The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) Earnings Call Transcripts

The E.W. Scripps Company's Latest Earnings Call - Q1 FY2026

In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, The E.W. Scripps Company (SSP) reported a revenue of $505 million, which was below the consensus estimate of $520 million, reflecting a 5.8% increase year-over-year. The company recorded a loss of $0.20 per share, which included a $30 million gain from asset sales. Management has adjusted its guidance for the second quarter, now expecting Local Media revenue to grow in the low single digits, with core advertising projected to decline slightly. The company continues to execute its transformation strategy, aiming for an EBITDA improvement of $125 million to $150 million by 2028.

Reported metrics

Guidance from management

For Q2, management expects Local Media revenue to grow in the low single digits and core advertising to decline slightly. They have adjusted their full-year gross distribution revenue growth guidance to low double digits.

What management said

So from a DR perspective, it really varies by network, but we certainly do have a material portion of our networks revenue, which is tied to DR advertising. What you see DR advertising is very tied into broader macroeconomic trends and can both downturn quickly, but also bounced back pretty quickly as well. And so we are seeing some noise right now that's part of. I know you think you said you missed the beginning of...

I would say from a speed perspective, it snaps around pretty darn quickly. And 1 good example of that is what we saw in fourth quarter. The beginning of fourth quarter, we were a little soft with DR as a result of the government shutdown. Its impact on employment and its impact on Medicare enrollment. When the government shutdown ended, it snapped back. And so I think the bottom line here is uncertainty is not good f...

What analysts pressed on

Analysts expressed concerns regarding the impact of Nielsen's methodology change on revenue and audience delivery. There were also questions about the sustainability of local advertising growth in a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Main topics on the call

• Local Media Division Performance — The Local Media division saw revenue of $331 million, up 5.8% year-over-year, driven by a 7% growth in core advertising. Management noted that 'political advertising revenue was nearly $9 million' as they prepare for a r...
• Scripps Networks Revenue Decline — Scripps Networks revenue fell 9.5% to $174 million, attributed to macroeconomic conditions and changes in Nielsen's measurement methodology impacting audience delivery. Management expects a further decline of about 10% i...
• Transformation Strategy Progress — Management highlighted the ongoing transformation strategy, stating, 'we're right on track' to improve EBITDA by $125 million to $150 million by 2028. The company aims to leverage technology and operational efficiencies ...
• Impact of Nielsen Methodology Change — The recent change in Nielsen's methodology has negatively affected audience ratings and impressions, leading to a decline in revenue. Management emphasized the need for Nielsen to address the discrepancies in their data.

Read the full The E.W. Scripps Company transcript (Q1 FY2026) → Summary generated from the call transcript; every figure above is stated by management on the record.

Earnings Call History

EarningsCalls.dev has 38 The E.W. Scripps Company earnings call transcripts on record, spanning February 28, 2020 to August 7, 2026. Based on this history, The E.W. Scripps Company reports quarterly. The most recent call on file is dated August 7, 2026. The full list is below — each row opens the complete, free-to-read transcript.

Ticker

SSP

Exchange

NasdaqGS

Country

US

Sector

Communication Services

Industry

Media

Calls on record

38

First call

February 28, 2020

Most recent

August 7, 2026

Reporting cadence

quarterly