Viacom Earnings Preview: Forget Tom Cruise, Cable Networks Are Key

Viacom (VIAB) is expected to report weak 1Q06 results due to tough comparisons in 1Q05. Revenue growth is forecast at about 5% with EBITDA rising just 0-2%. Despite the weak start to the year, analysts expect revenue and EBITDA to grow by low double digits for all of 2006. 1Q EPS are expected at 39 […]

Cablevision Comes Through: Stick With Comcast

Cablevision (CVC) shares are up sharply after the company reported better than expected 4Q05 results and announced 2006 guidance for its cable division that is above current analyst estimates. As the conference call begins, CVC shares are up 5% and dragging Comcast (CMCSA/K), up over 1% along for the ride. Wall Street may hate cable […]

Cablevision: March 2006 Quarterly Earnings Preview

Cablevision (CVC) should report another strong quarter before the open on Tuesday. Analyst are estimated growth in the mid to upper teens for revenues and EBITDA in the company’s Telecom division. Consolidate growth will be a little less as the company’s programming assets and New York City properties will grow at a modestly slower rate. […]

Tom Cruise Falls Short But Regal Still Looks Good

Despite a weaker than expected opening for Mission: Impossible III, the weekend box office rose 24% against easy year ago comparisons. Based on the data I use from BoxOfficeMojo.com, the box office is up more than 6% so far this year. With price increases running at less than 5%, this implies that attendance is growing […]

Disney March 2006 Quarterly Earnings Preview

Disney (DIS) reports its 2Q06 after the close on Tuesday. Consensus calls for 31 cents against 32 cents a year ago. DIS has forecast a backend loaded year leading to a fourth straight year of 10% growth. The shares have acted well all year so there is little concern about the flat year-over-year growth forecast […]

NTL March 2006 Quarterly Earnings Preview

NTL Incorporated (NTLI) shares have held onto most of their gains following the early March closure of the company’s merger with Telewest. Since that time, the company has also formally announced its merger with Virgin Mobile that is schedule to close in June. NTLI reports tomorrow and the focus will be on cost reductions related […]

Follow-Up Comments On Central European Media Enterprises Quarterly Earnings

The company’s 2006 guidance is actually quite a bit below my prior expectations due to a complete restructuring at TV Nova in the Czech Republic and higher than expected losses at the start-up in Croatia. These two negative factors are partially mitigated by continued outstanding growth in Romania and Ukraine where results in 1Q and […]

Warner Music Group: No Wonder Edgar Doesn’t Want To Sell

Warner Music (WMG) reported very strong March quarter results this morning. EMI, which is trying to buy the company, now has extra incentive to raise its price slightly. The combination of good earnings and takeover interest should keep WMG shares at current levels or slightly higher. Upside is limited, however, as a buyout is unlikely […]

Unvision: Good Quarter Supports Buyout Valuation

Bidders for Univision (UVN) won’t have to adjust their models very much based upon the company’s 1Q06 earnings report. Revenues were about $10 million light, but margins were better than expected so EBITDA slightly exceeded estimates. EPS also beat by a couple of pennies. Specifically, revenue was $49 million against consensus of $460 million, EBITDA […]

I Liked DirecTV’s Quarter But Market Did Not

I think the numbers from DirecTV (DTV) look pretty good. The results support the company’s new strategy to focus on profitable growth even if it means slightly slower subscriber growth. Gross adds did come in a little light at 919,000 vs. estimates of around 1 million. However, the focus on retaining and attracting better quality […]