Comcast’s CEO calls ‘Battleship’ sales an ‘unfortunate miss’

Universal Pictures’ “Battleship” film was “an unfortunate miss” at the box office, said Brian Roberts, chief executive officer of parent Comcast Corp.

“The Five-Year Engagement” was another big miss for the studio, Roberts said today at a Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. investor conference in New York.

Roberts made the comments while saying that Comcast’s NBC Universal unit will have a “negative” second quarter. The unit is Comcast’s second-largest by annual sales behind its cable division.

“Battleship,” released on May 18, cost $209 million to make and has generated $282 million in worldwide ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. “The Five-Year Engagement,” released on April 27, cost $30 million and has taken in $32.7 million.

Comcast, based in Philadelphia, fell 1 percent to $28.62 at 1:32 p.m. today in New York trading. The shares had gained 22 percent before today’s trading.