However, performance over the second quarter was not as impressive as the first, which SMG put down to seasonal effects, the General Election and the absence of major sporting events. The group also said that advertising markets remain "short-term and erratic".
SMG's television business underwent healthy growth. Turnover increased by 7%, compared with the same period in 2004, to £62.2m. Operating profits were up from £8.1m in the first half of 2004 to £10.4m. The company added that it again outperformed ITV1 and gained a peak-time audience share of 30%.
However, the group's most impressive performance was in the radio sector, where it managed 4% growth in turnover against a backdrop of a declining market. Operating profits for radio increased 13% to £2.6m, where the market overall dropped 3%.
Other areas of SMG that performed well were outdoor and cinema advertising media. The group's outdoor division Primesight grew revenues by 15% and Pearl & Dean experienced a sales increase of 5%.
"This improvement in operational performance, coupled with the number of growth opportunities we have identified across our business, has underpinned our confidence in the longer-term prospects of the group," Chris Masters, chairman of SMG, said.
"At this stage, therefore, we believe that the board's expectations for business performance for the year as a whole can be achieved," he added.
The results tally with a statement made by Masters in June, prior to the group's annual general meeting.
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