Viacom’s profit fell 32 per cent as a prolonged advertising decline and a steep drop in sales of its Rock Band video game continued to hurt the cable and films company.

Although Viacom reported US advertising falling 6 per cent, a rate of decline that had moderated during the period compared to the first quarter, losses in other areas including an operating loss of $25m from weaker box office and DVD sales and the timing of the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hurt profits.