MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Time Warner has reported financial results for its first quarter ended 31 March, 2013. The company posted flat revenues of $6.9 billion compared to the year-ago quarter, as growth at the Networks segment was offset by declines at the Film and TV Entertainment and Publishing segments.

Adjusted operating income grew by seven per cent to $1.4 billion due to increases at the Networks and Film and TV Entertainment segments, offset in part by declines at the Publishing segment. Adjusted EPS rose by 22 per cent to $0.82

Time Warner chairman, CEO Jeff Bewkes said: "We?re off to a strong start in 2013, making us even more confident in our full-year outlook. Our Adjusted Operating Income in the first quarter increased by seven per cent to $1.4 billion, up by 10 per cent excluding Publishing, and Adjusted EPS climbed by 22 per cent. These results reflect the ongoing strength of our content, particularly in television.

"At Turner, the NCAA Division I Men?s Basketball tournament was the most watched March Madness in almost two decades. And we?re seeing good momentum across most of Turner?s networks, including TBS, which was the #1 ad-supported cable network in primetime across adults 18-34 and 18-49 during the quarter. At Warner Bros., we have had another very strong TV season, including having four of the top six comedies on TV and both of the breakout new dramas of this season, ?Revolution? and ?The Following?.

"And HBO continues to go from strength to strength, powered by hits like ?Game of Thrones?, which is on track this season to become the most-watched series on HBO since ?The Sopranos?.

"This quarter we also announced our plans to spin off Time Inc. into an independent publicly-traded company, which we expect to complete by the end of the year. As we said when we announced the spin-off in March, we believe this is the best structure for both Time Inc. and Time Warner, and expect this step will create additional value for our stockholders. Underscoring our commitment to stockholder returns, so far this year we?ve repurchased almost $870 million of our stock and paid out over $270 million in dividends."

Networks (Turner Broadcasting and HBO) : Revenues increased by three per cent ($93 million) to $3.7 billion, benefiting from growth of five per cent ($115 million) in Subscription revenues, partly offset by declines of one per cent ($12 million) in ad revenues and four per cent ($11 million) in content revenues. The increase in subscription revenues resulted primarily from higher domestic rates and international growth.

Ad revenues benefited from growth at Turner?s domestic entertainment networks due principally to higher pricing, offset in part by the timing of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men?s Basketball National Championship tournament. Adv revenue growth at Turner?s domestic entertainment networks was more than offset by declines at its news networks, due to lower demand, and the shutdown of Turner?s general entertainment network, Imagine, in India and TNT television operations in Turkey in the first half of 2012.

Adjusted Operating Income grew by seven per cent ($87 million) to $1.3 billion due primarily to higher revenues. Programming costs were essentially flat compared to the prior year quarter as higher costs for originals were offset by the timing of the NCAA Tournament, lower programming write-downs and cost reductions due to the shutdown of Imagine and the TNT television operations in Turkey.

Operating income increased by 11 per cent ($125 million) to $1.3 billion. The current year quarter included $20 million of charges related to Turner?s international operations. The prior year quarter included a $58 million charge related to Turner?s decision to shut down Imagine.

Film, TV entertainment (Warner Bros.) : Revenues decreased by four per cent ($103 million) to $2.7 billion, reflecting mainly lower theatrical performance and a decline in television licensing revenues resulting primarily from fewer significant international syndication availabilities. The declines were offset in part by higher home video revenues from the strong performance of ?The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? and ?Argo? and revenues from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, which opened in March 2012. Adjusted Operating Income rose by 23 per cent ($50 million) to $265 million, as contributions from ?The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? and lower print and ad costs more than offset the decline in revenues.

Operating Income grew by 23 per cent ($49 million) to $263 million. ?The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, making it the fourth biggest film in Warner Bros.? history. ?The Ellen DeGeneres Show?, which is in its 10th season, has been renewed by stations covering 97 per cent of the US through the 2015-2016 season.

Season-to-date, Warner Bros. Television?s ?Revolution? and ?The Following? rank as the top two new series on primetime broadcast television among adults 18-49.

MUMBAI: Monica Tata has been appointed managing director of HBO India.

Tata joins the home entertainment network with immediate effect. She will be based in Mumbai and report in to HBO Asia CEO Jonathan Spink.

At HBO India, she will be responsible for introducing and developing various initiatives to enhance the company?s offerings in India and its subcontinent, including providing strategic direction and managing partner relationships.

Spink said, ?We are pleased to have Monica join the HBO Asia family. With Monica?s experience in the industry and her familiarity with our brand and channels, she is the ideal candidate to develop and grow HBO?s brand and market share in South Asia."

Tata said, ?I am excited to join the HBO Asia family as I love the brand and this is an exciting opportunity for me."

There are three 24-hour HBO movie channels available to viewers in India ? HBO, the blockbuster movie channel which was launched in 2000, and two premium advertising free movie channels, HBO Defined and HBO Hits, launched earlier this year that showcase the best of Hollywood and Bollywood content in high-definition and standard-definition.

One of HBO?s aims this year will be to build the distribution of the two premium channels. Tata said that as of now they are on two platforms Dish TV and Airtel. "We are negotiating with the other operators."

Tata adds that Shruti Bajpai who was HBO South Asia country manager has relocated to Dubai. "She continues to oversee marketing activities for HBO."

Tata has over 23 years of media experience and was most recently the General Manager, Entertainment Networks, South Asia for Turner International India where she was responsible for steering and overseeing all network initiatives across Turner?s entertainment brand portfolio in South Asia.

Prior to joining Turner she was the senior vice president -
advertising sales, Star India, where she was responsible for
advertising revenue on Star Movies, Star World, Channel [V], National Geographic Channel and the History Channel.