MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company?s net profit increased 14 per cent to $1.24 billion for the fiscal-fourth quarter driven by parks and resorts segment. The company had posted a net profit of $1.08 billion in the year ago period for the same quarter.

The American media conglomerate?s total revenue for quarter grew by 3 per cent to $10.78 billion up from $10.42 billion in the same quarter of the trailing fiscal. Its segment operating income grew 11 per cent to $2.33 billion compared to $2.1 billion in the year ago period.

For the full fiscal ended 29 September, the company?s net profit grew 11 per cent to $5.6 billion from $4.8 billion in the corresponding fiscal. Revenue increased 3 per cent to $42.27 billion from $40.8 billion in the trailing fiscal.

"Fiscal 2012 was a great year creatively, financially and strategically, resulting in record revenue, net income, and earnings per share," said Disney Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger. "The addition of Lucasfilm will further fuel Disney?s creative engine across our company to create additional value for our shareholders and we?re confident the Company is well positioned to continue our strong performance and growth."

Last month, Walt Disney had acquired Lucasfilm in a stock and cash transaction for $4.05 billion. The company had also announced that it will create a new Star Wars movie to be released in 2015.

Cable Networks

Operating income at Cable Networks increased $471 million to $5.7 billion for the year due to growth at ESPN and the worldwide Disney Channels and an increase in equity income. The increase at ESPN was driven by higher affiliate and advertising revenue, partially offset by higher programming costs. Growth at the worldwide Disney Channels was driven by higher affiliate revenue due to contractual rate increases domestically and subscriber growth internationally.

For the quarter, operating income at Cable Networks increased by $118 million to $1.4 billion due to growth at ESPN, higher equity income at AETN, and improvement at ABC Family, partially offset by lower operating income at the domestic Disney Channels.

The increase at ESPN reflected higher contractual rates for affiliate fees, decreased marketing costs, and higher equity income at the ESPN Star Sports joint venture due to lower programming costs. These increases were partially offset by higher programming costs driven by contractual rate increases for college football and Major League Baseball and expanded rights for the Wimbledon Championships.

Broadcasting

Operating income at Broadcasting remained relatively flat at $915 million for the year as higher program sales, lower programming and production costs and higher affiliate and royalty revenue were largely offset by lower advertising revenues and higher equity losses at Hulu.

For the quarter, operating income at Broadcasting decreased $9 million to $192 million driven by a decline in ABC Television Network advertising revenues due to lower ratings and higher equity losses at Hulu, partially offset by higher program sales driven by Castle and Wipeout.

Parks and Resorts

Parks and Resorts revenue for the year increased 10 per cent to $12.9 billion and segment operating income increased 22 per cent to $1.9 billion. For the quarter, revenues increased 9 per cent to $3.4 billion and segment operating income increased 18 per cent to $497 million.

Results for the year reflected increases at domestic parks and resorts, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, partially offset by a decrease at Disneyland Paris.

Studio Entertainment

Studio Entertainment revenues for the year decreased 8 per cent to $5.8 billion and segment operating income increased 17 per cent to $722 million. For the quarter, revenues decreased 4 per cent to $1.4 billion and segment operating income decreased 32 per cent to $80 million.

The revenue decline for the year was driven by fewer theatrical releases in the current year and lower home entertainment sales volume. Higher operating income for the year was driven by increases in domestic theatrical and worldwide television distribution, partially offset by higher film cost write-downs.

Consumer Products

Consumer Products revenues for the year increased 7 per cent to $3.3 billion and segment operating income increased 15 per cent to $937 million. For the quarter, revenues increased 8 per cent to $883 million and segment operating income increased 29 per cent to $267 million.

Higher segment operating income for both the year and quarter was primarily due to increases at Merchandise Licensing and our retail business as well as favorable foreign currency impacts.

Interactive

Interactive revenues for the year decreased 14 per cent to $845 million and segment operating results improved $92 million to a loss of $216 million. For the quarter, revenues decreased 14 per cent to $191 million and segment operating results improved $18 million to a loss of $76 million.