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LOS ANGELES: Walt Disney, a U.S. media company, said Wednesday that third-quarter profit rose 9 percent as its theme parks withstood the slowing U.S. system and the ESPN sports network collected more subscriber fees.

Net income increased to $1.28 billion, or 66 cents a share, from $1.18 billion, or 57 cents, a year earlier, Burbank, California-based Disney said. Profit minus some items totaled 62 cents, beating the 60-cent average of 18 analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Sales rose 2.1 percent to $9.24 billion in the quarter ended June 28.

European tourists bolstered business at Disney's U.S. parks, Janna Sampson, co-chief investment officer at Oakbrook Investments in Lisle, Illinois, said in an interview. The higher fees at ESPN countered falling advertising sales at the company's TV stations and a drop in revenue from movies.

“People have been predicting the demise of the theme parks since quite some time,” Peter Sorrentino, portfolio manager at Huntington Asset Advisors in Cincinnati, said in an interview. “It is not appreciated as it should be.” His robust held 430,000 Disney shares as of a June regulatory filing.

Sales beat the $9.16 billion average of 16 analysts' estimates. The latest quarter included gains from the acquisition of Disney Stores in North America, the sale of movies.com and a kind tribute settlement. They contributed 4 cents to toil income.

Disney ruthless 25 cents to $31.42 after hours following the results. It rose 75 cents to $31.67 at 4:02 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading and has declined 1.9 percent this year.

Third-quarter operating profit at the parks and resorts rose 3.2 percent to $641 million despite the loss of Easter holiday presence, which came in the fiscal second quarter this year. Sales gained 4.6 percent to $3.04 billion.

“Our park performance during the quarter is noteworthy considering the economic environment,” the chief executive officer, Robert Iger, said during a conference call.

Disney's broadcast division, which includes ABC, reported operating profit fell 11 percent to $260 million on lower ratings after a 100-day writers strike shut down production of new shows. Sales were little changed at $1.53 billion.

About 20 percent of Disney's 2007 revenue came from advertising, compared with 33 percent for Viacom, which fell in New York trading after reporting that second-quarter U.S. ad sales missed its forecast.

“The striking on Disney of a slowdown in advertising has less impact than it would at Viacom,” Sampson said. “Theme parks are a big part of Disney and have very little advertising exposure.”

ESPN, the most-watched sports TV network, collected fees earlier in the year from pay-TV operators, resulting in a 14 percent rise in profit to $1.21 billion for the cable division. Sales at the unit, which includes the Disney Channel, gained 12 percent to $2.59 billion.

Profit at Disney's film studio fell 49 percent to $97 million on a 19 percent decline in sales to $1.43 billion.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” Disney's biggest film exempt in the period, garnered $140.1 million in U.S. ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. A year earlier, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End” collected much of its $309.4 million in domestic ticket sales, the Burbank, California-based box-office researcher said.

Disney said profit from consumer products fell 4.2 percent to $113 million as the company reabsorbs its Disney Stores operation from Children's Place Retail Stores. Sales rose 20 percent to $642 million forward the added retail store revenue.