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 and a $4 million restructuring charge that increased the loss by $0.04 per share [13][14][24] - Total debt at the end of the quarter was $2.6 billion, with a net leverage ratio of 4.9 times, which the company expects to reduce throughout the year [13][14][24] 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 hesitancy in advertising spending amid economic uncertainty [7][8] - Scripps Networks revenue was $198 million, down about 5% from the previous year, but Connected TV revenue increased by 42% [10][11] - Local Media segment profit was $35 million, down from $66 million in Q1 2024, while Scripps Networks segment profit rose to $64 million from $49.7 million year-over-year [8][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects Local Media division revenue to decline in the high single-digit range for Q2, with core revenue down in the low single-digit range due to ongoing economic uncertainties [9][12] - Advertising categories such as automotive and retail were the worst performers in Q1, while gambling advertising saw growth tied to local sports deals [42][44][75] 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 repayment [14][15] - Management anticipates local broadcast industry consolidation, which could enhance growth and efficiency in local markets [17][18] - The company is leveraging its local news and sports programming to strengthen connections with audiences and advertisers, aiming to create shareholder value [19][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the company's ability to navigate economic uncertainties and highlighted strong performance in Connected TV and disciplined expense management [6][16] - The company is preparing for potential regulatory changes that could allow for greater consolidation and operational leverage in local markets [24][60] Other Important Information - The company completed refinancing transactions that improved its debt maturity profile and only slightly increased its blended cost of debt [14][15] - The company has received multiple prestigious journalism awards, reinforcing its commitment to quality news reporting [19][20] 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 [26][27] Question: What visibility does the company have on performance in the back half of the year? - Management indicated that while there is excitement around women's sports, concrete details from upfronts will be clearer in the next earnings call [30][31] Question: How did advertising categories perform in Q1? - Automotive and retail were the worst performers, while gambling advertising saw growth due to local sports deals [42][44] Question: What is the outlook for retransmission revenues? - Management confirmed that retransmission subscribers were down mid-single digits year-over-year, consistent with previous trends [52][53] Question: What is the expected impact of deregulation on the ION side of the business? - Management anticipates that changes in ownership rules could allow for more local stations, improving margins for ION [69][70] Question: What is the expected cash balance post-refinancing? - The company had $25 million in cash at the end of the quarter, with expectations to reduce revolver balances by the end of the year [93][96]

Financial Performance - The E.W. Scripps Company reported Q1 2025 revenue of $524 million, a decrease of 6.6% or $37.1 million from the prior-year quarter[7]. - Loss attributable to shareholders was $18.8 million or 22 cents per share, compared to a loss of $12.8 million or 15 cents per share in the prior-year quarter[8]. - Total operating revenues decreased by 6.6% to $524,393,000 in Q1 2025 from $561,464,000 in Q1 2024[30]. - Net loss for the quarter was $3,455,000 compared to a net income of $1,626,000 in the same period last year[35]. - Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $75,606,000 from $91,844,000, reflecting a decline in operating performance[39]. Segment Performance - Local Media revenue was $325 million, down 7.8% from the prior-year quarter, while segment profit decreased to $34.9 million from $65.6 million[9][11]. - Scripps Networks revenue was $198 million, down 5.4% from the prior-year quarter, but segment profit increased to $64.1 million from $49.7 million[12][13]. - Core advertising revenue decreased by 3.1% to $132 million, while political revenue dropped to $3.3 million from $15.2 million in the prior-year quarter[17]. - Local Media segment revenues fell by 7.8% to $325,389,000, with core advertising down 3.1% and political advertising down 78.5%[31]. - Scripps Networks segment revenues decreased by 5.4% to $198,007,000, while segment profit increased by 29.1% to $64,093,000[31]. Debt and Financial Management - The company completed refinancing transactions, resulting in total debt of $2.6 billion and cash and cash equivalents of $24 million as of March 31[14][15]. - The company is prioritizing debt paydown, with net leverage at 4.9x at the end of Q1 2025, and aims to continue reducing its leverage ratio this year[6]. - Interest expense decreased to $43,750,000 from $54,917,000, indicating improved cost management[39]. Asset Management - Total current assets decreased to $598,148,000 from $630,015,000, with cash and cash equivalents slightly increasing to $23,959,000[33]. - Total assets decreased to $5,116,189,000 from $5,198,575,000, primarily due to a reduction in current liabilities[33]. - The company reported a total equity of $1,319,723,000, slightly up from $1,318,014,000[33]. Future Outlook - The company expects Local Media revenue to decline in the high single-digit percent range and Scripps Networks revenue to be about flat in Q2 2025[18]. - Capital expenditures significantly reduced to $1,854,000 from $17,897,000 in the previous year[40]. - Real estate sales from the West Palm Beach station building and five transmission towers generated $63 million[6].

Company Performance - E.W. Scripps reported a quarterly loss of $0.18 per share, better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.23, but worse than a loss of $0.10 per share a year ago, indicating an earnings surprise of 21.74% [1] - The company posted revenues of $524.39 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.94%, but down from $561.46 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, E.W. Scripps has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once, while it has topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Performance - E.W. Scripps shares have increased by approximately 8.1% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of 4.3% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.07 on revenues of $548.7 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.07 on revenues of $2.2 billion [7] Industry Outlook - The Broadcast Radio and Television industry, to which E.W. Scripps belongs, is currently ranked in the top 38% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact stock performance [5]

Core Insights - The E.W. Scripps Company reported $524 million in revenue for Q1 2025, a decrease of 6.6% from the previous year, with a loss attributable to shareholders of $18.8 million or 22 cents per share [1][6][7] Financial Performance - Revenue for the Local Media segment was $325 million, down 7.8% year-over-year, while Scripps Networks revenue was $198 million, down 5.4% [10][12] - Total costs and expenses for the company were $454 million, reduced from $474 million in the prior-year quarter [6] - The company achieved a segment profit of $34.9 million for Local Media, a decline of 46.7%, while Scripps Networks saw a profit increase of 29.1% to $64.1 million [11][12] Operational Highlights - The Scripps Networks division achieved a margin of 32%, attributed to growth in connected TV revenue and effective cost management [9] - The company completed negotiations covering 25% of its pay TV households and closed refinancing transactions for its term loans and revolving credit facility [1][9] - New distribution agreements for live women's sports events are expected to enhance advertising revenue and audience engagement [4][6] Debt Management - The company prioritized debt paydown, with total debt standing at $2.6 billion and net leverage at 4.9x at the end of Q1 [13][14] - The refinancing included a new term loan due in 2028 with $545 million outstanding and a new revolving credit facility maturing in 2027 [14][15] Future Outlook - The company anticipates flat distribution revenue for the year despite subscriber declines, with a positive outlook for the Scripps Networks division due to the return of women's sports [9][17] - The local broadcast station sector may benefit from potential deregulation by the Federal Communications Commission [5]

Core Points - The E.W. Scripps Company has two local television stations that won Peabody Awards for impactful local investigations [1][4] - WTVF in Nashville won for its investigation "Confronting Hate," focusing on political extremism in Tennessee [1][2] - KNXV in Phoenix won for its video series "Policing Phoenix," which analyzed a U.S. Department of Justice report on the Phoenix Police Department [4][5] Summary by Category Awards and Recognition - WTVF has won its fourth Peabody Award and has received this honor for two consecutive years [3] - KNXV has achieved its fifth Peabody Award, with three of those in the last five years [6] Investigative Reporting - WTVF's investigation led to a criminal probe by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into local police misconduct [2] - KNXV's series transformed a 126-page DOJ report into a comprehensive video series, highlighting systemic failures in the Phoenix Police Department [4][5] Company Commitment - Dean Littleton, Scripps' executive vice president, emphasized the importance of local journalism in fostering transparency and integrity [7] - The Peabody Awards are awarded annually to recognize impactful stories that reflect pressing social issues [7]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year decline in earnings for E.W. Scripps due to lower revenues, with a focus on how actual results compare to estimates impacting stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - E.W. Scripps is expected to report a quarterly loss of $0.23 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of -130% [3]. - Revenues are projected to be $519.5 million, down 7.5% from the same quarter last year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 61.11% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate aligns with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of 0% [10][11]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model suggests that a positive or negative reading indicates the likelihood of deviation from consensus estimates, with positive readings being more predictive of earnings beats [6][7]. - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 have shown a nearly 70% success rate in delivering positive surprises [8]. Historical Performance - E.W. Scripps has not beaten consensus EPS estimates in the last four quarters, with the most recent quarter showing a surprise of -2.02% [12][13]. Conclusion - E.W. Scripps does not appear to be a strong candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider other factors when evaluating the stock ahead of its earnings release [16].

Core Points - Scripps News, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, received three National Headliner Awards and two Deadline Club finalist nominations, highlighting the significance of its impactful journalism [1][2] - The awards recognize excellence in various categories, including health science and environmental reporting, showcasing the dedication of the Scripps News team to uncover vital stories [3][4] Awards and Recognitions - Scripps News won a first-place National Headliner Award for the documentary "Darwin's War," which provided rare access to a Ukrainian FPV drone unit, illustrating modern combat in the Ukraine war [4][5] - The investigation "Fentanyl: The Silent Toll" also received a first-place National Headliner Award, focusing on the impact of fentanyl on young children across the U.S. through extensive interviews and data analysis [7][8] - The report "One Woman's Frontline" earned a second-place National Headliner Award, highlighting the experiences of women in the Ukraine war [10] Additional Projects - Scripps News was a finalist for a Deadline Club Award for the documentary series "In the Shadows with Jason Bellini," which offers a raw perspective on the Ukraine war through the lens of a soldier [11] - The report "Sex, Lies and Deepfakes" is a finalist for the Deadline Club's "Mosaic Award," focusing on the experiences of women affected by disinformation [13][14]

Core Points - The 72nd Scripps Howard Journalism Awards recognize impactful journalism from local and national newsrooms, with finalists selected from nearly 600 entries across 12 categories [1][2][3] - The awards highlight journalism that addresses urgent social issues, including mental health, criminal justice, environmental crises, and systemic inequities, emphasizing the role of journalism in fostering public accountability and resilience [3] Categories and Finalists - Categories include Excellence in Audio Storytelling, Business/Financial Reporting, Environmental Reporting, Local/Regional Investigative Reporting, and more [5][7] - Notable finalists include ABC15 Arizona for "Policing Phoenix: The DOJ Report," The New York Times for "The Migrant Pipeline," and ProPublica for "Maylia and Jack: A Story of Teens and Fentanyl" [5][9] Awards and Recognition - The winners will be announced online on June 10, 2025, at SHJAwards.org [4] - The Scripps Howard Fund also recognizes journalism education through awards for Teacher of the Year and Administrator of the Year [7]

CINCINNATI, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) will report first-quarter 2025 operating results after the markets close on Thursday, May 8. The call with the company's senior management team will take place at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, May 9. The company's protocol for joining its earnings calls is as follows: To access a live webcast of the call, participants will need to register by visiting http://ir.scripps.com/. The registration link can be found on that page ...

Core Points - The E.W. Scripps Company received the 2025 "Service to America" award from the National Association of Broadcasters for its relief efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which were among the 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history [1][2] - Scripps raised over $289,000 for 29 local nonprofits to aid communities affected by the hurricanes, demonstrating the company's commitment to community service [4][5] Company Overview - The E.W. Scripps Company is a diversified media company and one of the largest local TV broadcasters in the U.S., operating over 60 stations in more than 40 markets [6] - Scripps News and other national news outlets provide quality local journalism, while the company also holds the largest broadcast spectrum in the nation [6] - The Scripps Howard Fund, established by Scripps, focuses on journalism education, childhood literacy, and local causes, supporting community engagement and informed citizenship [7][8]