Starz sales rise 8% to $432 million

John Malone's Liberty Media Thursday reported greater revenue and earnings from Starz, its greatest holding. The pay net's sales rose 8% to $432 million for that 4th quarter, largely on greater home video revenue from the 2011 distribution agreement using the Weinstein Company.Operating profit rose 24% to $87 million. The network had 19.six million customers at year-finish, up from 18.two million the prior year.Boss Chris Albrecht recommended original programming and new pacts. ''We couldn't become more happy with the performance of ''Spartacus: Vengeance,'' which is constantly on the set record new viewership marks for any Starz original series,'' he stated. ''The anticipation for April's 'Magic City' keeps growing and that we are heartened through the strong demand received within the global marketplace.'' He stated recent deals, affiliation with ATandT U-verse and movie certification with Lionsgate, have increased the net's distribution business and lengthy-term content pipeline. Parent Liberty Media stated its quarterly revenue increased 96% to $1 billion within the 4th quarter and operating earnings leaped 241% to $293 million, mostly associated with the main one-time recognition of formerly deferred revenue and charges at division TruePosition.Malone, who constantly tinkers together with his holdings, also introduced a brand new structure for Liberty Media's sister company, Liberty Interactive Corp.Liberty Interactive can create two new monitoring stocks to higher stick to the companies it holds.One monitoring stock, still known as Liberty Interactive, covers QVC, the e-commerce companies, Liberty's 34% of HSN, $500 million in cash and a variety of investments. The 2nd new stock, Liberty Endeavors, will track interests in Expedia, TripAdvisor, Time Warner, Time Warner Cable, America online, Interval Leisure Group, Tree.com, Liberty's eco-friendly energy opportunities, $1.25 billion in cash.Liberty's status being an investment company, no operating company, has led to waves of spinoffs and monitoring stocks that appear and disappear through the years because he attempts to align his companies for traders and tax efficiencies. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com