Financial Performance & Guidance - Gray Media's 3Q25 total revenue reached $749 million, hitting the high-end of guidance[12] - Core advertising revenue for 3Q25 also reached the high-end of guidance at $346 million[12] - Retransmission revenue for 3Q25 exceeded guidance at $355 million[12] - Corporate expense for 3Q25 was below the low-end of guidance at $22 million[12] - Broadcasting expense for 3Q25 was below the low-end of guidance at $542 million[12] - Production companies expense for 3Q25 was below the low-end of guidance at $28 million[12] - For the nine months ending September 30, 2025, total revenue was $2303 million, compared to $2599 million for the same period in 2024[15] - Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ending September 30, 2025, was $491 million, compared to $760 million for the same period in 2024[15] Debt & Leverage - As of September 30, 2025, Gray Media's secured leverage ratio was 366x[16] - As of September 30, 2025, the first lien leverage ratio was 272x[16] - As of September 30, 2025, the leverage ratio was 577x[16]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a third consecutive quarter of results that met or exceeded expectations, driven by the Scripps Sports strategy and strong sales execution [4] - Local media division revenue decreased by 27% due to the absence of political advertising revenue compared to the prior year, while core advertising revenue increased by nearly 2% [6] - The company reported a loss of $0.55 per share, which included various costs that increased the loss by a total of $0.15 per share [10] - Net leverage improved to 4.6 times at the end of Q3, down from 6 times in Q2 of the previous year [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Local media segment profit was nearly $53 million compared to $161 million in Q3 of the previous year [6] - Scripps Networks revenue was approximately flat at $201 million year-over-year, with connected TV revenue up 41% [7][8] - Scripps Networks' segment profit was $53 million, with a segment margin of 27% [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects local media division revenue to decline by about 30% in Q4, while core revenue is anticipated to increase by about 10% [6] - Scripps Networks' revenue is expected to decrease in the low double-digit range for Q4 due to various factors, including a lack of political revenue and lower upfront advertising [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing its portfolio through station swaps and sales, with recent transactions yielding strong valuations [4][22] - The Scripps Sports strategy has been a significant driver of revenue growth, particularly in women's sports and partnerships with various leagues [14][16] - The company is pursuing aggressive distribution on streaming services, projecting connected TV revenue to exceed $120 million in 2025 [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategies, highlighting strong performance in sports and connected TV revenue streams [13] - The upcoming midterm elections are expected to yield record spending across the advertising ecosystem, positioning the company well for future growth [22] - Management acknowledged challenges in the advertising environment but remains optimistic about the potential for recovery as economic uncertainties are resolved [72] Other Important Information - The company has been actively managing expenses, resulting in improved margins and a focus on fiscal discipline [20] - The Scripps Transformation Office is leveraging technology and AI to enhance operational efficiency and drive growth [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for further asset sales? - Management indicated there are still significant opportunities for optimizing the portfolio through buying, selling, and swapping stations [26] Question: Can you elaborate on the impact of the government shutdown on revenue? - Management noted that the government shutdown has affected demand and buying from networks, particularly in the Medicare Advantage space [68] Question: How is the advertising environment compared to six months ago? - Management observed some strength in local advertising but noted challenges in the national ad marketplace, particularly in direct response pricing and pharmaceuticals [55][72] Question: What is the company's strategy regarding AI and cost efficiency? - Management expects to provide more information on the impact of technology and AI on operational efficiency in the upcoming year [78]

Core Insights - Gray Media, Inc. reported strong financial results for Q3 2025, with total revenue of $749 million, exceeding the high end of guidance [4][12] - Core advertising revenue reached $355 million, reflecting solid performance despite a comparison to the previous year's Olympic-related revenue [4][14] - The company successfully executed debt market transactions to enhance liquidity and extend debt maturities, increasing financial flexibility [4][6] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q3 2025 was $749 million, aligning with the high end of guidance [4] - Core advertising revenue was $355 million, slightly down from $365 million in Q3 2024, but at the high end of guidance [14] - Retransmission consent revenue was $346 million, exceeding guidance by $1 million, though down from $369 million in Q3 2024 [4][14] - Political advertising revenue was $8 million, exceeding guidance by $1 million, but significantly lower than $173 million in Q3 2024 [4][14] - Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $23 million, compared to a net income of $83 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to decreased political advertising [4][14] Operational Highlights - Broadcast operating expenses were $542 million, significantly below guidance, reflecting ongoing cost containment efforts [4][14] - The transition of WANF in Atlanta to an independent station is expected to enhance local news and sports programming [4][14] - The company is pursuing acquisitions and divestitures to expand its market presence, with agreements involving several television stations [6][7] Debt and Liquidity Management - The company amended its Senior Credit Agreement to increase the Revolving Credit Facility by $50 million, extending the term to December 2028 [4][9] - Gray Media issued $900 million in Senior Secured Second Lien Notes and $775 million in Senior Secured First Lien Notes to refinance existing debt [4][9] - As of September 30, 2025, the company had $742 million available under its Revolving Credit Facility [9][18] Future Guidance - For Q4 2025, the company anticipates a decrease in retransmission consent revenue compared to the prior year, primarily due to WANF's transition [12] - Guidance for core advertising revenue is projected between $380 million and $390 million for Q4 2025 [12] - Total revenue guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025, is set between $3,070 million and $3,085 million [12]

Group 1 - A potential deal would enhance Comcast's presence in Europe, where it already owns the pay-TV operator Sky [1] - The acquisition would allow British broadcaster ITV to concentrate on its studio operations [1]

Group 1 - ITV is in preliminary discussions with Comcast regarding a potential sale of its Media & Entertainment business for an enterprise value of £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) [1][2] - The deal would significantly enhance Comcast's position in the UK broadcasting market, as it already owns Sky and various production companies through NBCUniversal [2] - ITV has indicated that it is seeking additional cost savings in its M&E business due to a downturn in TV advertising and a "softening" British economy [3] Group 2 - Other major U.S. studios have also shown interest in acquiring ITV's broadcasting arm, highlighting the competitive landscape for ITV [3] - ITV Studios, the production and sales division of ITV, has attracted takeover interest from companies like RedBird IMI and Banijay [4]

Core Insights - News Corp reported Q3 CY2025 results that exceeded Wall Street's revenue expectations, with sales increasing by 2.3% year-on-year to $2.14 billion and a GAAP profit of $0.20 per share, which was 9.4% above analysts' consensus estimates [1][6]. Company Overview - News Corp, established in 2013 after a restructuring, is a multinational conglomerate involved in news publishing, broadcasting, digital media, and book publishing [3]. Revenue Growth - Despite a modest year-on-year revenue growth of 2.3%, News Corp's long-term performance has been inconsistent, with total sales of $8.5 billion for the trailing 12 months being close to its revenue five years ago, indicating lower quality business performance [4][6]. - Over the last two years, News Corp's revenue has declined by 5.1% annually, reflecting suppressed demand within the consumer discretionary sector [5]. Quarterly Performance - The company reported revenue of $2.14 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $2.10 billion, and an EPS of $0.20 compared to the expected $0.18 [6]. - Adjusted EBITDA was $347 million, exceeding estimates of $331.6 million, with a margin of 16.2% [6]. - Operating margin improved significantly to 56.1%, up from 10.2% in the same quarter last year, and free cash flow turned positive at $4 million, compared to a negative $31 million in the same quarter last year [6]. Segment Performance - News Corp's revenue breakdown shows that its three key segments—Dow Jones, News Media, and Book Publishing—contributed 27.3%, 24.9%, and 25.4% of total revenue, respectively [7]. - Dow Jones and Book Publishing segments averaged year-on-year growth of 4.3% and 3.3%, while News Media experienced an average decline of 2.6% [7]. Future Outlook - Analysts project a revenue growth of 2.8% over the next 12 months, indicating expectations for improved performance from newer products and services, although this remains below the average for the sector [8].

Core Advertising Revenue - Local Media division core advertising revenue increased by 2% in Q3, driven by services category and national advertising growth due to strong sales execution and Scripps' sports strategy [1] - The company anticipates strong core revenue growth in Q4, supported by a new agreement with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning and growth in live sports markets [1] Financial Performance - E.W. Scripps reported a revenue decline of 18.6% year-on-year to $525.9 million in Q3, meeting Wall Street's expectations [2][6] - Free Cash Flow was -$15.07 million, down from $127.4 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Operating margin decreased to 7.2%, down from 18.8% in the same quarter last year [2][9] Revenue Growth and Projections - Over the last five years, E.W. Scripps experienced a sluggish sales growth rate of 6.5% compounded annually, which is below the standard for the consumer discretionary sector [4] - Analysts project a further revenue decline of 1.5% over the next 12 months, indicating a lack of excitement regarding the company's newer products and services [6] Cost Management and Profitability - The Scripps Networks division achieved a 27% margin, aided by a 7% reduction in expenses [1] - Despite a higher efficiency reflected in the operating margin averaging 7.5% over the last two years, the company still faces challenges with profitability [8] Strategic Moves - Scripps announced the sale of two network-affiliated stations for total proceeds of $123 million, aligning with its strategy to optimize its portfolio and improve local station performance [1] - The company successfully closed on the placement of $750 million in new senior secured second-lien notes, which were used to pay off existing debt [1]

Core Insights - The E.W. Scripps Company reported $526 million in revenue for Q3 2025, a decrease of 19% or $120 million from the previous year [6][24] - The company experienced a loss attributable to shareholders of $49 million, equating to 55 cents per share, compared to a profit of $33 million or 37 cents per share in the prior-year quarter [7][24] - Scripps has successfully reduced its leverage ratio to 4.6x by the end of Q3 2025, down from 4.9x at the start of the year [3][12] Financial Performance - Local Media segment revenue was $325 million, down 27% from the prior-year quarter, with segment profit dropping to $52.8 million from $161 million [8][9] - Scripps Networks segment revenue was $201 million, a slight decrease of 0.4%, but segment profit increased to $53.3 million from $42.1 million [10][34] - Total costs and expenses for the company decreased to $449 million from $472 million in the year-ago quarter [6][24] Strategic Initiatives - The company has focused on expense discipline, achieving a reduction of over 4% in Local Media and 7.5% in Scripps Networks [4][5] - Scripps announced the sale of two stations for $123 million, which is above industry average valuations, contributing to a healthier balance sheet [3][5] - The company is leveraging sports partnerships and programming to drive growth, with core advertising revenue in Local Media up 2% in Q3 [5][14] Future Outlook - For Q4 2025, Local Media revenue is expected to decline by about 30%, while Scripps Networks revenue is projected to decrease in the low double-digit percentage range [18] - The company anticipates strong core revenue growth in Q4, supported by new agreements and continued growth in live sports markets [5][18] - Scripps is committed to optimizing its portfolio and embracing technology to enhance operational efficiencies [6][3]

Group 1 - E.W. Scripps shares increased by 5.7% after forming an exclusive broadcast partnership with Major League Volleyball for the 2026 championship on its ION network [1] - The partnership includes live broadcasts of MLV's two semifinal matches and the championship match, enhancing Scripps Sports' portfolio of women's sports [1] - The move aims to strengthen ION's programming with live sports content to attract dedicated and advertiser-friendly viewers [1] Group 2 - Following the initial share increase, E.W. Scripps shares cooled down to $2.15, reflecting a 1.8% rise from the previous close [2] - E.W. Scripps shares have shown extreme volatility, with 79 moves greater than 5% over the last year, indicating that the market views the recent news as significant but not fundamentally altering its perception of the company [3] - The stock is down 14.8% since the beginning of the year and is trading 48.3% below its 52-week high of $4.15 from July 2025 [5]

Core Insights - Value stocks often trade at discounts, presenting opportunities for investors, but they may be undervalued for valid reasons [1] - Distinguishing between genuine value and value traps is crucial for investors [2] Company Summaries Sirius XM (SIRI) - Sirius XM has a forward P/E ratio of 7.2x and is known for its commercial-free music channels, providing satellite and online radio services in North America [3] - The current trading price is $21.66 per share, but it does not meet the investment criteria set by the company [5] Sealed Air (SEE) - Sealed Air has a forward P/E ratio of 11.4x and specializes in protective and food packaging solutions [6] - The stock price is $36.80, but there are concerns regarding its potential underperformance [7] Pfizer (PFE) - Pfizer has a forward P/E ratio of 7.9x and is a global biopharmaceutical company involved in the development and sale of medicines and vaccines [8] - Concerns include the need for strategic adjustments due to low organic sales performance and reliance on M&A for growth [9] - Projected sales for the next 12 months are expected to be flat, indicating subdued demand [10] - The company has experienced flat unit sales and may need to lower prices to stimulate growth [11] - Capital intensity has increased over the last five years, with a significant decrease in free cash flow margin by 26.5 percentage points [12]