Fox Cable Revs Spike, NFL Propels Broadcast

Rupert-Murdoch

In line with other major media companies, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. witnessed big advertising growth recently from its TV businesses during its fiscal second-quarter period. 

U.S. advertising revenues gained 12% during the period, while News Corp.'s international cable networks climbed 27%.

All this helped to push up Fox cable networks' overall revenue to $1.97 billion from $1.76 billion, and operating income by 22% to $735 million. The Fox Broadcasting Network and Fox TV stations' revenue grew to $1.37 billion from $1.25 billion, with operating income climbing fivefold to $151 million from $29 million.

News Corp. says there was 24% growth in overall revenue at Fox Broadcasting Network, specifically because of improved advertising sales for the NFL and other programming.

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The publishing group had a big turnaround with a $380 million operating profit versus a $90 million loss. Fox Filmed Entertainment -- its movie/home entertainment business -- suffered; it slipped to a $189 million operating profit from $324 million a year before. Fox had tougher comparisons versus a year ago when the business benefited from big revenues of "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs."

Overall, News Corp. says operating income almost doubled from all its businesses -- to $1.3 billion from $712 million in the period a year ago. Net income was $1.48 billion versus $881 million. Overall revenues inched up $8.76 billion against $8.68 billion.

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