“We delivered total Company revenue growth, as continued record digital performance and stronger non-political advertising and magazine consumer revenues overcame historically high political advertising revenues in the prior year,” said Meredith Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Harty. “Our digital performance reflects strength across the board, including advertising, licensing, and digital consumer driven sources such as performance marketing and content commerce.”
Fiscal 2022 first quarter revenues grew 2 percent to $709 million. Looking more closely at the quarter:
*Digital revenues grew 24 percent to $200 million. Performance was led by strong 29 percent growth in digital advertising revenues. Meredith continues to benefit from its proprietary technology platform that brings together strong content and trusted brands, unique taxonomy, and first party data. Digital consumer revenues grew 24 percent, with performance driven by Apple News+ and performance marketing via retail partners, including Walmart, Amazon, and Target.
*Magazine revenues declined 2 percent to $305 million. Magazine consumer related revenue, which accounted for nearly two-thirds of the segment’s revenue, grew 6 percent, driven by newsstand and subscription revenue performance. Magazine advertising revenues declined as expected, due primarily to the food, prescription drug, and beauty categories, which continue to be adversely impacted by current economic conditions including ongoing work-from-home protocols and supply chain disruptions.
*Local Media Group revenues declined 7 percent to $209 million. As expected in a non-political year, political spot advertising revenues were lower at $5 million compared to $52 million. Non-political spot advertising revenues grew 24 percent, reflecting a lack of political advertising crowd out, and driven primarily by gaming, professional services, and home categories. Retransmission revenue growth was driven primarily by annual escalations.
Net earnings were $25 million, compared to $42 million. Results included a net special charge of $17 million primarily related to transaction costs, compared to $8 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $125 million, compared to $143 million. Results reflect a change in revenue mix with lower cyclical high-margin political advertising and lower magazine advertising partially offset by stronger digital performance.
details at: https://ir.meredith.com/news-releases/press-release-details/2021/Meredith-Reports-Fiscal-2022-First-Quarter-Results/default.aspx