Hasbro Delivers Strong Quarter on TV Production Rebound, Price Increases

The Hasbro, Inc. logo is seen on a toy for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York, US, November 16, 2021. (Reuters)
The Hasbro, Inc. logo is seen on a toy for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York, US, November 16, 2021. (Reuters)
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Hasbro Delivers Strong Quarter on TV Production Rebound, Price Increases

The Hasbro, Inc. logo is seen on a toy for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York, US, November 16, 2021. (Reuters)
The Hasbro, Inc. logo is seen on a toy for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York, US, November 16, 2021. (Reuters)

Hasbro Inc trounced analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue and profit on Monday, bolstered by a recovery in the toymaker's television production business and price increases to counter a hit from supply chain issues.

The Monopoly board game maker's shares rose 3.3% to $97 in premarket trading.

Revenue from Hasbro's entertainment business jumped 54% in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 26, as the company delivered new episodes of the Showtime series "Yellowjackets" and released a new "Clifford the Big Red Dog" movie.

In contrast, year-earlier results were knocked by production shutdowns brought on by the pandemic.

The return of Marvel superhero movies last year also propped up the company's consumer products unit, with revenue up 9% on demand for toys based on characters from the films.

Hasbro, like rival Mattel Inc, has been looking to generate more revenue from TV shows, movies and video games as it focuses on becoming a broader entertainment company rather than just a toymaker.

The company's total net revenue rose 17% to $2.01 billion in the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimates of $1.87 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES estimates.

On an adjusted basis, the company earned $1.21 per share, topping estimates of 88 cents, as price increases last year helped offset a surge in raw material and transportation costs.

Hasbro, which last month named the head of its digital gaming division, Chris Cocks, as its next chief executive officer, said it expects fiscal 2022 revenue to rise at a low single-digit rate. Analysts on average had estimated a 3.9% increase.



Oscar Voters Required to View All Films Before Casting Ballots 

Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2017. (AP)
Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2017. (AP)
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Oscar Voters Required to View All Films Before Casting Ballots 

Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2017. (AP)
Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2017. (AP)

Oscar voters will be required to demonstrate that they have watched all the films in each category before they cast their final ballots, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday.

The new rule, which addresses a longstanding concern that voters are skipping some films, will apply for the next Oscars ceremony in March 2026, the Academy said in a statement.

The Academy previously operated under an honor system that voters would see every Oscar-nominated film before casting their ballots.

However, with the number of nominees growing in recent years, some voters have admitted not fully fulfilling that duty.

Under the new system, Academy members will be tracked on the organization's voters-only streaming platform to make sure they have watched each film.

For movies seen elsewhere, such as in cinemas or at festival screenings, voters will be required to "fill out a form" vouching for when and where it was watched, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

For the Best Picture category alone, which has 10 nominated films, competing studios traditionally host glitzy events to woo voters during their awards campaigns, with parties, screenings and festival showings, sometimes followed by Q&A sessions with the stars and filmmakers.

The Academy also weighed in on a controversy that arose during the last voting season, which was marred by questions about the use of artificial intelligence in movies, such as "The Brutalist" and "Emilia Perez."

In guidance issued Monday, the Academy said AI and other digital tools will "neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination."

The new rule clarifies that the use of technology is not disqualifying.

"The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award."