Walt Disney reported a better than expected 54% surge in profit, reflecting an improving economy that got consumers travelling to its theme parks and businesses buying up ad time on its TV networks.
Disney is the last of the entertainment powerhouses to report quarterly earnings, and its results last night stuck to the script written by News Corp and Time Warner - that a major recovery in advertising spending buoyed results.
The world's largest media company by market value posted a 10% rise in revenue.
Disney's television business stole the show, due in large measure to the performance of the ESPN and its family of sports channels. Profit rose 47% at the division.
Prime-time ratings at sports network ESPN were up about 9% during the last three months of the year, thanks to Monday Night Football, college football bowl games, the National Basketball Association and its flagship 'SportsCenter' programme. The TV division also includes the ABC broadcast network and Disney Channel.
Chief executive Bob Iger said that second-quarter ad sales at ESPN were pacing up double-digits, pointing to big demand from categories that included cars, retail, and telecommunications.
Disney's two other biggest business divisions - studio entertainment and parks and resorts - also turned in higher operating profit for its fiscal first quarter.
Tough cost discipline and higher per-capita spending by resort visitors, among other factors, boosted margins and helped Disney beat Wall Street's targets on profits. With more guests taking vacations at its resorts and spending more while they were there, its parks and resorts profit climbed 25%.
