CBS boss Leslie Moonves answered those wondering about a prospective merger with another big company — we are going it alone!
Moonves, who is fighting speculation of a get-together with former sibling Viacom, told analysts Thursday that “some of those who suggest the combination will give [the combined companies] more clout as the distributors potentially come together” are all wet.
“We think we have quite a bit of clout,” Moonves said. “We don’t need any partners.”
The 65-year-old CEO is feeling so bullish, he’s already touting ad spots in next year’s Super Bowl — only 362 days away.
The game, which will be aired by CBS, will have 30-second ads costing between $5 million and $6 million, Moonves estimated, basing his prediction on the ratings of this year’s game on NBC — the highest-rated TV show in history.
CBS also touted its ownership of two new late-night slots, which would give the Tiffany network more programming with youth appeal to spin into digital properties.
Steven Colbert and James Corden are set to join the CBS late-night schedule. Colbert joins in September, replacing David Letterman.
As for CBS All Access, the company’s streaming service, the company said it saw a surge of sign-ups around last weekend’s Grammy Awards broadcast.
Overall, CBS, the most-watched US television network, reported a 3 percent rise in quarterly revenue, helped by its Thursday night football broadcasts.
The company’s revenue increased to $3.68 billion in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 from $3.57 billion a year earlier.
Net income from continuing operations fell to $402 million, from $422 million a year earlier.
But earnings per share rose to 77 cents from 69 cents as the weighted average number of common shares outstanding declined.
CBS won the rights to broadcast eight Thursday night NFL games during the 2014 season, giving it one of the most highly prized programs on a night coveted by advertisers.
CBS shares rose 1.8 percent during regular trading hours — and another 2.8 percent in after-hours — following the release of its results.