Astral Media Q1 profit jumps, sees positive 2010

Astral Media Inc. reported first-quarter profit jumped 42% and said it expects new programming to help boost 2010 results. The company had a profit in the first three months of the fiscal year of $56.2 million, from $39.6 million in the year earlier period. Revenue rose 3% to $250.7 million, Astral said in a statement. New projects, such as the launch of online programming with Bell TV, new high-definition channels and the deployment of the country’s first national digital outdoor advertising network will have a positive impact on 2010 results, the company said.