Question

The operating revenues of the three largest business segments for Time Warner, Inc., for a recent year follow. Each segment includes a number of businesses, examples of which are indicated in parentheses.
Time Warner, Inc.
Segment Revenues
(in millions)
Turner (cable networks and digital media) $21,700
Home Box Office (pay television) 22,200
Warner Bros. (films, television, and videos) 80,600
Assume that the variable costs as a percent of sales for each segment are as follows:
Turner 22%
Home Box Office 47%
Warner Bros. 32%
Determine the contribution margin and contribution margin ratio. Enter amounts in millions. When required, round to the nearest whole millionth (for example, round 5,688.7 to 5,689). Round contribution margin ratio to the nearest whole percent for each segment from the information given. Enter all amounts as positive numbers. 40% 35% 25% Turner Home Box Office Warner Bros. Revenues Variable costs Contribution margin Contribution margin ratio (as a percent) b. Does your answer to (b) mean that the other segments are more profitable businesses?

Answer 1

Answer:

Time Warner, Inc.

a.

                                     Turner      Home Box Office  Warner Bros.   Total

Segment Revenues

(in millions)                  $21,700            $22,200         $80,600      $124,500

Variable costs                 4,774                10,434           25,792           41,000

Contribution margin  $16,926               $11,766        $54,808        $83,500

Contribution ratio     78% (100 - 22)    53% (100 -47) 68% (100 -32)   67%

b. Certainly, Turnover and Warner Bros. are more profitable businesses than Home Box Office in terms of total contribution margin (dollars) and contribution margin ratio.

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Segment Revenues

(in millions)

Turner (cable networks and digital media) $21,700

Home Box Office (pay television) 22,200

Warner Bros. (films, television, and videos) 80,600

Assume that the variable costs as a percent of sales for each segment are as follows:

Turner 22%

Home Box Office 47%

Warner Bros. 32%

b) The contribution margin ratio for the three segments can easily be determined by subtracting the variable costs percentages from 100 for each segment instead of doing more computations (Contribution margin/Sales Revenue * 100).  But the results are the same for either method.