Int. Outdoor A Drag On iHeartMedia 1Q Revenue

iHeartMedia, Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Bob Pittman

“We are a true multi-platform, 21st-century media company, leveraging our leading broadcast radio, digital, outdoor, mobile, social, live events and data businesses to continue to innovate for the benefit of our marketing partners,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of iHeartMedia, Inc. “This quarter the iHeartMedia segment improved its innovative programmatic solution by introducing SmartAudio - a digital data product for advertisers that combines the massive scale of broadcast radio with the power of digital data and more informed audience targeting. At Outdoor, we continue to enhance our data analytics capabilities and automated ad-buying while staying focused on building out our digital networks.”

Rich Bressler, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, said: “Our consolidated revenues, operating income and OIBDAN declined in the first quarter. Adjusting for sales and foreign exchange, however, our revenues increased.  At the iHeartMedia segment, this quarter marked the sixteenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year increases in revenue.  We remain focused on balancing financial discipline with investments to grow our businesses while continuing to work on our capital structure.”

Key Financial Highlights

The Company’s key financial highlights for the first quarter of 2017 include:

• Consolidated revenue decreased 2.4%. Consolidated revenue increased 1.6%, after adjusting for a $12.8 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and the $40.6 million impact of the outdoor markets and businesses sold. 
• iHM revenues increased $18.3 million, or 2.5%. Revenues increased $27.3 million, or 3.8%, excluding political revenue. 
• Americas outdoor revenues decreased $3.1 million, or 1.1%. Revenues increased $0.7 million, or 0.2%, after adjusting for a $1.4 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and a $5.2 million impact from the sale of nonstrategic markets. 
• International outdoor revenues decreased $41.2 million, or 13.4%. Revenues increased $8.3 million, or 3.1%, after adjusting for a $14.2 million impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and a $35.4 million impact from the sale of our businesses in Australia and Turkey. 
• Operating income decreased $306.7 million, or 72.9%, primarily due to the net gain of $278.3 million on the sale of nonstrategic Americas outdoor markets in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the net gain of $28.6 million on the sale of our Americas outdoor Indianapolis market in the first quarter of 2017. 
• OIBDAN decreased 21.3% and decreased 19.0%, excluding the impact from movements in foreign exchange rates and the impact of the outdoor markets and businesses sold.