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Tag: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

  • Paramount’s Pam Kaufman calls it a day

    Paramount’s Pam Kaufman calls it a day

    MUMBAI: Pam Kaufman, the executive who turned a “yellow sea sponge” into a global merchandising juggernaut, has announced her departure from Paramount after more than two decades with the entertainment giant.

     Kaufman, who served as chief executive of international markets and global consumer products, will leave at the end of the year, though she plans to stay on as a consultant. Her exit comes as David Ellison and Jeff Shell take the reins of the newly restructured media company.

    During her tenure,  Kaufman transformed Paramount’s consumer products division into a $7bn retail business. She oversaw the expansion of iconic franchises including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Paw Patrol across more than 170 international markets. Under her watch, the company struck lucrative partnerships with brands from Stella McCartney to Supreme, many of which sold out within minutes of launch.

    The executive, who began her career at Nickelodeon in the 1990s, became the network’s first chief marketing officer in 2008. She launched over 20 television programmes and helped the company achieve $1bn in revenue. Her marketing prowess was perhaps best demonstrated with the Kids’ Choice Awards, where she nearly tripled voter participation.

    Kaufman’s international expansion efforts included launching Nickelodeon-themed resorts in Mexico and the United States, whilst the gaming division she oversaw produced hits like Star Trek Fleet Command, which has racked up 20m downloads.

    “We built billion-dollar franchises,” Kaufman wrote in her farewell post on LinkedIn. “We turned a yellow sea sponge into a global icon.”

    The departure marks the end of an era for Paramount, which has been grappling with the rapid shift to streaming whilst trying to maintain its traditional television and film businesses. Kaufman played a crucial role in supporting the international rollout of Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

    Beyond Paramount, Kaufman sits on the boards of Lindblad Expeditions, Stella McCartney, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. She will remain in these roles.

    “I’ve truly had the slime of my life,” she quipped, referencing Nickelodeon’s trademark green goo, “in the ‘in between’ with all of you.”

     

  • Q1-2016: Viacom revenue down 6%

    Q1-2016: Viacom revenue down 6%

    BENGALURU: Viacom Inc reported 5.7 per cent year-on year (YoY) drop (reduced by $190 million) in revenue for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q1-2016, current quarter) at $3,154 million as compared to $3,344 million in Q1-2015. The company’s Media Networks segment declined 3.4 per cent YoY in the current quarter to $2,565 million from $2654 in the corresponding year ago quarter. Filmed Entertainment segment revenue declined 15 per cent YoY to $612 million from $670 million in Q1-2015. 

    Operating Income in Q1-2016 declined 10.3 per cent to $839 million as compared to $935 million in Q1-2015. Net earnings attributable to Viacom declined 10.2 per cent in the current quarter to $449 million from $500 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Viacom executive chairman, president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “As the media industry continues to evolve quickly, Viacom is generating sustainable opportunities using great new content, innovative technology, marketing and data applications, along with the benefits of our substantial footprint in key international growth markets. Our investments in new content have led to higher ratings at most of our networks, including VH1, Spike, BET, TV Land, CMT and Nick at Nite, as well as Nickelodeon, which recaptured its lead as the top network for kids 2 to 11. In addition, we saw significant sequential improvement in domestic advertising sales, due to the success of our new programming and our highly-desirable new advertising products. Paramount is off to a strong start in 2016, with a promising and diverse film lineup throughout the year, and our Paramount Television unit is also thriving.”
    “2015 was a challenging year operationally as we redesigned ourselves and adapted to significant industry disruption. Our first fiscal quarter of 2016 reflected these challenges. However, our revitalized organization and our investments in content, technology and strategic innovation are now beginning to bear fruit. Although our industry continues to face headwinds, we expect our positive momentum to continue and build throughout the year,” added Dauman.

    Media Networks

    Media Networks segment revenue has been mentioned above.

    The company says that absent an unfavourable one per cent impact of foreign exchange, Media Networks revenues decreased two per cent. Domestic advertising revenues declined four per cent, as pricing increases were more than offset by a decline in traditional ratings at some of our networks. Worldwide advertising revenues decreased three per cent, reflecting an unfavourable one per cent impact of foreign exchange. International advertising revenues declined two per cent, driven by an eight per cent adverse effect of foreign exchange. Absent the impact of foreign exchange, international advertising revenues increased six per cent, driven principally by growth in Europe. Domestic affiliate revenues were substantially flat due to the impact from the timing of product available under certain distribution agreements. International affiliate revenues decreased six per cent, driven by a nine per cent unfavourable impact of foreign exchange. Absent the impact of foreign exchange, international affiliate revenues increased three per cent.

    Filmed Entertainment

    Filmed Entertainment segment revenue has been mentioned above.

    Filmed Entertainment revenues decreased as an increase in license fees was more than offset by declines in theatrical and home entertainment revenues. Excluding foreign exchange, which had a three per cent unfavourable impact, worldwide revenues declined 12 per cent. Worldwide theatrical revenues decreased $75 million in the quarter, as carryover revenues decreased $46 million, principally due to an unfavourable comparison with the strong performance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the first fiscal quarter of 2015. Worldwide home entertainment revenues decreased $77 million in the quarter, primarily reflecting a comparison with carryover revenues from Transformers: Age of Extinction in the first quarter of 2015. License fees increased 25 per cent, to $237 million in the quarter, primarily driven by the licensing of certain titles for subscription video-on-demand services and television.

  • Q1-2016: Viacom revenue down 6%

    Q1-2016: Viacom revenue down 6%

    BENGALURU: Viacom Inc reported 5.7 per cent year-on year (YoY) drop (reduced by $190 million) in revenue for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q1-2016, current quarter) at $3,154 million as compared to $3,344 million in Q1-2015. The company’s Media Networks segment declined 3.4 per cent YoY in the current quarter to $2,565 million from $2654 in the corresponding year ago quarter. Filmed Entertainment segment revenue declined 15 per cent YoY to $612 million from $670 million in Q1-2015. 

    Operating Income in Q1-2016 declined 10.3 per cent to $839 million as compared to $935 million in Q1-2015. Net earnings attributable to Viacom declined 10.2 per cent in the current quarter to $449 million from $500 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

    Viacom executive chairman, president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “As the media industry continues to evolve quickly, Viacom is generating sustainable opportunities using great new content, innovative technology, marketing and data applications, along with the benefits of our substantial footprint in key international growth markets. Our investments in new content have led to higher ratings at most of our networks, including VH1, Spike, BET, TV Land, CMT and Nick at Nite, as well as Nickelodeon, which recaptured its lead as the top network for kids 2 to 11. In addition, we saw significant sequential improvement in domestic advertising sales, due to the success of our new programming and our highly-desirable new advertising products. Paramount is off to a strong start in 2016, with a promising and diverse film lineup throughout the year, and our Paramount Television unit is also thriving.”
    “2015 was a challenging year operationally as we redesigned ourselves and adapted to significant industry disruption. Our first fiscal quarter of 2016 reflected these challenges. However, our revitalized organization and our investments in content, technology and strategic innovation are now beginning to bear fruit. Although our industry continues to face headwinds, we expect our positive momentum to continue and build throughout the year,” added Dauman.

    Media Networks

    Media Networks segment revenue has been mentioned above.

    The company says that absent an unfavourable one per cent impact of foreign exchange, Media Networks revenues decreased two per cent. Domestic advertising revenues declined four per cent, as pricing increases were more than offset by a decline in traditional ratings at some of our networks. Worldwide advertising revenues decreased three per cent, reflecting an unfavourable one per cent impact of foreign exchange. International advertising revenues declined two per cent, driven by an eight per cent adverse effect of foreign exchange. Absent the impact of foreign exchange, international advertising revenues increased six per cent, driven principally by growth in Europe. Domestic affiliate revenues were substantially flat due to the impact from the timing of product available under certain distribution agreements. International affiliate revenues decreased six per cent, driven by a nine per cent unfavourable impact of foreign exchange. Absent the impact of foreign exchange, international affiliate revenues increased three per cent.

    Filmed Entertainment

    Filmed Entertainment segment revenue has been mentioned above.

    Filmed Entertainment revenues decreased as an increase in license fees was more than offset by declines in theatrical and home entertainment revenues. Excluding foreign exchange, which had a three per cent unfavourable impact, worldwide revenues declined 12 per cent. Worldwide theatrical revenues decreased $75 million in the quarter, as carryover revenues decreased $46 million, principally due to an unfavourable comparison with the strong performance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the first fiscal quarter of 2015. Worldwide home entertainment revenues decreased $77 million in the quarter, primarily reflecting a comparison with carryover revenues from Transformers: Age of Extinction in the first quarter of 2015. License fees increased 25 per cent, to $237 million in the quarter, primarily driven by the licensing of certain titles for subscription video-on-demand services and television.

  • Flipkart partners Viacom18 for licensing global brands

    Flipkart partners Viacom18 for licensing global brands

    MUMBAI: In a first of its kind partnership, e-commerce company Flipkart has inked a deal with Viacom18 for licensing three major international brands in India. 

    In a bid to offer Indian consumers authentic and branded merchandise, the Flipkart – Viacom18 collaboration will see the licensing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spongebob Squarepants and Peanuts for sellers in India.

    According to Flipkart, this partnership provides a superior analytics system and tight control to help international brand kick-start their operations in India. Global brands are constantly looking to partner with the most competent manufacturers across categories, and Flipkart aims to become the licensing platform that connects these brands to the most deserving sellers in India.

    Additionally, the company has expertise across more than 70 product verticals, which will allow it to offer these brands in a more innovative approach towards merchandising and sales.

    With this, sellers will have the opportunity to create a better experience for buyers, by assuring them quality of authentic products and differentiating themselves from the clutter on the marketplace.

    Flipkart vice president and head – seller ecosystem Manish Maheshwari said, “Through this online licensing concept, we want to simply this process by connecting brands with the top performing sellers on our platform, giving the brands the power to keep a track on the product sales as well as the quality.”

    “It gives us great pride to introduce a concept like this for the first time in India where a global player can connect with Flipkart and have the product licensed across any number of sellers they want,” he added.

    Flipkart is also looking to expand and extend its existing ecosystem by adding licensors on one side and high-quality sellers that are eligible to be licensees on the other side.

  • HBO lines up X’mas treat for viewers

    HBO lines up X’mas treat for viewers

    MUMBAI: Come December, people don their party hats to usher in the New Year. From decorations on the streets, lighting, singing Christmas carols to gorging on the diverse range of cakes, this month of the year is much awaited by one and all. To add to this devil-may-care season, English entertainment channel HBO has planned a power packed December with the best Hollywood blockbusters.

     

    The lineup titled as Rewind 2015 starts from 7 December to 31 December, 2015 and will air from Monday to Thursday in the prime time slot of 9 pm.

     

    The star studded action packed movies for this campaign include blockbuster movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers Age of Extinction, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, Ghost Rider, Riddick, Noah and Interstellar to name a few.

     

    The channel will promote the property mostly on-air via promos with digital support and trade. “We believe in providing the best to our viewers. This is our yet another endeavour for our audience to give them an extra reason to celebrate Christmas with more elation. We are already experiencing a lot of buzz about this campaign across all the social platforms. We strive to stick to our vision of keeping the audience entertained with our blockbuster lineup,” says a channel spokesperson.

     

    The campaign is also being promoted on all social media platforms via fun facts, trivia and contests. As far as the marketing strategies for this campaign goes, HBO has chosen the off-air marketing route, which includes digital promotion on the channel’s Facebook and Twitter pages with promoted posts and a contest. The channel will also be releasing a trade mailer.

     

    “The advertisers were quite impressed with our concept and have been a good support to us. We hope and expect that through this initiative, we will go that extra mile to get a smile on the faces on our loyal viewers,” adds another channel spokesperson.

     

    The channel’s property will also be promoted on Instagram.

     

    “I always watch HBO because of the bouquet of various movie genres, which makes my evening lively. I look forward to what HBO is going to offer us this Christmas special,” says a loyal media follower.

     

    However, HBO is not planning any on-ground or print marketing campaigns and will majorly focus on the metro and non-metro cities through the fans that are available on Facebook and Twitter.

  • FY-2015: Lower Filmed Entertainment numbers drag Viacom revenue down 3.7 percent

    FY-2015: Lower Filmed Entertainment numbers drag Viacom revenue down 3.7 percent

    BENGALURU: Viacom Inc (Viacom) reported 3.7 percent drop (reduced by $515 million) in revenue for the year ended September 30, 2015 (FY-2015, current year) at $13,268 million as compared to $13,783 million in FY-2014. Viacom says that the fall in revenue was due to due to lower revenues across the distribution windows. Of the two segments that the company has, Filmed Entertainment reported 22.6 percent (reduced by $842 million) lower revenue in FY-2015 at $2,883 million as compared to $3,725 million in the previous year.

     

    Viacom says that excluding an unfavourable 2 percent impact of foreign exchange, revenues declined 2 percent, while excluding an unfavourable 2 percent and 4 percent impact of foreign exchange, Filmed Entertainment revenues declined 19 percent.

     

    The company’s operating income fell 22.8 percent (reduced by $970 million) to $3,112 million from $4,082 reported for last year. Adjusted operating income decreased 5 percent ($205 million) to $3,920 million in FY-2015. Adjusted results exclude the impact of restructuring and programming charges totalling $784 million and a non-cash pension settlement loss of $24 million in 2015 and a non-cash impairment charge of $43 million in 2014. Including the impact of these items, operating income decreased $970 million, as mentioned above.

     

    Filmed Entertainment segment’s adjusted operating income reduced 45.9 percent (reduced by $94 million) in the current year to $111 million as compared to $205 million in the company’s previous fiscal. The lower adjusted operating income for this segment reflects lower contribution from films in release across the distribution windows says Viacom. Last quarter (Q3-2015), also lower results from the Filmed Entertainment segment had pulled down the company’s revenues by 11 percent.

     

    The company’s other segment, Media Networks reported 3.1 percent (increased by $319 million) increase in revenue in FY-2015 to $10,490 million from $10,171 million, driven primarily by higher affiliate fees and advertising revenues. Media Networks adjusted operating income reduced by 3 percent (reduced by $128 million) in the current year to $4,143 million from $4,271 million in FY-2014. Viacom says that higher revenues from the segment were more than offset by an increase in programming and marketing expenses.

     

    Viacom Executive Chairman Sumner M Redstone said, “Viacom continues to create some of the most compelling and entertaining content in the world. I am confident that Viacom’s leadership team will continue to lead through our industry’s period of transition and succeed well into the future.”

     

    Viacom President and Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman said, “Viacom’s fourth quarter and year-end results are indicative of our progress in key areas, including recent ratings improvement and renewals of important distribution agreements. Our strategy of increasing and accelerating investment in original content and expanding our profitable international footprint are among the major factors driving this success, which we believe will continue in 2016 and beyond. We are making great progress in tackling industry-wide inefficiencies in audience measurement, while expanding our audience reach with landmark distribution agreements.

     

    “Viacom’s family of Media Networks are the most watched by highly coveted younger audiences, and we are building engagement on all platforms, leading to first-of-their-kind marketing opportunities with our advertising partners. Our investment in content continues to grow, supporting an unprecedented amount of quality original programming and a more robust slate of films. In addition, in fiscal 2015 we launched 21 channels overseas – including six in India – fuelling the fastest international growth in our history.”

     

    Segment Performance

     

    As mentioned above, two segments contribute to Viacom’s numbers-Media Networks, which has three components – Advertising, Affiliate Fees and Ancillary; and Filmed Entertainment which has four components-Theatrical, Home Entertainment, License Fees and Ancillary.

     

    Media Networks

     

    Excluding an unfavourable 2 percent impact of foreign exchange, worldwide revenues increased 5 percent. Domestic revenues were $8,635 million, an increase of $10 million. International revenues were $1,855 million, an increase of $309 million, or 20 percent, primarily due to the acquisition of Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited (Channel 5), partially offset by foreign exchange, which had a 10 percentage point unfavourable impact on international revenues says Viacom.

     

    Advertising

     

    Worldwide advertising revenues increased $54 million, or 1.1 percent, to $5,007 million in FY-2015 . Domestic advertising revenues decreased 7 percent. The company says that while pricing remained essentially flat, softer ratings caused lower audience delivery, reducing impressions and associated revenue. International advertising revenues increased 60 percent, reflecting growth in Europe driven by the acquisition of Channel 5, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange, which had a 10 percentage point unfavourable impact on international advertising revenues.

     

    Affiliate Fees

     

    Worldwide affiliate fees increased $248 million, or 5.3 percent, to $4,908 million in FY-2015. Domestic affiliate revenues increased 8 percent, driven by rate increases as well as the benefit of distribution arrangements which are affected by the timing of available programming. Excluding the impact from the timing of product available under these distribution agreements, domestic affiliate revenues grew in the mid-single digits. International revenues decreased 7 percent, principally due to foreign exchange, which had an 11 percentage point unfavourable impact, partially offset by an increase in revenues driven by the launch of new channels and new distribution agreements.

     

    Filmed Entertainment

     

    Excluding an unfavourable 4 percent impact of foreign exchange, worldwide revenues declined 19 percent, due to lower revenues across the distribution windows reflecting the mix of films. Domestic revenues were $1,374 million, a decrease of $347 million, or 20 percent. International revenues were $1,509 million, a decrease of $495 million, or 25 percent, with foreign exchange having an 8- percentage point unfavourable impact on international revenues.

     

    Theatrical revenues :in the current year reduced 30.4 percent (reduced by $368 million) to $841 million from $1209 million due to the mix of releases, partially offset by higher carryover revenues of $54 million from prior year releases, principally from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Domestic theatrical revenues decreased 26 percent and international revenues decreased 34 percent. Foreign exchange had a 10 percentage point unfavourable impact on international theatrical revenue

     

    Home Entertainment: Worldwide home entertainment revenues decreased $293 million, or 25.2 percent, to $871 million FY-2015, reflecting a decline in revenues from third-party distribution titles, carryover revenues from prior year releases and Viacom’s current year releases due to the mix of titles. Significant titles in the current year included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,Interstellar and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, while the prior year includedTransformers : Age of Extinction, The Wolf of Wall Street, Noah and Jackass : Bad Grandpa. Domestic and international home entertainment revenues decreased 16 percent and 35 percent respectively. Foreign exchange had a 7-percentage point unfavourable impact on international home entertainment revenues.

     

    License Fees :decreased $135 million, or 12.1 percent, to $980 million FY-2015, primarily driven by the mix of available titles.

     

    Ancillary:Ancillary revenues decreased $46 million, or 19.4 percent, to $191 million in FY-2015, primarily driven by a benefit from the sale of certain distribution rights in the prior year.

  • Viacom’s Media Networks revenue up 4.4 per cent; adjusted diluted EPS up 7.5 per cent

    Viacom’s Media Networks revenue up 4.4 per cent; adjusted diluted EPS up 7.5 per cent

    BENGALURU:  Viacom Inc (Viacom) reported a 4.4 per cent revenue growth for its Media Networks segment to $2654 million for its first quarter ended 31 December, 2014 (Q1-2015, current quarter) from $2541 million in the corresponding year ago quarter (Q1-2014).  ‘Adjusted operating income before tax’ from the segment dropped fractionally by 0.9 per cent to $1104 million in Q1-2015 from the $1114 million reported in Q1-2014.

     

    The company reported an 8 per cent increase in ‘adjusted diluted EPS’ of $1.29 in Q1-2015 against $1.2 reported for Q1-2015. Adjusted Net Earnings totalled $538 million (includes a loss of $24 million due to pension settlement) down 1.6 per cent from $547 million in the year ago quarter.

     

    Viacom executive chairman Sumner M. Redstone said, “Viacom’s powerful entertainment brands continue to lead the way in reaching global audiences with groundbreaking content. Our outstanding management team has positioned Viacom for continued success.”

     

    Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman added, “Viacom’s focus on developing popular franchise properties and constantly expanding our growing international presence drove solid top line results and record earnings per share this quarter. We continued to deliver increased revenues in our media networks operations driven by steady growth in affiliate revenues, and also benefited from Paramount Pictures’ Oscar-nominated Interstellar and our very successful company-wide franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

     

    “The media business is evolving faster than ever, but our mission remains unchanged: to continually develop more and better entertainment programming and deliver it to our engaged audiences on every screen and on every platform worldwide. To maintain our leadership position, we will continue to innovate and to manage our business as effectively and efficiently as possible, embracing change and adopting new technologies to better measure and monetize our content and meet industry-wide challenges. Viacom is financially strong and extremely well positioned for the future, with the talent and the creativity to grow our core business and continue to deliver increasing value to our investors”, informed Dauman.

     

    Results and Revenues

     

    Viacom reported a 7.9 per cent drop in profit after tax (PAT) for Viacom and non-controlling interests in Q1-2015 to $513 million (excludes a loss of $24 million due to pension settlement) from $547 million in Q1-2014. Operating income fell 2.6 per cent to $935 million from $960 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    The company’s total revenues were up 4.6 per cent in Q1-2015 to $3344 million from $3197 million in Q1-2014. Revenues from the other segment that contributes to Viacom revenues – Filmed Entertainment were up 5.7 per cent in Q1-2015 to $720 million from $681 million in Q1-2015. Adjusted operating loss from this segment fell in Q1-2015 to $60 million from $74 million in the year ago quarter.

     

    Media Networks

     

    Revenues from Viacom’s major segment – Media Networks have been reported above. Three streams contribute to Viacom’s Media Networks segment – Advertising; Affiliate fees; and Ancillary. All the three reported increase in revenue.

     

    Media Networks ‘Advertisement’ stream’s revenue in Q1-2015 at $1367 million was 3.2 per cent more y-o-y than the $1325 million in Q1-2014.  ‘Affiliate fees’ went up 6.2 per cent in the current quarter to $1132 million from $1066 million in the year ago quarter. Revenues from the ‘Ancillary’ stream increased 3.3 per cent to $155 million in Q1-2015 from $150 million in Q1-2014.

     

    The company says that domestic affiliate revenues rose 8 per cent and worldwide affiliate revenues grew 6 per cent, primarily due to rate increases. Domestic advertising revenues declined 6 per cent, reflecting lower ratings. Worldwide advertising revenues rose 3 per cent, reflecting a 60 per cent increase in international advertising revenues driven by contributions from Channel 5, which was acquired by Viacom in September 2014. The 4.4 per cent increase in Media Networks revenues includes an unfavourable 1 per cent impact of foreign exchange.

     

    Filmed Entertainment

     

    Revenues from Viacom’s Filmed Entertainment segment improved 5.7 per cent in Q1-2015 to $720 million from $681 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.  Four streams contribute to Viacom’s Filmed Entertainment segment – theatrical; home entertainment; license fees; and ancillary. While revenues from the license fees stream fell, revenues from the other three streams improved in Q1-2015 as compared to Q1-2014.

     

    Revenues from the ‘Theatrical’ stream increased 6.3 per cent to $316 million in the current quarter from $276 million in Q1-2014. The ‘Home Entertainment’ stream revenues in Q1-2015 improved by 16.2 per cent to $316 million from $272 million in the corresponding quarter of last year. As mentioned above, revenues from the License Fees stream fell 9.1 per cent to $189 million from $208 million. Revenues from the ‘Ancillary’ stream increased 9.5 per cent in Q1-2015 to $46 million from $42 million in Q1-2015.

     

    Viacom says that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which was released theatrically in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2014 remained a strong performer in the current quarter, complementing the current quarter releases and helping to drive a 5.7 per cent increase in theatrical revenues and a 16.2 per cent gain in home entertainment revenues. Home entertainment revenues reflect two film releases in the current quarter, compared with none in the same prior year period. License fees declined 9.1 per cent resulting from the mix of available titles.

     

    Stock Repurchase Program

     

    For the quarter ended 31 December, 2014, Viacom repurchased 10.2 million shares under its stock repurchase program, for an aggregate purchase price of $750 million. As of 28 January, 2015, Viacom had $5.62 billion remaining in its $20 billion stock repurchase program. As of 31 December, 2014, Viacom had 407 million shares of common stock outstanding says the company.

  • Viacom net profit up 2.6 per cent in FY-2014

    Viacom net profit up 2.6 per cent in FY-2014

    BENGALURU: Viacom Inc., (Viacom) reported 2.6 per cent rise in net profit to US$ 2376 million for FY-2014 (year ended 30 September 2014) from US$ 2316 million in FY-2013. Revenue in FY-2014 at US$ 13783 million was almost flat as compared to the US$ 13794 million in FY-2013.

     

    For Q4-2014 (quarter ended 30 September 2014, current quarter), Viacom reported a 1.4 per cent drop in profit to US$ 729 million from US$ 739 million in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. Revenue in Q4-2014 at US$ 3991 million was 9.3 per cent more than the US$ 3652 million in Q4-2013.

     

    Viacom executive chairman Sumner M. Redstone said, “As we conclude another fiscal year, Viacom remains well-positioned as a creative leader with many of the world’s most innovative media properties and best entertainment brands.”

     

    Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman said, “Viacom’s record financial results in 2014 demonstrate the strength of our brands and continuing momentum for our strategy of investing in creativity, with a relentless focus on growing demographic and geographic markets and embracing new distribution platforms. Our Media Networks achieved continued growth in the fourth quarter and the fiscal year. Viacom’s affiliate distribution business remains a reliable engine for high-margin revenue expansion and provides significant opportunities to build new consumer experiences with long term distributors and emerging technology partners alike. Despite ratings challenges and uncertainty in the scatter advertising market at the close of the year, Viacom’s advertising revenues grew in fiscal 2014, as our creative and marketing teams rolled out innovative new offerings. We also continue to take the lead in defining the next generation of measurement tools that will more fully capture the growing multiplatform engagement of our audiences. Our September acquisition of Channel 5 has already made a positive impact on our business, and points the way to further significant long-term growth of our international business. Paramount delivered the top movie of 2014 and the largest-ever theatrical release in China – Transformers: Age of Extinction – and the studio successfully launched another long-term franchise with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

     

    “This performance allowed us to continue the strong delivery of value directly to investors. Over the past five years, Viacom has returned US$ 16.1 billion to shareholders,” concluded Dauman.

     

    Two main segments – Media Networks and Filmed Entertainment contribute to Viacom’s figures.

     

    Media Networks

     

    Media Networks in Q4-2014 reported 8.3 per cent higher revenue at US$ 2664 million as compared to the US$ 2460 million in Q4-2014. The segment also reported a 5.3 per cent revenue increase in FY-2014 to US$ 10171 million from US$ 9656 million in FY-2013.

     

    Operating income for Media Networks grew 5 per cent to US$ 1087 million in Q4-2014 from US$ 1035 million and increased 4 per cent to US$ 4271 million in FY-2014 from US$ 4096 million in FY-2013.

     

    The company says that Media Networks segment increased reflecting a 10 per cent increase in affiliate fees and a 2 per cent gain in advertising revenues driven by higher international advertising revenues.

     

    Filmed Entertainment

     

    Though Filmed Entertainment segment reported a 12.3 per cent increase in revenue in Q4-2014 to US$ 1357 million from US$ 1208 million in Q2-2013, for FY-2014, revenue dropped 13 per cent to US$ 3725 million from US$ 4282 million in FY-2014.

     

    Operating Income from Filmed Entertainment fell 27 per cent to US$ 213 million in Q4-2014 from US$ 291 million in Q4-2013. Operating Income in FY-2014 fell 12 per cent to US$ 205 million from US$ 234 million in FY-2013.

     

    Strong results from the current quarter releases and the carryover performance of Transformers: Age of Extinction drove Theatrical revenues up 226 per cent to US$ 557 million. Home entertainment revenues declined 38 per cent, reflecting two fewer releases in the current quarter while in FY-2014, Filmed Entertainment revenues decreased principally due to lower revenues across the distribution windows reflecting the number and mix of films says the company.

     

  • Comedy Central to celebrate Children’s Day

    Comedy Central to celebrate Children’s Day

    MUMBAI: Children’s day is a hop, skip and jump away. In today’s busy world with limited options for family entertainment Comedy Central is set to present nine  hours of favourite family shows during their special line up on 14th November.  The channel has  programmes lined up to ensure that not only the kids, but the entire family has a fun on the telly!

     

    The special programming has been prepared keeping in mind that during this busy day and age, parents barely get to spend time with their children. Television viewing is still a family activity and Comedy Central wants parents and their children to bond over the latter are shows.  The line-up consists of shows like Growing Up Fisher, About a Boy, everyone’s favourite sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea Spongebob Squarepants and angsty, ninjutsu trained vigilantes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

     

    Viacom18 executive vice president and business head English Entertainment said Ferzad Palia said, “At Comedy Central we believe that Comedy is not only for a certain age or audience, it has a universal appeal and children’s day is another excuse for us to air the best family-comedy entertainment in India. The shows airing on children’s day are popular and adored not only by children, but also have a certain appeal with adults as well. We are positive that viewers will appreciate and enjoy the line up with their families.”

     

    So this Children’s Day audiences can  tune in to Comedy Central on14th November from 11am to 8pm

  • ‘The Mutant Ninja Turtles’: Fun for kids

    ‘The Mutant Ninja Turtles’: Fun for kids

    MUMBAI: By chance or by choice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) has always been a reflection of its time. The new TMNT is also a time capsule, so to speak.

     

    Even though the 97 minute film is far from perfect, it is everything a turtle movie usually is – fun for kids.

     

    The movie has the elements of all the other Ninja Turtle movies like the Ninja Turtles who loves pizza (this time from Pizza Hut), the city of New York at risk and villains. The movie has nothing new to offer except for a flash back unlike the other installments

     

    The basic plot, the TMNT lore has changed very little over the years. Four turtles come in contact with a man-made mutagen, grow up in the New York City sewer system learning ninjutsu from their adoptive father Splinter, a mutated rat. As in all stories, there is an evil organisation led by a man known as The Shredder, who really likes the idea of eating ‘turtle soup’.

     

    The movie is based on a comic dreamed by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird 30 years ago intending to be a parody of comics at the time.

     

    The film opens with a sequence of the city of New York in the grip of a crime wave unmanageable by the police officials. A channel 6 news reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) goes after the trails a group Foot Clan, who she thinks is behind it. While searching for the group, he finds herself crossing paths with the last thing she ever thought to find: a quartet of 6-foot tall, crime-fighting turtles that – coincidentally – have a link to her past. When her colleague dismisses her discovery as a part of her overactive imagination, she seeks out the counsel of old family friend and billionaire scientist Eric Sacks (William Fichtner). As in all the movies, Sacks knows more than he’s letting on, and it isn’t long before O’Neil and her new turtle friends are thrust headfirst into a plot that threatens the entire city.

     

    As O’Neil, Megan Fox gives a decent performance. There are also a handful of other humans with speaking roles, all very one-dimensional: a snarky-and-lovelorn co-worker (Will Arnett), a take-no-bullshit boss (Whoopi Goldberg), and a duplicitous businessman working with the bad guys. Comedians Arnett and Goldberg are sadly wasted in minor roles in the movie, as is Abby Elliot, in a cameo as April’s roommate.

     

    Neither the narrative is strong, dialogues are too basic (even though they have tried to add a pinch of comedy) nor the music is extraordinary. Still the one thing the movie gets right is the individual personalities of the turtles. Even after the redesign, these are the turtles we love, adore and know: Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines, Raphael is cool (but rude) and Michelangelo, of course, is the party dude

     

    Curiously, the film takes no time to introduce the characters, much less their individual names, so if you’re going in without prior knowledge, you may find yourself lost for a stretch.

     

    If you are a fan or have a kid who is, the movie can take you to the ninja world. Don’t think and you might have a good time!

     

    Cast: Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, Noel Fisher, Will Arnett, Danny Woodburn, William Fichtner, Johnny Knoxville, Tony Shalhoub

     

    Producers: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller, Galen Walker, Scott Mednick, Ian Bryce

     

    Director: Jonathan Liebesman