Fox reports fourth quarter fiscal 2022 revenues of $3.03 billion, net income of $308 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $770 million

Fox Corporation reported financial results for the three months and twelve months ended June 30, 2022.

Commenting on the results, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch said:

“We completed another successful year at FOX, with Fiscal 2022 results demonstrating the strength and durability of our core brands and their ability to deliver consistent audiences across the entirety of FOX. These results validate the strategy we embarked on three years ago – to focus on live news and sports while investing in high growth digital initiatives to create a platform for ongoing growth. We begin Fiscal 2023 with strong momentum, supported by an enviable schedule of live sporting events and the mid-term election cycle, and bolstered by a best-in-class balance sheet. These attributes will serve us well in navigating any macroeconomic uncertainty while continuing to create value for our shareholders.”

Fourth quarter company results
The Company reported total quarterly revenues of $3.03 billion, a 5% increase from the $2.89 billion reported in the prior year quarter. Affiliate fee revenues increased 4% with 7% growth at the Television segment and 2% growth at the Cable Network Programming segment. Advertising revenues increased 7%, primarily due to stronger pricing and higher ratings at FOX News Media, higher political advertising revenues at the FOX Television Stations and continued growth at TUBI. Other revenues increased 4%, primarily due to the impact of the consolidation of entertainment production companies and higher FOX Nation subscription revenues, partially offset by the timing of sports sublicensing revenues.

The Company reported quarterly net income of $308 million as compared to the $272 million reported in the prior year quarter. Net Income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $306 million ($0.55 per share) as compared to the $253 million ($0.43 per share) reported in the prior year quarter. Adjusted net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders1 was $413 million ($0.74 per share) as compared to the $381 million ($0.65 per share) reported in the prior year quarter.

Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA2 increased 7% to $770 million from $717 million reported in the prior year quarter, led by higher contributions at the Television segment.

Full year company results
The Company reported total full year revenues of $13.97 billion, an 8% increase from the $12.91 billion reported in the prior year. Affiliate fee revenues increased 7% with 10% growth at the Television segment and 5% growth at the Cable Network Programming segment. Advertising revenues increased 9%, primarily due to higher pricing at FOX Sports and FOX News Media, continued growth at TUBI and the return of a full schedule of live events at FOX Sports. These advertising gains were partially offset by lower political advertising revenues. Other revenues increased 15%, primarily due to higher sports sublicensing revenues and FOX Nation subscription revenues at the Cable Network Programming segment and the impact of the consolidation of entertainment production companies at the Television segment.

The Company reported full year net income of $1.23 billion as compared to the $2.20 billion reported in the prior year. This was primarily due to the change in fair value of the Company’s investments recognized in Other, net. Net Income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $1.21 billion ($2.11 per share) as compared to the $2.15 billion ($3.61 per share) reported in the prior year. Adjusted net income attributable to Fox Corporation stockholders was $1.59 billion ($2.79 per share) as compared to the $1.71 billion ($2.88 per share) reported in the prior year. The effective income tax rate was higher for both the quarter and the full year, primarily due to a remeasurement of the Company’s net deferred tax assets associated with changes in the mix of its jurisdictional earnings.

Full year Adjusted EBITDA was $2.96 billion as compared to the $3.09 billion in the prior year, as the revenue increases noted above were offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects increased digital investment at TUBI and FOX News Media, costs associated with the launch of the USFL and higher programming rights amortization associated with normalized sports and entertainment schedules that were impacted by COVID-19 in the prior year.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment revenues of $1.46 billion, an increase of $61 million or 4% from the amount reported in the prior year quarter. Affiliate fee revenues increased $17 million or 2%, primarily due to contractual price increases. Advertising revenues increased $44 million or 14%, primarily due to continued strength in pricing and higher ratings at FOX News Media, partially offset by the impact of higher preemptions associated with breaking news coverage. Other revenues were $59 million, unchanged from the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher FOX Nation subscription revenues being offset by the timing of sports sublicensing revenues which were impacted by COVID-19 in the prior year quarter.

Cable Network Programming reported quarterly segment EBITDA of $628 million as compared to $674 million in the prior year quarter, as the revenue increases noted above were more than offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects increased digital investment and higher costs at FOX News Media, including those associated with breaking news coverage, and higher costs associated with the launch of the USFL.

Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2022
Cable Network Programming reported full year segment revenues of $6.10 billion, an increase of $414 million or 7% from the prior year. Affiliate fee revenues increased $210 million or 5%, primarily due to contractual price increases, including the impact of distribution agreement renewals, and the absence of the prior year accrual for distribution credits for cancelled college football games as a result of COVID-19. Advertising revenues increased $125 million or 9%, primarily due to stronger linear and digital results at FOX News Media and stronger pricing and the impact of additional live events at the national sports networks following the disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the prior year. Other revenues increased $79 million or 23%, primarily due to higher sports sublicensing revenues at the national sports networks, which were impacted by COVID-19 in the prior year, and higher FOX Nation subscription revenues at FOX News Media, partially offset by the impact of the divestiture of the Company’s sports marketing businesses in the prior year.

Cable Network Programming reported full year segment EBITDA of $2.93 billion, an increase of $58 million or 2% from the prior year, as the revenue increases noted above were partially offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects increased digital investment at FOX News Media, higher sports programming rights amortization at the national sports networks, including the impact of COVID-19 in the prior year, and costs associated with the launch of the USFL, partially offset by the impact of the divestiture of the Company’s sports marketing businesses in the prior year.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
Television reported quarterly segment revenues of $1.53 billion, an increase of $78 million or 5% from the prior year quarter. Advertising revenues increased $30 million or 4%, primarily due to higher political advertising revenues at the FOX Television Stations, continued growth at TUBI and the addition of the USFL at FOX Sports, partially offset by lower ratings at FOX Entertainment. Affiliate fee revenues increased $44 million or 7%, driven by higher average rates at the Company’s owned and operated television stations and increases in fees from third-party FOX affiliates. Other revenues increased $4 million or 3%, primarily due to the impact of the consolidation of MarVista Entertainment, TMZ and Studio Ramsay Global.

Television reported quarterly segment EBITDA of $226 million, an increase of $78 million or 53% from the prior year quarter, primarily due to the revenue increases noted above. Expenses were unchanged from the prior year quarter as the increased digital investment at TUBI was offset by the timing of programming rights amortization at FOX Entertainment.

Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2022
Television reported full year segment revenues of $7.69 billion, an increase of $637 million or 9% from the prior year. Advertising revenues increased $346 million or 8%, primarily due to higher pricing and the return of a full schedule of live events at FOX Sports following the disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the prior year and continued growth at TUBI, partially offset by lower political advertising revenues at the FOX Television Stations. Affiliate fee revenues increased $233 million or 10%, driven by higher average rates at the Company’s owned and operated television stations and increases in fees from third-party FOX affiliates. Other revenues increased $58 million or 11%, primarily due to the impact of the consolidation of MarVista Entertainment, TMZ and Studio Ramsay Global.

Television reported full year segment EBITDA of $347 million, as compared to $555 million in the prior year, as the revenue increases noted above were more than offset by higher expenses. The increase in expenses primarily reflects higher sports and entertainment programming rights amortization at the FOX Network following the disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the prior year and increased digital investment at TUBI. PR Newswire