French entertainment company Vivendi boasts strong results for the first half of 2009.

Vivendi – a world leader in communications and entertainment – has unveiled a strong start to 2009 with revenue up 17% to €13.178 billion (£11.609bn) compared to the first half of 2008.

The Paris-based company also reported a 0.9% increase in net income of €1.467bn. It said that interest expenses and minority interests had a depreciating effect on the percentage increase.

Vivendi has a number of subsidiary interests including a 100% stake in Universal Music Group and Groupe Canal+; a 54% share in Activision Blizzard; a 56% stake in SFR, the second-largest telecommunications group in France; and a 20% stake in NBC Universal.

Activision Blizzard has demonstrated the strongest performance in the six months, driven by outstanding sales of Call of Duty and Guitar Hero – which were two of the top-five best-selling titles in the US and Europe.

Universal Music Group had not fared so well in the recent downturn. It saw revenues dip by 1.7%, and a 29% growth in digital sales was offset by the continuing drop for the physical product.

Jean-Bernard Lévy, CEO of Vivendi is delighted with the latest set of results: “Vivendi delivered a very solid performance in the first half of 2009 in a tough environment. The Group is successfully weathering the current economic slowdown, which is having a real but limited impact.

“Our businesses are young and enjoy substantial growth opportunities due notably to the digital revolution.”

Mr Lévy said he expects the remainder of 2009 to continue to deliver strong growth.

The company’s share price rose by 1.16% on the Paris Stock Exchange following the announcement.