Fiscal 2020 second quarter revenues of $187.7 million
Fiscal 2020 second quarter operating income of $70.0 million
Fiscal 2020 second quarter adjusted operating income of $77.1 million

NEW YORK, Feb. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MSG Networks Inc. (NYSE: MSGN) today reported financial results for the fiscal 2020 second quarter ended December 31, 2019.

For the fiscal 2020 second quarter, MSG Networks Inc. generated revenues of $187.7 million, a decrease of 3% as compared with the prior year period.  In addition, the Company generated operating income of $70.0 million, a decrease of 11%; adjusted operating income of $77.1 million, a decrease of 10%; and net income of $40.0 million, a decrease of 9%; all as compared with the prior year period.(1)

President and CEO Andrea Greenberg said, "During our fiscal second quarter, we secured important affiliate renewals and solidified our relationships with new and existing advertising partners, demonstrating the continued importance and appeal of live local professional sports content in the nation's largest media market.  Looking ahead, we remain confident in our continued ability to generate substantial free cash flow and long-term value for our shareholders."

Fiscal Year 2020 Second Quarter Results  
(In thousands, except per share data)

 		 Three Months Ended
  December 31,
  2019
Revenues $187,730 
Operating income 69,963 
Adjusted operating income 77,083 
Net Income 39,964 
Diluted EPS $0.66 

(1) See page 3 of this earnings release for the definition of adjusted operating income included in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures.

Summary of Reported Results from Operations
Fiscal 2020 second quarter total revenues of $187.7 million decreased 3%, or $5.2 million, as compared with the prior year period.  Affiliation fee revenue decreased $3.1 million, primarily due to the impact of a decrease in subscribers of approximately 8%, partially offset by the impact of higher affiliation rates and, to a lesser extent, a favorable $2.3 million affiliate adjustment recorded in the current year quarter.

Advertising revenue decreased $1.4 million, primarily due to a lower net decrease in deferred revenue related to ratings guarantees and the impact of fewer live professional sports telecasts as compared with the prior year period, partially offset by higher per-game sales from the telecast of live professional sports programming and other net advertising increases, primarily from the Company's non-ratings based advertising initiatives.  Other revenues decreased $0.7 million, due to the absence in the current year quarter of $0.8 million in fees related to Fuse Media.

Direct operating expenses of $84.1 million increased 3%, or $2.6 million, as compared with the prior year period.  The increase was primarily due to higher rights fees expense, mainly a result of annual contractual rate increases.

Selling, general and administrative expenses of $32.0 million increased 2%, or $0.7 million, as compared with the prior year period, due to higher advertising and marketing costs, as well as higher professional fees and other cost increases, partially offset by lower employee compensation and related benefits. The overall increase includes $0.6 million in expenses in the current year quarter that are not indicative of the Company's core expense base.

Operating income of $70.0 million decreased 11%, or $8.4 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to the decrease in revenues, higher direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses (including share-based compensation expense).

Adjusted operating income of $77.1 million decreased 10%, or $8.7 million, as compared with the prior year period, primarily due to the decrease in revenues, higher direct operating expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding share-based compensation expense).

Excluding the impact of the $2.3 million favorable affiliate adjustment recorded in the current year quarter, the absence of $0.8 million in Fuse Media fees and the $0.6 million in selling, general and administrative expenses that are not indicative of the Company's core expense base, fiscal 2020 second quarter adjusted operating income would have decreased 11%, or $9.7 million, as compared with the prior year quarter.

About MSG Networks Inc.
MSG Networks Inc., a pioneer in sports media, owns and operates two award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks and a companion streaming service that serve the nation’s number one media market, the New York DMA, as well as other portions of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The networks feature a wide range of compelling sports content, including exclusive live local games and other programming of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, as well as significant coverage of the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills.  This content, in addition to a diverse array of other sporting events and critically acclaimed original programming, has established MSG Networks as the gold standard in regional sports.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We define adjusted operating income, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income before 1) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment and intangible assets, 2) share-based compensation expense or benefit, 3) restructuring charges or credits and 4) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses.  Because it is based upon operating income, adjusted operating income also excludes interest expense (including cash interest expense) and other non-operating income and expense items. We believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense or benefit allows investors to better track the performance of the Company without regard to the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash.

We believe adjusted operating income is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of our Company.  Adjusted operating income and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors and analysts to analyze our performance. Internally, we use revenues and adjusted operating income measures as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators.  Adjusted operating income should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flows from operating activities, and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Since adjusted operating income is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of operating income to adjusted operating income, please see page 6 of this release.

The Company defines Free Cash Flow (“Free Cash Flow”), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, both of which are reported in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.  The Company believes the most comparable GAAP financial measure is net cash provided by operating activities. The Company believes that Free Cash Flow is useful as an indicator of its overall ability to generate liquidity, as the amount of Free Cash Flow generated in any period is representative of cash that is generated for debt repayment, investment, and other discretionary and non-discretionary cash uses. The Company also believes that Free Cash Flow is one of several benchmarks used by analysts and investors for comparison of the Company’s generation of liquidity with other companies in the industry, although the Company’s measure of Free Cash Flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies.  For a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to net cash provided by operating activities, please see page 8 of this release.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community perceptions of the Company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which it operates and the factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

  
Contacts: 
  
Kimberly Kerns Ari Danes, CFA
Communications Investor Relations
(212) 465-6442 (212) 465-6072
  

Conference Call Information:
The conference call will be Webcast live today at 10:00 a.m. ET at www.msgnetworks.com
Conference call dial-in number is 877-883-0832 / Conference ID Number 9779306
Conference call replay number is 855-859-2056 / Conference ID Number 9779306 until February 11, 2020


MSG NETWORKS INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  December 31, December 31,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Revenues $187,730  $192,914  $348,711  $357,378 
Direct operating expenses 84,065  81,470  152,725  148,125 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 32,022  31,294  54,342  48,197 
Depreciation and amortization 1,680  1,800  3,407  3,845 
Operating income 69,963  78,350  138,237  157,211 
Other income (expense):        
Interest income 906  1,422  2,834  3,014 
Interest expense (9,934) (11,693) (20,749) (23,615)
Debt refinancing expense (2,764) —  (2,764) — 
Other components of net periodic benefit cost (258) (413) (516) (818)
  (12,050) (10,684) (21,195) (21,419)
Income from operations before income taxes 57,913  67,666  117,042  135,792 
Income tax expense (17,949) (23,828) (34,011) (45,024)
Net income $39,964  $43,838  $83,031  $90,768 
         
Earnings per share:        
Basic $0.66  $0.58  $1.23  $1.21 
Diluted $0.66  $0.58  $1.22  $1.20 
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:        
Basic 60,452  75,079  67,758  74,987 
Diluted 60,825  75,737  68,144  75,715 
             


MSG NETWORKS INC.
ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE OPERATING INCOME
TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME
(In thousands)

The following is a description of the adjustments to operating income in arriving at adjusted operating income as described in this earnings release:

  • Share-based compensation expense. This adjustment eliminates the compensation expense relating to restricted stock units and stock options granted under our employee stock plan and non-employee director stock plan in all periods.

  • Depreciation and amortization.  This adjustment eliminates depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment and intangible assets in all periods.
     
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  December 31, December 31,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Operating income $69,963  $78,350  $138,237  $157,211 
Share-based compensation expense 5,440  5,611  10,099  9,287 
Depreciation and amortization 1,680  1,800  3,407  3,845 
Adjusted operating income $77,083  $85,761  $151,743  $170,343 
                 



MSG NETWORKS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share data)

  December 31,
2019		 June 30,
2019
  (unaudited)  
ASSETS    
Current Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $115,914  $226,423 
Accounts receivable, net 107,477  108,349 
Related party receivables, net 21,018  16,091 
Prepaid income taxes 12,235  1,968 
Prepaid expenses 6,161  2,003 
Other current assets 4,449  5,286 
Total current assets 267,254  360,120 
Property and equipment, net 8,503  9,302 
Amortizable intangible assets, net 32,013  33,743 
Goodwill 424,508  424,508 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 13,852  — 
Other assets 38,631  39,226 
Total assets $784,761  $866,899 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY    
Current Liabilities:    
Accounts payable $569  $907 
Related party payables 1,161  941 
Current portion of long-term debt 26,237  111,789 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 4,689  — 
Accrued liabilities:    
Employee related costs 9,490  15,466 
Other accrued liabilities 11,485  13,898 
Deferred revenue 826  185 
Total current liabilities 54,457  143,186 
Long-term debt, net of current portion 1,067,902  906,228 
Long-term operating lease liabilities 11,438  — 
Defined benefit and other postretirement obligations 24,480  25,834 
Other employee related costs 4,981  4,713 
Other liabilities 148  2,310 
Deferred tax liability 244,367  243,396 
Total liabilities 1,407,773  1,325,667 
Commitments and contingencies    
Stockholders' Deficiency:    
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01, 360,000 shares authorized; 46,578 and 61,287 shares outstanding as of
December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, respectively		 643  643 
Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01, 90,000 shares authorized; 13,589 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019 136  136 
Preferred stock, par value $0.01, 45,000 shares authorized; none outstanding —  — 
Additional paid-in capital 3,650  9,916 
Treasury stock, at cost, 17,681 and 2,972 shares as of December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, respectively (417,162) (179,561)
Accumulated deficit (202,982) (282,414)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (7,297) (7,488)
Total stockholders' deficiency (623,012) (458,768)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficiency $784,761  $866,899 
         


MSG NETWORKS INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 Summary Data from the Statements of Cash Flows

  Six Months Ended
  December 31,
  2019 2018
Net cash provided by operating activities $74,021  $90,455 
Net cash used in investing activities (1,758) (3,674)
Net cash used in financing activities (182,772) (117,500)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (110,509) (30,719)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 226,423  205,343 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $115,914  $174,624 
         

 Free Cash Flow

  Six Months Ended
  December 31,
  2019 2018
Net cash provided by operating activities $74,021  $90,455 
Less: Capital expenditures (1,758) (1,674)
Free cash flow $72,263  $88,781 
     
     

 Capitalization

  December 31,
  2019
Cash and cash equivalents $115,914 
Credit facility debt(a) 1,100,000 
Net debt $984,086 
   
Reconciliation of operating income to AOI for the trailing twelve-month period(b)  
Operating Income $290,925 
Share-based compensation expense 18,899 
Depreciation and amortization 6,960 
Adjusted operating income $316,784 
   
Leverage ratio(c)  3.1x 
   
(a) Represents aggregate principal amount of the debt outstanding.
(b) Represents reported adjusted operating income for the trailing twelve months.
(c) Represents net debt divided by adjusted operating income for the trailing twelve-month period, which differs from the covenant calculation contained in the Company's credit facility.

Primary Logo