Core Insights - The confrontation between Disney and YouTube TV over carriage negotiations highlights significant changes in the media landscape, including media consolidation and the rise of big tech, making quick resolutions to such disputes less likely than in the past [2][4][5] Industry Dynamics - Historically, media content providers and distributors relied on each other, with dual revenue streams being crucial for both parties [3] - The traditional multichannel video model is under severe pressure, with multichannel video homes declining from over 100 million in 2013 to slightly more than 50 million today, and virtual MVPDs like YouTube TV showing little interest in paying for channels that are not watched [4][5] - The diminishing power of local media ownership has led to a situation where corporate giants are increasingly disconnected from local communities, reducing the political pressure that once facilitated negotiations [6][7][8] Power Shift - The current power dynamics have shifted, with traditional media companies like Disney facing greater stakes in negotiations compared to tech giants like YouTube TV, which has 10 million subscribers and may become the largest multichannel video provider in the U.S. by 2026 [9][10] - Disney is estimated to be losing $30 million a week due to the YouTube TV dispute, which poses a significant challenge for its $17 billion ESPN business [10][11] Consumer Impact - Despite the proliferation of content options, consumers face challenges in accessing broadcast stations and cable networks, particularly if they have cut the cord and do not wish to return to traditional cable bundles [12][13] - Disney is betting on its ESPN app, which has gained over 2 million subscribers since its launch, as a potential solution to the distribution challenges posed by the YouTube TV dispute [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue for Q3 2025 was approximately $51 million, representing an 11% decline on a same-station basis and a 7.5% decline year-over-year, excluding $2.7 million of political revenue from Q3 2024 [4][12] - Digital revenue accounted for roughly 25% of total company revenue, up from 19% a year ago, with a same-station growth of approximately 28% year-over-year [6][16] - Digital operating margin expanded from roughly 7% in the prior year period to 21% in Q3 2025, reflecting improved monetization efficiency [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - AudioPlus revenue exceeded $1.2 million in Q3, representing over 200% growth from Q2, driven by strong performance in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Boston [7] - Local direct revenue, which includes digital packages sold locally, grew 3.5% year-over-year, now representing nearly 60% of total local business [9] - National agency revenue declined approximately 16% year-over-year, while local agency revenue fell roughly 17%, showing improvement from previous quarters [12][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Healthcare now accounts for nearly 9% of total revenue, up from 6% a year ago, indicating growth in this category [15] - Entertainment revenue declined nearly 40% year-over-year, reflecting a softer event calendar and delayed commitments from national promoters [15] - Retail revenue decreased 22% year-over-year as advertisers shifted spending toward e-commerce and digital performance platforms [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to scale higher margin digital products, strengthen the quality of earnings, and pivot the sales organization toward direct data-driven relationships [4][24] - A self-serve advertising portal was piloted in Q3, aimed at enabling small and mid-sized businesses to independently plan and purchase digital campaigns [8][9] - The company is focused on efficiency and expense control, with a comprehensive cost reduction plan expected to yield an additional $1.5 million in run rate savings by year-end [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed disappointment with revenue performance, viewing results as unacceptable, and emphasized the need for aggressive execution across the sales organization [5][24] - Despite industry headwinds, there is optimism regarding local direct and O&O product growth, with expectations for total company revenue in Q4 pacing down roughly 20% year-over-year [24] - The company anticipates full-year 2025 station operating and corporate expenses to be down between $25 million and $30 million, excluding severance and one-time expenses [24] Other Important Information - The company experienced a leadership change with the resignation of the Chief Financial Officer, and the CEO is now serving as the principal financial officer [3] - The company maintains a cash position of $14.3 million, with capital expenditures totaling approximately $2.2 million in Q3 [19][20] - The company acknowledged the passing of a significant figure in its history, Pierre Robert, highlighting the impact on its culture and community [21][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you comment further on the agency channel issue? At what point did the anniversary? The challenge is there - Management noted that agency business continues to be a headwind but sees slight improvement in Q4 ex-political, with the anniversary of these challenges expected in Q1 next year [25][26] Question: Given the current revenue challenges, do you expect to do more cost savings in 2026? - Management anticipates savings from Q3 and Q4 cuts to be about $4 million for next year, with further savings being explored for 2026 [27][28] Question: Can you provide a sales price on Fort Myers? Who is the buyer of Fort Myers? Do you see the opportunity for more asset sales? - The Fort Myers sale consists of two transactions totaling $18 million, with the buyers being Fort Myers Broadcasting and Sun Broadcasting. The company remains open to discussing creative transactions to reduce debt and leverage [29]

Multinational media and entertainment corporation Paramount (NASDAQ:PARA) will be reporting results this Monday after the bell. Here’s what you need to know. Paramount met analysts’ revenue expectations last quarter, reporting revenues of $6.85 billion, flat year on year. It was a strong quarter for the company, with a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates. Is Paramount a buy or sell going into earnings? Read our full analysis here, it ...

Core Insights - iHeartMedia is set to announce its earnings results, with analysts expecting a revenue decline of 2.9% year on year to $978.7 million, contrasting with a 5.8% increase in the same quarter last year [2][3] Revenue Performance - In the previous quarter, iHeartMedia reported revenues of $933.7 million, which was flat year on year and beat analysts' revenue expectations by 2.4% [1] - Analysts have generally reconfirmed their estimates over the last 30 days, indicating expectations for the company to maintain its performance heading into earnings [3] Peer Comparison - In the broadcasting segment, FOX reported a year-on-year revenue growth of 4.9%, exceeding analysts' expectations by 4.6%, while AMC Networks experienced a revenue decline of 6.3%, surpassing estimates by 2.7% [4] Market Sentiment - Investors in the broadcasting segment have shown stability, with share prices remaining flat over the last month; however, iHeartMedia's stock has increased by 75.7% during the same period [5] - The average analyst price target for iHeartMedia is $2.13, compared to its current share price of $4.55 [5]

Core Insights - E.W. Scripps met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q3 CY2025, reporting sales of $525.9 million, an 18.6% year-on-year decline, and a GAAP loss of $0.55 per share, which was 72.1% below analysts' consensus estimates [1][6] Financial Performance - Revenue: $525.9 million vs analyst estimates of $523.9 million (18.6% year-on-year decline, in line) [6] - EPS (GAAP): -$0.55 vs analyst expectations of -$0.32 (72.1% miss) [6] - Adjusted EBITDA: $80.43 million vs analyst estimates of $68.75 million (15.3% margin, 17% beat) [6] - Operating Margin: 7.2%, down from 18.8% in the same quarter last year [6] - Market Capitalization: $224.5 million [6] Strategic Initiatives - The company highlighted the success of its Scripps Sports strategy and expansion into connected TV (CTV) advertising, with a focus on women's sports partnerships contributing to performance [3][4] - Management expects continued revenue growth from sports broadcasting deals and CTV expansion while maintaining a disciplined approach to expenses [4] - The company is preparing for significant political advertising tailwinds in 2026 and ongoing margin improvements through operational efficiencies and technology investments [4] Advertising and Revenue Growth - The intensified focus on women's sports, including partnerships with the WNBA and National Women's Soccer League, led to strong advertising demand and increased core revenue [7] - Scripps' expansion into Connected TV generated significant growth, with streaming now accounting for 20% of Scripps Networks viewing, and management projecting double-digit CTV revenue growth [7] Operational Efficiency - Recent station swaps and sales generated $123 million in cash, intended for debt reduction and balance sheet improvement [7] - Operational efficiency initiatives, including reductions in employee-related costs and restructuring, contributed to margin stabilization despite advertising softness [7] Technology and Innovation - Early investments in automation and artificial intelligence are beginning to deliver value, helping newsroom and sales teams operate more efficiently [8]

Core Points - The 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Nine Entertainment is being held, with a hybrid format allowing both in-person and virtual participation [1][3] - Catherine West will step down as Chair and Director of Nine Entertainment at the end of the meeting, with Peter Tonagh endorsed to take over the role [2] Group 1 - The meeting acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, specifically the Cammeraygal people of the Eora Nation [1] - Shareholders can participate in real-time, submit questions, and vote online during the meeting [3] - The meeting is confirmed to be properly constituted with a quorum of at least two shareholders present [4]

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]