Viacom’s 2Q profit falls 32 percent on weak ad market, slow video game sales

September 11th, 2009 NPD: Video game sales slide again in AugustNEW YORK — Retail sales of video games have declined for six straight months. Analysts are blaming the slow August — which was expected — in part on a disappointing showing from the latest "Madden" title from Electronic Arts.

August 20th, 2009 GameStop posts disappointing profit, cuts outlookGRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop Corp., the world's largest video game and entertainments software retailer, posted disappointing fiscal second-quarter results on Thursday and lowered its full-year earnings forecast, citing fewer hit video games and cautious consumers. Shares tumbled in morning trading.

August 14th, 2009 July video game sales show sharp declineNEW YORK — Hurt by the recession and few hit game launches, U.S. retail sales of video games dropped sharply in July, market researcher NPD Group says.

August 17th, 2009 Sector Snap: Video games take a hitNEW YORK — Shares of video game companies took a hit Monday, even as rumors mounted about a looming price cut for Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3. The shares dropped just a few days after market researcher NPD Group reported a sharp drop in video game retail sales for the month of July.

January 28th, 2009 TOKYO - Sony Corp Thursday reported its net profit plunged 94.8 percent in the October-to-December quarter to 10.4 billion yen ($116.37 million) because of a strong yen and dwindling demand for electronics. The earnings compared with a 200.2 billion yen net profit from the same quarter a year earlier.

July 17th, 2009 June video game sales drop sharplyNEW YORK — Squeezed by the economic downturn, U.S. retail sales of video games dropped sharply in June.

July 14th, 2009 Take-Two cuts outlook on BioShock 2 delaySAN FRANCISCO — Shares of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. plunged 13 percent in after-hours trading after the video game maker cut its financial outlook, citing lackluster orders from retailers and the delay of a popular new title.

June 12th, 2009 US video game sales slide 23 pct in MayLOS ANGELES — Market researcher NPD Group says U.S. video gamers spent less on games, hardware and accessories in May compared with a year ago.

August 14th, 2009 Sector Snap: Stocks shrug off low video game salesNEW YORK — Investors seemed to look past dismal July video game sales on Friday to expectations of a better second half to the year, with shares of game makers holding up despite the fifth straight month of declines. Market researcher NPD Group reported a 29 percent drop in sales of game hardware, software and accessories Thursday, an even steeper decline than analysts were expecting.

July 24th, 2009 Samsung says quarter-2 net profit rose 5.2 percentSEOUL, South Korea — Samsung Electronics says second-quarter net profit rose 5.2 percent from the same period last year as sales rose. Samsung Electronics Co.

May 6th, 2009 EA posts smaller 4Q loss as costs declineNEW YORK — Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. posted a smaller net loss Tuesday for its fiscal fourth quarter as it further slashed costs in a quarter that had fewer hit game launches.

May 15th, 2009 TOKYO - Panasonic Corp suffered its first annual loss in six years because of shrinking demand and harsh price competition amid the global economic downturn, the company said Friday. Panasonic joined other Japanese electronics' companies in reporting a net loss for the year that ended March 31.

April 16th, 2009 HELSINKI - Citing an 'exceptionally tough environment', Nokia, the world's largest maker of mobile phones, Thursday reported lower sales and a sharp drop in operating profit for the first quarter of 2009. The Finland-based company posted a pre-tax loss of 12 million euros ($15.8 million), compared to a pre-tax profit of 1.6 billion euros for the corresponding business period in 2008.

May 6th, 2009 Electronic Arts posts smaller 4Q lossNEW YORK — Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. posted a smaller net loss Tuesday for its fiscal fourth quarter as the company continued to slash costs in a quarter with fewer hit game launches.

April 23rd, 2009 NEW YORK - The economic slump seems to have no impact on Apple Inc. as Cupertino-based electronic and software giant posted a quarterly profit of $1.21 billion on revenue of $8.16 billion Wednesday.