Batman boosts Warner’s full-year fiscals

Revenues for Time Warner’s Filmed Entertainment division rose to $12.6bn in 2011, thanks in part to stronger games releases from Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment.

The firm’s full-year financial report highlights Batman: Arkham City, Mortal Kombat and the continued success of various LEGO titles, such as LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7.

Batman: Arkham City has shipped more than 6m units worldwide, and was one of the Top 10 best-selling games in North America.

Video games were also a key driver for Time Warner’s fourth quarter results, with revenues for the Filmed Entertainment division rising seven per cent to $3.9bn.

The $12.6bn in full-year revenues marks a year-on-year increase of 9 per cent, and was driven primarily by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two – both in cinemas and on DVD – and the DVD release of Hallows: Part One.

Other contributing factors included higher TV licence fees and new subscription video-on-demand agreements.

Operating Income increased by 14 per cent compared to 2010, now up to $1.3bn. for the fourth quarter, this was flat at $427m.