Restructuring takes a toll on News Corp's net profit

MUMBAI: Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corporation?s annual net income fell 55.55 per cent to $1.2 billion from $2.7 billion reported in the prior year.

The company?s bottom line was hit due to a $3 billion pre-tax impairment and restructuring charge primarily related to the company?s publishing businesses.

Earlier, this year News Corp had announced that it will separate its profitable television and entertainment business from the publishing, which has been a strain on its bottom line.

Cable networks underpinned by strong growth at regional sports networks including ESPN Star Sports and international cable networks which includes Star India was the only silver lining for the battered media conglomerate at a time when it was through its most difficult phase due to phone hacking scandal.

News Corp?s reported annual revenue of $33.7 billion, 1 per cent increase over the $33.4 billion of revenue reported a year ago. The annual revenue increase was led by 14 per cent growth at the company?s Cable Network Programming segment, partially offset by declines primarily at the company?s Publishing and Other segments.

The Company reported annual total segment operating income of $5.4 billion compared to $4.9 billion reported a year ago. This increase was driven by operating income improvements at nearly all of the Company?s segments, led by a $535 million increase at the Cable Network Programming segment and a $205 million increase at the Filmed Entertainment segment.

These improvements were partially offset by decreases at the Publishing segment, reflecting advertising weakness at the international newspaper and integrated marketing services businesses, and the absence of contributions from The News of the World.

The full year results included a $224 million charge related to the costs of the ongoing investigations initiated upon the closure of The News of the World. The prior year results included a $125 million charge at the Company?s integrated marketing services business related to the settlement of litigation.

Excluding these charges from both years, respectively, this year?s adjusted total segment operating income of $5.6 billion increased 13 per cent, from $5 billion in the prior year.

News Corp Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rupert Murdoch said: ?We are proud of the full year financial growth achieved over the last twelve months, led by our Cable Network Programming and Filmed Entertainment segments. Not only did we execute on our operating plan and deliver on our financial targets, we returned over $5 billion to shareholders through an aggressive buyback program and dividends. In addition, significant progress has been made in opportunistically addressing the Company?s non-consolidated assets, as demonstrated by the purchase of Fox Pan American Sports, the sale of NDS and the announced intention to purchase the remaining ownership stake of ESPN Star Sports and Consolidated Media Holdings.

?Our Company has continued to innovate, grow and consistently adapt to the rapidly changing media industry landscape. We find ourselves in the middle of great change, driven by shifts in technology, consumer behavior, advertiser demands and economic uncertainty and change brings about great opportunity. News Corporation is in a strong operational, strategic and financial position, which should only be enhanced by the proposed separation of the media and entertainment and publishing businesses.?

During the fiscal, News Corp had consolidated its ownership stakes in affiliate companies by purchasing Fox Pan American Sports and announcing the intent to purchase the remaining ownership stake of ESPN Star Sports, and Consolidated Media Holdings. The company along with private equity firm Permira sold pay-TV encryption company NDS to Cisco in a $5bn deal.

Full Year Company Results

Cable Network Programming

Cable Network Programming reported annual segment operating income of $3.3 billion, a 19 per cent increase over the prior year, driven by a 14 per cent increase in revenue. Operating income contributions from the domestic channels increased 21 per cent, underpinned by growth at the Regional Sports Networks (RGNs), Fox News Channel and the FX Network. The Company?s international cable channels grew earnings 16 per cent, reflecting strong growth in Latin America and Asia.

Affiliate revenue growth of 12 per cent at the domestic cable channels primarily reflects higher rates at all domestic networks, led by growth at the RSNs and Fox News Channel. International cable channels? affiliate revenues increased 27 per cent over the prior year. Nearly two-thirds of the international increase primarily reflects organic growth at the Fox International Channels in Latin America and Asia, with the remaining portion of the international affiliate revenue growth attributable to the consolidation of the Fox Pan American Sports network.

Advertising revenue at the domestic cable channels grew 9 per cent in fiscal 2012 over the prior year, reflecting growth at nearly all domestic networks led by growth at the FX Network, Fox News Channel and the National Geographic Channels. The international cable channels? advertising revenue grew 13 per cent over the prior year, primarily due to improving advertising markets and viewership trends in Latin America, Asia and India.

In fiscal 2012, expenses at Cable Network Programming grew 11 per cent over the prior year, due to increased programming costs including rights fees for the launch of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as increased expenses associated with the consolidation of the Fox Pan American Sports network and the launch of new sports networks in Brazil and San Diego.

Filmed Entertainment

Full year segment operating income increased $205 million, or 22 per cent, over the prior year to $1.1 billion. The growth was driven by a strong release slate including the successful worldwide theatrical and home entertainment performances of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and The Descendants, and home entertainment performances of Rio, X-Men: First Class and Mr. Popper?s Penguins. The year also benefitted from increased operating profit at the television production studios led by the growth of digital distribution revenue from the licensing of content to Netflix and Amazon, as well as an increase in license fees for How I Met Your Mother.

Television

Full year segment operating income of $706 million, increased $25 million versus a year ago. The increase was driven by a doubling of retransmission consent revenues, partially offset by lower political advertising revenue at the local television stations and the absence of the prior year?s broadcast of the National Football League Super Bowl XLV. Excluding the impact of the Super Bowl broadcast, national advertising revenues increased over the prior year reflecting the stronger fall schedule led by The X-Factor and New Girl being partially offset by lower American Idol ratings.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television

Sky Italia generated annual segment operating income of $254 million, a $22 million, or 9 per cent, increase compared to the prior year. The improvement was due to lower programming costs resulting from the absence of Fifa World Cup costs and lower marketing costs related to the prior year?s rebranding campaign. Local currency revenue for the year was consistent with the prior year. Sky Italia?s year-end subscriber base declined to 4.9 million due to the net reduction of approximately 71,000 subscribers during the year, reflecting the continued challenging economic environment in Italy.