Viacom profit plunged 65 percent to $212 million in the latest quarter due to a charge related to the sale of Harmonix, the company that makes the "Rock Band" video game.
In the fourth quarter from October to December, the owner of Paramount Pictures, MTV and Comedy Central earned 38 cents per share, down from $610 million, or $1 per share, in the same quarter of the previous year.
The stock was down roughly 4 percent in early trading Thursday, selling for $50.91 per share as of 10:05 a.m. ET.
The company took a one-time charge of $379 million to cover an arbitration award for Harmonix shareholders, but noted in a conference call Thursday that it is contesting it.