Viacom's 3Q Profit Jumps 15 Percent

NEW YORK (AP) — Viacom says its third-quarter profit jumped a better-than-expected 15 percent as a stronger movie slate offset continuing declines in advertising and DVD sales.

The media conglomerate controlled by billionaire Sumner Redstone owns a wide range of media properties including Paramount Pictures, the MTV and Nickelodeon cable networks and the "Rock Band" video-game franchise.

The company, based in New York, says it earned $463 million, or 76 cents per share, up from $401 million, or 65 cents per share, a year ago.

Excluding certain one-time gains, adjusted earnings came to 69 cents a share. Analysts were looking for earnings of 57 cents per share.

Viacom says revenue slipped 3 percent to $3.3 billion, in line with estimates.