NBCUniversal International, the global arm of the media behemoth, has bounced back from a record £96m loss to post a profit. The US-based division reported a pre-tax profit of £1.9m for 2024, according to newly filed accounts at Companies House.
This follows a pre-tax loss of £96.5m in 2023 for NBCUniversal International. During the same period, the company’s turnover rose from £47.3m to £51.1m, as reported by City AM.
In 2023, NBCUniversal International experienced a write-down of £99.2m, although it did not disclose which investments were affected. However, Variety reported in October 2024 that the write-down was a non-cash impairment.
Prior to the record loss in 2023, the firm had posted a pre-tax profit of £37.2m.
NBCUniversal owns Downton Abbey maker
The UK-based division owns several companies, including Carnival Productions, the creator of Downton Abbey, Working Title Television, and Harry Potter producer David Heyman’s Heyday Television.
Other owned production companies include Made in Chelsea maker Monkey Kingdom, Australian TV company Matchbox Pictures, and distributor Focus Features International. In the UK, NBCUniversal International’s turnover increased from £26.4m to £28.5m, and from £20.1m to £21.6m in the USA.
Elsewhere in the world, its turnover climbed from £741,000 to £876,000. Universal International Studios, a subsidiary, reported a turnover of £42.7m for 2024 in separate accounts, up from £34.7m.
The company managed to reduce its pre-tax loss from £44.3m to £23.6m during the same timeframe.
In July, City AM disclosed that Heyday Television had slipped into the red before commencing work on the new Harry Potter TV series.
Heyday Television is a collaborative venture between Heyday Films, established in 1996 by producer David Heyman, and Universal International Studios.
This March, Amazon MGM Studios announced Heyman as the new co-producer of the James Bond franchise, working alongside Amy Pascal.
They have succeeded Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who stepped down following a deal for Amazon MGM Studios to assume full control of the franchise.
