Spring break
and popular new attractions help generate nearly 15 percent more revenue for Comcast’s themepark division — which includes Universal Orlando Resort — compared with the same time in 2017.
Theme Parks, as well as our TV businesses’ successful broadcasts of the NFL’s Super Bowl LII and the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics,” CEO Brian Roberts said in a statement.
Fueling the theme-park division’s growth has been new attractions opening in Japan, California as well as Orlando’s Volcano Bay as well as higher per capita spending, Comcast said.
On Wednesday, the media giant also offered to buy British broadcaster Sky Plc for $30 billion, topping a controversial bid from Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox.
The move opened up the possibility of a bidding war for Sky, the stock of which spiked 4.4 percent to $18.99 on the news of the offer. Sky immediately withdrew its recommendation to its shareholders to accept the Fox bid. Sky is based in London but has strong news and pay-TV operations across Europe, and is particularly prized for its sports broadcasting operations, including the English Premier League soccer matches.
“With its 23 million retail customers, leading positions in the U.K., Italy, and Germany, and its history of strong financial performance, we see significant opportunities for growth by combining our businesses,” Roberts said.
Comcast stock rose about 2.7 percent in trading Wednesday to close at $34.26 per share.
Universal is set to hold media events next week to unveil The Fast & Furious — Supercharged ride, which officially opened to the public at Universal Studios theme park in Orlando.
There is speculation about how Universal will keep expanding in the future and make its latest move in what has become an arms race with Walt Disney World.
In late 2016, Universal Parks and Resorts announced it will build Nintendo-themed areas in its Orlando, Hollywood and Japan theme parks over the next few years.
“We’re going to be able to create an entire Nintendo world,” Universal Creative president Mark Woodbury said in an online video.
On its blog, Universal said the lands “will be expansive, immersive and interactive. They’ll be highly themed and authentic environments filled with multiple attractions, shops and restaurants. You’ll feel as if you’re playing inside your favorite games — in real life.”