Company Moves - Gray Media announced the appointment of Shannon Booth as the new General Manager of WOWT (NBC) in Omaha, Nebraska, succeeding Jim McKernan who is retiring after 44 years in broadcasting [1] - Jacque Harms will take over Shannon's previous role as General Manager of KOLN (CBS) and KSNB (NBC) in Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as KNOP (NBC) and KNPL (CBS) in North Platte, Nebraska [1] Leadership Background - Shannon Booth has over eight years of experience overseeing market-leading television, digital, and streaming products in various Nebraska communities and has held multiple management positions at KCRG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for 18 years [3] - Jacque Harms has a media career spanning over 35 years, starting at KNOP in North Platte and previously serving as General Manager of WTOK (ABC) in Meridian, Mississippi, and KKTV (CBS) in Colorado Springs [5][6] Company Overview - Gray Media, Inc. is the largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the U.S., serving 113 television markets and reaching approximately 37% of U.S. television households [7] - The company operates 78 markets with the top-rated television station and 99 markets with the first and/or second highest-rated television station during 2024, along with the largest Telemundo Affiliate group [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net revenue is approximately $92.2 million, down 11.7% year over year [10] - Adjusted EBITDA reached approximately $12.9 million, down 42.2% [15] - Net loss was approximately $11.7 million or $0.26 per share compared to net income of $7.5 million or $0.15 per share for the same quarter last year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Radio Broadcasting segment net revenue was $32.6 million, a decrease of 10.3% year over year [10] - Digital segment net revenue was down 16.2% in Q1 at $10.2 million, with audio streaming revenue down by $2.1 million [12] - Cable Television segment recognized approximately $44.2 million in revenue, a decrease of 7.9% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Local ad sales were down 12.8% against markets that were down 13.2% [10] - National ad sales were down 14.6% against markets being down 11.6% [10] - TV One delivery declined 18% in total day persons, partially offset by a 29% increase in Clio TV [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on cost controls, managing leverage, and maintaining a strong liquidity position [6] - Plans to continue deleveraging and maintaining liquidity in a difficult environment [7] - The company is exploring new distribution opportunities in the FAST and AVOD environment to monetize content [78] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management indicated that radio pacing has weakened, down about 9% [5] - The majority of EBITDA is expected to come in the second half of 2025 [26] - Management does not foresee a positive ad rebound this year, citing uncertainty in the advertising market [45] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $28.2 million of its 2028 notes at an average price of 58% of par [16] - Total gross debt was approximately $556.3 million, with unrestricted cash of $115.1 million, resulting in a net debt of approximately $441.3 million [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What other levers can the company pull to control costs? - Management mentioned ongoing cost-cutting measures and plans to identify further opportunities by mid-year [22][24] Question: Is the majority of EBITDA expected in the second half of 2025? - Management confirmed that more than half of EBITDA is expected in the second half of the year [26] Question: Should further debt repurchases be expected? - Management indicated that they will continue to be opportunistic with debt repurchases [29][31] Question: How is the advertising environment on the radio side? - Management noted that national advertising is currently weak, while local SMBs are not down as dramatically [50][52] Question: Can the company break out cable TV revenue between carriage fees and advertising? - Management directed the caller to the press release for detailed information [62] Question: What is the renewal schedule with large cable and other MVPDs? - Management provided details on upcoming renewals with Charter, Verizon, and NCTC [65][66] Question: What is the status of TV One ratings? - Management stated that ratings have stabilized and are exceeding budgeted numbers year to date [69] Question: Is programming spend steady or growing? - Management indicated that programming spend is down about 10% [72]

Core Insights - Fox is launching a new subscription-based streaming service called "Fox One" before the fall American football season to expand its audience beyond cable television [1] - The company reported quarterly profit and revenue that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by a significant increase in advertising revenue from the broadcast of "Super Bowl LIX" [2][6] - Fox's advertising revenue surged by 65% to $2.04 billion, surpassing estimates, while total revenue rose 27% to $4.37 billion [8] Streaming Strategy - Fox has primarily focused on ad revenue from its free Tubi streaming service, which has approximately 97 million monthly active users, rather than competing directly in the streaming race [3] - The company plans to partner with other distributors and services for Fox One, potentially offering bundled deals to reduce subscriber churn [3][9] - CEO Lachlan Murdoch emphasized that the pricing for Fox One will be healthy and will not undercut cable subscribers [4] Advertising Performance - The broadcast of the Super Bowl attracted an estimated 127.7 million viewers, marking the largest audience in TV history for a single-network telecast [5][9] - Advertisers paid up to $8 million for 30 seconds of commercial time during the Super Bowl, reflecting the high demand for advertising on Fox's platforms [5]

Core Insights - Fox reported a revenue of $4.37 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, marking a 26.8% increase year-over-year and exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.30% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $1.10, slightly up from $1.09 in the same quarter last year, and surpassed the consensus EPS estimate by 18.28% [1] Financial Performance - Revenue breakdown shows Cable Network Programming at $1.64 billion, exceeding the estimated $1.53 billion, with an 11.1% year-over-year increase [4] - Television segment revenue reached $2.70 billion, surpassing the $2.57 billion estimate, reflecting a significant 39.5% increase year-over-year [4] - Other, Corporate and Eliminations segment reported $31 million, exceeding the estimate of $17.25 million, but showing a decline of 16.2% year-over-year [4] Revenue Components - Cable Network Programming's affiliate fee revenue was $1.14 billion, slightly above the $1.10 billion estimate, with a 2.8% year-over-year increase [4] - Advertising revenue in Cable Network Programming was $372 million, exceeding the $310.49 million estimate, representing a 25.7% increase year-over-year [4] - Television advertising revenue surged to $1.66 billion, surpassing the $1.55 billion estimate, with a remarkable 77.2% year-over-year growth [4] Stock Performance - Fox shares have returned +2.8% over the past month, compared to a +3.8% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating potential for outperformance in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company advertising revenue grew 65% in the quarter, driven by a record-breaking Super Bowl generating over $800 million in gross advertising revenue [7][16] - Total revenues increased by 27%, with record free cash flow achieved [16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $856 million, down from $891 million in the prior year quarter due to higher expenses [17] - Net income attributable to Fox stockholders was $346 million, or $0.75 per share, compared to $666 million, or $1.40 per share in the prior year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cable Network Programming segment saw 11% revenue growth and 7% EBITDA growth, with cable advertising revenues up 26% [18] - Television segment delivered 40% revenue growth, with advertising revenues increasing 77% due to the Super Bowl [19] - Tubi experienced a 35% year-on-year revenue growth, with total viewing time up 24% year-over-year in April [12][41] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fox News finished the quarter as the most-watched cable network, with total day audience growing 48% and prime time ratings up over 30% [9][10] - Fox Sports ranked as the industry leader in live sports event viewership, accumulating 3.3 billion hours of sports event viewing, 17% better than the closest competitor [11] - Digital consumption trends for Fox News showed an 18% year-on-year growth in page views, reaching a record 11 billion views [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on launching a direct-to-consumer service named Fox One, targeting the cordless market and aiming to avoid cannibalizing traditional cable subscribers [15][66] - Fox aims to leverage its strong assets in live sports and news programming to attract advertisers, with a disciplined approach to capital allocation [8][15] - The company is committed to maintaining strong relationships with traditional cable distributors while expanding its digital offerings [50][52] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted no impact from the macro environment on business performance, with strong ratings and engagement [8] - The company is optimistic about the upcoming fiscal year, despite the absence of political advertising in fiscal 2026 [29] - Management expressed confidence in Tubi's growth trajectory and its potential to become a mainstream service [41][75] Other Important Information - The company repurchased an additional $800 million in shares, bringing the total repurchased to $6.4 billion since the buyback program began [21] - The company ended the quarter with approximately $4.8 billion in cash and $7.2 billion in debt, maintaining a strong balance sheet [21][43] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about FOX One and its pricing strategy - Management indicated that FOX One will target the cordless market and will not be priced at a discount, aiming for healthy pricing aligned with wholesale rates [26] Question: Update on brand advertising demand on Fox News - Over 200 new advertisers have been attracted since the election, with direct response advertising up over 30% and scatter pricing up over 50% [34][36] Question: Path to profitability for Tubi and capital allocation strategy - Tubi's revenue improved by 35% with a focus on engagement, and the company plans to continue investing in Tubi while maintaining a strong balance sheet [41][43] Question: Strategy around direct-to-consumer offerings and affiliate revenue growth - The company remains supportive of traditional cable distribution while launching a D2C service targeting cord-nevers, with a focus on maintaining affiliate relationships [50][52] Question: Digital investments and future plans for the Fox Lot - Digital investments are expected to decrease slightly, and the company plans to fill the office space vacated by Disney with high-demand sound stages [71][75]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company advertising revenue grew 65% in the quarter, driven by a record-breaking Super Bowl generating over $800 million in gross advertising revenue [7] - Total revenues increased by 27%, with record free cash flow achieved [16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $856 million, down from $891 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher expenses [17] - Net income attributable to Fox stockholders was $346 million, or $0.75 per share, compared to $666 million, or $1.40 per share, in the prior year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cable Network Programming segment saw 11% revenue growth and 7% EBITDA growth, with cable advertising revenues up 26% [18] - Television segment delivered 40% revenue growth, with advertising revenues increasing 77% due to the Super Bowl [19] - Tubi experienced a 35% year-on-year revenue growth, with total viewing time up 24% year-over-year in April [12][41] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fox News finished the quarter as the most-watched cable network, with total day audience growing 48% and prime time ratings up over 30% [9][10] - Fox Sports ranked as the industry leader in live sports event viewership, accumulating 3.3 billion hours of sports event viewing, 17% better than the closest competitor [11] - Digital consumption trends showed Fox News digital grew page views 18% year-on-year to a record 11 billion views [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on launching a direct-to-consumer service named Fox One, targeting the cordless market and planning partnerships with other distributors [15][66] - The strategy emphasizes maintaining strong relationships with traditional cable distributors while expanding digital offerings [50] - The company aims to leverage its strong operating momentum and financial results to deliver long-term value for shareholders [15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted no impact from the macro environment on business performance, with strong ratings and engagement [8] - Confidence in the advertising business remains high, particularly with Fox News and Tubi showing solid demand [29] - The company anticipates continued growth in affiliate revenue and advertising, despite the absence of political advertising in the upcoming fiscal year [29] Other Important Information - The company repurchased an additional $800 million in shares, bringing the total repurchased to $6.4 billion since the buyback program began [21] - The balance sheet remains strong, with approximately $4.8 billion in cash and $7.2 billion in debt [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about FOX One and its pricing strategy - Management indicated that FOX One will target the cordless market and pricing will be healthy, not discounted, with plans for partnerships to broaden distribution [26] Question: Thoughts on fiscal 2026 outlook - Management highlighted the absence of political advertising as a factor for fiscal 2026, but noted strong tailwinds from advertising and affiliate revenue growth [29] Question: Update on brand advertising demand on Fox News - Over 200 new advertisers have been added since the election, with direct response advertising up over 30% and scatter pricing up over 50% [34][36] Question: Path to profitability for Tubi and capital allocation - Tubi's revenue improved by 35% with significant engagement, and the company plans to continue investing in Tubi while maintaining a strong balance sheet [41][44] Question: Strategy around direct-to-consumer and affiliate revenue growth - Management remains supportive of traditional cable distribution while launching a D2C service targeting cord-nevers, with a focus on maintaining affiliate relationships [50][52] Question: Digital investments and future plans for the Fox Lot - Digital investments are expected to decrease slightly, and the company plans to fill the office space vacated by Disney with high-demand sound stages [71][77]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company advertising revenue grew 65% in the quarter, driven by a record-breaking Super Bowl generating over $800 million in gross advertising revenue [6][17] - Total revenue increased by 27%, with record free cash flow achieved [17] - Adjusted EBITDA was $856 million, down from $891 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher expenses [18] - Net income attributable to Fox stockholders was $346 million, or $0.75 per share, compared to $666 million, or $1.40 per share in the prior year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cable Network Programming segment revenue grew 11%, with advertising revenues up 26% due to strong Fox News ratings [19] - Television segment revenue increased by 40%, with advertising revenues up 77%, largely due to the Super Bowl [20] - Tubi's revenue grew 35% year on year, with total viewing time up 24% year over year in April [12][41] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fox News finished the quarter as the most-watched cable network, with total day audience growth of 48% and demo growth of 58% [9] - Fox Sports ranked as the industry leader in live sports event viewership, accumulating 3.3 billion hours of viewing, 17% better than the closest competitor [11] - Digital consumption trends showed Fox News digital grew page views by 18% year on year, reaching a record 11 billion views [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on launching a direct-to-consumer service named Fox One, targeting the cordless market [15][66] - Fox aims to leverage its strong assets in live sports and news programming to attract advertisers [7][8] - The company plans to continue investing in Tubi and its digital properties while maintaining a strong balance sheet [41][76] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted no impact from the macro environment on business performance, with strong ratings and engagement [7] - The company is optimistic about the upcoming fiscal year, despite the absence of political advertising in fiscal 2026 [30] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining traditional cable distribution while launching new digital services [52] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $800 million in shares, bringing the total repurchased to $6.4 billion since the buyback program began [22] - The company ended the quarter with approximately $4.8 billion in cash and $7.2 billion in debt [22] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: Inquiry about FOX One pricing and addressable market - Management indicated that pricing for FOX One will be in line with wholesale pricing, targeting the cordless market and avoiding traditional cable subscribers [27][28] Question: Update on demand from brand advertisers on Fox News - Over 200 new advertisers have been added since the election, with direct response advertising up over 30% and scatter pricing up over 50% [34][36] Question: Path to profitability for Tubi and balance sheet considerations - Tubi's revenue improved by 35% with total viewing time up 18%, and the company plans to continue investing in Tubi while maintaining a strong balance sheet [41][44] Question: Strategy around direct-to-consumer and affiliate revenue growth - The company remains supportive of traditional cable distribution while launching a D2C service targeting cord-nevers, with a focus on maintaining healthy affiliate relationships [52][55] Question: Update on digital investments and Disney's plans for the Fox Lot - Digital investments are expected to decrease slightly, and Disney will vacate office space on the Fox Lot, which is expected to be filled easily due to high demand [76][78]

Core Insights - Fox Corporation reported total quarterly revenues of $4.37 billion, an increase of $924 million or 27% from the prior year quarter, driven by significant growth in advertising revenues and other segments [2][5] - The company experienced a net income of $354 million, a decrease from $704 million in the prior year quarter, with adjusted net income attributable to stockholders at $507 million [3][18] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $856 million, down from $891 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to increased expenses related to sports programming and production costs [4][26] Revenue Breakdown - Total revenues for the quarter were $4.37 billion, with affiliate fee revenues at $2.00 billion (up 3%), advertising revenues at $2.04 billion (up 65%), and other revenues at $330 million (up 20%) [2][5] - Cable Network Programming segment revenues were $1.64 billion, an increase of $164 million or 11%, while Television segment revenues reached $2.70 billion, an increase of $766 million or 40% [6][8] Expense Analysis - Operating expenses increased significantly, leading to a decline in net income; total operating expenses for the quarter were $2.97 billion compared to $2.05 billion in the prior year [15][10] - The increase in expenses was attributed to higher sports programming rights amortization and production costs, particularly due to the broadcast of Super Bowl LIX [4][10] Share Repurchase Program - As of March 31, 2025, the company repurchased approximately $5.35 billion of Class A common stock and $1 billion of Class B common stock, with a remaining authorization of $650 million [11] Cash Flow and Financial Position - The company reported net cash provided by operating activities of $1.81 billion for the quarter, compared to $941 million in the prior year [17] - Total assets as of March 31, 2025, were $23.37 billion, an increase from $21.97 billion in the prior year [16]

Core Viewpoint - Fox Corporation (FOXA) is expected to report its third-quarter fiscal 2025 results on May 12, with earnings estimated at 93 cents per share, reflecting a 14.68% decline year-over-year, while revenues are projected to grow by 20.42% to $4.15 billion [1]. Group 1: Earnings and Revenue Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FOXA's earnings is 93 cents per share, which is an increase of 3 cents over the past 30 days [1]. - The revenue consensus is set at $4.15 billion, indicating a 20.42% growth compared to the same quarter last year [1]. Group 2: Recent Performance and Trends - FOXA has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 24.20% [2]. - The company's advertising revenues rose by 21% year-over-year to $2.42 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, which is expected to positively impact the third quarter results [3]. - The Super Bowl broadcast in February was sold out at record-high pricing, contributing to the positive momentum in sports broadcasting for FOXA [4]. - The NEWS division has shown strong performance, with increased viewership translating into significant advertising revenue growth [5]. Group 3: Cost Considerations - FOXA faced higher expenses in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 due to increased sports programming rights amortization, production costs, and digital costs associated with Tubi, which may pressure profit margins in the upcoming quarter [6]. Group 4: Earnings Prediction Model - According to the Zacks model, FOXA has an Earnings ESP of -1.08% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a lower likelihood of an earnings beat compared to other stocks [7].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a first quarter loss per share of $0.22, which is an improvement compared to the consensus EPS estimate, despite a preferred stock dividend impact of $0.18 [14] - Total debt at the end of the quarter was $2.6 billion, with a net leverage ratio of 4.9 times, which the company aims to reduce further this year [14][15] - The company completed refinancing transactions that increased the blended cost of debt by less than 1% and extended the maturity of up to $1.5 billion of debt [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Local Media division revenue decreased by 7.8% year-over-year, with core advertising revenue down 3% due to economic uncertainty [9][10] - Scripps Networks revenue was $198 million, down about 5% year-over-year, but Connected TV revenue increased by 42% [11][12] - Local Media segment profit was $35 million, down from $66 million in Q1 2024 [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Local distribution revenue was down 5% year-over-year, with expectations for high single-digit declines in Q2 [10][11] - The advertising categories of automotive and retail were the worst performers in Q1, while gambling advertising saw growth [46][48] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on debt reduction and improving its balance sheet, with a commitment to using free cash flow for debt reduction [15][16] - There is an expectation of local broadcast industry consolidation that could drive growth and enhance shareholder value [20] - The company is leveraging its local news and sports programming to strengthen connections with audiences and advertisers [20][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged headwinds from economic uncertainty but expressed confidence in the company's performance and strategic direction [7][19] - The company anticipates continued challenges in the advertising market but expects to benefit from strong demand for women's sports programming [54][92] Other Important Information - The company has received multiple prestigious journalism awards for its news programming, highlighting its commitment to quality journalism [21][22] - The company is exploring opportunities for regulatory relief to enhance its competitive position in the market [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is Scripps positioned to take advantage of regulatory changes? - Management believes that greater scale and market depth are necessary for performance and plans to leverage opportunities from potential regulatory changes [29][30] Question: What visibility does the company have for performance in the back half of the year? - Management indicated that visibility is strong, particularly due to the demand generated by sports programming [31][38] Question: How did employee compensation and benefits change in Scripps Networks? - Employee compensation was down 31% year-over-year, and management expects this lower cost base to continue [43][45] Question: What is the outlook for advertising categories? - Automotive and retail were the worst performers in Q1, but gambling advertising saw growth, particularly in markets with local sports [46][48] Question: What is the expected impact of political advertising in the upcoming year? - Management expects a typical off-cycle year for political advertising, with potential for earlier spending due to the current environment [91][93]