes London's Kiss FM.

French revenues fell 10%, radio and TV by 3% but exhibitions were up by 10%. Overall the group expects just 2% growth in revenues in its first half to end-September.

Emap's expected bid target Scottish Radio Holdings, in which it bought SMG's 28% stake earlier this year, said it has seen a healthy 15% rise in revenues in the year to September with radio revenues up by 19%. It said the immediate outlook was encouraging.

'The board believes the group is on target to deliver full year growth in line with its expectations, albeit more weighted towards the second half than previously envisaged,' Emap said.