And welcome back to Roy Exchange. As we close in on the 6 a. m.hour, a check of a few big stories that we are following this morning. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson says he's not forecasting a recession next year. Speaking NBC's Meet the Press yesterday, Besson acknowledges that there are some weak spots when it comes to growth.Clearly, h housing has been struggling and the you so interest rate sensitive sectors have been in a recession. And you know the other thing that was not helpful Kristen was this th ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue declined about 3% year over year, primarily due to tough comparisons to last year's Paris Olympics, but excluding that impact, revenue increased nearly 3% driven by strong performance across six growth businesses [16][24] - EBITDA and adjusted EPS were consistent with last year, while free cash flow increased 45% to $4.9 billion [16][26] - Connectivity and platforms EBITDA declined by 3.7% this quarter, reflecting the costs associated with the strategic pivot [13][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Broadband subscribers declined by 104,000 in the quarter, with a deceleration in broadband ARPU growth resulting in 2.6% growth this quarter [19][20] - Wireless net additions hit a new record at 414,000, with nearly half of residential postpaid phone connects coming from customers taking a free line [21][88] - Business services revenue was up 6% and EBITDA grew by nearly 5% in the quarter, driven by advanced services like Cybersecurity Cloud Solutions [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The broadband environment remains intensely competitive, with a focus on simplifying pricing and improving customer experience [7][17] - The media segment, excluding the comparison to last year's Paris Olympics, saw revenue increase by 4%, with Peacock revenue growing at a mid-teens rate [24][102] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to be a winner in the multi-gig symmetrical broadband market, with a strategy focused on network, product, and customer experience [7][8] - A new pricing model has been introduced, simplifying offers and enhancing customer experience, which is expected to stabilize the broadband customer base [12][20] - The company is investing in sports content to enhance its media business, leveraging live sports to drive viewership and advertising revenue [14][102] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential despite near-term headwinds from the broadband repositioning and the onboarding of sports rights [28][52] - The leadership transition is seen as a positive step towards navigating the company's strategic pivot and achieving sustainable growth [31][33] Other Important Information - The company returned $2.8 billion to shareholders this quarter, including $1.5 billion in share repurchases and $1.2 billion in dividends [16][26] - The company maintains a healthy balance sheet, ending the quarter with net leverage at 2.3 times [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Context around the evolution of ARPU and customer migration to new plans - Management indicated that due to investments, ARPU growth is unlikely in early 2026, but they are actively migrating customers to new pricing and packaging [42][46] Question: Anticipation of growth rate improvement in convergence - Management is optimistic about the growth rate improving as they continue to market new offers and promotions [44][50] Question: Trajectory of CMP EBITDA next year - Management acknowledged that investments in sales, marketing, and customer service are necessary to support the reset, which will impact EBITDA [60][68] Question: Speculation about Warner Brothers Discovery and implications for Verizon relationship - Management expressed confidence in the relationship with Verizon and emphasized that the bar is high for pursuing any M&A transactions [74][78] Question: Conversion of free wireless lines to pay next year - Management is focused on ensuring quality connections and has strategies in place to transition free lines to paid status effectively [84][88] Question: Advertising outlook and impact of programmatic - Management reported a strong advertising quarter, driven by sports, and noted the increasing use of programmatic and digital advertising [102][104]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2 2025, global attendance increased by 25.6%, welcoming 63 million moviegoers, while total revenue grew by 35.6% to $1.4 billion [5][16] - Adjusted EBITDA surged by 391.4% to $189.2 million, marking a significant improvement from $38 million in Q2 2024 [6][8] - Free cash flow reached $89 million, a $168 million improvement compared to the prior year's second quarter [16][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Admissions revenue per patron rose by 7.5% to a record $12.14, while food and beverage revenue per patron climbed by 8.3% to $7.95 [16][12] - Total revenue per patron hit an unprecedented $22.26, reflecting an increase of approximately 43% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 [16][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The domestic industry box office surpassed that of 2024 by 85%, indicating a strong recovery in the market [5][9] - The company anticipates a significant box office increase in 2025, projecting an additional $500 million to $900 million compared to 2024 [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing guest experiences through premium offerings, including expanding IMAX and Dolby Cinema screens [35][36] - Recent pricing strategies include a 50% discount on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to attract more patrons, while also raising prices on other days [23][27] - The company is actively optimizing its theater footprint by closing underperforming locations and investing in high-performing new theaters [19][75] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the industry's recovery, believing the current box office surge is sustainable rather than a short-lived spike [9][42] - The company expects some seasonal box office weakness in Q3 but anticipates a strong fourth quarter, potentially the best in six years [21][22] Other Important Information - The company has successfully fortified its balance sheet, addressing all 2026 debt maturities and pushing them out to 2029 [12][13] - The AMC Stubs loyalty program has seen significant growth, with about half of U.S. ticket buyers being members [29][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Pricing Strategy and Food & Beverage Focus - Management discussed the effectiveness of the new 50% off Tuesdays and Wednesdays strategy and the positive early signs of increased attendance [46][50] - The company is focusing on menu variety and increasing the number of items purchased per guest at concession stands [56][60] Question: Advertising Agreement with National CineMedia - Management clarified that while they extended the agreement with National CineMedia, they are also looking to streamline the pre-show content to enhance the viewer experience [62][66] Question: Future Theater Openings and Closures - Management indicated that while closures may continue, the profitability of new theaters opened is significantly higher than those closed, suggesting a potential shift towards net additions in the future [72][75]