News Corporation has reported a 75% fall in income – however says it’s optimistic in regards to the future due to the “remarkable opportunity” of AI.

The media big mentioned it achieved internet earnings of $187m (£147m) to the 12 months ended 30 June, down sharply on $760m (£598m) the earlier 12 months.

But chief government Robert Thomson mentioned he was feeling optimistic in regards to the months forward and mentioned generative AI – which can assist create textual content, pictures, audio and different media – might enhance the corporate’s fortunes.

He additionally revealed digital merchandise accounted for greater than 50% of News Corp’s annual revenues for the primary time.

He mentioned: “That momentum is surely gathering pace in the age of generative AI, which we believe presents a remarkable opportunity to create a new stream of revenues, while allowing us to reduce costs across the business.”

“We are already in active negotiations to establish a value for our unique content sets and IP [intellectual property] that will play a crucial role in the future of AI,” Mr Thomson added.

News Corp’s full-year outcomes reported larger newsprint and sports activities programming prices had contributed to the decline in income internationally, together with decrease e book gross sales and adverse overseas foreign money fluctuations.

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The agency’s News UK division, which owns newspapers together with The Sun and The Times, suffered a decline in print promoting revenues but it surely was “partially offset” by development in digital promoting, the outcomes report mentioned.

News Corp, whose government chair is Rupert Murdoch – who founded Sky News in the UK but ended his association following Comcast’s takeover in 2018 – additionally owns manufacturers together with writer Harper Collins, the Wall Street Journal within the US and TV channels in Australia.

The firm additionally reported earnings earlier than curiosity, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.42bn (£1.12bn), down 15% on $1.67bn (£1.32bn) the 12 months earlier.

Mr Thomson mentioned the outcomes highlighted the “durability and depth of our revenue streams and the impact of stringent cost controls as we navigated challenging macro conditions, supply chain pressures and currency headwinds”.

He added: “Our results showed marked improvement in the second half [of the fiscal year], so with inflation abating, interest rates plateauing and incipient signs of stability in the housing market, we have sound reasons for optimism about the coming quarters.”