International Entertainment News: Viacom Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results

Viacom Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results

-- Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations were $0.62; Adjusted Diluted EPS

NEW YORK, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and VIA.B) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008.

Third Quarter 2008 Results

(in millions, Quarter Ended Better/ Nine Months Ended Better/
except per share September 30, (Worse) September 30, (Worse)
amounts) 2008 2007 2008 2008 2007 2008
vs. vs.
2007 2007

Revenues $ 3,408 $ 3,271 4% $ 10,382 $ 9,175 13%
Operating income 689 815 (15)% 2,048 1,958 5%
Net earnings from
continuing
operations 385 450 (14)% 1,061 1,085 (2)%
Diluted EPS from
continuing
operations 0.62 0.67 (7)% 1.68 1.59 6%
Net earnings 401 641 (37)% 1,078 1,278 (16)%
Diluted EPS $ 0.65 $ 0.96 (32)% $ 1.71 $ 1.87 (9)%

Revenues grew 4% to $3.41 billion in the third quarter 2008 led by a 6% increase in Media Networks revenues with Filmed Entertainment revenues relatively flat versus the prior year's results. Operating income declined 15% in the quarter, primarily reflecting a $91 million decrease in the Filmed Entertainment segment as it lapped the strong performance of Transformers in the third quarter of 2007. Net earnings from continuing operations were $385 million with diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.62, a 7% decrease from the prior year's results. Excluding $0.07 in discrete tax benefits, adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations were $0.55, a 15% decline from the third quarter 2007 adjusted results. Adjustments are detailed in the Supplemental Disclosures at the end of this release.

Sumner M. Redstone, Executive Chairman of Viacom, said, "Viacom remains focused on running its business efficiently and continuing to invest wisely in our brands. As we've seen in the past, we believe audiences the world over will increasingly turn to the television, film and multimedia programming we offer. This, in turn, creates opportunities for us to deepen our audience connections."

Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom, said, "The economic environment and ongoing uncertainty have posed new challenges for the media industry, and Viacom has not been immune to the impact of these forces. Over the past two years, however, we have been judiciously managing our finances and operations. Thanks to these efforts, we believe that we will be well positioned both in the near term and as the global economy regains its footing over time. With a talented team, world-class brands, a strong balance sheet and significant cash flow, we will continue to drive our strategy forward.

"In the quarter, Viacom's multiple revenue streams provided solid top-line growth for the company, with strong ancillary and affiliate revenue increases moderating the impact of a softer domestic advertising market. Our popular programming, such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Hills, continues to connect with audiences and set viewership records. In the coming months, we plan to launch several new shows as well as novel multiplatform initiatives to recharge ratings at some of our channels. We are also very excited by the great potential of our games business, led by our rapidly expanding Rock Band franchise.

"Paramount Pictures has taken significant steps this year to achieve ongoing overhead and operational savings in order to better compete in the current marketplace. In addition to building a powerful and strategic theatrical slate, it is also leading the industry with smart moves into the digital space. We are looking forward to DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which opens this week, and to Paramount's year-end release of two widely anticipated films, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Revolutionary Road."

Revenues

Revenues Quarter Ended Better/ Nine Months Ended Better/
September 30, (Worse) September 30, (Worse)
(in millions) 2008 2007 2008 2008 2007 2008
vs. vs.
2007 2007

Media Networks $ 2,128 $ 1,999 6% $ 6,281 $ 5,654 11%
Filmed Entertainment 1,309 1,305 - 4,226 3,640 16%
Eliminations (29) (33) NM (125) (119) NM
Total revenues $ 3,408 $ 3,271 4% $ 10,382 $ 9,175 13%

NM = Not Meaningful

Third Quarter 2008 revenues of $3.41 billion grew 4% from $3.27 billion in 2007. Media Networks revenues rose 6% to $2.13 billion led by a 36% increase in ancillary revenues to $313 million. Ancillary revenue growth was driven by continued strong sales of Rock Band, which more than offset a decline in consumer products sales. Worldwide affiliate revenues were strong, up 12% to $660 million, reflecting rate and subscriber increases across the Company's core channels. Softness in the overall advertising market contributed to a 2% decrease in worldwide advertising revenues to $1.16 billion in the quarter. Domestic advertising revenues declined 3% due in part to ratings softness at certain channels. Filmed Entertainment revenues increased $4 million over the prior year's results to $1.31 billion. Growth in home entertainment revenues, up 30% to $593 million, was driven by increased revenues from third-party distribution agreements, including the DVD release of Marvel's Iron Man late in the third quarter. Theatrical revenues were $312 million, a 36% decline over the prior year's results, which included the strong performance of Transformers. Television license fees rose 16% to $342 million, reflecting an increase in and more favorable mix of available titles in the pay TV, network and syndicated television markets.

Operating Income

Operating Income
(Loss) Quarter Ended Better/ Nine Months Ended Better/
September 30, (Worse) September 30, (Worse)
(in millions) 2008 2007 2008 2008 2007 2008
vs. vs.
2007 2007

Media Networks $ 761 $ 796 (4)% $ 2,220 $ 2,132 4%
Filmed Entertainment (19) 72 NM 4 (14) NM
Corporate (53) (53) - (176) (162) (9)%
Eliminations - - NM - 2 NM
Total operating
income $ 689 $ 815 (15)% $ 2,048 $ 1,958 5%

NM = Not Meaningful

Third Quarter 2008 operating income decreased 15% to $689 million versus $815 million in the third quarter of 2007. Operating income for the Media Networks segment declined 4%, reflecting the impact of lower advertising and consumer products revenues as well as higher expenses primarily related to programming. The Filmed Entertainment segment reported an operating loss of $19 million in the third quarter compared with $72 million in operating income last year. This result was driven by lower theatrical revenues as well as higher feature film amortization.

Business Outlook

For the full year 2008, Viacom expects to deliver mid-single to low double-digit growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. This outlook is based on adjusted earnings and reflects growth from 2007 adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.36.

Stock Repurchase Program

For the quarter ended September 30, 2008, 7.6 million shares were repurchased for an aggregate purchase price of $215 million. As of October 31, 2008, the Company has $1.4 billion remaining in its existing $4 billion share repurchase program.

Debt

At September 30, 2008, total debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations, was $8.95 billion, compared with $8.25 billion at December 31, 2007.

About Viacom

Viacom, consisting of BET Networks, MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures, is the world's leading entertainment content company. It engages audiences on television, motion picture and digital platforms through many of the world's best known entertainment brands, including MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Rock Band, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Nick at Nite, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers, BET, Paramount Pictures and Paramount Vantage. Viacom's global reach includes approximately 160 channels and 400 online properties in 160 countries and territories.

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements, including Business Outlook, which are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations concerning future results, objectives, plans and goals, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: advertising market conditions; the public acceptance of and ratings for the Company's feature films, programs, digital services, games and other content, as well as related advertisements; competition for advertising dollars; technological developments and their effect in the Company's markets and on consumer behavior; fluctuations in the Company's results due to the timing, mix and availability of the Company's programming, films and other content; changes in the Federal communications laws and regulations; the impact of piracy; the impact of increased scale in parties involved in the distribution and aggregation of the Company's products and program services to consumers and advertisers; the impact of union activity; other domestic and global economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting the Company's businesses generally, including the current downturn in global economic conditions and possible domestic recession; and other factors described in the Company's news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, and the Company does not have any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

VIACOM INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)

Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
(in millions, except September 30, September 30,
earnings per share amounts) 2008 2007 2008 2007

Revenues $3,408 $3,271 $10,382 $9,175
Expenses:
Operating 1,945 1,671 5,992 4,998
Selling, general and
administrative 682 682 2,061 1,922
Depreciation and
amortization 92 103 281 297

Total expenses 2,719 2,456 8,334 7,217

Operating income 689 815 2,048 1,958
Interest expense, net (123) (115) (363) (340)
Gain on sale of equity
investment - - - 151
Equity in (losses) earnings
of investee companies (32) (1) (48) 12
Other items, net (23) (7) (38) (52)

Earnings from continuing
operations before provision
for income taxes
and minority interest 511 692 1,599 1,729

Provision for income taxes (122) (237) (526) (631)
Minority interest, net of tax (4) (5) (12) (13)

Net earnings from continuing
operations 385 450 1,061 1,085
Discontinued operations, net
of tax 16 191 17 193

Net earnings $401 $641 $1,078 $1,278

Basic earnings per common share:
Earnings per share,
continuing operations $0.62 $0.67 $1.69 $1.59
Earnings per share,
discontinued operations $0.03 $0.29 $0.02 $0.28
Net earnings per share $0.65 $0.96 $1.71 $1.87

Diluted earnings per common share:
Earnings per share,
continuing operations $0.62 $0.67 $1.68 $1.59
Earnings per share,
discontinued operations $0.03 $0.29 $0.03 $0.28
Net earnings per share $0.65 $0.96 $1.71 $1.87

Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding:
Basic 618.9 667.1 629.2 682.0
Diluted 619.3 668.2 630.1 683.5

VIACOM INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

September 30, December 31,
2008 2007

(in millions, except par value)

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $525 $920
Receivables, net (includes retained
interests in securitizations) 2,036 2,617
Inventory, net 1,002 727
Deferred tax assets, net 230 248
Prepaid and other assets 376 321

Total current assets 4,169 4,833
Property and equipment, net 1,217 1,196
Inventory, net 4,649 4,108
Goodwill 11,402 11,375
Intangibles, net 747 684
Other assets 631 708

Total assets $22,815 $22,904

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $376 $497
Accrued expenses 1,164 1,563
Participants' share and residuals 1,316 1,545
Program rights obligations 442 370
Deferred revenue 331 406
Financing obligations 133 187
Other liabilities 421 705

Total current liabilities 4,183 5,273
Financing obligations 8,819 8,059
Participants' share and residuals 356 285
Program rights obligations 696 533
Deferred tax liabilities, net 148 105
Other liabilities 1,420 1,501
Minority interests 43 37
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Class A Common stock, par value $0.001,
375.0 authorized; 57.4 and 57.4
outstanding, respectively - -
Class B Common stock, par value $0.001,
5,000.0 authorized; 557.9 and 587.4
outstanding, respectively 1 1
Additional paid-in capital 8,155 8,079
Treasury stock (5,577) (4,502)
Retained earnings 4,485 3,407
Accumulated other comprehensive income 86 126

Total stockholders' equity 7,150 7,111

Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $22,815 $22,904

VIACOM INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following tables reconcile the Company's results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, to adjusted results that exclude the impact of impairments of minority investments, Media Networks restructuring activities, a realized gain on the sale of the Company's non-controlling investment in MTV Russia and net discrete tax benefits. The Company uses adjusted operating income, adjusted net earnings and adjusted diluted EPS among other things, to evaluate the Company's operating performance in the absence of these items and for planning and forecasting of future periods. The Company believes that the adjusted results provide relevant and useful information for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by the Company's management, improves their ability to understand the Company's operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company's results with other companies. Since adjusted operating income, adjusted net earnings and adjusted diluted EPS are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for operating income, net earnings and diluted EPS as indicators of operating performance and they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.

(in millions, except Quarter Ended
per share amounts) September 30, 2008