HispanicBusiness

DVD sales are on the slide and marketing costs are soaring, but the company behind Peppa Pig still thinks the future is bright.

Entertainment One -- which also distributes the Twilight franchise -- says the animated swine is now taking off in America and that a takeover deal due to complete shortly will help grow the business.

Profit for the half-year slumped by pounds sterling 10 million to pounds sterling 8.8 million, though revenues were up by nearly pounds sterling 16 million to pounds sterling 220.5 million.

That disconnect is due to the expense of plugging new ventures such as Looper and The Sweeney.

The Toronto-based firm also said its proposed takeover of rival Alliance Films is on course to close in early 2013, subject to Canadian Competition Bureau approval.

Chief executive Darren Throop said: "The business is continuing to grow with Peppa Pig thriving in the US and internationally, the film division performing well in the first half and securing a strong release slate across our territories, and the television team seeing success with a number of series renewals."

The higher entertainment revenue offset a continuing decline in the company's legacy distribution business on lower sales of DVDs.

Its film releases in the second half of the year include The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2.