CBS reported increases in third quarter profits and revenues.
CBS’ net income included a $1.56 billion gain from the spinoff of its outdoor business.
Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations were $400 million for the third quarter compared with net earnings from continuing operations of $431 million a year ago. That translated 74 cents per diluted share, compared to 70 cents a year ago, and one penny ahead of Wall Street expections.
Revenue rose 2% to $3.37 billion.
Advertising revenue grew 2% because of CBS’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts and increased political advertising at its stations.
CBS said adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization was down 2% because of new contract with the NFL. The company said the NFL programming helped launch three CBS-owned primetime series with higher ratings in their time periods than a year ago.
Affiliate and subscription fees were flat because of a significant pay-per-view boxing event a year ago, the company said.
"Our third quarter growth reflects the success of our efforts to create and monetize our premium content," CEO Les Moonves said in a statement. "I am particularly pleased with the CBS Television Network's encouraging start to the fall season, which has reloaded our owned content pipeline in a big way.”
CBS’s entertainment group, which includes the broadcasts network, stations and TV studio, had lower operating income of $335 million, compared to $431 million a year ago. CBS attributed the drop of to higher costs for NFL programming.
Entertainment revenues were up 1% to $1.91 billion, with higher TV licensing and affiliate fees offset by softness in the advertising marketplace.
CBS’s cable networks had had 4% higher operating income at $272 million. Cable revenues rose 5% to $624 million.
