Activision Blizzard owner's six-month sales hit $18.8B

Activision Blizzard continues to weather the uncertain economic climate with aplomb. In early August, the publisher beat expectations for its April-June quarter, reporting a $195 million profit on revenue of $1.04 billion for the period. That said, Activision Blizzard's massive earnings are but a fraction of French conglomerate Vivendi, which owns a 56 percent controlling stake in the Call of Duty and World of Warcraft publisher.

Reporting on its company-wide revenues for the April-June fiscal accounting period this week, Vivendi said sales reached €6.65 billion ($9.49 billion) during the quarter, an 11 percent rise over the same period a year ago. Net income made similar gains during the period, rising 10.4 percent to €1.5 billion ($2.15 billion).

For the six-month period through June, Vivendi has accrued sales of €13.2 billion ($18.8 billion), a 17 percent year-over-year gain, as income has risen 12.9 percent to €2.9 billion ($4.14 billion). Vivendi's bread-and-butter money-maker remains SFR, a French mobile phone carrier that has generated €6.14 billion ($8.76 billion) in revenue for the company during its first-half reporting period.

Other divisions within Vivendi include the Universal Music Group; Maroc Telecom, a Moroccan telecommunications company; and French TV and film studio Canal+.