Comcast Reports Growth of Nearly 15 Percent for Theme Park Division

The US media group Comcast, which took over full ownership of NBCUniversal in 2011 and therefore also owns the subsidiary Universal Parks & Resorts, reported its first quarter 2018 results today. Accordingly, the company recorded a revenue growth of 14.5 percent in the first quarter of 2018 for its theme park division, which includes Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singpore and Universal Studios Japan (the latter was taken over completely in 2017, cp. EAP news f. 02 March 2017). Thus, the theme park division generated revenues of 1.3 billion US dollars in this period.

The growth is due to higher per capita spending, which benefitted from the timing of spring holidays, as well as the continued success of Volcano Bay™ (Universal Orlando Resort), Minion Park™ (Universal Studios Japan) and Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ at Univsersal Studios Hollywood. Adjusted EBITDA increased 24.6 percent to 495 million US dollars in this period, due to higher revenues, partially offset by an increase in operating costs. (eap)