Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - A.H. Belo reported a first quarter 2021 net loss of $2.8 million or $0.13 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.6 million or $0.08 per share in the first quarter of 2020 [6] - Total GAAP revenue for Q1 2021 was $36.8 million, a decrease of $3.5 million or 8.7% from $40.3 million in Q1 2020 [8] - Adjusted operating loss improved to $2.4 million, a reduction of $400,000 or 14.4% from the adjusted operating loss of $2.8 million in the prior year [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Digital circulation revenue increased to $2 million, up $600,000 or 46.5% year-over-year, with paid digital-only subscriptions rising to 50,852, an increase of 11,493 or 29.2% [9] - Print circulation revenue decreased to $14 million, down $1 million or 6.9% compared to the previous year, with home delivery revenue declining only 4.3% [10] - Other revenue fell to $4 million from $4.6 million, primarily due to a $600,000 decrease in commercial printing and distribution revenue [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a decline in both print and digital advertising revenue, with print advertising down approximately $1.6 million and digital advertising down $1 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic [8] - Print advertising revenue has shown signs of returning to pre-pandemic levels, while digital advertising is rebounding quickly, particularly in search and programmatic advertising [39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on transitioning to a digital-first model while maintaining cash flow from traditional revenue sources [17][18] - A voluntary severance offer (VSO) has been introduced to adjust the expense structure in line with the company's new size and focus [18][30] - The company aims to cover newsroom costs through digital subscriptions, targeting a $15 million revenue mark from digital subscriptions [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the return of advertisers and the stability in home delivery, which supports confidence in maintaining cash flows [17] - The company is focused on managing the balance between legacy revenue and digital growth, emphasizing the importance of pricing strategies [17][27] - The pension plan is well-funded at 94%, providing stability amid market volatility [20] Other Important Information - The company has no mandatory pension payments for the next 10 years and is currently debt-free with cash and cash equivalents of $39 million [13] - A memorandum of understanding has been signed with Charter Holdings regarding the extension of a note payable, which could generate approximately $1 million in additional interest income [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: What level of subscriber is needed to reach breakeven cash flow? - Management indicated that the goal is to cover newsroom costs of approximately $15 million through digital subscriptions, with both volume and pricing being critical factors [25][26] Question: Can you provide details on the voluntary severance offer (VSO)? - The VSO is voluntary and targets shared service back-office areas, with no specific target for the number of participants [30][32] Question: Are you receiving payments from Facebook or Google? - The company is receiving payments from Facebook as part of a revenue share agreement but not from Google [34] Question: What is the CapEx budget for this year? - The CapEx budget is less than $1 million, focusing on necessary replacements rather than significant new investments [55] Question: How do you drive higher conversion from social media followers to paid subscribers? - The company is utilizing social media and email strategies to capture leads and convert them into paying subscribers, with a focus on building relationships through email acquisition [49][51]
DallasNews (DALN) - 2021 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript