Scripps' quarterly segment profit jumped 21%, driven by political and distribution revenue
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) reported fourth-quarter 2022 revenue of $681 million, up 9.4% year-over-year, and segment profit of $204 million, a 21% increase. Growth was driven by political advertising and distribution revenues. Scripps plans a reorganization expected to save at least $40 million annually. Key developments included the launch of Scripps Sports and the incorporation of the Scripps News unit. Local Media revenues rose to $433 million, boosted by a record $106 million in political revenue. However, Scripps Networks revenue fell 9.2% due to macroeconomic challenges. Looking ahead, Local Media revenue is projected to decline in early 2023.
- Fourth-quarter revenue increased by 9.4% to $681 million.
- Segment profit rose 21% year-over-year to $204 million.
- Political revenue reached $106 million, versus $11 million a year earlier.
- Launch of Scripps Sports division to capitalize on sports rights opportunities.
- Scripps expects at least $40 million in annual savings from reorganization efforts.
- Local Media core advertising revenue decreased by 11% to $164 million.
- Scripps Networks revenue fell 9.2% due to macroeconomic challenges.
- Overall expenses increased to $477 million, up from $454 million in the year-ago quarter.
On
Highlights:
- On
Dec. 15 , the company launched theScripps Sports division to seize on this moment of opportunity in the changing sports rights landscape with its local market depth and national broadcast reach, in partnership with sports leagues, conferences and teams.Brian Lawlor , who has led the company's Local Media division since 2009, was appointed president of the new division. Scripps News launchedJan. 1 , incorporating the former Newsy brand and other Scripps national news operations into one powerful national news network.- The Local Media division delivered a full-year midterm election-year record of nearly
in political advertising revenue, alongside the record$200 million in distribution revenue for 2022, driving a$655 million 13% increase in division revenue over fiscal year 2021. - Scripps will renew about
75% of traditional pay TV subscriber households in 2023, driving distribution revenue growth and margin expansion. - The Scripps Networks division grew connected TV (CTV) revenue by nearly
40% from 2021 to 2022 as its popular national brands, including ION, Bounce and Grit, gained further distribution across the major streaming services. The division expects to generate more than in CTV revenue in 2023.$100 million - In January, Scripps partnered with the nonprofit
News Literacy Project on the fourth annual National News Literacy Week – a public service effort to encourage news consumers to stop the flood of misinformation and learn how to identify trustworthy news. Dozens of other media outlets partnered with the initiative to educate their readers and viewers on this important issue for democracy.
"Since the beginning of this year, Scripps has been engaged in examining the best ways to structure our company so that we are well-positioned to capture the opportunities we see emerging in our industry," said
"The reorganization work will include the centralization of some services and the consolidation of layers of management across the company. We expect to realize savings of at least
"As a precursor to our reorganization work, we launched the
"As we all bear witness to this country's ongoing economic uncertainty and its impact on consumer spending, we see even greater opportunity for Scripps through free TV. It is a growth lever that differentiates our story from peers. Given our sizable share of all OTA viewing, we are creating shareholder value by promoting the use of digital antennas and other new ways of accessing our high-quality television programming for free. In addition, we are working with the industry to develop business models made possible through ATSC 3.0 technology. The most promising of these is datacasting – a marketplace quickly moving from the horizon to the foreground, with tremendous opportunity for those who hold broadcast spectrum."
Operating results
Total fourth-quarter company revenue was
Costs and expenses for segments, shared services and corporate were
Income attributable to the shareholders of Scripps was
Fourth-quarter 2022 results by segment compared to prior-period amounts:
Local Media
Revenue from Local Media was
- Core advertising revenue decreased
11% to .$164 million - Political revenue was
, compared to$106 million in the prior-year quarter.$11 million - Distribution revenue increased
5.4% to .$160 million
Segment expenses increased
Segment profit was
Scripps Networks
Revenue from Scripps Networks was
Segment expenses for Scripps Networks were
Segment profit was
Financial condition
On
During 2022, we redeemed a total of
Preferred stock dividends paid in 2022 were
Year-to-date operating results
The following comparisons are for the period ending
Total 2022 company revenue was
Costs and expenses for segments, shared services and corporate were
Income attributable to the shareholders of Scripps was
Looking ahead
Comparisons for our segments are to the same period in 2022.
First-quarter 2023 | ||
Local Media revenue | Down mid-single-digit percent range | |
Local Media expense | Flat | |
Scripps Networks revenue | Down high-single-digit percent range | |
Scripps Networks expense | Up high-single-digit percent range | |
Shared services and corporate | About |
Full-year 2023 | ||
Interest paid | Between | |
Capital expenditures | Between | |
Taxes paid | Between | |
Depreciation and amortization | Between |
Conference call
The senior management of
To access the conference call by telephone, dial (844) 867-6169 (
A replay line will be open from
A replay of the conference call will be archived and available online for an extended period of time following the call. To access the audio replay, visit http://ir.scripps.com/ approximately four hours after the call, and the link can be found on that page under "audio/video links."
Forward-looking statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements related to the company's businesses that are based on management's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, including changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document and should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. A detailed discussion of principal risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the company's Form 10-K, on file with the
Media contact:
Investor contact:
About Scripps
| ||||||||
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||
(in thousands, except per share data) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Operating revenues | $ 680,941 | $ 622,291 | $ 2,453,215 | $ 2,283,532 | ||||
Segment, shared services and corporate expenses | (476,565) | (453,594) | (1,856,930) | (1,701,331) | ||||
Acquisition and related integration costs | — | (4,791) | (1,642) | (40,373) | ||||
Restructuring costs | — | — | — | (9,436) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets | (40,104) | (39,578) | (160,433) | (161,922) | ||||
Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment | (215) | (679) | (5,866) | 30,275 | ||||
Operating expenses | (516,884) | (498,642) | (2,024,871) | (1,882,787) | ||||
Operating income | 164,057 | 123,649 | 428,344 | 400,745 | ||||
Interest expense | (46,703) | (38,259) | (161,130) | (165,164) | ||||
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt | 7,355 | (1,572) | 8,589 | (15,347) | ||||
Defined benefit pension plan income (expense) | 605 | (93) | 2,613 | (343) | ||||
Gain on sale of Triton business | — | — | — | 81,784 | ||||
Losses on stock warrant | — | — | — | (99,118) | ||||
Miscellaneous, net | (3,222) | (8,585) | (1,953) | (15,469) | ||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | 122,092 | 75,140 | 276,463 | 187,088 | ||||
Provision for income taxes | (36,543) | (22,323) | (80,561) | (71,189) | ||||
Income from continuing operations, net of tax | 85,549 | 52,817 | 195,902 | 115,899 | ||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | — | (14) | — | 6,813 | ||||
Net income | 85,549 | 52,803 | 195,902 | 122,712 | ||||
Preferred stock dividends | (12,576) | (12,576) | (50,305) | (49,372) | ||||
Net income attributable to the shareholders of | $ 72,973 | $ 40,227 | $ 145,597 | $ 73,340 | ||||
Net income per diluted share of common stock attributable to the | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations | $ 0.84 | $ 0.43 | $ 1.62 | $ 0.74 | ||||
Income from discontinued operations | — | — | — | 0.08 | ||||
Net income per diluted share of common stock attributable to the | $ 0.84 | $ 0.43 | $ 1.62 | $ 0.81 | ||||
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding | 84,792 | 91,206 | 87,346 | 87,979 |
See notes to results of operations. |
The sum of net income per share from continuing and discontinued operations may not equal the reported total net income per share as each is calculated independently. |
Notes to Results of Operations
1. SEGMENT INFORMATION
We determine our business segments based upon our management and internal reporting structure, as well as the basis that our chief operating decision maker makes resource allocation decisions.
Our Local Media segment includes our 61 local broadcast stations and their related digital operations. It is comprised of 18
Our Scripps Networks segment is comprised of nine national television networks that reach nearly every
Our respective business segment results reflect the impact of intercompany carriage agreements between our local broadcast television stations and our national networks. We also allocate a portion of certain corporate costs and expenses, including accounting, procurement, human resources, employee benefit and information technology to our business segments. These intercompany agreements and allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management, which may differ from an arms-length amount.
The other segment caption aggregates our operating segments that are too small to report separately. Costs for centrally provided services and certain corporate costs that are not allocated to the business segments are included in shared services and corporate costs. These unallocated corporate costs would also include the costs associated with being a public company. Corporate assets are primarily cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, property and equipment primarily used for corporate purposes and deferred income taxes.
Our chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating performance of our business segments and makes decisions about the allocation of resources to our business segments using a measure called segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, defined benefit pension plan amounts, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income (loss) determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
Information regarding our business segments is as follows:
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | Change | 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||
Segment operating revenues: | ||||||||||||
Local Media | $ 433,439 | $ 350,734 | 23.6 % | $ 1,494,357 | $ 1,319,468 | 13.3 % | ||||||
Scripps Networks | 247,844 | 272,938 | (9.2) % | 961,242 | 951,883 | 1.0 % | ||||||
Other | 3,990 | 2,546 | 56.7 % | 14,628 | 26,924 | (45.7) % | ||||||
Intersegment eliminations | (4,332) | (3,927) | 10.3 % | (17,012) | (14,743) | 15.4 % | ||||||
Total operating revenues | $ 680,941 | $ 622,291 | 9.4 % | $ 2,453,215 | $ 2,283,532 | 7.4 % | ||||||
Segment profit (loss): | ||||||||||||
Local Media | $ 151,627 | $ 82,169 | 84.5 % | $ 386,369 | $ 268,140 | 44.1 % | ||||||
Scripps Networks | 79,979 | 106,431 | (24.9) % | 310,336 | 389,278 | (20.3) % | ||||||
Other | (5,887) | (154) | (18,140) | 359 | ||||||||
Shared services and corporate | (21,343) | (19,749) | 8.1 % | (82,280) | (75,576) | 8.9 % | ||||||
Acquisition and related integration costs | — | (4,791) | (1,642) | (40,373) | ||||||||
Restructuring costs | — | — | — | (9,436) | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization of intangible | (40,104) | (39,578) | (160,433) | (161,922) | ||||||||
Gains (losses), net on disposal of property | (215) | (679) | (5,866) | 30,275 | ||||||||
Interest expense | (46,703) | (38,259) | (161,130) | (165,164) | ||||||||
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt | 7,355 | (1,572) | 8,589 | (15,347) | ||||||||
Defined benefit pension plan income | 605 | (93) | 2,613 | (343) | ||||||||
Gain on sale of Triton business | — | — | — | 81,784 | ||||||||
Losses on stock warrant | — | — | — | (99,118) | ||||||||
Miscellaneous, net | (3,222) | (8,585) | (1,953) | (15,469) | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations before | $ 122,092 | $ 75,140 | $ 276,463 | $ 187,088 |
Operating results for our Local Media segment were as follows:
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | Change | 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||
Segment operating revenues: | ||||||||||||
Core advertising | $ 164,188 | $ 183,476 | (10.5) % | $ 626,095 | $ 663,864 | (5.7) % | ||||||
Political | 105,559 | 11,102 | 198,519 | 22,693 | ||||||||
Distribution | 160,049 | 151,806 | 5.4 % | 655,499 | 617,305 | 6.2 % | ||||||
Other | 3,643 | 4,350 | (16.3) % | 14,244 | 15,606 | (8.7) % | ||||||
Total operating revenues | 433,439 | 350,734 | 23.6 % | 1,494,357 | 1,319,468 | 13.3 % | ||||||
Segment costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits | 109,529 | 110,143 | (0.6) % | 425,840 | 433,989 | (1.9) % | ||||||
Programming | 120,279 | 108,415 | 10.9 % | 481,712 | 438,719 | 9.8 % | ||||||
Other expenses | 52,004 | 50,007 | 4.0 % | 200,436 | 178,620 | 12.2 % | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 281,812 | 268,565 | 4.9 % | 1,107,988 | 1,051,328 | 5.4 % | ||||||
Segment profit | $ 151,627 | $ 82,169 | 84.5 % | $ 386,369 | $ 268,140 | 44.1 % |
Operating results for Scripps Networks segment were as follows:
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | Change | 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||
Total operating revenues | $ 247,844 | $ 272,938 | (9.2) % | $ 961,242 | $ 951,883 | 1.0 % | ||||||
Segment costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits | 30,533 | 30,464 | 0.2 % | 120,202 | 103,624 | 16.0 % | ||||||
Programming | 88,495 | 85,808 | 3.1 % | 342,835 | 288,484 | 18.8 % | ||||||
Other expenses | 48,837 | 50,235 | (2.8) % | 187,869 | 170,497 | 10.2 % | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 167,865 | 166,507 | 0.8 % | 650,906 | 562,605 | 15.7 % | ||||||
Segment profit | $ 79,979 | $ 106,431 | (24.9) % | $ 310,336 | $ 389,278 | (20.3) % |
2. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of | ||||
(in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | ||
ASSETS | ||||
Current assets: | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 18,027 | $ 66,223 | ||
Restricted cash | — | 34,257 | ||
Other current assets | 625,914 | 601,801 | ||
Total current assets | 643,941 | 702,281 | ||
Investments | 23,144 | 21,632 | ||
Property and equipment | 458,600 | 456,945 | ||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 117,869 | 124,821 | ||
2,920,574 | 2,913,384 | |||
Other intangible assets | 1,821,254 | 1,910,311 | ||
Programming | 427,962 | 510,316 | ||
Miscellaneous | 17,661 | 18,624 | ||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ 6,431,005 | $ 6,658,314 | ||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||
Current liabilities: | ||||
Accounts payable | $ 82,710 | $ 83,931 | ||
Unearned revenue | 18,183 | 20,000 | ||
Current portion of long-term debt | 18,612 | 18,612 | ||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 365,500 | 389,337 | ||
Total current liabilities | 485,005 | 511,880 | ||
Long-term debt (less current portion) | 2,853,793 | 3,129,393 | ||
Other liabilities (less current portion) | 961,382 | 1,046,607 | ||
Total equity | 2,130,825 | 1,970,434 | ||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ 6,431,005 | $ 6,658,314 |
3. EARNINGS PER SHARE ("EPS")
Unvested awards of share-based payments with rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, such as our RSUs, are considered participating securities for purposes of calculating EPS. Under the two-class method, we allocate a portion of net income to these participating securities and therefore exclude that income from the calculation of EPS for common stock. We do not allocate losses to the participating securities.
The following table presents information about basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding:
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||
(in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Numerator (for basic and diluted earnings per share) | ||||||||
Income from continuing operations, net of tax | $ 85,549 | $ 52,817 | $ 195,902 | $ 115,899 | ||||
Less income allocated to RSUs | (1,924) | (1,145) | (3,662) | (1,855) | ||||
Less preferred stock dividends | (12,576) | (12,576) | (50,305) | (49,372) | ||||
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share | $ 71,049 | $ 39,096 | $ 141,935 | $ 64,672 | ||||
Denominator | ||||||||
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding | 83,455 | 82,533 | 83,220 | 82,327 | ||||
Effect of dilutive securities | 1,337 | 8,673 | 4,126 | 5,652 | ||||
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding | 84,792 | 91,206 | 87,346 | 87,979 |
4. NON-GAAP INFORMATION
In addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, this earnings release discusses free cash flow, a non-GAAP performance measure that management and the company's Board of Directors uses to evaluate the performance of the business. We also believe that the non-GAAP measure provides useful information to investors by allowing them to view our business through the eyes of management and is a measure that is frequently used by industry analysts, investors and lenders as a measure of valuation for broadcast companies.
Free cash flow is calculated as non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below), plus reimbursements received from the FCC for repack expenditures, less capital expenditures, preferred stock dividends, interest payments, income taxes paid (refunded) and mandatory contributions to defined retirement plans.
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax, plus income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, losses (gains) on extinguishment of debt, defined benefit pension plan expense (income), share-based compensation costs, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, loss (gain) on business and asset disposals, mark-to-market losses (gains), acquisition and integration costs, restructuring charges and certain other miscellaneous items.
A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP is as follows:
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||
(in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Income from continuing operations, net of tax | $ 85,549 | $ 52,817 | $ 195,902 | $ 115,899 | ||||
Provision for income taxes | 36,543 | 22,323 | 80,561 | 71,189 | ||||
Interest expense | 46,703 | 38,259 | 161,130 | 165,164 | ||||
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt | (7,355) | 1,572 | (8,589) | 15,347 | ||||
Defined benefit pension plan expense (income) | (605) | 93 | (2,613) | 343 | ||||
Share-based compensation costs | 3,811 | 4,006 | 21,596 | 22,334 | ||||
Depreciation | 15,421 | 15,048 | 61,943 | 58,357 | ||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 24,683 | 24,530 | 98,490 | 103,565 | ||||
Losses (gains), net on disposal of property and equipment | 215 | 679 | 5,866 | (30,275) | ||||
Acquisition and related integration costs | — | 4,791 | 1,642 | 40,373 | ||||
Restructuring costs | — | — | — | 9,436 | ||||
Gain on sale of Triton business | — | — | — | (81,784) | ||||
Losses on stock warrant | — | — | — | 99,118 | ||||
Miscellaneous, net | 3,222 | 8,585 | 1,953 | 15,469 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA | 208,187 | 172,703 | 617,881 | 604,535 | ||||
Capital expenditures | (9,822) | (16,181) | (43,901) | (62,378) | ||||
Proceeds from FCC Repack | 20 | 1,864 | 2,670 | 20,062 | ||||
Preferred stock dividends | (12,000) | (12,000) | (48,000) | (45,067) | ||||
Interest paid | (27,008) | (15,441) | (150,796) | (126,257) | ||||
Income taxes paid, net of tax indemnification reimbursements | (5,066) | (27,660) | (61,573) | (85,621) | ||||
Mandatory contributions to defined retirement plans | (788) | (257) | (1,541) | (25,117) | ||||
Free cash flow | $ 153,523 | $ 103,028 | $ 314,740 | $ 280,157 |
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