MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company?s net profit for the first quarter ended 29 December fell six per cent to $1.38 billion from $1.46 billion in the same quarter of preceding fiscal due to increase in programming costs at ESPN and decline in studio entertainment revenues.

Disney?s revenues grew five per cent to $11.3 billion, up from $10.7 billion in the corresponding quarter.

?After delivering another record year of growth in 2012, we?re off to a solid start in Fiscal 2013,? said The Walt Disney Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger. ?Our ongoing success is driven by our long-term strategy, the strength of our brands and businesses, and our high quality family entertainment."

Media Networks revenues for the quarter increased 7 per cent to $5.1 billion and segment operating income increased 2 per cent to $1.2 billion.

Operating income at Cable Networks decreased $15 million to $952 million for the quarter due to a decrease at ESPN, partially offset by growth at the domestic Disney Channels, ABC Family and A&E Television Networks (AETN).

The decrease at ESPN was driven by higher programming and production costs, partially offset by higher affiliate revenue.

Operating income at Broadcasting increased $36 million to $262 million driven by increased advertising revenues at the ABC Television Network and owned television stations and higher program sales, partially offset by higher primetime network programming costs.

Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 7 per cent to $3.4 billion and segment operating income increased 4 per cent to $577 million. Results for the quarter were driven by an increase at our domestic operations, partially offset by a decrease at our international operations.

Studio Entertainment revenues decreased 5 per cent to $1.5 billion and segment operating income decreased 43 per cent to $234 million.

Lower operating income for the quarter was driven by decreases in home entertainment and theatrical distribution, partially offset by an increase in television and subscription video on demand (TV/SVOD) distribution.

Consumer Products revenues increased 7 per cent to $1.0 billion and segment operating income increased 11 per cent to $346 million. Higher operating income was due to increases at Merchandise Licensing and at our retail business.

Interactive revenues for the quarter increased 4 per cent to $291 million and segment operating results improved from a loss of $28 million to income of $9 million. Higher operating results were driven by lower acquisition accounting impacts at our social games business which were adverse in the prior-year quarter and growth at our Japan mobile business from a new licensing agreement for Disney branded mobile phones and content.

MUMBAI: Canada?s DHX Media which is an independent producer, distributor and licensor of mainly children?s entertainment content, has signed a deal with China Mobile Entertainment Holdings (CME) and Alebrije Entertainment for a new SVOD edutainment channel on PPTV extending the reach of key brands into the Chinese market.

PPTV has a registered user base of 300 million and PPLive is one of the largest OTT content distribution networks in the region. The deal encompasses over 900 episodes from series including ?Arthur?, ?Caillou?, ?The Busy World of Richard Scarry? and ?Care Bears?.

DHX Media senior VP distribution Josh Scherba said, "This is a significant deal for us - one which expands the reach of our brands into the rapidly growing Chinese digital market. We already have a number of shows performing strongly on VOD platforms in the territory but this will add to the content available."

DHX Media properties such as ?Super WHY!?, ?Inspector Gadget? and ?Sonic the Hedgehog? already have a Mandarin-language presence in China on SVOD platforms including Cheers Media, Qiyi TV and Beijing Kanngiongsneng.

MUMBAI: Canada?s DHX Media, a leading independent producer, distributor and licensor of mainly children?s entertainment content, has licensed its animated comedy show Kid vs. Kat to Disney Channel in India.

The show revolves around a 10-year-old boy?s constant battle with his sister?s Sphinx cat which, in reality, is a cybernetic alien.

The company has licensed several of its children?s series from its library of 8,500 half-hours ahead of Asia Television Forum (ATF).

Discovery Networks Asia Pacific has snapped up Inspector Gadget?s Last Case and Inspector Gadget?s Biggest Caper Ever, as well as the series Gadget Boy while PCCW?s now TV in Hong Kong has acquired both seasons of new preschool series Monster Math Squad. SkyAsia Media Indonesia has committed to both seasons of Pirates, Adventures in Art and the first season of Urban Vermin.

In Japan, NTV has taken broadcast rights to Super Duper Sumos and Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century and Cartoon Network has renewed several Madeline titles. In Thailand, True Visions has picked up its fourth season of Super WHY!

Deals have also been signed in Australia and New Zealand with Quickflix snapping up SVOD (Streaming Video-on-Demand) rights to a number of DHX Media titles and TV New Zealand has picked up feature Bonjour Timothy.

Broadcasters have also underscored their commitment to a number of DHX Media shows, with renewal deals signed with Mediacorp Singapore for Johnny Test seasons four and five, Disney Channel Asia for Animal Mechanicals seasons one and two.