Spain's Prisa net profit rises 19 pct

MADRID, July 23 (Reuters) - Spanish media company Prisa (PRS.MC) said on Wednesday its first half net profit rose 18.6 percent to 86.9 million euros ($136.7 million), beating forecasts.

Prisa, which publishes newspaper El Pais and owns broadcaster Sogecable, said sales rose 8.8 percent to 2.01 billion euros.

Net current debt jumped to 4.2 billion euros from 2.05 billion after it bought the remainder of Sogecable.

A poll of six analysts by Reuters Estimates forecast net profit would rise 1.4 percent to 74.3 million euros. (Reporting by Ben Harding; editing by Sonya Dowsett)