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SSP Expands Its Sports Line-Up: Is the Growth Thesis Strengthening?
ZACKSยท 2025-07-24 18:50
Core Insights - The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) is enhancing its sports strategy through national and local partnerships, focusing on leagues like the WNBA and NWSL, and introducing new events to maintain a year-round premium sports content lineup [1][9] Group 1: Sports Partnerships and Strategy - SSP has strengthened ties with teams such as the Las Vegas Aces and Florida Panthers, renewing its multi-year agreement with the WNBA and adding the Tampa Bay Lightning to its sports portfolio [2] - New properties like the SI Women's Games and the Fort Myers Tip-Off Women's College Basketball Tournament are set for the fourth quarter, ensuring continuous sports programming [1][9] Group 2: Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Scripps Networks reported revenues of $198 million, accounting for 37.8% of total company revenues, with a segment margin of 32%, the highest since Q4 2022, driven by a 42% year-over-year increase in Connected TV revenues [3] - The demand for live sports programming, particularly from the WNBA and NWSL, has significantly contributed to this performance [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - SSP faces competition from Gray Media, which extended its partnership with the New Orleans Saints and formed a new partnership with the Carolina Panthers to broadcast games in Spanish [4] - Tegna has also expanded its agreement with the Indiana Fever, increasing the broadcast reach to 4.6 million households across 11 additional Midwest markets [5] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - SSP shares have increased by 48.9% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Broadcast Radio and Television industry's growth of 25.4% and the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector's return of 11.4% [6] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 0.13X, significantly lower than the industry's 4.48X, indicating a strong value position [10]