MCA Income Declines 9% During 1st Quarter

MCA reported net income of $28.3 million for the three months ended March 31, down nearly 9% from the same period a year ago. Revenue rose 4% to $533.2 million for the first quarter, spurred largely by home video and pay-television and the music entertainment group, which distributes MCA’s home video product.

Box-office film revenue plunged to $33.5 million in the quarter, “due to the absence of any theatrical releases,” the company said. However, MCA noted that its April release, “The Secret of My Success,” got off to a strong start.

The music entertainment group reported operating income of $10.3 million, up from $4.8 million a year ago. Operating income for the book publishing unit rose 55% to $4.2 million, while the filmed entertainment group--which includes television--reported $36.1 million in operating income, down slightly from $36.9 million last year.

Losses in the retail and mail order unit widened to $5.6 million from $3.7 million a year ago. The toy products division posted an operating loss of $6.2 million, compared to operating income of almost $2 million last year.

The operating income from MCA’s other operations--which include Yosemite Park & Curry Co. and MCA’s one-third interest in the USA cable-TV network, among other things--declined slightly to $2.7 million from $3 million a year ago.