The E. W. Scripps 2025 Q3 Earnings Sharp Net Loss of $32.96M Amid 19.1% Revenue Decline

The E. W. Scripps (SSP), ranking by market capitalization, reported its fiscal 2025 Q3 earnings on Nov 08th, 2025. The company delivered mixed results, with revenue falling short of expectations despite beating revenue estimates. Guidance for Q4 2025 reflects continued challenges, with Local Media revenue projected to decline ~30% and Scripps Networks revenue expected to fall in the low double-digit range.

Revenue

Total revenue for The E. W. Scripps declined by 19.1% to $517.25 million in 2025 Q3, down from $639.02 million in 2024 Q3. Local Media revenue dropped to $325.46 million, while Scripps Networks contributed $200.96 million. Other segments added $4.26 million, though intersegment eliminations reduced the total by $4.82 million, and shared services and corporate segments reported no revenue.

Earnings/Net Income

The company swung to a loss of $0.55 per share in 2025 Q3, a 248.6% negative change, and reported a net loss of $32.96 million, reflecting a 169.0% deterioration from the prior year’s net income of $47.78 million.

Price Action

The stock price surged 19.63% during the latest trading day, climbed 5.35% in the most recent full trading week, and rose 5.79% month-to-date.

Post-Earnings Price Action Review

The strategy of buying SSP on earnings beats and holding for 30 days has shown favorable performance, with backtest results indicating an average gain of 12.5% per trade, though a maximum drawdown of 11.4% highlights inherent risks.

CEO Commentary

Adam Symson, CEO, emphasized progress in sports and connected TV revenue, improved margins via expense management, and debt reduction. He highlighted partnerships with the WNBA, NWSL, and NHL teams, as well as a $120 million connected TV revenue stream and AI-driven operational efficiency.

Guidance

For Q4 2025, Local Media revenue is expected to decline ~30% (excluding political ad displacement), while Scripps Networks revenue is projected to fall in the low double-digit range. Core advertising revenue is guided to rise ~10%, driven by sports partnerships.

Additional News

Recent non-earnings developments include a new exclusive broadcast partnership with Major League Volleyball (MLV) to air its 2026 championship on ION, expanding Scripps’ women’s sports portfolio. The company also sold two stations—WFTX in Fort Myers for $40 million and WRTV in Indianapolis for $83 million—aligning with its portfolio optimization strategy. Additionally, Scripps refinanced $750 million in senior secured second-lien notes at 9.875%, reducing leverage to 4.6x net debt by Q3’s end.