Key digital markets including news, real estate and streaming pushed News Corp to its highest quarterly revenues since the business was separated from entertainment assets in 2013.

Revenue for the last quarter was 13 per cent than in 2020, reaching $US2.72 billion ($A3.85 billion), with net income at $US262 million ($370.6 million) for the three months ending December 31. Earnings reached US$586 million.

Notable were the increases in news media (up 68 per cent to US111 million) and for Dow Jones (up 32 per cent to $US144 million).

Chief executive Robert Thomson (pictured) said businesses were “thriving”, mentioning digital real estate services, Dow Jones and book publishing in particular.

He also reported “a pronounced surge in profitability” in the news media segment, while Foxtel’s streaming flourished, increasing total customers by two-thirds, with Kayo and Binge both exceeding a million.”

The increase in Foxtel’s total paid subscribers to more than 3.9 million was “primarily due” to Binge and Kayo.

Total streaming had also increased 66 per cent, year on year, with Thomson noting that not only were subs up, but broadcast churn was at a three-year low.

In news media, increased revenues were credited to the recovery of the advertising market and from higher circulation and subscription revenues. Advertising was up 17 per cent, or $US42 million, with Britain’s print advertising recovery impacting The Times and Sunday Times. Digital subscriptions rose in Australia from 779,000 to 909,000.

He praised teams led by Foxtel/Fox Sports/Sky News chief Siobhan McKenna – who is also group broadcast director – Foxtel chief executive Patrick Delany, and the “ sage leadership” of News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller, News UK’s Rebekah Brooks, and Sean Giancola and Keith Poole at the New York Post.

News Corp’s “landmark agreement” with Big Tech – Google, Facebook, and an expanded multi-year agreement with Apple, expected to deliver subscriptions and advertising revenue – had also benefitted “our journalism and our bottom line”.

Picture: New York Post.