Comcast 2Q profit dips on NBC Universal deal costs

By DEBORAH YAO AP Business Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Comcast says its second-quarter earnings fell 8.6 percent partly because of costs related to its pending takeover of NBC Universal. Yet it's seeing improvements in advertising and demand for pricier television services.

The nation's largest cable TV provider is still hoping to win regulatory approval and close by year's end its deal to buy a controlling stake in the broadcaster from General Electric Co.

Comcast Corp. said Wednesday it earned $884 million, or 31 cents per share, for the April-June period. That compares with $967 million, or 33 cents per share, a year ago.

Excluding the NBC Universal costs and a tax benefit that inflated last year's quarter, Comcast would have earned 33 cents per share.

It says its revenue rose by 6.1 percent to $9.53 billion.

Analysts expected earnings of 32 cents a share on revenue of $9,29 billion.