The largest U.S. cable operator continued to show gains in video subscribers in its fourth-quarter reporting period -- adding 80,000.
Looking at the full year, the company says it has recorded
“the best video customer results in 10 years” -- having 161,000 in net additions. In 2015, there was a net loss of 36,000. Overall for the 2016 year, Comcast now has 22.5 million cable
customers.
All this came amid better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results -- with revenue up 9.2% to $21.0 billion and net profits, 20.4% higher to $2.4 billion.
Comcast
added 385,000 broadband customers in the fourth quarter and 44,000 voice customers. Broadband customers now totaling 24.7 million; voice 11.7 million.
Comcast’s NBCUniversal
revenue increased 13.0% to $8.5 billion.
Broadcast business was 14% higher revenue to $2.8 billion. Advertising revenue improved 12.4%, mostly from its NBC’s new “Thursday Night
Football” series of games, as well as higher general rate increase and more political advertising.
Cable networks' revenue increased 4.0% to $2.5 billion as a result of higher
distribution, content licensing and other, and advertising revenue.
But cable network advertising revenues were virtually flat -- up just 0.6%. There was higher ad prices, but audience ratings
declines.
NBC’s filmed entertainment revenue increased 12.6% to $1.8 billion -- which included a full quarter of revenue from its DreamWorks acquisition, completed in late August. In
particular content licensing revenue increased 37.5% because of the DreamWorks purchase.
NBC’s theme parks revenue gained 32.1% to $1.3 billion from higher attendance and higher per
capita spending, coming from Hollywood’s “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” attraction.