NBC’S QUARTERLY RESULTS: NOW THE GOOD NEWS

While on the surface it appeared that NBC Universal experienced another weak fiscal quarter with a 15-percent decline from the same period a year ago, company executives were quick to point out today (Friday) that things were not so bad as they appeared — and that in fact, the quarter represented a big lift in the company’s struggle to regain its lost prominence. They pointed out that the year-ago period included a one-time transaction involving Walt Disney and Hearst that boosted its profits. Set that transaction aside, they noted, and NBC Universal’s profits would be up a whopping 32 percent over last year and the best third-quarter results for the company since it merged with Universal in 2004.