Viacom profits rise; end to DreamWorks Animation deal seen

Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman said the company’s stepped-up investment in original programming was making a difference. He also indicated that Los Angeles-based Paramount Pictures was working under the assumption that it would lose its profitable distribution arrangement with DreamWorks Animation -- a topic that piqued the interest of analysts.

“There has been what I consider to be a surprising amount of attention to this issue,” Dauman said, noting that Paramount itself was no slacker at the box office with six movies in a row that have surpassed $100 million in gross receipts.

Of course, that list includes DreamWorks Animation’s popular “Kung Fu Panda 2.” COMPANY TOWN