Information

My Account

Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12 Bolliger Mabillard, MAURER Rides, ETF Ride Systems, Lo-...

World Waterpark Association Success for WWA's 33th Symposium and Trade Show

Hong Kong Disneyland to introdoce Iron Man Experience First major Marvel attraction planned in 2016

Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11 Zamperla, Simworx, Electrosonic, Vortex

Theme Park Industry News Roundup #6 Liseber, Universal Parks and Resorts, IAAPA, Herschend ...

Premier Rides wins €8 million contract with Plopsa Gr... New launch coaster to open at Holiday Park in 2014

Theme Park Industry News Roundup #5 Tokyo Disney Resort, Merlin, European Star Awards

Record anniversary edition for Euro Attractions Show More than 8,500 attendees on a record exhibit floor

Top Stories
Supplier's News
WWA
Hong Kong Disneyland
Supplier's News
Industry News
Premier Rides
Industry News
Euro Attractions Show

Latest Industry News

CORPORATEPublished on January 28, 2014 NewsParcs to take an extended break

EVENTPublished on November 10, 2013 IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 debuts next week in Orlando

CORPORATEPublished on November 10, 2013 Difficult season for Compagnie des Alpes' amusement parks

NEWPublished on October 21, 2013 Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12

EVENTPublished on October 21, 2013 Success for the 33th symposium and trade show of the World Waterpark...

NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Disney to introduce first major Marvel attraction at Hong Kong...

NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11

NEWPublished on October 13, 2013 Theme Park Industry News Roundup – Issue #6

NEWPublished on October 6, 2013 Premier Rides wins €8 million contract to build a launch coaster...

581 articles published » See all articles

Welcome!

NewsParcs is an online trade publication dedicated to theme park industry professionals worldwide.

Since 1998, we work in direct contact with manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, owners and operators to publish only reliable and relevant information.

NewsParcs, connecting the theme park industry!

Supplier's News

NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.

Follow us on Twitter (@NewsParcs) from November 19 to 22 with the hashtag #IAAPA

Comcast becomes the sole owner of Universal Parks

and Resorts

Update : 18/02/13 - 09h36 Published by François Mayné the 17 February 2013, Corporate.

The global media and telecom company Comcast Corporation announced earlier this week that it would buy for an estimated amount of 16.7 billion U.S. dollars (about 12.5 billion euro) the 49% share of General Electrics in NBCUniversal, a group of which it already held 51% of shareholding since 2011.

This acquisition - which should be finalized by the end of March - occurs more than a year before the deadline that was agreed with General Electrics at the time of the first transaction when Comcast repurchased the shares of Vivendi. The group had indeed indicated its intention to become the sole shareholder of NBCUniversal from the beginning of the negociations in 2009.

Comcast becomes the sole owner of Universal Parks and Resorts

Besides its business activities in TV productions, movie industry and cable channels, NBCUniversal also manages the operator Universal Parks and Resorts which owns in the United States the sites of Universal Orlando Resort (Florida) and Universal Studios Hollywood (California). The company has also signed licensing and operating agreements with the foreign companies that own and manage Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and Universal Studios Singapore.

Despite a still unstable economic situation in North America, the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resort are performing quite well. The activity has indeed generated revenues of $2.1 billion (about €1.57 billion) and operating cash flow of $953 million (about €712 million) during the fiscal year 2012, up respectively by 4.8% and 9.9% compared to 2011. The group stated that this excellent performance is due to the successful launch of the dark ride TRANSFORMERS: The Ride - 3D at Hollywood and to the popularity still growing of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the two Resorts have also experienced a significant increase in attendance, which bodes well for the fiscal year 2013.

Universal theme parks generated revenues of $ 2.1 billion and operating cash flow of $953 million during the fiscal year 2012.

One of the strength of the group is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that is now planned at Hollywood and Osaka.

Comcast has not yet announced its intentions for the future of Universal theme parks but intends to continue the current development strategy. Among the current major projects confirmed, Universal Studios Florida will open this summer the dark ride TRANSFORMERS while preparing at the same time the future with new Harry Potter attractions. At Universal Studios Hollywood, the master plan ' Evolution'' has just received the green light from authorities and will now have to pass a final administrative step before being accepted for good. As a reminder, this plan aims to expand the area of Universal City - which also includes the Universal studio facilities and backlot - of 13.5 hectares (33 acres) of which 3.5 (8.5) will be dedicated to the theme park, the entertainment district CityWalk and the construction of two new hotels.

The acquisition of NBCUniversal is certainly a kind of revenge for Comcast after the bitter failure of its hostile takeover bid launched against The Walt Disney Company in 2004. At that time, the group had offered to buy the Disney empire for more than $65 billion but was clashed by the reluctance of both investors and the company's board of directors that was led by Michael Eisner at the time.

Comcast realized during 2012 a turnover of 62.57 billion U.S. dollars, up 12% compared to the previous fiscal year. Financial analysts and the market have reacted positively to the news of the purchase, the action of the group climbed more than 6% in three days.

For more news about Universal Parks and Resorts, please read our related articles below.

Universal Orlando Resort - Universal Studios Hollywood - Universal Studios Florida - Universal's Islands of Adventure - Universal Studios Japan - Universal Studios Singapore -

Written by François Mayné

François Mayné Publishing Director » Contact Us
» all articles

Premier Rides
(17 articles found)

Premier Rides wins €8 million contract to build a launch coaster at Plopsa's Holiday Park in 2014 read more

Theme park operator Plopsa Group has announced its plans to open an €8 million (approx $10.9 million) launch coaster in its Holiday Park property i...

NEW | Premier Rides - Published on October 6, 2013

Euro Attractions Show 2013 Wrap-Up: Exhibitor's Quotes and Impressions read more

The Euro Attractions Show 2013 ended on a very positive note last week after three intensive days of business meetings and networking events...

FEATURE | Premier Rides - Published on September 29, 2013

Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #2 read more

We publish today the second issue of our new Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week series of articles, a review of the latest news and releases of companies supplying the theme park industry worldwide. This weekly report...

NEW | Premier Rides - Published on July 9, 2013

Premier Rides signs its largest service contract with Ocean Park Hong Kong read more

Premier Rides’ aftermarket ride support division, Premier Service™, has been selected by the 2012 Applause Award winner, Ocean Park Hong Kon...

NEW | Premier Rides - Published on March 20, 2013

Premier Rides welcomes Pete Barto as new Director of Sales read more

Theme park attraction supplier Premier Rides has welcomed Pete Barto to the company in the position of Director of Sales. "Traveling directly...

CORPORATE | Premier Rides - Published on October 18, 2012

Six Flags unveils new thrill and family rides, extreme water slides and unique shows for 2013 read more

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the world’s largest regional theme park company, today announced that it will introduce another exciting ar...

NEW | Premier Rides - Published on August 30, 2012

Premier Rides President Jim Seay talked safety at IAAPA's Asian Attractions Expo 2012 read more

Jim Seay, president of attractions supplier Premier Rides and chairman of global safety standards group ASTM Committee F24, delivered the kick-off...

CORPORATE | Premier Rides - Published on June 14, 2012

Speed - The Ride will reopen at a new location in Las Vegas read more

Last May, we were reporting that the Sahara Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip was closing down due to financial issues. The hotel featured...

PROJECT | Premier Rides - Published on April 23, 2012

previous
Page 1/3
next

Select Articles

more search options less search options

Magazine