Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $11.1 million, a $2.1 million or 22% increase year-over-year, with a gross margin of 57% compared to 51% last year, significantly above guidance of 45% to 50% [14] - The net loss for the quarter was $3.5 million, with adjusted EBITDA of negative $2.1 million, compared to a net loss of $3.1 million and adjusted EBITDA of $1.4 million in the prior year quarter [14][15] - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $2 million as of June 30, 2025, with $8.9 million available on a $12.5 million working capital facility [15][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Streaming business delivered 4 billion total minutes viewed, up 38% year-over-year, and 20% sequentially, with total streaming viewers climbing to 214 million, up 24% [17][18] - Subscriber count grew to 1.4 million, an increase of 5% year-over-year and 1% over the prior quarter [18] - The advertising business saw a 57% year-over-year growth driven by new and returning advertisers, despite mixed performance in open market programmatic [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is entering the microseries market, projected to reach $10 billion by February 2027, with a joint venture for MicroCo aimed at becoming a first mover in this rapidly growing market [12][26] - The Cineverse channel has grown more than 4300% since January, indicating strong traction in the market [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its theatrical releasing business and building out its technology product, with significant investments in sales, legal, marketing, and technology [7][14] - The strategy includes leveraging unique assets in streaming, content, technology, and AI to create a competitive advantage in the microseries space [13][26] - The Motion Picture Group is building a strong slate of wide releases, targeting identifiable audiences and creating event viewing experiences [27][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in seeing strong returns from investments made in the current quarter, expecting improved top and bottom line results for the remainder of the fiscal year [7][14] - The company is optimistic about the upcoming releases, including "The Toxic Avenger" and "Air Bud Returns," which are expected to resonate well with audiences [10][11][28] - Management highlighted the importance of engaging with fans and delivering films they want to see, emphasizing a commitment to innovative approaches in distribution and marketing [31][32] Other Important Information - The company has no long-term debt and has reduced outstanding warrants to 700,000, positioning itself favorably for future growth [15][16] - The marketing campaign for "The Toxic Avenger" was noted as a significant success, receiving extensive media coverage and positive fan engagement [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why partner with Cineverse for MicroCo? - Management highlighted the unique collection of assets Cineverse has built, making it an attractive partner for entering the microseries market, which is expected to be a $10 billion business [36][41] Question: What is the investment strategy for MicroCo? - The company plans to bootstrap and fund the launch internally with potential for additional equity partners if needed, emphasizing the scalability of the business [45] Question: What progress has been made with MatchPoint technology? - Management reported significant inroads in bringing MatchPoint to market, with a tripled pipeline of potential deals and a focus on targeting larger studios for meaningful revenue [51][52] Question: How is the podcast revenue strategy evolving? - The company is shifting from programmatic sales to direct sales with a dedicated team, already seeing significant deals coming in, indicating a strong belief in future revenue growth from this segment [55][56]

Core Insights - Disney's stock has declined 44% from its all-time highs, reflecting ongoing challenges despite being a leading name in entertainment [1] - Recent fiscal results indicate potential stabilization, with solid performance in the second quarter of 2025 and a successful film release [2] Company Overview - Disney operates in three main segments: entertainment, sports, and experiences, each contributing to its overall business model [4][5] - The entertainment segment includes streaming, film releases, and network TV, while sports focuses on sports-related content, and experiences cover parks and resorts [5] Financial Performance - In the latest quarter, Disney reported a 7% year-over-year increase in total revenue, with operating income more than doubling to $3.1 billion, driven by streaming growth [6] - Streaming subscriptions rose by 2.5 million, with Disney+ now profitable and expanding [6] - Linear networks showed a slight operating profit increase, while the sports segment experienced a decline in operating income [7] Film Success - Disney rebounded from previous production delays due to Hollywood strikes, ending 2024 with the highest-grossing film, Inside Out 2, and other successful releases [9] - In 2025, Disney holds half of the top 10 highest-grossing films domestically, with Lilo and Stitch achieving $279 million in domestic box office sales and over $600 million worldwide [10] - Upcoming releases include sequels and remakes, with a strong reliance on established franchises [11][12] Future Outlook - Disney has several films scheduled for release in 2026 and beyond, including major franchises like Avatar and Frozen, which are expected to perform well at the box office [13] - The company is positioned for a potential comeback, supported by a profitable streaming business and successful film releases, despite recent layoffs [14][15]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue grew 2% year over year, excluding the Super Bowl, reaching $7.2 billion [6][22] - Direct to Consumer (D2C) revenue increased by 9% year over year to $2 billion, with subscription revenue growing 16% [23] - Adjusted OIBDA improved to $688 million, reflecting year-over-year improvements in D2C and filmed entertainment [22][24] - Free cash flow was $123 million, including $108 million in restructuring payments [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - D2C OIBDA improved by nearly $180 million year over year, with a loss of $109 million [6][23] - Filmed Entertainment revenue was $627 million, up 4% year over year, with OIBDA of $20 million compared to a loss of $3 million in the previous year [24][25] - TV Media advertising revenue, excluding the Super Bowl, was flat year over year, with OIBDA at $922 million [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Paramount Plus ended the quarter with 79 million global subscribers, an increase of 11 million year over year [7] - Global watch time per user on Paramount Plus increased by 17% year over year, and churn improved by 130 basis points [7] - CBS's network audience grew 3% in the quarter compared to last year, with a 12% increase without the Super Bowl comparison [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on driving profitable growth through a differentiated content strategy, emphasizing fewer but bigger original series [7][10] - Paramount is prioritizing key investments while streamlining non-content expenses in response to macroeconomic uncertainties [6][28] - The company plans to achieve domestic profitability for Paramount Plus in 2025, leveraging improvements in churn and ARPU [26][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's performance despite macroeconomic uncertainties, noting strong engagement and content-driven growth [6][28] - The company anticipates that supply-demand dynamics in digital advertising will stabilize over time, leading to improved monetization [30][34] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relationships with affiliates and securing valuable content partnerships [36] Other Important Information - The company is set to premiere several new series and franchise expansions, including new installments of Yellowstone and Dexter [10][11] - Pluto TV achieved its highest consumption ever, with global viewing time up 26% year over year, although monetization has been softer than expected [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Advertising pressure on Pluto and digital advertising - Management acknowledged the impact of increased supply in digital advertising but expressed confidence that supply-demand dynamics will balance out over time [30][33] Question: Licensing strategy for library content versus original content - Management indicated that content licensing remains a growth area, but the focus will be on using valuable IP to enhance owned and operated assets [39][40] Question: Expectations for linear declines and streaming growth - Management noted that subscriber declines in linear TV are expected to continue, while streaming growth will be driven by subscriber growth, churn improvements, and ARPU [46][48] Question: Importance of Taylor Sheridan and potential acquisitions - Management emphasized the value of the partnership with Taylor Sheridan and the current model as optimal for maximizing value without pursuing acquisitions [52][54] Question: Interest in bundling and joint ventures - Management expressed openness to exploring bundling opportunities and partnerships but emphasized a disciplined approach to ensure value creation [60][62] Question: Current linear trends and guidance for full year OIBDA and free cash flow - Management reiterated that the fundamental drivers of earnings improvement remain in place, despite macroeconomic uncertainties impacting advertising revenue [70][71]