“The profit was underscored by a 19 percent increase in revenue, to US $7.1 billion (A $7.68 billion), allowing the company to stay profitable while also investing,” said Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO, according to Asia Media.

"The strength of our financial results during the first quarter is yet another illustration of our ability to deliver sustained growth while concurrently investing in tomorrow's profit generators," Murdoch added. "The 19 percent revenue growth and 23 percent operating income growth in the quarter was achieved despite spending to expand our cable portfolio both domestically and internationally, despite continued investment in broadening our Internet offerings, and despite additional costs associated with upgrading the colour capacity at our newspaper group."

Cable network programming income was up 16 percent from $US40 million ($A43.26 million) to $US289 million ($A312.55 million), in spite of increased costs arising from new launches.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Television was profitable, bringing in US $48 million (A $51.91 million) to consolidated operating income.

Filmed Entertainment was also outperforming. Releases like the Simpsons Movie and Live Free or Die Hard contributed a 51 percent increase in operating income to US $362 million (A $391.5 million).

However, the television segment dropped by US $9 million (A $9.73 million) to US $183 million (A $197.91 million).

The Magazines and Inserts segment was quite stable, bring in income of US $79 million (A $85.44 million), up by only US $1 million (A $1.08 million).

Newspapers were down to US $93 million (A $100.58 million) from US $124 million (A $134.1 million).

Book publishing also declined US $36 million (A $38.93 million) from US $55 million (A $59.48 million).