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) August 11, 2004

 


 

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Commission File Number 0-16914

 

Ohio   31-1223339

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(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)

 



Table of Contents

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

 

INDEX TO CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K DATED AUGUST 11, 2004

 

Item No.


      Page

7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits   3
12.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition   3

 

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Table of Contents

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

  (c) Exhibits

 

99 Press release dated August 11, 2004.

 

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On August 11, 2004, we released information regarding our consolidated revenue for the month ended July 31, 2004 and updated guidance previously provided in our second quarter earnings release dated July 15, 2004 and in our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. 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.

 

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Table of Contents

Signature

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
BY:  

/s/ Lori A. Hickok


    Lori A. Hickok
    Vice President and Controller

 

Dated: August 11, 2004

 

4

Press release dated August 11, 2004
PRESS RELEASE    Exhibit 99

 

 

Scripps reports July revenues

 

For immediate release

  (NYSE: SSP)

Aug. 11, 2004

   

 

CINCINNATI – The E. W. Scripps Company’s consolidated revenue for July increased 11 percent year-over-year to $155 million.

 

Revenue for the company’s fastest growing division, Scripps Networks, was up 35 percent to $52.7 million. July advertising revenue at Scripps Networks was up 34 percent and affiliate fee revenue increased 41 percent. Scripps Networks includes the company’s portfolio of national cable and satellite television networks, including Home & Garden Television, Food Network, Fine Living and the DIY — Do It Yourself Network.

 

HGTV is available in about 86 million homes and Food Network reaches about 84 million homes. The company’s newer networks, DIY and Fine Living, can be seen in about 29 million and 22 million homes, respectively.

 

July revenue at Shop At Home Network, the company’s television retailing subsidiary, was down 1.6 percent to $19 million. Shop At Home was available to about 50 million full-time equivalent households during the month.

 

July revenue at the company’s newspapers was up 3.5 percent year-over-year to $53.5 million.

 

Newspaper advertising revenue for the month, broken down by category, was:

 

  Local, up 6.6 percent to $12.3 million.

 

  Classified, up 8.4 percent to $17.8 million.

 

  National, down 8.0 percent to $2.8 million.

 

  Preprint and other, up 3.5 percent to $9.4 million.

 

The company’s share of profits from its four joint newspaper operations, before editorial costs, was $5.4 million compared to $5.5 million in July 2003.

 

At the company’s broadcast television stations (excluding Shop At Home affiliated stations) revenue for the month was up 6.1 percent to $22.6 million. Broadcast television revenue reflects $2.2 million in political advertising during the month. Broadcast TV political advertising revenue was about $200,000 during the same month a year ago. Other than political, broadcast television advertising revenue, broken down by category, was:

 

  Local, down 4.8 percent to $12.4 million.

 

  National, up 0.4 percent to $6.9 million.

 

  Other, down 4.9 percent to $1.1 million.

 

Guidance

 

Based on softer-than-expected local and political television advertising in July and advance sales in August, guidance for projected third-quarter revenue growth at the company’s network-affiliated broadcast television stations has been revised. The company now expects total advertising revenue in the third quarter to be up about 15 percent compared to the previous guidance of about 20 percent.

 

Forward looking statements

 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements related to the company’s businesses that are based on management’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, including changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. The company’s written policy on forward-looking statements can be found on page F-5 of its 2003 SEC Form 10K and F-27 of its most recent Form 10Q.


About Scripps

 

The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks, interactive media and television retailing. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 15 broadcast TV stations, four cable and satellite television programming networks and a television retailing network. All of the company’s media businesses provide content and advertising services via the Internet.

 

Scripps Networks brands include Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY — Do It Yourself Network and Fine Living. HGTV reaches about 85 million U.S. television households and Food Network can be seen in about 84 million households. Scripps Networks Web sites include FoodNetwork.com, HGTV.com, DIYnetwork.com and fineliving.com. Scripps Networks programming can be seen in 86 countries.

 

The company’s television retailing subsidiary, Shop At Home Network, markets a growing range of consumer goods directly to television viewers and visitors to the Shop At Home Web site, shopathometv.com. Shop At Home reaches about 50 million full-time equivalent U.S. households, including 5 million households via five Scripps owned, Shop At Home affiliated broadcast television stations.

 

Scripps also operates Scripps Howard News Service and United Media, which is the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT.

 

###

 

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

Email: stautberg@scripps.com

 

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                        THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY                           For more information:
                        Unaudited Revenue and Statistical Summary                           Tim Stautberg
                        Period: July                           The E.W. Scripps Company
                        Report date: August 11, 2004                           513-977-3826

 

( amounts in millions, unless otherwise noted )    July

    Year-to-date

 
     2004

   2003

   %

    2004

   2003

   %

 
SEGMENT OPERATING REVENUES                                         

Newspapers

   $ 53.5    $ 51.7    3.5 %   $ 406.8    $ 397.2    2.4 %

Scripps Networks

     52.7      39.1    35.0 %     404.3      297.5    35.9 %

Broadcast Television

     22.6      21.3    6.1 %     185.7      170.4    9.0 %

Shop At Home

     19.0      19.3    (1.6 )%     159.3      134.3    18.6 %

Licensing and Other Media

     7.5      8.6    (13.6 )%     60.2      60.7    (0.8 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

TOTAL

   $ 155.3    $ 140.0    10.9  %   $ 1,216.3    $ 1,060.1    14.7  %
    

  

  

 

  

  

NEWSPAPERS                                         

Operating Revenues

                                        

Local

   $ 12.3    $ 11.6    6.6 %   $ 95.6    $ 95.0    0.6 %

Classified

     17.8      16.4    8.4 %     128.7      123.8    3.9 %

National

     2.8      3.1    (8.0 )%     22.1      21.9    1.0 %

Preprints and other

     9.4      9.1    3.5  %     73.6      69.0    6.6 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Newspaper advertising

     42.3      40.1    5.5 %     320.0      309.7    3.3 %

Circulation

     10.1      10.5    (4.5 )%     77.4      79.8    (3.0 )%

Other

     1.1      1.0    4.1 %     9.4      7.7    22.4 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Newspapers

   $ 53.5    $ 51.7    3.5 %   $ 406.8    $ 397.2    2.4  %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Ad inches (excluding JOAs) (in thousands)

                                        

Local

     529      512    3.4 %     4,119      4,144    (0.6 )%

Classified

     903      860    5.0 %     6,220      6,135    1.4 %

National

     94      98    (4.4 )%     742      755    (1.8 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Full run ROP

     1,526      1,470    3.8 %     11,081      11,035    0.4 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Share of JOA operating profits (1)

   $ 5.4    $ 5.5    (1.2 )%   $ 38.1    $ 41.3    (7.7 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

SCRIPPS NETWORKS                                         

Operating Revenues

                                        

Advertising

   $ 41.0    $ 30.7    33.5 %   $ 320.8    $ 240.6    33.3 %

Affiliate fees, net

     11.1      7.9    40.7 %     78.5      53.4    46.9 %

Other

     0.6      0.5    33.3 %     4.9      3.5    40.9 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Scripps Networks

   $ 52.7    $ 39.1    35.0 %   $ 404.3    $ 297.5    35.9 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Subscribers (2)

                                        

HGTV

                         85.6      80.9    5.8 %

Food Network

                         84.1      79.2    6.2 %
                        

  

  

BROADCAST TELEVISION                                         

Operating Revenues

                                        

Local

   $ 12.4    $ 13.0    (4.8 )%   $ 106.9    $ 104.5    2.3 %

National

     6.9      6.9    0.4 %     56.4      55.4    1.8 %

Political

     2.2      0.2            12.5      1.2       

Other

     1.1      1.2    (4.9 )%     9.9      9.2    6.7 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Broadcast Television

   $ 22.6    $ 21.3    6.1 %   $ 185.7    $ 170.4    9.0 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

SHOP AT HOME                                         

Operating Revenues

                                        

Shop At Home

   $ 19.0    $ 19.3    (1.6 )%   $ 159.3    $ 134.3    18.6 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Avg. full-time equivalent homes

     50.2      47.7    5.2 %     48.6      47.3    2.7 %
    

  

  

 

  

  


(1) Excludes editorial costs and proportionate share of JOA activities.
(2) Subscriber counts are according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks.