More on meltdown at Philadelphia Media Network

Interference Seen in Philadelphia Papers (New York Times)

PMN seeks to reduce newsroom positions by 37 (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Inquirer’s top editor speaks (Washington Post)



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Comcast results beat estimates; contain other positive signs

Tom Paine


Normally, it is difficult to get too excited when a giant corporation reports quarterly revenue growth of 3% (apples to apples) over the prior year with adjusted operating cash flow growth of 4.2%. But Comcast's results announced this morning exceeded analysts' estimates, and perhaps contain other positive signs that could point to increased growth, although NBCU remains an area of uncertainty.

Perhaps the most important number was the decline in video subscriber losses. Net losses in Q4 2011 were 17,000, versus 135,00 in Q4 2010. During Comcast's earnings conference call, management indicated a belief that they have stabilized video subscriber losses, despite the lack of new housing starts, although they are not yet predicting growth. Comcast Cable CEO Neil Smit cited an improving competitive environment, including the slowing RBOC (Verizon, AT&T) buildout as well as Comcast's own marketing efforts. Another positive area was High-Speed Internet services, where Comcast added over 1 million (net) new customers in 2011 and revenue grew by 10.1%.

While the NBC broadcast network and Universal Studios continued to lag, NBCU's cable networks produced solid results. The real star of the NBCU side of the businesss was the Universal Theme Parks business, where revenue grew 24% and operating cash flow grew 41% for the year. This reflects a full year comparison to 2010, although Comcast only acquired full ownership on July 1, 2011. In terms of the NBC broadcast network, management emphasized that 2011 was a year for investment and integration, with the hoped for payoff coming further down the road.

Business Services revenue grew at a 37% rate in the 4th quarter, and that segment is now at a $2 billion annual run rate. Comcast believes it is well positioned for further expansion in a market that has $20 to 30 billion potential.

Comcast Chairman & CEO Brian Roberts spoke of the rollout of the new Xcalibur initiative, which now been branded as the X1 platform. Roberts said the goal for 2012 was to get X1 into "hundreds of thousands of homes in multiple markets". Roberts emphasized that XCalibur would move many capabilities "out of the box and into the cloud", and change the way users interact with their TVs and other consumer electronics devices.

Although the controversial Comcast/Verizon Wireless joint marketing arrangement is now active in four markets, Comcast execs didn't seem anxious to discuss details about it, other than saying they hoped to get regulatory approval for the spectrum sale part of the arrangement later this year.

Comcast also spoke of expanding its WiFi initiative, which now is mostly running in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area, into other markets, with an emphasis on data rather than voice.

Key cost pressures were sales & marketing, up 11.8%, and programming expenses, up 5.8%. Programming cost increases are expected to remain a major issue.

In terms of its financial strategy, Comcast boosted its dividend by 44% and announced a $6.5 billion share repurchase plan. The company emphasizes that through these two means most of its free operating cash flow from the cable business is being returned to shareholders, while cash flow from NBCU is being accumulated toward the possible eventual buyout of GE's interest in the NBCU joint venture.

Comcast shares are up 4.73% in mid-day trading today.



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Daily Links 2/15/2012: Layoffs coming at PMN?; FCC pulls plug on LightSquared

Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News could face layoffs later today (Poynter)

Comcast Reports 4th Quarter and Year End 2011 Results (Comcast Press Release)
Beats analyst estimates, although pro forma (includes last year's NBCU results) 4th quarter revenue growth was 3%; raises dividend and announces new share buyback program.

Comcast 4Q Profit Jumps On Broadband, Business Service Gains (Dow Jones Newswires via NASDAQ.com)

Comcast's Freedom Region Launches Home-Security Suite
'Xfinity Home' Available to 2.1 Million Subscribers in Philadelphia, N.J. and Delaware (Multichannel News)

Time Warner Cable Brings Streaming Video to PCs, Macs (PC World)


FCC to pull plug on Falcone’s LightSquared (Washington Post: Post Tech)

SunGard Availability Services Announces Solution Provider Relationship with Amazon Web Services to Deliver Highly Available Cloud Computing Offerings (PR Newswire)

NextGen Healthcare Partners with Humana to Accelerate Adoption and Exchange of Electronic Health Records (Business Wire)

Aereo likely to face fight over its plans to distribute broadcast TV (LA Times: Company Town)
Aero, formerly known as Bamboom, received seed funding last year from investors including First Round Capital. It just completed a $20.5-million round of financing led by Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp. Much of that funding will probably go towards legal bills.

IBM acquires Green Hat (Ovum)
Green Hat has dual headquarters in London and Wilmington.

Product Review: SAP’s Recalls Plus App – The Crossover From Enterprise To Consumer Begins (Ray Wang/A Software Insider's Point of View)

Frontline Technologies Announces K-12 Teacher and Employee Evaluation System
(Business Wire)



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