NEWS CORP. Q3 UP 6.2%

Strong results at News Corp.’s film division helped drive third-quarter net income up 6.2 percent to $871 million from $820 million in the year-earlier period.

Led by the strong performance of the Ben Stiller movie “Night at the Museum” – which has grossed more than $570 million in worldwide box office – operating income at the theatrical unit swelled 82 percent to $410 million from $225 million.

The film unit was also aided by the robust performance of DVD releases of “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Ice Age: The Meltdown,” “Eragon” and “Borat.”

Earnings per share rose a penny to 27 cents for the quarter.

News Corp., which in addition to The Post also owns the Fox Television network, cable channels FX and Fox News, and other assets, reported revenue of $7.5 billion in the quarter, a 21 percent increase from a year ago. Four of News Corp.’s seven divisions – filmed entertainment, cable network programming, direct broadcast satellite television and magazines and inserts – scored double-digit percent increases in operating income and helped drive the company’s overall operating income up 23 percent to $1.2 billion.

Among News Corp.’s other divisions are television, newspapers and book publishing.

News Corp. shares edged down 39 cents to close trading yesterday at $23.26 on volume almost twice its daily average.