Release Date: March 11, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Saga Communications Inc (SGA, Financial) is undergoing a transformational change to capitalize on the growing digital advertising market.
- The company has identified a significant opportunity in the local digital advertising market, aiming to disrupt and capture a portion of the $2.9 billion available in search and display advertising in their markets.
- Blended advertising strategy has shown promising results, with local direct advertisers who purchased blended products increasing their radio spend by 9% year-over-year.
- Interactive revenue, including online news, grew by 20.9% for the year, indicating strong performance in digital initiatives.
- Saga Communications Inc (SGA) maintains a strong financial position with $27.8 million in cash and short-term investments, supporting future growth and strategic initiatives.
Negative Points
- Net revenue decreased by 1.3% for the quarter and 2.2% for the year, indicating challenges in revenue growth.
- Station operating expenses increased by 4.1% for the quarter and 4.5% for the year, impacting profitability.
- The company experienced a significant downdraft in the broadcast sector, affecting short-term performance.
- Pacing for the first quarter is soft, with revenue expected to be down mid- to high single digits.
- Saga Communications Inc (SGA) faces an unsettled advertising market, particularly in radio, with ongoing challenges in attracting advertisers.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you provide an overview of the current advertising market trends in the first quarter and what you're hearing from local advertisers?
A: Samuel Bush, CFO, noted that January and February were down high single digits, while March improved slightly to mid-single digits. Looking ahead, April, May, and June are expected to show continued improvement, with June potentially being flat to slightly up. Christopher Forgy, CEO, added that while the industry faces challenges, Saga has a strong plan and is optimistic about the second half of the year.
Q: Are there any plans for Saga Communications to adopt central casting or regional hub strategies to reduce costs?
A: Christopher Forgy, CEO, stated that Saga does not plan to implement central casting or massive cuts. The company values its employees as its most important assets and focuses on operating efficiencies while maintaining localism and trusted advertising sources.
Q: How is Saga Communications addressing the challenges in the digital advertising market?
A: Christopher Forgy, CEO, explained that Saga is focusing on a blended advertising strategy that integrates radio, search, and display to address the fragmented digital market. This approach aims to simplify advertising for clients and leverage radio's strengths to drive digital growth.
Q: What impact has the blended advertising strategy had on Saga's revenue?
A: Christopher Forgy, CEO, reported that local direct advertisers who purchased blended products saw a 9% increase in radio spend and a 27% increase in overall radio and digital spend year-over-year. Blended advertising orders yielded 4.3 times more revenue than non-blended orders.
Q: What are Saga Communications' plans for capital expenditures and dividends in 2025?
A: Samuel Bush, CFO, stated that Saga expects to spend between $4 million and $4.5 million on capital expenditures in 2025. The company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share in December 2024 and March 2025, with plans to continue regular quarterly dividends as declared by the Board of Directors.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
