Viacom Reports Double-Digit Growth for Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2011

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) today reported strong double-digit growth for the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter and full year ended September 30, 2011, driven by solid performances in its Media Networks and Filmed Entertainment segments.  

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Viacom also announced that its Board of Directors approved a major expansion of its stock repurchase program to $10 billion from $4 billion. The Company intends to purchase shares from time to time reflecting its normal seasonal cycle of cash generation.

Consolidated revenues in the fourth quarter increased 22% to $4.05 billion, driven by growth in both business segments.  Fourth quarter adjusted operating income grew 27% to $1.06 billion, reflecting a significant increase in profitability in the Filmed Entertainment segment and double-digit growth in the Media Networks segment.  Filmed Entertainment gains stemmed from strong theatrical and home entertainment performance during the quarter, while increases at Media Networks reflect a 7% rise in worldwide advertising revenues and 11% growth in worldwide affiliate fees.  Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom in the fourth quarter increased 33% to $614 million, with adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.06, up 41% over the prior year's quarterly results of $0.75.

Consolidated revenues for the full-year 2011 increased 12% to $14.91 billion, with significant contributions from both Media Networks and Filmed Entertainment. Full-year adjusted operating income grew 13% to $3.85 billion, reflecting higher advertising and affiliate revenues in Media Networks.  Full-year adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom rose 22% to $2.25 billion and full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 25% to $3.78.

Sumner M. Redstone, Executive Chairman of Viacom, said, "Viacom's performance in fiscal 2011 once again illustrates the value of our focused strategy and strong leadership. Viacom's powerful brands are enhanced by operational and financial discipline, which continues to drive our results and build value for shareholders."

Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom, said, "2011 was an outstanding year, highlighted by significant creative milestones, strong topline growth and expanded profitability across every division of Viacom.  Creatively we are at the top of our game, powered by unique audience insights and connections, coupled with consistent investment in innovative programming at our marquee media networks, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and BET.  Paramount Pictures is benefiting from a disciplined franchise-centric approach that has produced an unprecedented number of hits in the domestic and international box office.

"We enter a new fiscal year with a proven track record of managing our operations effectively in every economic environment.  Our financial position is as strong as it has ever been, which allows us to continue to invest in the growth of our businesses, including new branded television networks in the U.S. and internationally, and Paramount's recently launched animation label.  At the same time, we continue to deliver greater returns to shareholders.  In 2011, our ability to generate strong free cash flow allowed us to not only increase our dividend, but also to repurchase $2.5 billion in Viacom shares. Demonstrating our confidence in Viacom's long-term outlook, the Board approved today a significant increase in our buyback program to $10 billion."

Quarterly revenues of $4.05 billion increased 22% from $3.33 billion in the prior year.  Media Networks contributed $2.29 billion in revenues, an 8% gain over the same period last year, driven principally by growth in advertising and affiliate revenues.  Both worldwide and domestic advertising revenues rose 7% in the quarter.  Worldwide affiliate revenues increased 11% to $883 million, driven largely by rate increases.  Filmed Entertainment revenues grew 46% to $1.79 billion, principally due to the strong performance of Transformers: Dark of the Moon in theatrical and home entertainment markets, as well as higher ancillary revenues, due in part to availability of titles for digital distribution.

Full-year revenues rose 12% to $14.91 billion, versus revenues of $13.36 billion in the year ended September 30, 2010.  Media Networks delivered $814 million of the increase, reflecting a 10% gain in advertising revenues to $5.0 billion and a 12% gain in affiliate fees to $3.52 billion, which more than offset a 2% decline in ancillary revenues. Domestic advertising revenues rose 10%. Domestic affiliate revenues increased 12%, largely as a result of rate increases, as well as the availability of programming for digital distribution arrangements. Filmed Entertainment revenues increased 15% to $5.92 billion, driven by sharply higher theatrical and ancillary revenues, as well as increased television license fees, which were partially offset by lower home entertainment revenues.  The size and strength of our film slate were the primary drivers of a 58% increase in theatrical revenues, while ancillary revenues rose 48%, principally reflecting the sale of distribution rights and digital revenues.

Quarterly adjusted operating income of $1.06 billion grew 27% over the prior year's result of $837 million, driven by a 10% increase in the Media Networks segment and a triple-digit gain in the Filmed Entertainment segment.  Higher results in Media Networks stemmed primarily from increases in domestic advertising and affiliate revenue, partially offset by higher programming investments.  Filmed Entertainment profits were driven by the strong performance of Transformers: Dark of the Moon.  

Full-year adjusted operating income increased $446 million, or 13%, to $3.85 billion from $3.41 billion last year. The increase was driven by higher adjusted operating income of $467 million in Media Networks, principally reflecting increased revenues, partially offset by higher expenses.  Filmed Entertainment adjusted operating income was substantially flat.  Adjusted full-year 2011 results exclude the impact of the current year restructuring charges, while the adjusted results for prior year exclude the impact of asset impairment.  

Quarterly adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom rose to $614 million, an increase of 33%, compared with $461 million in the same period last year.  The increase reflects higher adjusted operating income and a lower effective tax rate.  Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the quarter were $1.06, a 41% increase from $0.75 in the prior year's comparable quarter.  

Full-year adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom increased 22% to $2.25 billion in 2011, primarily due to the increase in tax-effected adjusted operating income and higher equity income principally from EPIX, which generated income this year, compared with a loss in 2010.  Full-year 2011 adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased $0.76 to $3.78.  

Stock Repurchase Program

For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, Viacom repurchased 19.7 million shares under its stock repurchase program, for an aggregate purchase price of $900 million. During the year ended September 30, 2011, Viacom repurchased 55.7 million shares for an aggregate price of $2.5 billion.  As of November 9, 2011, Viacom had $7.22 billion remaining in its $10 billion stock repurchase program.

Debt

At September 30, 2011, total debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations, was $7.37 billion, compared with $6.75 billion at September 30, 2010.  The Company's cash balances increased to $1.02 billion at September 30, 2011, compared with $837 million at September 30, 2010.

About Viacom

Viacom is home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in more than 160 countries and territories. With approximately 160 media networks reaching approximately 700 million global subscribers, Viacom's leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, Spike TV and Tr3s. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world's most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming.

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 that 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: the public acceptance of the Company's programs, motion pictures and other entertainment content on the various platforms on which they are distributed; technological developments and their effect in the Company's markets and on consumer behavior; competition for audiences and distribution; the impact of piracy; economic conditions generally, and in advertising and retail markets in particular; fluctuations in the Company's results due to the timing, mix and availability of the Company's motion pictures; changes in the Federal communications laws and regulations; other domestic and global economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting the Company's businesses generally; and other factors described in the Company's news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its 2011 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. Reconciliations for any non-GAAP financial information contained in this news release are included in this news release or available on the Company's website at www.viacom.com.

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES REGARDING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following table reconciles the Company's results for the quarter and year ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 to adjusted results that exclude the impact of certain items identified as affecting comparability ("Factors Affecting Comparability"), including restructuring charges, extinguishment of debt, asset impairment and discrete tax benefits.  The Company uses consolidated adjusted operating income, adjusted net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom and adjusted diluted earnings per share ("EPS") from continuing operations, as applicable, among other measures, to evaluate the Company's actual operating performance and for planning and forecasting of future periods. The Company believes that the adjusted results provide relevant and useful information for investors because they clarify the Company's actual operating performance, make it easier to compare Viacom's results with those of other companies and allow investors to review performance in the same way as our management.  Since these are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, they should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, operating income, net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Viacom and diluted EPS as indicators of operating performance, and they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies.

SOURCE Viacom Inc.