Emmis Reports FY, Quarterly Radio Revenue Drop

Emmis Communications Corporation today announced results for its fourth fiscal quarter and full-year ending February 28, 2019.

Emmis' radio net revenues for the fourth fiscal quarter were $22.2 million, down from $28.4 million in the prior year, a decrease of 22%. Pro forma for the sale of the company's Los Angeles and St. Louis radio stations, Emmis' fourth quarter pro forma radio revenues per Miller Kaplan were down 4%, in markets that were up 3%.

Jeff Smulyan

For the full year, radio revenues were $108.0 million compared to $142.9 million in the prior year, a decrease of 24%. For the full year, Emmis' pro forma radio revenues as reported to Miller Kaplan were down 2%, narrowly missing the performance of its markets, which were down 1%.

Emmis completed a refinancing of its credit facility on April 12. The refinancing, which lowered the Company's cost of capital from 10.5% to 5.8%, reflects the greatly improved credit profile of Emmis.

"While the fourth quarter didn't finish as strongly as we would have liked, we are seeing significant strength as we commence the new fiscal year.  Emmis' first fiscal quarter is pacing up 5%, and ticket and sponsorship sales for Hot 97's Summer Jam, Emmis' largest event which occurs in June, are pacing well ahead of last year," Jeff Smulyan, CEO & Chairman of the Board of Emmis said. "Our renewed focus on digital is bearing immediate fruit, with Q1 digital revenues pacing up 50%.  Ratings remain strong across all our brands and I'm confident that our ratings success will allow us to sustain this growth."

"With the scaling down of NextRadio that occurred last year, coupled with the company's recent refinancing, Emmis has one of the best balance sheets in the radio industry, which has been enhanced by our strong operational start to this fiscal year," Smulyan concluded.