Viacom Records Strong Q4 Results

NEW YORK: Net earnings at Viacom in the fourth quarter were up 25 percent to $806 million on revenues that gained 9 percent to $3.65 billion, driven by strong performances at both its media networks and filmed entertainment segments.

Media networks, a portfolio that includes Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central, reported Q4 revenues of $2.5 billion, a 7-percent gain, with U.S. and international ad revenues each up 10 percent. Domestic and international affiliate revenues each rose 6 percent.

Filmed entertainment gained 11 percent in the quarter to $1.2 billion, driven by a 31-percent increase in theatrical revenues, a 24-percent rise in home-entertainment revenues and a 54-percent gain in ancillary revenues.

Full-year revenues, meanwhile, were stable at $13.8 billion, with net earnings up 3 percent to $2.4 billion.

“Viacom’s outstanding performance proved once again the broad global demand for our valuable content," said Sumner Redstone, executive chairman. "Looking forward, our world-class brands are perfectly positioned to build on this performance and achieve even greater success.”

Philippe Dauman, president and CEO of Viacom, added, “Viacom’s commitment to creative and operational excellence, and our continued investment in content, delivered an outstanding quarter and strong fiscal year. Our media networks had strong growth in both advertising and affiliate revenues as ratings improved across our brands. We remain at the forefront of creating new and groundbreaking experiences that seamlessly translate across multiple screens and drive deep engagement with our hit programming. In filmed entertainment, the success of World War Z and strong performance of the Star Trek and GI Joe franchises in the home-entertainment market drove solid returns in the quarter, and we are very optimistic about Paramount’s ambitious pipeline of branded and franchise films."