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Tag: Vivendi Universals

  • Vivendi Universal first quarter revenues decline

    Vivendi Universal first quarter revenues decline

    MUMBAI: Media giant Vivendi Universal has reported results for the first quarter.

    Cconsolidated revenues for the first quarter of 2004 amounted to 5,973 million euros a drop from the 6,232 million euros figure that had been recorded for the first quarter of last year.

    Vivendi Universals media activity (Groupe Canal+, Universal Music Group,Vivendi Universal Games (VUG) and Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE)) revenues for the first quarter of 2004 amounted to 3,471 million euros. This was a decline of nine per cent. To some extent this was offset by telecom activity for the first quarter which amounted to  2,434 million marking an increase of 14 per cent.

    Revenues at Canal Plus, the French cable TV operator, fell by 21 per cent to 923 million euros compared to 1,166 million euros in 2003. The company’s CEO Jean-René Fourtou has been selling divisions of the company including the entertainment division to NBC in a bid to get the company out of the slump. On a more positive note VUE’s revenues amounted to 1,493 million euros an increase of three per cent over the corresponding quarter of last year.

    Universal Television Group revenues increased by 15 per cent. Universal Television’s production and distribution revenues increased by 17 per cent due to increased licensing revenues for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and increased production volume of other shows. In India the show airs on Star World.

    However there was bad news on the music and gaming front. UMG’s revenues of  978 million euros were 11 per cent below last year. The company attributed this to the adverse currency movements. Also the debut from 50 Cent was not repeated and the global music market continues to be in a state of rcession particularly in France.

    There was growth in the UK, Germany and Latin America due to strong sales of domestic and regional releases. UMGs album market share in the US fell to 26.6 per cent versus 28.3 per cent in 2003

    Vivendi Universal Games (VUG) fared even worse. VUG revenues in the first quarter amounted to 77 million euros. This marked a 27 per cent decline.

  • NBC, Bronfman shortlisted for Vivendi Universal bid

    NEW YORK: It has been two months since Vivendi formally invited bids for Vivendi Universal Entertainment. Initially, the company had claimed that the bids came in fast and furious, but now there are just two parties remaining. They are NBC and the Bronfman Group.
    Vivendi Universal’s board has decided to continue negotiating with the two of them instead of deciding a winner outright. Reports indicate that NBC has the edge because of its media strength and its parent, General Electric.
    However, unlike the Bronfman Group, NBC has not offered cash upfront, of billions of dollars for a debt-burdened Vivendi.
    Whichever way the chips fall, Vivendi will have a substantial minority interest in a US media corporation. Putting a spanner in the works is the fact that Vivendi is looking at an initial public offering for the assets as an alternative to a sale.
    Vivendi’s wants $14 billion for the assets and that is a figure that left many bidders sore. If the sale were to go through it would result in either one of the world’s largest media companies or one of the world’s biggest private equity funds.
    Bronfman’s Group includes Cablevision Systems which is, the main cable TV operator in New York and private equity fund Thomas H Lee Partners.
    Vivendi Universal Entertainment’s assets include the Universal movie studios and theme parks, cable channels.