Lionsgate deficits connected with B.O. disappointments

Lionsgate Entertainment pared its internet deficits by about $5 million to $25 million last quarter by having an $11 million gain from selling Walnut Pictures and ramped up contributions from pay-TV partnership Epix, which acquired it $6 000 0000 after losing it $20 million the last year.Nevertheless the studio tossed with a $19 million operating loss from $22 million profit this past year around the string of box office disappointments including ''Conan the Barbarian,'' ''Abduction'' and ''Warriors.''Theatrical revenue walked 71% to $22 million. Overall film revenue fell 36% $219 million.Company noted that only two major theatrical game game titles were released on DVD versus three the this past year, which incorporated top-grossing ''The Expendables.''Still, Lionsgate mentioned the operating loss was narrower it had anticipated in September due to an uptick in digitally shipped content and VOD, and more than expected packed media revenue from last year's theatrical slate. It reported material savings in distribution and manufacturing, reducing costs ''related to investor activism'' , i.e. their pitched fight with investor Carl Icahn. That being applied dispute features its own run its course finally as Icahn recently offered all his Lionsgate stock.Total revenue for your fiscal second quarter fell 22% $358 million.''Although i had been disappointed with the performance within our films inside the quarter, i had been pleased with the strong and growing contributions famous our other core companies,'' mentioned co-chairman and Boss Jon Feltheimer.''We believe that our film performance will improve substantially and become more consistent after we to produce couple of from the potential franchise films on our approaching slate, and our television and digital companies and Epix funnel partnership continues their strong and lucrative growth trajectory.''Revenue from Lionsgate's digital business elevated 123% inside the quarter to $60 5 million.Home entertainment revenue from both movies and television hopped 15% to $175 million on distribution in the first four seasons of ''Mad Men'' on Netflix' digital platform.Television revenue incorporated moving picture revenue was $28 million inside the quarter, reduced the last year due to timing, since the slate of two new wide-release theatrical game game titles licensed to cover TV inside the quarter when compared with five new wide-release game game titles the this past year.Television production revenue was up 21% with a record $139 million.Domestic series certification decreased 27% to $72 million inside the quarter, with revenue from shipping in the television series ''Weeds'' (Season 7), ''Blue Mountain State'' (Season 3), the initial season of ''Boss,'' ''Meet The Browns'' and ''The Wendy Williams Show.''Home entertainment releases of television production showed up in an archiveDollar55 million, driven by electronic media revenue within the distribution of ''Mad Men'' as well as the distribution of Debmar-Mercury's ''Hell's Kitchen'' additionally to packed media revenue within the relieve ''Weeds'' Season 6 on DVD.Worldwide television revenue elevated 51% within the prior year's second quarter, introduced by shipping of ''Mad Men'' (Seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4) and ''Weeds'' (Seasons 6 and 7).Lionsgate U.K. revenue of $22. million elevated 41% within the prior year's second quarter due to strong revenue contributions within the Lionsgate U.K.-produced film ''Blitz.'' Excluding the U.K. biz, worldwide theatrical fell to $22.4 millionLionsgate's shot entertainment backlog showed up in an archive $550 million at September 30. Backlog signifies the amount of future revenue not recorded from contracts for your certification of films and television product for TV too as with worldwide areas. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com