ITV has seen its total revenue rise 6% to more than £1.66 billion in the first nine months of this year, as it continues its recent strong run.

Adam Crozier, the Scottish born chief executive of the company, said the performance had been driven by growth from its online, pay, interactive and production strands. Overall the broadcast and online division grew 3% from £1.3bn to more than £1.34bn while the production arm ITV Studios was ahead by 11% going from £498 million to £555m.

The charge for internal supply of services was relatively flat at £234m and around £25m of cost savings are expected to be delivered in 2013.

Mr Crozier said: "We continue to make good progress with our strategy of growing and strengthening ITV both creatively and commercially, and all parts of the business are performing well."

A key part of Mr Crozier's strategy has been to focus on content to help shelter ITV from potential turbulence in advertising markets. It has already acquired US production companies such as Thinkfactory Media and High Noon as well as UK producer The Garden which makes shows such as 24 Hours in A&E.

The ITV Studios arm has overseen dramas such as Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge and Breathless with a revival of Thunderbirds also in the pipeline.

Mr Crozier said: "Our ongoing investment in ITV Studios continues to bear fruit. We're confident of a strong performance over the full year - both organically and from our recent acquisitions - underpinned by a delivery schedule which this year is weighted to [the fourth quarter]."

In its trading update ITV said net advertising revenue (NAR) was up just 1% in first nine months of this year to almost £1.09bn. NAR grew by 11% in the third quarter, by 8% in October and is forecast to show a 4% hike in November then run 1% ahead in December. The full-year figure is expected to be 2% greater than the £1.5bn posted in 2012.

The main ITV1 channel has seen its audience share rise 3% while across the wider ITV network there has been a 4% rise.

Mr Crozier said: "The television advertising market is showing signs of improvement, which will benefit the core broadcast business, and we expect to deliver double digit revenue growth in online, pay and interactive."

Panmure Gordon media analyst Alex DeGroote said there was much to like about the latest ITV update and raised full year predictions.

He added: "Very strong [third quarter] trading update, in particular advertising."

Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, said: "The figures are marginally ahead of forecasts. An expected rebound in advertising revenues has materialized, whilst management's strategy to reduce volatility via an increase in non-advertising revenues continues to bear fruit."