Stronger-than-expected upfront advertising sales at NBC and double-digit ad sales gains at its local stations helped boost NBC Universal's operating profits in the second quarter by 13% to $607 million.
"Overall, this was a pretty solid quarter for NBC Universal," Keith Sherin, CFO of NBC U parent General Electric told analysts on an earnings call Friday. Revenues were up 5% to $3.7 billion in the quarter.

NBC ratings were down year-over-year in the quarter, but Sherin said executives were happy with NBC's hit show "America's Got Talent." Ad sales at the network were up 18% in the quarter, in large part because of the ability to charge higher rates, said Sherin. Ad sales at the local stations jumped by 25%, versus gains of 15% in the first quarter.

GE executives are pleased by how the regulatory review of the NBC U's proposed joint venture with Comcast is going, Sherin said, and particularly encouraged by winning recent European Union approval for the combination. GE executives offered few other details about the merger, which may be a precursor to GE's exit from the media business.

In addition to revenues at cable business channel CNBC being up 9% in the quarter, solid box office results for "Get Him to the Greek" and "Despicable Me" helped drive NBC U's financials.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118021891.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=verttv&ref=ssp

Outside of Chuck, NBC is a mess. I guess Zucker should be named executive of the year. :rolleyes:

Outside of Chuck, NBC is a mess. I guess Zucker should be named executive of the year. :rolleyes:
Knowing how screwed up the country is, he probably will be!!! ohno:

If NBC can make a profit from failing, I can only imagine what the more successful networks are making. lol

If NBC can make a profit from failing, I can only imagine what the more successful networks are making. lol
I'd like to know that myself. :lol:

I'd like to know that myself. :lol:
I'd like a cut!! After all, all those hours I've spent watching their programs should count for something!! :lol:

I'd like a cut!! After all, all those hours I've spent watching their programs should count for something!! :lol:
Yeah!! You should get compensated for pain and suffering!! :lol:

Yeah!! You should get compensated for pain and suffering!! :lol:
Ezactly!!! :lol: (Have you ever considered being a lawyer?)

Ezactly!!! :lol: (Have you ever considered being a lawyer?)
Maybe I should - or I could play an ADA on one of the trillion L&O spinoffs out there. :lol:

Maybe I should - or I could play an ADA on one of the trillion L&O spinoffs out there. :lol:
I'm sure they will get around to doing Law&Order Cleveland sooner or later! And you would be perfect to plat an ADA!

One reason NBC-Universal is making a profit is from the high revenue of their popular cable networks like Bravo, Oxygen, USA, Syfy and other networks. In fact they have been getting better ratings than NBC all-together.

Smells like a bailout to me.

I'm sure they will get around to doing Law&Order Cleveland sooner or later! And you would be perfect to plat an ADA!
Hey, I'm looking for work, so if they want to cast me on L&O: Cleveland - I AM SO THERE!!! :D

One reason NBC-Universal is making a profit is from the high revenue of their popular cable networks like Bravo, Oxygen, USA, Syfy and other networks. In fact they have been getting better ratings than NBC all-together.

I agree with you on that. Those cable networks are doing pretty good. I don't think NBC's programming isn't completely horrible. Law&Order shows are probably the worst right now. SVU has been dragged out too long and many fans of crime dramas are pretty much turning away from cop/legal shows that are on broadcast TV. After watching The Shield and The Wire the Law&Order are very weak when it comes to writing and acting.

I agree with you on that. Those cable networks are doing pretty good. I don't think NBC's programming isn't completely horrible. Law&Order shows are probably the worst right now. SVU has been dragged out too long and many fans of crime dramas are pretty much turning away from cop/legal shows that are on broadcast TV. After watching The Shield and The Wire the Law&Order are very weak when it comes to writing and acting.
I think the problem with broadcast crime shows is that they are all the same. L&O was at one time one of the best shows on TV. It's just been on too long. SVU has been on too long as well. Same for CSI. After awhile they run out of stories. And the networks aren't learning from all the spinoffs. I love NCIS but I hate the spinoff. I like Criminal Minds but I don't think I'll watch the spinoff. If they are going to do a spinoff then they should make the show different from the mother show like they did with NCIS from JAG. I do like how USA's moto is characters matter. I think that's what the networks have to get back to. I have to like the characters in order to like the show.

I think the problem with broadcast crime shows is that they are all the same. L&O was at one time one of the best shows on TV. It's just been on too long. SVU has been on too long as well. Same for CSI. After awhile they run out of stories. And the networks aren't learning from all the spinoffs. I love NCIS but I hate the spinoff. I like Criminal Minds but I don't think I'll watch the spinoff. If they are going to do a spinoff then they should make the show different from the mother show like they did with NCIS from JAG. I do like how USA's moto is characters matter. I think that's what the networks have to get back to. I have to like the characters in order to like the show.

Another problem with CSI and L&O shows is that they one episode story arcs which eventually get tiring after awhile. The Shield and The Wire had storylines that lasted several episodes that allowed characters to develop and storylines to have more depth. I think many TV viewers are heading towards character driven shows that have gritter storylines or shows that are set outside of the cop, lawyer or doctor environments.

Smells like a bailout to me.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

this is Hollywood - they can make ANYTHING look like it made or lost money - if they were getting sued by someone they would make it look like they lost billions.

Other proof that NBC's programming isn't completely horrible are the recent Emmy nominations that a few shows received. The bigger problem with NBC is that the network is poorly run. If the programming was horrible none of the better shows and networks actors/actresses would have award nominations or critical praise. A couple of NBC's lower ratings shows have more critical acclaim than the higher ratings shows on NBC and other networks.

NBC used to be the king of tv networks.... not any more that is. i have not watched a single show of theirs in the 00s.

i wished they and the other networks resort to single camera sitcoms again.

i miss the old days. :(

i wished they and the other networks resort to single camera sitcoms again.

i miss the old days. :(

you mean multi-camera sitcoms right? almost all of the sitcoms on TV right now are single camera in the style of "The Office", "30 Rock", "Modern Family", "Glee" and so on. Shows from the 90's and before were mostly in multi-camera format.

you mean multi-camera sitcoms right? almost all of the sitcoms on TV right now are single camera in the style of "The Office", "30 Rock", "Modern Family", "Glee" and so on. Shows from the 90's and before were mostly in multi-camera format.

oh yes but of course. :) sorry for me getting it wrong. i got the 2 mixed up.

NBC used to be the king of tv networks.... not any more that is. i have not watched a single show of theirs in the 00s.

i wished they and the other networks resort to single camera sitcoms again.

i miss the old days. :(
I think the last sitcom on NBC that I really liked was 3rd Rock From the Sun.