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Vivendi blockbusters offset sluggish music sales
By Raphael Minder in Paris
Published: February 11 2002 09:20 | Last Updated: February 11 2002 18:50
Vivendi Universal, the French media group, on Monday reported a rise of 9 per cent in 2001 revenues from its media and communications business, as blockbuster movies offset slightly weaker sales at its music division.
The company maintained its revenue growth forecast of more than 10 per cent for this year. Jean-Marie Messier, chief executive, said last year's performance represented "the highest level of growth in our industry. Our 2001 results give us confidence that we can achieve our growth targets again in 2002."
Vivendi's media and communications activities had pro forma revenues of E28.9bn ($25.3bn) in 2001 compared with E26.5bn in 2000. In the fourth quarter, sales also rose 9 per cent.
Vivendi has been benefiting from its relatively low exposure to the advertising market compared to AOL Time Warner, the world's largest media company, which reported last month a rise of 6 per cent in 2001 revenues.
Vivendi's revenues have also been boosted by strong growth in the fixed-line operations of Cegetel, the French operator. Overall, revenues from Vivendi's telecommunications division rose 24 per cent last year to E7.98bn.
Last year, Universal Studios released movies such as Jurassic Park 3 and The Mummy Returns while StudioCanal, the group's French movie arm, produced Le Pacte des Loups, which drew a 5m audience. Revenues in the music division fell 1 per cent to E6.56bn, which Vivendi described as "a strong performance in a down market".
Its best release came from Shaggy, whose latest album sold more than 10m copies.
The stronger-than-expected revenues helped lift Vivendi shares 2.6 per cent to E48.03, recouping some of their recent losses. Its share price has suffered in the past month from a technical overhang after an unsuccessful share issue and because of concerns that Vivendi's rapid transformation from a utility into a media company has made it harder to analyse its balance sheet.
In recent months, Vivendi has been leading the consolidation in the media industry, notably with its $10.8bn takeover of Barry Diller's USA Networks in December.
Vivendi Universal Games Captures Prestigious Awards At D.I.C.E. Summit
Dark Age of Camelot, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Baldur's Gate II:
Throne of Bhaal Receive Top Honors
LOS ANGELES, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- In an exciting awards ceremony, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) awarded top honors to three products distributed by the Vivendi Universal Games Partner Publishing Group. Dark Age of Camelot(TM), Baldur's Gate(TM): Dark Alliance(TM) and Baldur's Gate(TM) II: Throne of Bhaal(TM) received awards at the fifth annual AIAS ceremony held at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on the first evening of the D.I.C.E. Summit.
The first winner for Vivendi Universal Games was Dark Age of Camelot(TM) receiving the award for ``Massive Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year''. Dark Age of Camelot, developed by Mythic Entertainment, is a next generation massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) and features 3D-accelerated graphics with multiple class and race combinations, Player vs. Player and Player vs. Environment action, a robust trade skill system, and the most comprehensive player Guild system in any
MMORPG.
``It's very gratifying to receive the Multiplayer/Persistent World Game award of the Year,'' said Mark Jacobs, President of Mythic Entertainment, developer and publisher of Dark Age of Camelot. ``We are delighted to receive this recognition from our industry peers which affirms the incredible support from our player community that has helped make DAoC the fastest selling MMORPG to date.''
The next winner for Vivendi Universal Games was Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance receiving the award for ``Console Role Playing Game of the Year''. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, developed by Snowblind Studios, is a revolutionary action adventure build from the ground up for the PlayStation®2. With an epic tale of intrigue, fierce alliances, explosive spell effects and highly detailed creatures and environments, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a benchmark of technology and gameplay.
``Snowblind Studios did an incredible job developing Dark Alliance,'' said Feargus Urquhart, President of Black Isle Studios (a division of Interplay Entertainment Corp.). ``We are all gratified that Dark Alliance has not only been the highest selling Interplay console title ever, but that it has also been given such important recognition by our peers in the gaming industry.''
The accolades continued with Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, developed by BioWare Corp., receiving the award for ``Computer Role Playing Game of the Year''.
Headquartered in New York, NY, Vivendi Universal Games is a worldwide leader in multi-platform interactive entertainment. A leading publisher of online, PC and console-based interactive content, the Company's portfolio of studios includes Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment and Universal Interactive. Through its Partner Publishing Group, Vivendi Universal Games also co-publishes and/or distributes interactive products for a number of strategic partners, including Empire Interactive, Fox Interactive, Interplay, and Simon & Schuster. Interactive entertainment is one of parent company Vivendi Universal's key content areas, along with Movies, Music and other Publishing activities.
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