NBCU’s streaming service Peacock has hit 33 million signups across the U.S. to date, parent Comcast said Thursday.
That’s up from 28 million on Dec. 8 when execs last updated the figure at an investor conference.
Comcast saw fourth quarter revenue and adjusted EPS dip from the year earlier but beat expectations at, respectively, $27.7 billion and $0.56 a share. Numbers were driven by a strong performance at cable, which added 538,000 net new broadband customers. Cable revenue rose to nearly $16 billion on operating profit of about $6 billion.
At NBCUniversal, revenue was down across the board, most sharply at theme parks, where it fell 63% to $579 million from $1.62 billion, although two theme parks, in Orlando and Osaka, reached breakeven. Universal Studios Hollywood park has been shut since March.
Filmed entertainment saw sales dip 8% to $1.4 billion but profit surged 65% to $151 million last quarter as lower revenue was offset by lower advertising, marketing and promotion costs with a reduced number of releases.
Theatrical revenue plunged 70% with theaters closed. Content licensing revenue increased 23%, driven by the performance of certain 2020 releases that were made available on premium video on demand, including The Croods.
Cable networks revenue dipped as ad sales fell, reflecting continued ratings declines at and reduced spending from advertisers related to the Covid-related delayed start of some professional sports seasons. Content licensing. Distribution revenue was flat with the year before as subscriber declines were offset by rate increases.
But as in film, the division turned a profit as lower programming and production costs for sports more than offset lower revenue.
Sky made strides, returning to customer growth and bringing total customer relationships and overall revenue in Europe
essentially back to 2019 levels.
“With the vaccines rolling out throughout the world, we are optimistic that the parts of our business that had been most impacted will soon be back on a path towards growth,” said CEO Brian Roberts.
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