Games division generates $2.14 billion
BRUSSELS — First-half revenues at Gallic media giant Vivendi were E13.18 billion ($18.85 billion), up 17% on the same period last year, the company reported Tuesday.
Adjusted net income, or profit excluding one-time gains and some costs, was up 0.9% to $2.1 billion.
Topper Jean-Bernard Levy called the performance “very solid” in a “tough environment.”
The main gains came from acquisitions by telco business SFR.
Greatest growth came from games division Activision Blizzard, with revenue soaring to just over $2 billion this year from $636 million in the first half of 2008. Main drivers are the “Call of Duty” and “Guitar Hero” franchises, plus “World of Warcraft.”
However, division net revenue forecasts for the year have been revised down from $4.8 billion to $4.5 billion, due to lower market expectations and the delay in release “Singularity” and “StarCraft II” to 2010.
Earnings at Universal Music Group fell 1.7% to $2.9 billion. Digital sales were up 29%, but greater activity in merchandising and music publishing was not enough to balance falling demand for physical product and lower licensing income.
At paybox Canal Plus revenue of $3.2 billion was up 0.2% on last year. But ad revenue was up 15% in the first half, a sharp contrast with drops reported by other Gallic webs.
Canal Plus predicts continued subscriber growth through the year, driven by strong overseas sales.
