Vancouver: In the first quarter of fiscal 1999 (ended Nov. 30, 1998), Vancouver’s Vidatron Entertainment reports a 61% increase in revenue over the same quarter in fiscal 1998 to $15.1 million.

Revenue growth was driven by delivery of 15 hours of dramatic programming – nearly double the comparable quarter a year earlier.

Net earnings for the quarter were $846,000 ($0.11 per share), up from $457,000 ($0.7 per share).

During the quarter, Vidatron delivered seven episodes of western Dead Man’s Gun, distributed by mgm and airing on Showtime Networks in the u.s., and eight episodes of sci-fi series First Wave, which is distributed internationally by Pearson Television International and airs on chum’s Space: The Imagination Station, as well as on eight other regional networks.

Vidatron has also secured a 66-episode sale of First Wave to USA Networks’ The Sci-Fi Channel, to begin airing in March.