Versant Media Group Inc (NAS:VSNT)

Q2 2026 Versant Media Group Inc Earnings Call Transcript

Aug 6, 2026 / 12:00 PM GMT

Release Date Price: $38.22 (+6.79%)

Transcript 8-K

Key Points

Positve

Versant Media Group Inc (VSNT) raised its full-year revenue guidance to $6.2-$6.45 billion and adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.9-$2.05 billion, reflecting strong first-half performance and confidence in the business.
The company's TV portfolio reaches over 120 million viewers monthly, with double-digit audience growth across networks, and it completed multi-year renewals with two large pay TV distribution partners.
CNBC delivered its highest-rated quarter in over five years, ranking among the top 10 cable networks during market hours for four consecutive months, and maintained its position as the most affluent and educated weekday daytime audience for 27 straight quarters.
Ms. Now achieved its seventh consecutive month of audience growth, with a 14% increase in viewership year-over-year, nearly 3 billion combined YouTube and TikTok views year-to-date, and ranked as the number one news organization on YouTube in June.
The company is expanding into high-growth areas, including the acquisition of Full Swing, a profitable sports technology company, and the launch of a new AVOD service under Fandango, which is expected to drive long-term value.
Versant Media Group Inc (VSNT) returned $305 million to shareholders year-to-date through dividends and share repurchases, and announced an additional $100 million accelerated share repurchase program, demonstrating a strong commitment to capital returns.

Negative

Total revenue declined 4% year-over-year in Q2 2026, reflecting secular challenges in the pay TV market, with linear distribution revenue down 6% due to subscriber declines.
Advertising revenue saw a slight decline of 0.6% year-over-year, though this was an improvement from the prior year's 13% decline, indicating ongoing softness in the ad market.
The company expects second-half programming costs to increase meaningfully due to sports rights, including NASCAR, WNBA, and golf events, which will likely result in adjusted EBITDA not demonstrating growth in Q3 and Q4 versus the prior year.
Free cash flow is expected to be lower in the second half of the year due to higher capital expenditures, including construction at the New York office facility, and natural quarterly fluctuations in working capital.
The company faces ongoing headwinds in linear distribution, and while it mitigates them through deals, it remains 'not blind' to the industry-wide subscriber declines, which could pressure future revenue growth.
Content licensing and other revenue was flat year-over-year in Q2, following a sharp uptick in Q1, highlighting the volatility and unpredictability of this revenue stream.

Refinitiv StreetEvents Event Transcript
E D I T E D V E R S I O N

VSNT.OQ - Versant Media Group Inc
Q2 2026 Versant Media Group Inc Earnings Call
Aug 06, 2026 / 12:00PM GMT

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Presentation
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Unidentified_1 [1]
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Greetings. Welcome to Versant Media's second quarter 2026 Operating and Financial Results Conference Call.

This time, all participants are in listen-only mode.

Question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation.

If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero from your telephone keypad.

Please note that this conference is being recorded.

I'll now turn the conference over to Wiley Collins, Executive Vice President of Treasury and Investor Relations.

Thank you. You may begin.

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Unidentified_2 [2]
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