Media big Comcast beat on its prime and backside line for the three months resulted in June with theme parks and studio robust, even because the latter basks in one other big opening, for Opppenheimer, within the present third quarter.

Complete income nosed up 1.7% to $30.5 billion for the second quarter resulted in June. Web earnings jumped 25% to $4.28 billion. EPS of $1.02 in contrast with $0.76 a yr in the past.

At studios, adjusted EBITDA (earnings earlier than curiosity, taxes, deprecition and amortization — a revenue metric Wall Avenue likes) surged by $258 million to $255 million pushed by the The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film, which grossed $1.3 billion in worldwide field workplace within the second quarter, and Quick X.

Theme Parks adjusted EBITDA elevated 32% to $833 million, its highest on report, reflecting year-on-year progress at Common Beijing, Common Japan and Common Hollywood. The parks in Asia have been nonetheless partly closed or at lowered capability for a part of final yr.

“The consistent investments we’ve been making in our growth businesses continue to generate strong results and position us extremely well both now and into the future,” mentioned CEO Brian Roberts. “Second quarter operational and financial performance was excellent and included a double-digit increase in Adjusted EPS and significant free cash flow generation,” he mentioned, shouting out parks, Tremendous Mario Bros., and almost doubled paid Peacock subscribers year-over-year. Peacock hit 24 million subs, up 2 million from the earlier quarter.

Comcast calls its largest enterprise Connectivity & Platforms, which incorporates broadband, wi-fi and cable TV. Income was flat with the prior yr interval. Adjusted EBITDA elevated on account of progress in Residential Connectivity & Platforms. In keeping with the business, the division continued to shed broadband prospects (19k internet misplaced) and video subs (internet 543k misplaced) within the quarter. However the operations restrict Comcast’s publicity to the leisure sector, together with the influence of a strike by Hollywood writers and actors.

Content material & Experiences, the leisure, aspect, noticed beneficial properties in parks and the studio, partly offset by a lower in media that was pushed partially by increased prices at Peacock because the service scales and decrease home promoting income.

At Peacock, income rose 85% to $820 million. However losses on the streamer widened to $651 million from $467 million the yr earlier than.

Execs at Peacock and most different streamers have mentioned 2023 would be the peak yr of losses.

The numbers are the primary since Comcast President Mike Cavanagh streamlined the leisure enterprise. He was handed the portfolio after former NBCU chief Jeff Shell’s abrupt exit in April following an investigation into sexual harassment.

Cavanagh will proceed to steer NBCU however has handed accountability to 4 operational heads in a brand new construction: Donna Langley now oversees the NBCUniversal Studio Group; Mark Lazarus, the NBCUniversal Media Group; Cesar Conde, an expanded NBCU Information Group; and Mark Woodbury, Common Locations & Experiences Group.

Extra to come back…