MEDIA group Chrysalis has announced that its television arm, the target of a potential takeover bid, has doubled its profits.

Industry heavyweights David Liddiment and Steve Morrison have shown a keen interest in the operation, which produces the Richard and Judy Show.

A strategic review of the TV division has proved successful for Chrysalis, which is in talks with Mr Liddiment, a former ITV boss, and Steve Morrison, the former-Granada chief executive.

Chrysalis, which issued results for the six months to February 28 yesterday, said those discussions - first announced last month and believed to be worth £40m - were continuing.

The figures showed the television business, which makes the ITV drama Midsomer Murders, lifted operating profits to £2.8m from £1.2m last time.

A sale of the business would allow Chrysalis to focus on its radio and music offering, which includes Birmingham's Galaxy 102.2 and Heart 106.2 in London.

Besides radio, Chrysalis has the recording artists Feeder and David Gray on its books.

Across the group, turnover in the six months rose ten per cent to £125.5m, while operating profits before exceptional items rose 60 per cent to £5.3m.

Chrysalis said the radio division outperformed the rest of the sector with year-on-year revenue growth of 20 per cent to £27.2m, a figure helped by the September acquisition of London talk station LBC for £23.5m.

The two Heart branded stations increased their reach during the period, with the London operation attracting 1.8m listeners. Radio operating profits rose by a fifth to £3.9m.

In the music publishing and recording division, Chrysalis said turnover increased 16 per cent to £40m with operating profits up 16 per cent at £1.7m.

However, the company has pledged to improve the fortunes of its book publishing arm after posting operating losses of £500,000, down on profits of £1.4m seen a year earlier.