Viacom Inc. (VIA) (0.9%) (VIA - $86.75 - NASDAQ) is a pure-play content company that owns a global stable of cable networks, including MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, BET, and the Paramount movie studio. Viacom’s cable networks generate revenue from advertising sales, fixed monthly subscriber fees, and ancillary revenue from toy licensing, etc. The company benefited from a cyclical rebound in advertising and a shift in audience from broadcast networks to cable. Paramount has posted a series of box office successes, with franchises such as Star Trek, Iron Man, and Transformers. Supported by its strong results and outlook, the company expects to repurchase $6.5 billion of stock over the next two years.
From Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio)’s The Gabelli Equity Income Fund Second Quarter 2014 Shareholder Commentary.
