Corus Entertainment Inc. ($CJRB)

Good morning. My name is Joelle, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Corus Entertainment Q2 2026 Analyst and Investor Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this call is being recorded. I will now turn the call over to Mr. John Gossling, CEO of Corus Entertainment. Mr. Gossling, you may begin your conference.

Thanks very much, operator, and good morning, everyone. I'm John Gossling, Chief Executive Officer, and welcome to Corus Entertainment's Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Earnings Call. I'd like to remind everyone that we have slides to accompany today's call and you can find them on our website at www.corusent.com under the Investor Relations-Events and Presentations section. I'll start off by drawing your attention to our standard cautionary statement, which can be found on Slide 2. We note that forward-looking statements may be made during this call, and actual results could differ materially from forecasts, projections or conclusions in these statements. I'd also like to remind those on our call today, in addition to disclosing results in accordance with IFRS. Corus also provides supplementary non-IFRS or non-GAAP measures as a method of evaluating the company's performance and to better provide a better understanding of how management views the company's performance. Today, we will be referring to certain non-GAAP measures in our remarks. Additional information on these non-GAAP measures, the company's reported results and factors and assumptions related to forward-looking information can be found in Corus' Second Quarter 2026 report to shareholders and the 2025 annual report, which can be found on SEDAR+ or again, in the Investor Relations-Financial Reports section of our website. Joining me on today's call are Jennifer Lee, who is our Chief Administrative and Legal Officer; as well as senior finance team members, Doug Spence; and Ann Duggan, all of whom are outlined on Slide 3. So starting on Slide 4, I'll give you an update on our proposed recapitalization transaction. As you likely already know, I'm pleased to share that we have now received the court order allowing us to proceed with this transaction. This marks an important milestone towards strengthening Corus' financial foundation and positioning the company for the future. We are now moving through the remaining steps, including working to obtain regulatory and stock exchange approvals. As we said before, this transaction is designed to significantly improve our balance sheet, enhance liquidity and give us greater flexibility to invest in the business, outcomes we believe are in the best interest of the company and our stakeholders. In terms of timing, we are not yet in a position to provide an estimated closing date. The time line will depend largely on the regulatory process, and we expect to have more clarity on that process as it progresses. In the meantime, our focus remains on execution, and we're making solid progress on key revenue, cost and efficiency initiatives. Turning now to have a look at our global programming performance on Slide 5. The Winter Olympics, as expected, resulted in a delayed start to our global winter and spring schedule, along with audience and financial impacts consistent with prior Olympic years. These included shifts in the timing of programming and marketing costs as well as temporary disruption to typical advertising investment and viewing patterns. Global has quickly regained momentum, emerging as the #1 network in core prime time post Olympics and delivering higher audience levels than the same week last year. Global currently has 8 of the top 10 shows in Canada, including the top 3 overall, led by the blockbuster 50th season of Survivor, which is delivering 47% higher audiences so far compared to the prior season average. Global's performance underscores the strength of our content slate as we move into the remainder of the broadcast year. Turning now to specialty on Slide 6. This spring, Corus is home to the top 3 entertainment specialty networks in Canada, W Network, Home Network and Showcase, reflecting the continued strength and relevance of our portfolio. Across key genres, we continue to hold leading positions. W Network and Showcase remain the #1 and #2 drama brands. Home and flavor are the top 2 lifestyle brands. History continues as the #1 factual network NYP remains the leading kids commercial network. We are also encouraged by the momentum at Slice, which has delivered significant gains and is now a top 20 network. Overall, Corus currently holds 15 of the top 20 entertainment specialty shows, underscoring the depth and consistency of our content offering. We're particularly excited about both our current slate and upcoming program across the portfolio, which we believe supports our performance in the months ahead. Taking a look at digital. As discussed earlier, digital tuning this winter was impacted by temporary factors related to the Olympics. Strong audience engagement around returning franchises and new content launches has driven improved tuning past Olympics, with titles like Survivor continuing to be important contributors across platforms. As more of our spring programming rolls out, we're encouraged by the improved performance we're seeing and remain focused on driving engagement and growth of our digital ecosystem. With that, I'll turn it over to Doug Spence now to review the financial highlights for Q2.

Thank you, John. I'll start on Slide 7. In our second quarter, lower TV advertising revenue, combined with the lower subscription revenue contributed to consolidated revenue of $230 million, a 15% decrease from the prior year. Our results were impacted by lower demand for linear TV in the broader advertising market, persistent macroeconomic factors and as John noted, by the temporary disruptions to February's programming schedules and advertising investments due to the Olympics. On the subscriber side, lower revenue was driven by the reduced number of specialty channels in our portfolio compared to the prior year. plus ongoing declines in the traditional linear subscription business. Consolidated segment profit of $30 million for the quarter, a significant 72% increase compared to the prior year. The lower Q2 revenue was more than offset by a number of temporary and permanent factors, resulting in a 21% decrease in direct cost of sales, general and administrative expenses. Direct cost of sales decreased 24%, driven by lower amortization of program rights from the delayed timing of our winter and spring program premieres which was a temporary situation and the discontinuation of certain program rights related to our specialty television portfolio changes, which are permanent savings. Put another way, Timing accounted for approximately 1/3 of the $28 million decrease in amortization of program rights in the quarter. Other cost of sales also declined significantly due to costs in the prior year period related to a certain digital sales initiative that has since ended. General and administrative expenses were notably lower, down 17%, including a 9% decrease in employee costs and a 31% decrease in other G&A. While the prior year quarter included some onetime expenses related to the launch of two specialty channels, reduced costs in the current year reflected the benefits of our cost containment program and the receipt of funding to offset new production costs. Consolidated segment profit margin was 13% for the quarter, up from 6% last year. Net debt to segment profit was 6.7x compared to 6.01x at the end of last year and was down from 7.39x at the end of Q1 benefiting from higher segment profit and lower lease liabilities in Q2. At the end of our second quarter, we were in compliance with all loan covenants and had approximately $36 million of cash and cash equivalents and $35 million available to be drawn under the revolving credit facility. As a reminder, given the recapitalization transaction process, at the end of the second quarter, we obtained a waiver and standstill with the lenders under the credit facility which provides waivers of certain financial covenants, including the net debt to cash flow ratio until May 30, 2026. Free cash flow of positive $1.3 million in Q2 was lower than the prior year. Driven by higher working capital usage and increased cash taxes, partially offset by higher segment profit and lower spend on program rights and film investments. I'll now move on to Slide 8. TV segment revenue was $212 million for the second quarter, down 16% from the prior year. This was mainly driven by lower TV advertising revenue, which declined 21% to $102 million and subscriber revenue, which declined 12% to $99 million. Normalizing for the sunset of two specialty networks in December 2024 and five additional channels in September 2025, subscriber revenue declined 7% compared to last year. Distribution, production and other revenue was $11 million, up 8%, mainly as a result of higher international distribution sales in the quarter. TV segment expenses of $179 million were down 22% from the prior year, driven by a 24% decrease in direct cost of sales, 9% lower employee costs and a 34% decline in other general and administrative expenses. Direct cost of sales benefited from a decline in amortization of program rights of $28 million due to factors outlined earlier and decreased other cost of sales of $7 million associated with certain digital sales initiatives. Segment profit of $33 million, a 48% increase over prior year reflects a significant decrease in expenses from ongoing cost reduction initiatives as well as lower programming costs and other savings as described earlier, which more than offset the lower revenue. TV segment profit margin was 16%, an increase from 9% in the prior year quarter. Over to Slide 9. Radio segment revenue of $18 million for the quarter decreased 4% from the prior year due to lower advertising demand. In Q2, increases in the home products and automotive categories were offset by declines in general services, retail, restaurants, professional services and government, which benefited from elections in the prior year. Radio segment profit increased to $2 million, up 33% in the quarter, reflecting ongoing call reduction initiatives, which more than offset the lower advertising demand. Radio segment profit margin improved to 11% compared to 8% in the prior year quarter. I'll now turn it over to Jen.

Doug, I will provide a brief update on the regulatory side. Essentially, we continue to be in a wait mode on the key developments I flagged last quarter. We're still looking to the CRTC to finalize key parts of the new regulatory framework for all broadcasting. So that's digital, linear, domestic and foreign. In addition, we are still waiting for a final judicial's decision from the Court of Appeal that will allow us to receive our full amount of the independent local news fund or ILNF. As we've said many times before, we are undeniably a highly regulated industry, and we are not calling for all rules to be repealed. Rather, we are looking for smarter rules that promote fair competition. Like many others, we are looking forward to refreshed rules governing broadcasting distribution and spending on Canadian programs and we continue to advocate for urgency on all of that work. In terms of our own proposed recapitalization transaction, as John already mentioned, we are very pleased to receive court approval in March and we're now very focused on moving through regulatory approval processes as quickly as possible. We don't have any concrete timing on when that process will conclude, but we are working efficiently to advance to closing as soon as we can. This will allow us to realize the many and much needed benefits John noted earlier, reduction of debt and cash interest savings for the company. I'll turn it over now to John for his closing comments.

Thanks, Jen. So as we look ahead, our focus is clear. We are prioritizing strategic scheduling for the upcoming broadcast year to continue building on the audience success we're seeing across the portfolio. At the same time, we remain focused on creating new revenue opportunities through product innovation and the continued growth of our digital platforms. We are also maintaining a disciplined approach to costs with ongoing efforts to rightsize our cost structure and aligning with the realities of today's market. Finally, as Jen said, we are working expeditiously to secure the remaining approvals and advance the final steps required to close the proposed recapitalization transaction. We're very excited about the future, one built on a more sustainable capital structure supported by leading brands and content and driven by the strength, commitment and expertise of our talented team. Thank you very much for your continued interest and support. And with that, we'll hand it back to the operator.

[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from Tim Casey with BMO.

I know you indicated in terms of the recap process there isn't -- you don't have any indication of timing. But could you maybe provide a little deal as to what the steps that the process has to go through to get to the finish line just sort of help us, I guess, look for milestones as you get to the finish of the recapitalization.

Sure, Tim. Thanks. I'll hand it over to Jen, but just say maybe high level, we're dealing with the transfer of broadcast licenses here. So that's a typical CRTC process. You'd be used to that in many, many past transactions. The first thing that you will probably see is when the applications are gazetted, but I'll let Jen kind of maybe go into some detail. I don't think it's really particularly complicated. It just takes time, and there's a fair amount of information that needs to be considered and provided.

Yes, Tim, I think, John, it's a great question, but John has pretty much covered what we know. It is a typical view of the CRTC that there'll be a transfer of our broadcast licenses. There's nothing that we think that would lead to this transaction not being approved, but we don't have a lot of clarity right now on the exact process or the time the CRTC will take. But like John said, at some point, that process will be made public. It will be what John said gazetted. It will be made public sort of what we're looking for. And then at that point, we expect that everyone, including us will know a bit better what the next steps of the CRTC are.

But just to confirm, is that the only, I guess, hurdle left is the CRTC? Or is there other regulatory issues or have you got all the court approvals in terms of the business side of the recap? Or is there anything else that we have to wait for?

We do. We are a public company, so we'll have sort of typical things that we go through with the TSX, with listing and things like that. But in terms of where you're going, Tim, absolutely, we have the court approval, we've had support agreements with the supporting bondholders for some time and our lender support. So really, the biggest step that remains is regulatory approval, which will allow us to close.

[Operator Instructions] There are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the call over to Mr. John Gossling, CEO, for closing remarks.

Great. Thanks very much, operator. And thank you, again, everyone, for your interest and your time this morning. And we will certainly be updating on our recap as things develop as per Tim's question. And with that, we will leave it there and wish everyone a great day and hopefully a sunny weekend. Bye now.

Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes your conference call for today. We thank you for participating and ask that you please disconnect your lines.