Current Report
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 14, 2006

 


THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Ohio   0-16914   31-1223339

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

312 Walnut Street

Cincinnati, Ohio

  45202
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (513) 977-3000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Table of Contents

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

INDEX TO CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K

 

Item No.

        Page

8.01     Other Events

   3

9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits

   3

 

2


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Item 8.01 Other Events

On June 14, 2006, we released information regarding revenue for certain of our operating segments for the month and year-to-date periods ended May 31, 2006. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.

The discussion and the information contained in the press release contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties, which in most instances are beyond our control, include changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions; consumers’ taste; newsprint prices; program costs; labor relations; technological developments; competitive pressures; interest rates; regulatory rulings; and reliance on third-party vendors for various products and services. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, which are as of the date of this filing, should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date the statement is made.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

  (c) Exhibits

 

  99 Press release dated June 14, 2006.

 

3


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
BY:  

/s/ Joseph G. NeCastro

  Joseph G. NeCastro
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: June 14, 2006

 

4

Press release dated June 14, 2006
  Exhibit 99

PRESS RELEASE

Scripps reports May revenue, statistics

(NYSE: SSP)

For immediate release

June 14, 2006

CINCINNATI – The E. W. Scripps Company today reported May revenue and statistics for its Scripps Networks, newspaper and broadcast television station operating divisions.

At Scripps Networks revenue was up 15 percent to $97.3 million in May compared with the same month a year ago.

May advertising revenue at Scripps Networks was up 12 percent and affiliate fee revenue increased 23 percent. Scripps Networks includes the company’s portfolio of national cable and satellite television networks, including HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living and Great American Country (GAC).

HGTV and Food Network can be seen in about 90 million and 89 million U.S. television households, respectively. DIY Network reaches about 37 million households and Fine Living can be seen in about 38 million households. GAC reached 41 million U.S. households in May.

At the company’s newspapers, total revenue was down 2.8 percent to $59.6 million. Newspaper advertising revenue was down 1.4 percent during May. The change in May newspaper revenue includes the effect of having four Sundays in the month compared with five in the same month a year ago.

Taking into account the relative year-over-year unevenness of the April and May reporting periods, newspaper revenue for the two months combined was up 4.7 percent compared to the same two-month period last year. Newspaper advertising revenue for the two-month period was up 6.3 percent, year over year.


Broken down by category, newspaper advertising revenue during May was:

 

    Local, down 3.2 percent to $13.6 million.

 

    Classified, down 2.0 percent to $19.2 million.

 

    National, down 12 percent to $3.1 million.

 

    Preprint, online and other, up 4.7 percent to $12.6 million.

At the company’s broadcast television stations, May revenue was up 9.5 percent to $31.7 million. Broken down by category, broadcast television revenue was:

 

    Local, up 9.8 percent to $20.4 million.

 

    National, up 6.9 percent to $9.9 million.

 

    Political, $700,000 compared with $100,000 in the year-ago period.

For competitive reasons, Scripps does not report monthly revenue and statistics for its interactive media division, which includes online search and price comparison services Shopzilla and uSwitch. The company reports revenue from the interactive media division on a quarterly basis.

About Scripps

The E. W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, electronic commerce, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.

The company’s portfolio of media properties includes: Scripps Networks, with such brands as HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country and HGTVPro; daily and community newspapers in 18 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service; 10 broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; leading online search and comparison shopping services, Shopzilla and uSwitch; and United Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics.

###

Contact: Tim Stautberg, The E. W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3826

Email: stautberg@scripps.com


                THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY    For more information:
                Unaudited Revenue and Statistical Summary    Tim Stautberg
                Period: May    The E.W. Scripps Company
                Report date: June 14, 2006    513-977-3826

REVENUE AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY FOR SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENTS

 

     May     Year-to-date  

( amounts in millions, unless otherwise noted )

   2006    2005    %     2006    2005    %  
SCRIPPS NETWORKS                 

Operating Revenues

                

Advertising

   $ 79.5    $ 70.7    12.4 %   $ 342.2    $ 295.4    15.8 %

Affiliate fees, net

     16.6      13.5    23.1 %     80.8      68.1    18.5 %

Other

     1.2      0.6        4.4      2.6    68.0 %
                                        

Scripps Networks

   $ 97.3    $ 84.8    14.7 %   $ 427.4    $ 366.2    16.7 %
                                        

Subscribers (1)

                

HGTV

             89.6      88.6    1.1 %

Food Network

             89.3      87.5    2.1 %

Great American Country

             41.3      38.3    7.8 %
                            
NEWSPAPERS (2, 3)                 

Operating Revenues

                

Local

   $ 13.6    $ 14.0    (3.2 )%   $ 68.9    $ 68.2    1.1 %

Classified

     19.2      19.6    (2.0 )%     103.1      94.3    9.3 %

National

     3.1      3.5    (11.5 )%     16.2      16.9    (4.4 )%

Preprints, online and other

     12.6      12.1    4.7 %     61.2      55.0    11.3 %
                                        

Newspaper advertising

     48.5      49.2    (1.4 )%     249.4      234.4    6.4 %

Circulation

     9.8      10.9    (9.8 )%     53.2      54.6    (2.6 )%

Other

     1.3      1.3    2.1 %     7.3      6.9    5.4 %
                                        

Newspapers managed solely by us

   $ 59.6    $ 61.3    (2.8 )%   $ 309.8    $ 295.9    4.7 %
                                        

Ad inches (excluding JOAs) (in thousands)

                

Local

     448      489    (8.5 )%     2,286      2,345    (2.5 )%

Classified

     822      788    4.3 %     4,117      3,737    10.2 %

National

     90      98    (7.9 )%     429      470    (8.8 )%
                                        

Full run ROP

     1,360      1,376    (1.1 )%     6,832      6,551    4.3 %
                                        
BROADCAST TELEVISION                 

Operating Revenues

                

Local

   $ 20.4    $ 18.6    9.8 %   $ 91.2    $ 80.2    13.8 %

National

     9.9      9.3    6.9 %     45.3      41.0    10.5 %

Political

     0.7      0.1        3.0      0.2   

Other

     0.7      0.9    (29.9 )%     4.2      5.8    (27.4 )%
                                        

Broadcast Television

   $ 31.7    $ 28.9    9.5 %   $ 143.7    $ 127.2    13.0 %
                                        

(1) Subscriber counts are according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks.

 

(2) On February 1, 2006, we contributed the Boulder Daily Camera, the Colorado Daily and the twice-weekly Broomfield Enterprise in exchange for a 50% interest in a partnership we jointly operate with MediaNews Group Inc. To enhance comparability the reported revenues do not include operating revenues of these newspapers prior to the formation of the partnership. Our 50% share of the operating profit (loss) of the partnership is reported as “Equity in earnings of JOAs and other joint ventures” in our financial statements.

 

(3) May 2006 had 4 Sundays, versus 5 Sundays in 2005.


                THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY    For more information:   
                Unaudited Revenue and Statistical Summary    Tim Stautberg   
                Period: April and May    The E.W. Scripps Company   
                Report date: June 14, 2006    513-977-3826   

REVENUE AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY FOR SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENTS

 

     April and May  

(amounts in millions, unless otherwise noted)

   2006    2005    %  
SCRIPPS NETWORKS         

Operating Revenues

        

Advertising

   $ 155.4    $ 135.9    14.3 %

Affiliate fees, net

     32.5      26.2    24.1 %

Other

     2.0      1.4    36.3 %
                    

Scripps Networks

   $ 189.8    $ 163.5    16.1 %
                    

Subscribers (1)

        

HGTV

     89.6      88.6    1.1 %

Food Network

     89.3      87.5    2.1 %

Great American Country

     41.3      38.3    7.8 %
                    

NEWSPAPERS (2)

        

Operating Revenues

        

Local

   $ 28.0    $ 27.6    1.4 %

Classified

     41.5      38.7    7.3 %

National

     6.5      6.7    (3.3 )%

Preprints, online and other

     25.7      22.7    13.3 %
                    

Newspaper advertising

     101.7      95.7    6.3 %

Circulation

     20.8      21.5    (2.8 )%

Other

     3.1      2.9    6.4 %
                    

Newspapers

   $ 125.6    $ 120.0    4.7 %
                    

Ad inches (excluding JOAs) (in thousands)

        

Local

     916      956    (4.1 )%

Classified

     1,710      1,560    9.6 %

National

     171      190    (10.0 )%
                    

Full run ROP

     2,797      2,707    3.4 %
                    
BROADCAST TELEVISION         

Operating Revenues

        

Local

   $ 37.8    $ 35.2    7.3 %

National

     18.7      17.5    6.7 %

Political

     2.0      0.2   

Other

     1.5      2.0    (26.4 )%
                    

Broadcast Television

   $ 60.0    $ 54.9    9.2 %
                    

(1) Subscriber counts are according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks.
(2) On February 1, 2006, we contributed the Boulder Daily Camera, the Colorado Daily and the twice-weekly Broomfield Enterprise in exchange for a 50% interest in a partnership we jointly operate with MediaNews Group Inc. To enhance comparability the reported revenues do not include operating revenues of these newspapers prior to the formation of the partnership. Our 50% share of the operating profit (loss) of the partnership is reported as “Equity in earnings of JOAs and other joint ventures” in our financial statements.