Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a solid fourth quarter with digital revenue growth of 14%, driven by strong execution across advertising, performance marketing, and licensing [5][14] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter grew 9% in digital, with digital margins at 26% [16] - For the full year, total revenue reached $1.8 billion, with digital revenue accounting for $1.1 billion and growing 10% year-over-year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Advertising revenue grew by 9% despite a 13% decline in core sessions, indicating success in the off-platform strategy [14] - Performance marketing saw a 17% increase during the holiday period, reflecting strong consumer engagement [14] - Licensing revenue surged by 36%, aided by partnerships with Apple News and Meta [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The print segment experienced a decline of 23%, attributed to a prior period's political advertising revenue and ongoing sectoral declines [16] - Core web sessions fell by 13% year-over-year, primarily due to a 50% drop in Google Search referrals over the last two years [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on transforming traditional content businesses into new consumer products and revenue streams that are less susceptible to disintermediation [6][12] - New product initiatives include Southern Living and Food & Wine, aimed at creating unique consumer experiences and leveraging existing brand strengths [6][8] - The strategy emphasizes off-platform audience engagement, with non-session-based revenue now comprising about 38% of total digital revenue and growing 37% year-over-year [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory, particularly in the face of AI disruption, and highlighted the strength of their brands [5][12] - The outlook for 2026 is optimistic, with expectations for People Inc to exceed conservative guidance due to strong momentum [34] - The company plans to continue evaluating buybacks and is mindful of the current undervaluation of IAC [13] Other Important Information - The company will stop providing quarterly guidance to focus on long-term value creation, while still offering annual guidance [27] - The expected litigation expenses related to Google AdTech litigation are projected at approximately $15 million for the year [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the key drivers of non-session-based revenue growth? - Management indicated that the growth is driven by diversifying traffic sources and developing new distribution channels, moving away from reliance on Google [36][38] Question: What are IAC's M&A aspirations? - Management expressed interest in finding unique opportunities but noted that currently, there are no exciting prospects on the horizon [51][53] Question: How scalable are the new curated experiences? - Management emphasized the importance of direct relationships with audiences and advertisers, highlighting successful new initiatives like MyRecipes and the People app [64][66] Question: What is the outlook for the Care segment? - The Care segment is expected to return to growth by midyear, with ongoing improvements in product offerings and marketing investments [25] Question: Can you provide insights on the ad market? - Management rated the current ad market as a six out of ten, noting solid performance in health, pharma, and travel sectors, while some macro-exposed sectors are facing challenges [95]

IAC (NasdaqGS:IAC) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 04, 2026 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsBarry Diller - Chairman and Senior ExecutiveChristopher Halpin - EVP, COO and CFOEric Sheridan - Managing Director and co-leader of the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) groupJason Helfstein - Managing Director and Head of Internet ResearchNeil Vogel - CEOConference Call ParticipantsCorey Carpenter - Executive Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystJames Heaney - Senior Vice President and Lead Analys ...

Q4'25 Investor Presentation February 3, 2026 NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES This presentation contains references to non-GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDA (Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) is defined as operating income excluding: (1) stock-based compensation expense; (2) depreciation; and (3) acquisition-related items consisting of (i) amortization of intangible assets and impairments of goodwill and intangible assets, if applicable, and (ii) gains and losses recognized on ...

Core Insights - Future has acquired SheerLuxe, a UK-based digital publishing group, to enhance its audience diversification and accelerate content monetization in high-growth sectors [1][2] Company Overview - SheerLuxe, founded in 2007, has transformed from a retail directory into a multi-channel media powerhouse, reaching over 6 million combined audience members and boasting 2.4 million social followers [3] - The acquisition will integrate SheerLuxe into Future's Women and Luxury vertical, alongside established brands like Marie Claire and Who What Wear, leveraging Future's technology and commercial capabilities for global expansion [3][5] Strategic Importance - The acquisition aligns with Future's strategy to tap into SheerLuxe's Gen Z audience, enhancing its reach and engagement across social platforms like Instagram and TikTok [2][4] - Future's CEO, Kevin Li Ying, emphasized the complementary nature of SheerLuxe's brand credibility in fashion and lifestyle, which will enhance Future's existing portfolio [4] Leadership and Future Plans - Georgie Coleridge Cole will continue to lead SheerLuxe under Future, reporting to Hillary Kerr, SVP of Women and Luxury, indicating a commitment to maintaining SheerLuxe's brand identity while benefiting from Future's resources [4][5] - The collaboration aims to create a robust Women & Luxury ecosystem, enhancing commercial reach and audience engagement [5]

Financial Performance & Valuation - IAC's equity value is $2.5 billion[11] - IAC repurchased $100 million in shares in Q3, and $300 million, representing 8% of equity, year-to-date[9] - People Inc's digital revenue is $1.1 billion and adjusted EBITDA is $332 million[12] - People Inc's net debt is $1.2 billion, with leverage less than 4x[12] - IAC expects FY 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of $234 million to $258 million[52] Digital Segment Performance (People Inc.) - Digital revenue grew by 9% in Q3 2025, reaching $269 million[43] - Digital Adjusted EBITDA excl Certain Items grew by 9% to $72 million in Q3 2025[43] - Digital revenue has shown an 13% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2025[17] - Off-Platform Views increased with a 43% CAGR from Q3 2023 to Q3 2025[38] Strategic & Operational Initiatives - The company recognized $15 million of severance expense in Q3 related to a reduction in force (RIF) impacting approximately 6% of employees[41] - The company is delivering $65 million of run rate savings to be invested in new growth initiatives and enhance profitability[41]

Core Insights - Future BookSea Technology Ltd. (FBT) has launched the Global Reading Initiative to promote reading equality, inclusive education, and cross-cultural exchange through digital technology [1] - The initiative aims to provide digital reading resources to over 10 million people in India, Southeast Asia, and several African countries [2] Company Overview - FBT, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, focuses on cultural technology driven by AI and digital publishing innovation [3] - The company aims to bridge the gap between education and technology by delivering high-quality content to diverse audiences [3] Initiative Details - The first phase includes supplying digital reading terminals and e-book content packages to under-resourced regions, along with multilingual AI learning assistants [4] - In India, FBT plans to establish 30,000 digital reading hubs, supporting local language learning and vocational education, creating over 1 million local jobs in the next two years [4] Strategic Importance - India is identified as a crucial part of FBT's global strategy due to its young digital population, offering significant potential for inclusive learning [8] - Collaborations with local education departments and nonprofits are part of the strategy to enhance access to reading [8] Employment and Community Engagement - FBT is fostering employment opportunities and community engagement by establishing a regional operations center in Karnataka, hiring in technology, content, and customer service [9] - The "Read & Work" initiative offers training programs in digital publishing and cultural management to empower young professionals [10] Global Content Co-Creation Program - FBT has launched a program inviting collaboration from authors, educators, and cultural institutions for digital publishing and distribution [11] - The platform includes an open copyright system, multilingual translation services, and AI-powered content review tools to enhance visibility for Indian creators [11] Commitment to Sustainable Development - FBT plans to expand its reach to 50 countries by 2026, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in Quality Education and Reduced Inequalities [13] - The company aims to deepen local production and content partnerships in India and support community-level digital transformation efforts [13]

Core Insights - Taciturn Studios announces that C.V. Wooster's biography "Searching for Bowlby" has achieved 1 Amazon Best Seller status in three categories: Biographies of Philosophers (Kindle Store), Historical U.K. Biographies, and Philosopher Biographies [1][3][13] Company Overview - Taciturn Studios is dedicated to producing high-quality works that illuminate important figures and ideas in psychology, science, and history [7][14] - The studio focuses on careful research and compelling storytelling to bring to life the stories of influential thinkers [7][14] Book Overview - "Searching for Bowlby" provides an unprecedented look into the life and legacy of John Bowlby, a pioneering psychologist whose attachment theory transformed the understanding of human development and relationships [3][5] - The biography combines meticulous research with narrative storytelling, making complex psychological concepts accessible [4][6] - The book is aimed at a broad audience, including mental health professionals, psychologists, and general readers interested in biographies [6][10] Author Background - C.V. Wooster specializes in the history of influential thinkers and has dedicated years to researching John Bowlby's life and contributions to attachment theory [8][10] - Wooster's work encompasses various genres, including thrillers and social commentary, showcasing a diverse writing portfolio [8]

Core Insights - The Financial Times has significantly reduced its investment in Sifted, a news site for tech entrepreneurs, due to a downturn in tech funding in Europe [1][2] - Sifted's value was cut by £550,000 shortly after the FT increased its stake, resulting in nearly 90% of the investment being wiped out [2] - The overall investment environment for European start-ups has deteriorated, with funding dropping from over $100 billion during the pandemic to around $45 billion in 2024 [6] Company Performance - The FT's revenues increased by 2.5% in 2024 to £454.6 million, while pre-tax profit slightly declined to £3.89 million [7] - The number of print and digital subscribers rose by 6% to 1.5 million, with digital-only subscriptions also increasing by 6% to 1.35 million [7] Sifted's Operations - Sifted transitioned from a free news service to a subscription model with a paywall in 2021 and reported a 32% year-on-year increase in its "pro" subscribers [3][4] - The headcount at Sifted decreased from 56 in 2023 to 47 in 2024, reflecting operational adjustments amid financial challenges [4] Industry Trends - Digital publishers are facing challenges due to changes in web traffic driven by AI, prompting a shift towards subscription-based models [5] - Other media organizations are also reducing their coverage of European technology businesses, indicating a broader trend in the industry [5]

Core Viewpoint - The CEO of People, Inc. has accused Google of unfair practices by using the same crawler for both its search engine and AI products, which he claims leads to content theft [1][2][3] Group 1: Company Performance and Traffic - Three years ago, Google Search accounted for approximately 65% of People, Inc.'s traffic, which has since dropped to the "high 20s" percentage [4] - At one point, Google's traffic represented as much as 90% of People, Inc.'s traffic from the open web [4] - Despite the decline in traffic from Google, People, Inc. has managed to grow its audience and revenue [4] Group 2: AI Crawlers and Content Deals - The CEO believes that publishers need more leverage in the AI era and is advocating for blocking AI crawlers to negotiate better content deals [4] - People, Inc. has implemented Cloudflare's solution to block AI crawlers that do not pay, which has led to discussions with large LLM providers about potential content deals [4][9] - No deals have been finalized yet, but the company is reportedly "much further along" in negotiations since adopting the crawler-blocking solution [4] Group 3: Industry Perspectives on Big Tech - Other industry leaders, like the CEO of Ankler Media, have echoed similar sentiments, labeling big tech companies as "content kleptomaniacs" and expressing reluctance to partner with AI companies [8] - Cloudflare's CEO suggested that changes in AI company behavior may occur due to new regulations, and he questioned the effectiveness of using copyright law against AI companies [9][10] - There is speculation that Google may eventually pay content creators for the use of their content in AI models within the next year [11]

Core Insights - Bright Mountain Media, Inc. reported strong financial momentum in Q2 2025, with revenue reaching $15.4 million, an 18% increase from $13.0 million in Q2 2024, driven primarily by its advertising technology division [2][3][4] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 revenue was $15.4 million, up $2.4 million from Q2 2024, with the advertising technology division being the main contributor [3][4] - For the first half of 2025, total revenue was $29.6 million, a 16% increase from $25.5 million in the same period of 2024 [4][7] - Advertising technology revenue for Q2 2025 was approximately $5.1 million, while digital publishing revenue was approximately $359,000 [3][7] - Cost of revenue for Q2 2025 was $12.4 million, an increase of 29% from $9.6 million in Q2 2024, primarily due to increased publisher costs and direct project costs [3][5] - General and administrative expenses decreased by 24% to $4.0 million in Q2 2025 compared to $5.3 million in Q2 2024 [5][10] - The net loss for Q2 2025 was $4.1 million, a 22% improvement from a net loss of $5.2 million in Q2 2024 [5][10] Adjusted EBITDA - Adjusted EBITDA loss for Q2 2025 was $218,000, showing a 76% improvement from a loss of $920,000 in Q2 2024 [6][18] - For the first half of 2025, adjusted EBITDA was $599,000, compared to a loss of $2.0 million in the same period of 2024 [6][19] Revenue Breakdown - Revenue breakdown for Q2 2025 included approximately $5.1 million from advertising technology, $359,000 from digital publishing, $7.3 million from consumer insights, $1.7 million from creative services, and $869,000 from media services [3][7] - For the first half of 2025, advertising technology revenue was approximately $9.3 million, digital publishing revenue was approximately $942,000, consumer insights revenue was approximately $14.4 million, creative services revenue was approximately $3.2 million, and media services revenue was approximately $1.7 million [7]