Comcast Sees Steady Q1 Gains, Reportedly Eyes DreamWorks

Comcast Corp continues to see steady financial growth, with revenues and net profits up by mid-single percentage gains.

At the same time, Comcast looks to expand its content with a possible $3 billion deal for movie and TV studio DreamWorks Animation, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

NBCUniversal witnessed revenue gain of 3.9% to $6.9 billion. Its cable networks were the biggest reason -- up 4% to $2.5 million, due to higher advertising and distribution revenue.

Broadcast TV operations were down 7.3% to $2.1 billion due to unfavorable comparisons to a year ago in the first quarter when NBC aired the Super Bowl. NBCUniversal says excluding the Super Bowl results, core advertising revenue grew 9.6%.

NBC had big distribution fee growth -- 43% -- from higher retransmission fees.

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Company-wide, Comcast grew 5.3% in revenues to $18.8 billion in the first quarter and up 3.9% in net income to $2.2 billion.

Comcast cable systems’ witnessed improved results with net subscriber additions, gaining 53,000. In the first quarter of 2015, Comcast lost 8,000 cable subscribers. Comcast cable operations now total 22.4 million subscribers.

Comcast had better results in growing its broadband business -- adding 438,000, to total 23.8 million. Voice customers added 102,000 to total 11.6 million.

Comcast boosted local cable advertising revenue 12.1% to $559 million -- largely due to political advertising.

Filmed Entertainment revenue sank 4.3% to $1.38 million, due to unfavorable comparisons to the first quarter of 2015 when Universal Studios had big results from the theatrical release “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Home entertainment revenues sank 24.4%.

Theme park revenues climbed 57.5% to $1.0 billion from stable attendance and higher consumer spending at the parks.

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