BCN-17 News Corp shows third quarter profit

296

ZCZC

BCN-17

US-MEDIA-EARNINGS

News Corp shows third quarter profit

SAN FRANCISCO, May 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Rupert Murdoch’s mass media and
publishing company News Corp posted a third quarter net profit of $23 million
Thursday, boosted by its HarperCollins book division.

Revenue for the January-March quarter, the third of its offbeat year, rose
17 percent to $2.46 billion, “thanks to the consolidation of Foxtel and
confirmed strength of publishing,” mainly at HarperCollins, the company said
in a statement.

The New York-based group’s net profit of $23 million (20.5 million
euros)compared to an exceptional loss of more than $1 billion last year for
the same period, due to asset depreciation.

As shown by the company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA), profit increased dramatically to $247 million from
$181 million the year before.

The group also showed an increase in its subscriber base for the online
edition of the Wall Street Journal, which had a record 1.8 million
subscribers by the end of March, an increase of 19 percent.

News Corp retained the publishing operations of Murdoch’s media-
entertainment empire after a 2013 split that created 21st Century Fox.

Murdoch, 87, began a gradual withdrawal from both companies in 2013, and
now shares the title of chairman with his eldest son Lachlan at both firms.

BSS/AFP/HR/1130