NBCU Q1: Profits Plummet 49%

Immelt: Company lost $223 million on Olympics

NBC Universal’s revenues grew 23 percent during the first quarter — to $4.3 billion — but profit fell 49 percent, its current corporate owner General Electric reported on Friday.

The revenue growth came mostly from carrying the Winter Games in Vancouver. But NBCU also lost $223 million on its Olympics coverage, GE chief Jeffrey Immelt told investors Friday.

That contributed, in part, to lower profit — $199 million during the first three months of 2010 compared to $391 million in 2009.

Excluding the Olympics, NBCU revenue and profit would have been virtually unchanged, GE said.

Immelt pointed out a few positives for NBC’s broadcast unit. He said that ratings have increased at 10 p.m. with Jay Leno back in his old slot at "The Tonight Show.” GE executives did not mention Conan O’Brien by name, although Coco did appear on one of the investor slides (see below).

"Jeff Zucker and his team accomplished a lot this quarter," GE CFO Keith Sherin said. "The Olympics gave us a great platform to revamp 10 p.m. and late night, and the ad market continues to improve."

Disappointing box office results were partially offset by stronger-than-expected home video results ("Couples Retreat"), GE said.

But Immelt said he expects to see growth at NBC through the remainder of the year. "Our worst quarter is behind us," Immelt said.

GE is awaiting the regulatory approval of Comcast and NBCU’s blockbuster merger, announced late last year. Immelt said the company is continuing to work diligently through the comments period.

Via GE:

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