English Entertainment
Q2-16: Warner Bros pulls down Time Warner revenue 5.4 percent
BENGALURU: Lower videogames, home entertainment and television licensing revenues pulled down Warner Bros revenue by 19.4 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) and operating income by 9.4 percent y-o-y for the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q2-16, current quarter). Warner Bros contributed 38.2 percent to Time Warner Inc. (Time Warner) in Q2-16, and hence pulled down its parent’s consolidated revenue by 5.4 percent y-o-y to $6,952 million from $7,348 million in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Time Warner operating income was almost flat y-o-y (declined 0.7 percent) in the current quarter at $1,846 million as compared to $1,849 million in Q2-15. Adjusted operating income in Q2-16 declined 5.5 percent y-o-y to $1,760 million from $1,862 million in Q2-15.
Company speak
Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said, “We had a strong first half of 2016, which puts us ahead of our original goals for the year. Our performance reflects the creative excellence resulting from investments we’ve been making in the very best content. At the same time, we’re capitalizing on new distribution opportunities to take advantage of the growing demand for high-quality video content around the world. As an example of our creative excellence, Time Warner received 148 Primetime Emmy nominations – more than any other company – with HBO’s 94 again setting the pace for the industry. In the second quarter, TNT and TBS finished as the two highest rated ad-supported cable networks in primetime among adults 18-49, and Warner Bros. once again came out of the upfront as the leading supplier to broadcast television. Warner Bros. also gained momentum in film with recent successes, such as Central Intelligence and The Conjuring 2, and anticipation is running high for Suicide Squad, which debuts this week.”
Bewkes continued, “Today, we also announced our 10 percent investment in Hulu LLC and that Turner has separately signed an affiliate agreement for its full suite of networks to be carried on Hulu’s live-streaming service slated for launch early next year. These are just the latest examples of our commitment to supporting innovative digital services that allow consumers to access high-quality content however they want it across a variety of platforms. We’re confident the multiple investments we’re making in these types of services position the Company to benefit from growing global demand for the strongest network brands and very best video content.”
Segment numbers
Time Warner has three segments – Turner – which contributed the most to revenue (43.3 percent in Q2-16), Home Box Office – the smallest segment in terms of revenue contribution (21.1 percent in Q2-16) and Warner Bros which contributed 38.2 percent to Time Warner’s revenue Q2-16.
Turner
Turner reported 6.5 percent y-o-y increase in revenue in Q2-16 at $3,010 million as compared to $2,827 million in Q2-15. Revenues due to increases of 11 percent ($142 million) in Subscription revenue and 6 percent ($73 million) in Advertising revenue, partially offset by a decline of 15 percent ($32 million) in Content and other revenue says the company.
Turner’s operating income in Q2-16 was flat y-o-y at $1,130 million, while adjusted operating income increased marginally y-o-y (0.3 percent) to $1,133 million from $1,130 million. The company says that operating income was flat as the growth in revenues was offset by higher expenses, including increased programming and marketing costs.
Home Box Office (HBO)
HBO revenue in the current quarter increased 2 percent y-o-y to $1,467million from $1,438 million in Q2-15. Time Warner says that HBO revenue increased due to an increase of 6 percent ($72 million) in Subscription revenues partially offset by a decline of 17 percent ($43 million) in Content and other revenues.
The segment reported 5.3 percent y-o-y decline in operating income and adjusted operating income in the current quarter to $481 million from $508 million in Q2-15. Operating income declined because the growth in revenues was more than offset by higher expenses, including increased programming and restructuring and severance costs says the company.
Warner Bros
As mentioned above, Warner Bros declined 19.4 percent y-o-y to $2,658 million from $3,298 due to lower videogames, home entertainment and television licensing revenues.
The segment reported 9.7 percent y-o-y decline in operating income in Q2-16 to $308 million from $341 million. Adjusted operating income in the current quarter declined 36.9 percent to $217 million from $344 million in Q2-15. Time Warner says that operating income declined due to the decline in revenues, partially offset by lower associated costs of revenues due to the number and mix of film and videogames releases, a $90 million gain on the April 2016 sale of Flixster and lower film valuation adjustments.
English Entertainment
ZEE5 UK partners Narrative Entertainment to add UK channels
Six FAST channels added as platform sharpens hybrid play in Britain
LONDON: ZEE5 UK struck a first-of-its-kind deal with Narrative Entertainment, bringing mainstream UK television channels onto an Indian streaming platform as it pushes to deepen its footprint in a crowded, mature market.
The partnership adds six of Narrative’s FAST channels to the service, including Great! Movies, Great! Romance, Great! Mystery and kids brands POP, Tiny Pop and POP UP, widening ZEE5 UK’s appeal across genres and age groups.
The move reflects a clear shift in strategy. ZEE5 UK is betting on a hybrid model that blends on-demand content with curated, always-on channels to drive discovery and increase time spent on the platform.
“This partnership represents a meaningful evolution in how we serve audiences in mature markets like the UK, where viewers are defined by habits, convenience and choice rather than geography or language alone,” said Parul Goel, territory head, Europe, Zee Entertainment. “By bringing trusted mainstream UK channels together with our premium originals, movies and kids’ content, we are building a more consumer-centric platform that simplifies viewing while increasing depth and relevance.”
Fateha Begum, commercial director, Narrative Entertainment, said the tie-up would fuel growth for both sides. “Our portfolio of quality programming, with such wide and enduring appeal, is a perfect complement to ZEE5 UK. This is a strong partnership that will support growth for both parties, and we share Zee Entertainment’s vision of an increasingly partnership-led future for the industry.”
ZEE5’s global library spans over 4,000 films and more than 500 originals, with over 130 new titles added annually. The addition of Narrative’s channels strengthens its kids offering and introduces genre-led linear experiences alongside its on-demand catalogue.
The deal also gives Narrative access to ZEE5 UK’s fast-growing user base, extending reach without diluting brand identity, while reinforcing ZEE5 UK’s network of more than 40 live channels.
As streaming wars intensify, ZEE5 UK is widening its playbook, blending content, convenience and partnerships in a bid to win screen time in one of the world’s toughest markets.
