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, 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

 

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Table of Contents

Item 8.01 Other Events

 

On August 11, 2005, we released information regarding our consolidated revenue for the month ended July 31, 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 August 11, 2005.

 

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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: August 12, 2005

 

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Press release dated August 11, 2005

EXHIBIT 99

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Scripps reports July revenue, statistics

 

For immediate release   (NYSE: SSP)
Aug. 11, 2005    

 

CINCINNATI – The E. W. Scripps Company today reported July revenue and statistics for its Scripps Networks, Shop At Home, newspaper and broadcast television operating divisions.

 

For competitive reasons, the company is not reporting monthly revenue from its online comparison shopping subsidiary, Shopzilla. The company will report Shopzilla revenue on a quarterly basis. Scripps acquired Shopzilla in June.

 

At Scripps Networks – the company’s most profitable division – revenue was up 25 percent to $66.0 million in July.

 

July advertising revenue at Scripps Networks was up 25 percent and affiliate fee revenue increased 26 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 89 million and 88 million U.S. television households, respectively. DIY Network reaches about 34 million households and Fine Living can be seen in about 28 million households. GAC reached about 39 million U.S. households in July.

 

At the company’s newspapers, total revenue was up 11 percent to $59.1 million in July compared with the same month a year ago. July advertising revenue at newspapers managed solely by Scripps was up 12 percent year-over-year to $47.2 million. July newspaper revenue comparisons were favorably affected by an additional Sunday in the month compared to the same period last year.

 

Newspaper advertising revenue in July by category was:

 

    Local, down 0.9 percent to $12.1 million.

 

    Classified, up 13 percent to $20.0 million.

 

    National, up 17 percent to $3.4 million.

 

    Preprint and other, up 24 percent to $11.7 million.

 

The company’s share of profits from its four joint newspaper operations, before editorial costs, was $6.5 million compared with $5.4 million in July 2004.

 

At Shop At Home, the company’s television retailing subsidiary, July revenue was up 38 percent to $26.2 million. Shop At Home could be seen in 54 million full-time equivalent television households in July, up 6.6 percent from the same month in 2004.

 

At the company’s broadcast television stations, July revenue was down 5.2 percent to $21.5 million. The decline reflects the relative absence of political advertising revenue compared with $2.2 million in political advertising revenue during the same month last year.

 

Broadcast television July advertising revenue, by category, was:

 

    Local, up 7.0 percent to $13.3 million.

 

    National, down 2.1 percent to $6.8 million.

 

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.

 

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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 116 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, which 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.

 

Shopzilla, an online comparison shopping service with an index of more than 30 million products from more than 55,000 stores. Shopzilla is powered by ShopRank, a proprietary algorithm that helps shoppers instantly find virtually any product for sale on the Web at the best price. Shopzilla also operates the BizRate consumer feedback network with more than 2.5 million members and about 1 million reviews per month.

 

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

 

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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, 2005    513-977-3826

 

REVENUE AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY FOR SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENTS

 

( amounts in millions, unless otherwise noted )

 

   July

    Year-to-date

 
     2005

   2004

   %

    2005

   2004

   %

 

SCRIPPS NETWORKS (1)

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Advertising

   $ 51.3    $ 41.0    25.3 %   $ 412.9    $ 320.8    28.7 %

Affiliate fees, net

     13.9      11.1    25.6 %     95.5      78.5    21.7 %

Other

     0.7      0.6    12.9 %     4.4      4.9    (10.3 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Scripps Networks

   $ 66.0    $ 52.7    25.2 %   $ 512.8    $ 404.3    26.8 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Subscribers (2)

                                        

HGTV

                         88.6      85.6    3.5 %

Food Network

                         87.5      84.1    4.0 %

Great American Country

                         38.8      27.3    42.1 %
                        

  

  

NEWSPAPERS (3)

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Local

   $ 12.1    $ 12.2    (0.9 )%   $ 96.3    $ 94.8    1.6 %

Classified

     20.0      17.8    12.7 %     135.9      128.7    5.6 %

National

     3.4      2.9    16.9 %     24.2      22.9    5.6 %

Preprints and other

     11.7      9.4    24.0 %     79.9      73.6    8.6 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Newspaper advertising

     47.2      42.3    11.6 %     336.3      320.0    5.1 %

Circulation

     10.8      10.1    7.2 %     76.4      77.4    (1.4 )%

Other

     1.1      1.1    1.5 %     9.5      9.4    1.8 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Newspapers

   $ 59.1    $ 53.5    10.6 %   $ 422.2    $ 406.8    3.8 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Ad inches (excluding JOAs) (in thousands)

                                        

Local

     430      438    (1.9 )%     3,366      3,373    (0.2 )%

Classified

     823      805    2.1 %     5,526      5,558    (0.6 )%

National

     95      80    18.9 %     682      645    5.7 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Full run ROP

     1,348      1,323    1.8 %     9,575      9,577    0.0 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Share of JOA operating profits (4)

   $ 6.5    $ 5.4    19.8 %   $ 44.3    $ 38.1    16.3 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

BROADCAST TELEVISION

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Local

   $ 13.3    $ 12.4    7.0 %   $ 110.9    $ 106.9    3.8 %

National

     6.8      6.9    (2.1 )%     56.8      56.4    0.7 %

Political

     0.6      2.2            1.1      12.5       

Other

     0.8      1.1    (26.7 )%     8.1      9.9    (17.5 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

Broadcast Television

   $ 21.5    $ 22.6    (5.2 )%   $ 176.9    $ 185.7    (4.7 )%
    

  

  

 

  

  

SHOP AT HOME

                                        

Operating Revenues

                                        

Shop At Home

   $ 26.2    $ 19.0    37.8 %   $ 215.2    $ 159.3    35.1 %
    

  

  

 

  

  

Avg. full-time equivalent homes

     53.5      50.2    6.6 %     53.4      48.6    9.9 %
    

  

  

 

  

  


(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) July 2005 had 5 Sundays, versus 4 Sundays in 2004.
(4) Excludes editorial costs.

 

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