MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Time Warner and Chinese investment fund China Media Capital (CMC) focused on media and entertainment, have announced the formation of a strategic investment partnership. The announcement was made in the western Chinese city of Chengdu, where top business leaders convened for the 2013 Fortune Global Forum.

The alliance pairs Time Warner home of such businesses as Warner Bros, HBO, and Turner Broadcasting, with an preeminent investment platform in China dedicated to the media and entertainment sector. The goal of the partnership is to capitalise on China?s rapidly expanding media sector as digital devices proliferate and China?s demand for high-quality content across multiple platforms rises.

Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes said, "This partnership with CMC and Ruigang Li will give us a unique window into one of the world?s largest and fastest growing media and entertainment markets. Increasing our global presence is one of Time Warner?s strategic priorities and China is one of the most attractive territories in which we operate, but it is complex. This alliance will give all our businesses a savvy and accomplished partner as we strive to bring our leading brands and storytelling to people everywhere, across a wide range of devices."

CMC chairman Ruigang Li said, "China?s media and entertainment industry is undergoing a profound change on various fronts including technology, creativity and commercialisation. We are privileged to be at the forefront of these unprecedented opportunities as well as challenges. We are pleased to forge this partnership with Time Warner, a global power of television, film, and digital content, to jointly explore innovative ways of creating premium content for the new generation of consumers at the age of Internet and mobile, which will further contribute to the dynamic industry development in China."

The Chinese media and entertainment market is among the largest and fastest growing in the world. Box office revenue is projected to reach $4.4 billion in 2013, and with an estimated 45 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2009 and 2013. Animation revenues are projected to reach $7.1 billion in 2013, with a 27 per cent CAGR over the same period, and online video revenues are projected to reach $2 billion in 2013 with a 64 per cent CAGR between 2009 and 2013.

CMC founding chairman Li founded CMC as China?s first media and entertainment-focused investment fund in 2010. CMC?s investment portfolio has participated in several investments and transactions including DreamWorks Animation?s Chinese joint venture and CMC?s acquisition of Star China from News Corporation. Li was previously the chief executive of Shanghai Media Group, where he was credited with successfully transforming the Shanghai based provincial broadcaster SMG into one of China?s largest media conglomerates.

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: Consumers without bundling will pay more for less. "I don?t think it?s desirable for consumers to break the bundle. You end up paying more for less," said Time Warner chairman, CEO Jeff Bewkes at the UBS Media and Communications Conference in New York.

There isn?t much opportunity for the cable operators to unbundle networks or create more tiers. The issue, however, is about sports where the content costs dor distribution platforms is shooting up. "The escalation of sports rights, I don?t know what will happen with that. That may be an issue. Other than the concentrated viewing and cost of sports, the rest of the bundle is a better value than ever," said Bewkes.

He also spoke about CNN saying, "It is true, to criticize ourselves, that we have not programmed it to keep it interesting if you wanted to stay for hours".

CNN gets high ratings during breaking news but has fallen off during slower times. "We need to do a better job of producing the full 24 hours. It doesn?t all have to be politics, although that is a part of it. We?re going to be a little bit more vigorous and broad," said Bewkes.

Asked about the movie business, Bewkes said business is decent in the US and strong overseas, but warned of the trend toward lower-margin rentals vs. buying in the home video market. The studios are trying to combat this trend with the cloud-based UltraViolet venture that promotes home video ownership.