Steven Cahall's questions to E W Scripps Co (SSP) leadership • Q2 2025
Question
Steven Cahall of Wells Fargo Securities questioned whether advertising pressure on the Scripps Networks segment is structural or cyclical, and asked about future sports acquisition opportunities for the ION network. He also inquired about the company's strategy for its preferred equity stake and how it factors into capital allocation decisions.
Answer
President and CEO Adam Symson attributed the Networks' strong performance to its sports strategy and ION's unique distribution across over-the-air, cable, and FAST platforms, which he believes differentiates it from peers. He confirmed they will continue to seek financially sound sports deals. CFO Jason Combs addressed the preferred equity, stating that a takeout is unlikely in the near term. He explained the focus is on debt reduction, and the company will continue to PIK the dividend to prioritize using cash for deleveraging.