MUMBAI: Viacom, the owner of Paramount Pictures, MTV and Nickelodeon, has reported consolidated revenues of $3.33 billion for the fiscal second quarter ending 31 March driven primarily by higher Media Networks affiliate revenues.

Quarterly operating income increased 23 per cent to $932 million in the quarter. Media Networks adjusted operating income increased 11 per cent to $893 million, principally reflecting the increase in affiliate revenues. Adjusted operating income in the Filmed Entertainment segment increased 195 per cent to $115 million, driven principally by lower distribution costs, which more than offset lower revenues.

Quarterly adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom rose $105 million to $535 million, a gain of 24 per cent over the same period last year.

The increase is principally due to the growth in operating income across the company. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom rose 24 per cent in the quarter to $535 million.

Viacom executive chairman Sumner M. Redstone said, "Viacom continues its strong track record of growth and innovation, creating the world?s best entertainment content and operating more efficiently every day. Throughout the Company, our leaders tirelessly build Viacom?s
outstanding global properties in order to drive superior value for shareholders."

Media Networks revenue growth of five per cent was driven by an increase in affiliate fee revenues, partially offset by a decrease in ancillary revenues. Domestic affiliate revenues increased 15 per cent and worldwide affiliate revenues grew 17 per cent in the quarter, in each case reflecting higher revenues from digital distribution agreements, as well as rate increases.

Domestic advertising revenues increased one per cent, while worldwide advertising revenues remained flat at $1.07 billion for the quarter.

Filmed Entertainment revenues decreased five per cent, to $1.17 billion, reflecting lower theatrical and television license fee revenues, partially offset by higher ancillary revenues. Worldwide theatrical revenues decreased 19 per cent in the quarter, as the mix of films, which generally were less widely distributed, did not match the performance of releases in the same period last year.

The current quarter releases were The Devil Inside, A Thousand Words, and Jeff, Who Lives at Home, and the year prior featured significant hits Rango, No Strings Attached and Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. Worldwide Filmed Entertainment ancillary revenues increased 41 per cent to $111 million in the quarter, principally driven by higher digital revenues. Home Entertainment revenues were up slightly.

At the end of the current quarter, the total debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations, was $7.78 billion, compared with$7.37 billion at 30 September 2011. The company?s cash balances were $1.14 billion at 31 March 2012, an increase from $1.02 billion at 30 September 2011.

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom?s channel MTV has announced premiere dates for its returning series ?Teen Wolf? and ?Awkward?, as well as the debut of the new series ?Snooki & JWOWW? at its annual Upfront Presentation at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

In addition, the network presented a new slate of scripted and reality series, with ?Catfish?, ?Inbetweeners?, ?Underemployed?, ?Wake Brothers? and ?Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous?, along with a preview of its upcoming "storytelling without borders" initiative, ?Teen Wolf: The Hunt?, a way the network is leveraging its social footprint.

The second season of ?Teen Wolf? premieres in two-parts, with part one kicking off on 3 June, immediately following the ?2012 MTV Movie Awards?, and part two debuting the following night, on 4 June in its regularly scheduled time slot. ?Jerzdays? will continue on Thursdays, this time with a female twist. ?Snooki & JWOWW? premieres on 21 June followed by the comedy series ?Awkward?, debuting its second season on a new day beginning 28 June. Additionally, the network announced a second season of ?MTV2?s Guy Code?.

MTV presented advertisers with first looks of its upcoming series, including new docu-series ?Catfish?, inspired by the documentary film; new scripted comedy ?Inbetweeners?, based on the UK series; ?Underemployed?, from executive producer Craig Wright; reality series ?Wake Brothers?, featuring wakeboarding champs - and brothers - Phil and Bob Soven; and new scripted comedy ?Zach Stone is Gonna be Famous?, starring Internet comedian Bo Burnham.

MTV also highlighted its "storytelling without borders" strategy that looks to engage audiences across every platform as demonstrated through "Teen Wolf: The Hunt." The new "Teen Wolf" social experience will live on Facebook and other platforms and will allow fans to "friend" and interact with the show?s characters in real time within the context of a choose-your-own-adventure mystery. "Teen Wolf: The Hunt" will feature a completely original storyline, written by the "Teen Wolf" team of writers, while also serving as a complementary online experience to the television series. The multi-platform experience will launch on Monday, June 4, the night of the show?s regular time period debut. This initiative follows last month?s news that MTV is leading the industry after surpassing 100 million Facebook ?likes.?

The Upfront event also included appearances by "Jersey Shore?s" Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley and Paul "Pauly D" Delvecchio; "Teen Wolf?s" Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Dylan O?Brien and Holland Roden; "Awkward?s" Beau Mirchoff and Brett Davern; Nev Schulman and Max Joseph from "Catfish;" Charlamagne Tha God from "MTV?s Hip Hop POV" and "MTV2?s Guy Code;" and rapper Fat Joe from the upcoming MTV2 series "Hip Hop Squares."

Additionally, MTV "Power of 12" correspondent Andrew Jenks was joined by Liddy Huntsman, daughter of former Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, Jr., to talk about the network?s new "Fantasy Election ?12" game, which will launch this summer. The presentation also featured special musical performances by multi-platinum recording artist Alicia Keys and fun., the upcoming "MTV Movie Awards" performer and chart-topping band.