European subscriber revenue increases – including a 10% growth in affiliate income –helped contribute towards a $34 million (€25.72m) increase in first quarter profits at Discovery Communications.
Currency fluctuations that lead to an overall decline in International Network revenues of $32 million will have been made more bearable by a fall in Discovery Communications’ overall tax bill of 36% to $70 million. The company reported a $119 million profit.
An increase of 7% in local advertising revenues from EMEA and Latin America was held back by lower advertising revenues in the UK.
Discovery Communications was formed last year by the combination of Discovery Holding Co and Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership to create the new NASDAQ-quoted company.