LOS ANGELES — Those big checks that Netflix talks about sending to TV and movie studios for online rights are starting to be cashed.

Broadcaster CBS Corp. said Tuesday that its net income more than doubled in the second quarter, helped by a new deal with Netflix Inc., a mail-order DVD company that is expanding its library of programs for online viewing.

CBS cut a two-year pact with Netflix in February for older shows including “Frasier” and “Medium.” The broadcaster views the deal as highly profitable because it allows CBS to generate new revenue from shows that have already run on TV, in many cases years ago, beyond what those shows already made in advertising.

“CBS has always been very aggressive in seeking new ways to utilize their library,” said Edward Jones analyst Robin Diedrich. “That’s working for them right now.”

Chief Financial Officer Joseph Ianniello said such deals are not just “gravy.” Because of their 50 percent-plus profit margins, he said, they also represent “cream and cherries on top.”

CBS’ net income in the three months through June 30 rose to $395 million, or 58 cents per share, compared with $150 million, or 22 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet were looking for earnings of 45 cents per share.

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Revenue grew 8 percent to $3.59 billion, also better than analysts’ forecast of $3.55 billion.

The biggest driver of revenue in the quarter was its content licensing and distribution business. Revenue there increased 21 percent to $889 million from $733 million a year ago.

Chief Executive Les Moonves said the company will seek more companies that want to distribute shows such as “CSI” and “Hawaii Five-O” online.

Last month, CBS signed a pact with Amazon.com Inc. that made 2,000 TV episodes available online to members of its Amazon Prime premium shipping program. Last week, CBS cut another deal with Netflix, this time for its online subscribers in Canada and Latin America.

Moonves put Google Inc., Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Dish Network Corp. among possible buyers of CBS shows in the future.

Diedrich said despite such positive moves to diversify, CBS was still mostly tied to advertising and the up-and-down economic cycle. She has a “hold” rating on its stock.

Advertising revenue crept up only 3 percent to $2.22 billion.

 


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