Nine Entertainment is exiting the COVID-19 pandemic in a stronger position than expected, flagging at its annual general meeting that profits for the first half of the 2022 fiscal year are tracking 10 per cent higher than at the same time last year, helped by revenue growth for television advertising and publishing.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and before significant items for the first half of the 2021-2022 financial year were “currently expected to be up by around 10 per cent” on the first half of the previous financial year, Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby told shareholders at its annual general meeting.