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Time Warner buoyed by HBO

November 5, 2015

Time Warner has reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30th 2015.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bewkes said: “We had another very good quarter, with Revenues up 5 per cent and strong growth in Adjusted Operating Income, which totaled $1.8 billion. Our revenue growth was led by Warner Bros and Home Box Office (HBO), and illustrated how our investments in great content have been paying off in our traditional television businesses, as well as in newer areas such as videogames. In September, HBO received a record 43 Primetime Emmy Awards, the most of any network for the 14th consecutive year. That included 12 awards for Game of Thrones, setting a record for a series in a single year.”

Bewkes continued: “Warner Bros solidified its position as the leading producer of broadcast series on television with the debuts of Blindspot and Supergirl – the two most-watched new shows among adults 18-49 this broadcast season. Supergirl represents one of the eight shows on television this season based on IP from DC Entertainment, which is also a driver behind the record year Warner Bros. is having in videogames. Through the first three quarters of 2015, Warner Bros. was the top videogames publisher in the US At Turner, buoyed by our coverage of the Major League Baseball playoffs, TBS is the #1 ad-supported cable network in primetime among adults 18-49 year-to-date. Cartoon Network continued to gain share, ending the third quarter as the #1 ad-supported cable network in total day among kids 6-11. Adult Swim also stood out as ad-supported cable’s #1 total day network among adults 18-34 for the 30th consecutive quarter. And CNN continued to grow its primetime ratings across all key demographics in the quarter. Further demonstrating our continuing commitment to shareholder returns, so far this year we’ve returned $4.2 billion to our shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.”

Revenues increased 5 per cent to $6.6 billion due to growth at Warner Bros and Home Box Office, partially offset by higher intercompany eliminations and a decline at Turner. Adjusted Operating Income grew 85 per cent to $1.8 billion due to growth across all operating divisions, reflecting the absence of programming charges incurred in 2014 at Turner and lower restructuring and severance charges across all segments, partially offset by higher intercompany eliminations. Revenues and Adjusted Operating Income included the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates of $290 million and $160 million, respectively, in the quarter. Operating Income increased 89 per cent to $1.8 billion.

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