Fermer
or with Facebook
Facebook Connect
Log in to my account : » Forgot your password ? » I want to subscribe
ABOUT NEWSPARCS HOME ARTICLES
ex: Disneyland Paris, Vekoma
Information
My Account
advertisement
Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12 Bolliger Mabillard, MAURER Rides, ETF Ride Systems, Lo-...
Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12
World Waterpark Association Success for WWA's 33th Symposium and Trade Show
World Waterpark Association
Hong Kong Disneyland to introdoce Iron Man Experience First major Marvel attraction planned in 2016
Hong Kong Disneyland to introdoce Iron Man Experience
Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11 Zamperla, Simworx, Electrosonic, Vortex
Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11
Theme Park Industry News Roundup #6 Liseber, Universal Parks and Resorts, IAAPA, Herschend ...
Theme Park Industry News Roundup #6
Premier Rides wins €8 million contract with Plopsa Gr... New launch coaster to open at Holiday Park in 2014
Premier Rides wins €8 million contract with Plopsa Gr...
Theme Park Industry News Roundup #5 Tokyo Disney Resort, Merlin, European Star Awards
Theme Park Industry News Roundup #5
Record anniversary edition for Euro Attractions Show More than 8,500 attendees on a record exhibit floor
Record anniversary edition for Euro Attractions Show
  • 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
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
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!

EAS 2013 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.

All Articles(613 articles found)

NewsParcs to take an extended break read more

These past three years have been intense for NewsParcs. Our magazine, which has been dedicated to the global theme parks industry since 1998, underwent major changes to become one of the most appreciated magazines among many...

CORPORATE | NewsParcs - Published on January 28, 2014
IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 debuts next week in Orlando read more

World theme park capital Orlando is about to welcome the global attractions industry for the 2013 edition of IAAPA Attractions Expo, the annual...

EVENT | IAAPA Attractions Expo - Published on November 10, 2013
Difficult season for Compagnie des Alpes' amusement parks read more

The Compagnie des Alpes leisure parks recorded disappointing financial results during fiscal year 2012/2013 which ended on September 30. The...

CORPORATE | Compagnie des Alpes - Published on November 10, 2013
Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #12 read more

Our Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world.  This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, financial ...

NEW | Roundup of News - Published on October 21, 2013
Success for the 33th symposium and trade show of the World Waterpark Association read more

The World Waterpark Association (WWA), the global leading water-leisure trade association, has made a positive assessment of its 33th annual...

EVENT | World Waterpark Association - Published on October 21, 2013
Disney to introduce first major Marvel attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2016 read more

When The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment in 2009, its intention was to strengthen its position as a leading global provider...

NEW | Hong Kong Disneyland Resort - Published on October 13, 2013
Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #11 read more

The NewsParcs' Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world.  This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, ...

NEW | Roundup of News - Published on October 13, 2013
Theme Park Industry News Roundup – Issue #6 read more

Our Industry Roundup is a summary of the latest major news related to the theme park industry worldwide. We report news specifically on operators, owners, trade associations and related organizations, including trends, attendance...

NEW | Roundup of News - Published on October 13, 2013
Select Articles

more search options less search options

Magazine
dynamic navigation : activateddesactivatedjavascript off
Member of :