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) May 13, 2005

 


 

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


Table of Contents

Item 8.01 Other Events

 

On May 13, 2005, we released information regarding our consolidated revenue for the month ended April 30, 2005. 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 May 13, 2005.

 

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/ Lori A. Hickok


    Lori A. Hickok
    Vice President and Controller

 

Dated: May 13, 2005

 

4

Press release dated May 13, 2005

Exhibit 99

 

Scripps reports April revenues

 

For immediate release       (NYSE: SSP)

 

May 13, 2005

 

CINCINNATI – The E. W. Scripps Company’s consolidated revenue for April increased 12 percent year-over-year to $204 million.

 

Revenue for the company’s fastest growing division, Scripps Networks, was up 23 percent to $78.7 million. April advertising revenue at Scripps Networks was up 25 percent and affiliate fee revenue increased 15 percent.

 

Scripps Networks includes the company’s portfolio of national cable and satellite television networks, including Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living and Great American Country (GAC).

 

HGTV and Food Network can be seen in 88 million and 87 million U.S. television households, respectively. DIY Network reaches about 32 million households and Fine Living can be seen in about 26 million households. GAC reached about 38 million U.S. households in April.

 

At the company’s newspapers, total revenue was up 4.6 percent to $61.0 million in April compared with the same month a year ago. April advertising revenue at newspapers managed solely by Scripps was up 5.7 percent year-over-year to $48.6 million. Newspaper advertising revenue in April by category was:

 

    Local, up 2.8. percent to $14.3 million.

 

    Classified, up 9.8 percent to $19.9 million.

 

    National, up 1.4 percent to $3.3 million.

 

    Preprint and other, up 3.8 percent to $11.1 million.

 

The company’s share of profits from its four joint newspaper operations, before editorial costs, was $6.7 million compared with $6.3 million in April 2004.

 

At Shop at Home, the company’s television retailing subsidiary, April revenue was up 42 percent to $30.5 million. Shop at Home could be seen in 53 million full time equivalent television households in April, up 10 percent from the same month in 2004.

 

At the company’s broadcast television stations April revenue was down 8.4 percent to $26.0 million. The decline reflects the relative absence of political advertising revenue compared with $2.7 million in political advertising revenue during the same month last year.

 

Broadcast television April advertising revenue, by category, was:

 

    Local, up 2.8 percent to $16.7 million.

 

    National, down 1.3 percent to $8.2 million.

 

Guidance

 

Based on April results, the company is adjusting its second quarter guidance for Scripps Networks affiliate fee revenue. Scripps Networks affiliate fee revenue is expected to be up about 15 percent in the second quarter vs. 20 percent, as previously expected.


About Scripps

 

Scripps is a diverse media concern with interests in national lifestyle television networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television, television retailing, interactive media and licensing and syndication. All of the company’s media businesses provide content and advertising services via the Internet.

 

Scripps is organized into the following operating divisions.

 

Scripps Networks, including the company’s growing portfolio of popular lifestyle television networks. Scripps Networks brands include Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country (GAC) and HGTVPro. Scripps Networks Web sites include FoodNetwork.com, HGTV.com, DIYnetwork.com, fineliving.com and gactv.com. Scripps Networks programming can be seen in 86 countries.

 

Scripps Newspapers, including daily and community newspapers in 19 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service. Scripps newspapers include the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel and the Ventura County (Calif.) Star.

 

Scripps Television Station Group, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent. Scripps operates broadcast television stations in Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Tampa, Baltimore, Kansas City, Mo., West Palm Beach, Fla., Tulsa, Okla., and Lawrence, Kan.

 

Shop at Home, the company’s television retailing subsidiary, 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 53 million full-time equivalent U.S. households, including 5 million households via five Scripps-owned Shop at Home affiliated television stations.

 

United Media, a leading licensing and syndication company. United Media is the worldwide licensing and syndication home of Peanuts, Dilbert and about 150 other features and characters.

 

###

 

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

 

Email: stautberg@scripps.com


    

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

Unaudited Revenue and Statistical Summary

Period: April

Report date: May 13, 2005

       

For more information:

Tim Stautberg

The E.W. Scripps Company

513-977-3826

 

     April

    Year-to-date

 

( amounts in millions, unless otherwise noted )


   2005

   2004

   %

    2005

   2004

   %

 

SEGMENT OPERATING REVENUES

                                        

Scripps Networks (1)

   $ 78.7    $ 64.0    22.9 %   $ 281.3    $ 222.8    26.3 %

Newspapers

     61.0      58.4    4.6 %     243.3      236.9    2.7 %

Broadcast Television

     26.0      28.4    (8.4 )%     98.3      104.1    (5.6 )%

Shop At Home

     30.5      21.6    41.5 %     132.6      95.5    38.8 %

Licensing and Other Media

     8.1      9.7    (16.8 )%     33.9      36.4    (7.0 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

TOTAL

   $ 204.3    $ 182.1    12.2 %   $ 789.4    $ 695.7    13.5 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

SCRIPPS NETWORKS (1)

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Advertising

   $ 65.2    $ 52.3    24.8 %   $ 224.7    $ 174.7    28.6 %

Affiliate fees, net

     12.7      11.0    15.1 %     54.6      44.9    21.8 %

Other

     0.8      0.7    9.4 %     1.9      3.2    (39.8 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Scripps Networks

   $ 78.7    $ 64.0    22.9 %   $ 281.3    $ 222.8    26.3 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Subscribers (2)

                                        

HGTV

                         88.3      85.4    3.4 %

Food Network

                         87.2      83.9    3.9 %

Great American Country

                         37.7      26.5    42.3 %

NEWSPAPERS

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Local

   $ 14.3    $ 13.9    2.8 %   $ 56.8    $ 56.2    1.1 %

Classified

     19.9      18.1    9.8 %     77.4      73.8    4.8 %

National

     3.3      3.3    1.4 %     13.8      13.1    4.8 %

Preprints and other

     11.1      10.7    3.8 %     44.9      41.9    7.1 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Newspaper advertising

     48.6      45.9    5.7 %     192.9      185.1    4.2 %

Circulation

     10.8      10.8    0.2 %     44.6      46.0    (3.1 )%

Other

     1.7      1.7    2.5 %     5.9      5.8    0.5 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Newspapers

   $ 61.0    $ 58.4    4.6 %   $ 243.3    $ 236.9    2.7 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Ad inches (excluding JOAs) (in thousands)

                                        

Local

     500      480    4.0 %     1,979      1,999    (1.0 )%

Classified

     818      784    4.3 %     3,114      3,131    (0.5 )%

National

     97      92    6.2 %     388      376    3.2 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Full run ROP

     1,415      1,357    4.3 %     5,481      5,506    (0.4 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Share of JOA operating profits (3)

   $ 6.7    $ 6.3    5.4 %   $ 24.3    $ 21.8    11.3 %

BROADCAST TELEVISION

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Local

   $ 16.7    $ 16.2    2.8 %   $ 61.6    $ 60.6    1.7 %

National

     8.2      8.3    (1.3 )%     31.7      30.9    2.4 %

Political

     0.1      2.7            0.1      6.8       

Other

     1.1      1.2    (12.0 )%     4.9      5.8    (15.3 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Broadcast Television

   $ 26.0    $ 28.4    (8.4 )%   $ 98.3    $ 104.1    (5.6 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

SHOP AT HOME

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Shop At Home

   $ 30.5    $ 21.6    41.5 %   $ 132.6    $ 95.5    38.8 %

Avg. full-time equivalent homes

     53.0      48.2    10.0 %     53.3      47.8    11.5 %

(1) Operating results include Great American Country since the November 17, 2004 acquisition date.
(2) Subscriber counts are according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks.
(3) Excludes editorial costs.