SEC Form 10-Q filed by E.W. Scripps Company

5/9/25 1:41:10 PM ET

Broadcasting

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ssp-20250331

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


☑						QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025


☐						TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


						For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 001-10701

THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Ohio		31-1223339
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS 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, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	SSP	NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

☐

Accelerated filer

☑

Emerging growth company

☐

Non-accelerated filer

☐

Smaller reporting company

☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. As of March 31, 2025, there were 75,777,756 of the registrant’s Class A Common shares, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding and 11,932,722 of the registrant’s Common Voting shares, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

Index to The E.W. Scripps Company Quarterly Report

on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2025


Item No.						Page

PART I - Financial Information

1. Financial Statements						3

2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations						3

3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk						3

4. Controls and Procedures						3

PART II - Other Information

1. Legal Proceedings						3

1A. Risk Factors						3

2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds						3

3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities						3

4. Mine Safety Disclosures						3

5. Other Information						4

6. Exhibits						4

Signatures						5

PART I

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “Scripps,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” may, depending on the context, refer to The E.W. Scripps Company, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiary companies, or to all of them taken as a whole.

Item 1. Financial Statements

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.

PART II

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in litigation and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, such as defamation actions and governmental proceedings primarily relating to renewal of broadcast licenses, none of which is expected to result in material loss.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

There were no sales of unregistered equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

There were no defaults upon senior securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5. Other Information

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The following table presents information on matters submitted to a vote of security holders at our May 5, 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:


Descriptions of Matters Submitted	In Favor	Against	Authority Withheld

1. Election of Directors
Directors elected by holders of Class A Common Shares:
Nishat A. Mehta	43,811,441	—	2,823,711
Burton F. Jablin	44,033,245	—	2,601,907
Kim Williams	28,537,240	—	18,097,912
Directors elected by holders of Common Voting Shares:
Marcellus W. Alexander, Jr.	11,130,723	—	—
Charles L. Barmonde	11,130,723	—	—
Kelly P. Conlin	11,130,723	—	—
Raymundo H. Granado, Jr.	11,130,723	—	—
John W. Hayden	11,130,723	—	—
Monica O. Holcomb	11,130,723	—	—
Leigh B. Radford	11,130,723	—	—
Adam P. Symson	11,130,723	—	—
2. Votes by holders of Common Voting Shares to ratify Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accountant	11,130,723	—	—
3. Advisory (non-binding) vote by holders of Common Voting Shares to approve named executive officer compensation (Say-on-Pay)	11,130,723	—	—
4. Votes by holders of Common Voting Shares to approve Amendment No.2 to The E.W. Scripps Company 2023 Long-term Incentive Plan	11,130,723	—	—

Director and Officer Trading Arrangements

None of our directors or officers adopted, modified or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or a non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K) during the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

Item 6. Exhibits


Exhibit Number						Exhibit Description
31(a)						Section 302 Certifications *
31(b)						Section 302 Certifications *
32(a)						Section 906 Certifications *
32(b)						Section 906 Certifications *
101						The Company's unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language). *
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). *

* - Filed herewith

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, thereunto duly authorized.


	THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY

Dated: May 9, 2025	By:	/s/ Daniel W. Perschke
		Daniel W. Perschke
		Senior Vice President, Controller
		(Principal Accounting Officer)

The E.W. Scripps Company

Index to Financial Information (Unaudited)


Item						Page

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets						F-2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations						F-3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)						F-4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows						F-5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity						F-6

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements						F-7

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations						F-20

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk						F-30

Controls and Procedures						F-31

F-1

The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)


(in thousands, except share data)	As of March 31, 2025		As of December 31, 2024

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	23,959	$	23,852

Accounts receivable (less allowances — $8,507 and $7,449)	520,643		568,193


Miscellaneous	53,546		37,970


Total current assets	598,148		630,015
Investments	15,275		8,884
Property and equipment	430,737		453,900
Operating lease right-of-use assets	84,229		90,136
Goodwill	1,968,574		1,968,574
Other intangible assets	1,613,077		1,635,488
Programming	391,359		402,459

Miscellaneous	14,790		9,119

Total Assets	$	5,116,189	$	5,198,575

Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	91,497	$	100,669
Unearned revenue	12,336		18,159
Current portion of long-term debt	40,612		15,612

Accrued liabilities:
Employee compensation and benefits	48,084		81,462
Accrued income taxes	32,560		33,179
Programming liability	144,938		140,502
Accrued interest	14,077		31,407
Miscellaneous	30,489		35,811
Other current liabilities	25,077		25,593


Total current liabilities	439,670		482,394
Long-term debt (less current portion)	2,558,994		2,560,560
Deferred income taxes	284,637		293,634
Operating lease liabilities	76,311		79,399
Other liabilities (less current portion)	436,854		464,574

Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par — authorized: 25,000,000 shares; none outstanding	—		—
Preferred stock — Series A, $100,000 par; 6,000 shares issued and outstanding (redemption value of $703,121 at March 31, 2025 and $688,309 at December 31, 2024)	417,430		416,854
Common stock, $0.01 par:
Class A — authorized: 240,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 75,777,756 and 74,694,541 shares	758		747
Voting — authorized: 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 11,932,722 and 11,932,722 shares	119		119
Total preferred and common stock	418,307		417,720
Additional paid-in capital	1,456,145		1,451,604
Accumulated deficit	(479,459)		(476,004)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes	(75,270)		(75,306)


Total equity	1,319,723		1,318,014
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	5,116,189	$	5,198,575

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-2

The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)		2025		2024

Operating Revenues:
Advertising		$	325,850	$	349,758
Distribution		188,924		202,560
Other		9,619		9,146
Total operating revenues		524,393		561,464
Operating Expenses:
Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization		317,153		328,533
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization		137,239		145,693

Restructuring costs		4,144		5,015
Depreciation		14,904		15,120
Amortization of intangible assets		23,556		23,568

Losses (gains), net on disposal of property and equipment		(78)		147
Total operating expenses		496,918		518,076
Operating income		27,475		43,388
Interest expense		(43,750)		(54,917)

Defined benefit pension plan income (expense)		(338)		177


Miscellaneous, net		156		16,821
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes		(16,457)		5,469
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(13,002)		3,843


Net income (loss)		(3,455)		1,626
Preferred stock dividends		(15,388)		(14,377)

Net loss attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company		$	(18,843)	$	(12,751)




Net loss per basic share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company		$	(0.22)	$	(0.15)



Net loss per diluted share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company		$	(0.22)	$	(0.15)

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-3

The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		2024

Net income (loss)		$	(3,455)	$	1,626
Changes in defined benefit pension plans, net of tax of $12 and $11		25		29
Other		11		5
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to preferred and common stockholders		$	(3,419)	$	1,660

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-4

The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2025		2024

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$	(3,455)	$	1,626


Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	38,460		38,688

Losses (gains), net on disposal of property and equipment	(78)		147



Programming assets and liabilities	(13,506)		(5,227)
Restructuring impairment charges	1,397		—
Losses (gains) on sale of investments	(42)		(18,018)

Deferred income taxes	(9,009)		2,577
Stock and deferred compensation plans	6,705		7,502
Pension contributions, net of income/expense	32		(503)
Other changes in certain working capital accounts, net	(28,185)		15,226
Miscellaneous, net	4,372		3,418
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(3,309)		45,436


Cash Flows from Investing Activities:



Additions to property and equipment	(5,055)		(22,145)
Purchase of investments	(6,805)		(1,055)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,928		7
Proceeds from sale of investments	42		18,108

Net cash used in investing activities	(9,890)		(5,085)


Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Net borrowings (payments) under revolving credit facility	25,000		(40,000)


Payments on long-term debt	(3,903)		(3,903)

Payments on financing costs	(5,755)		—




Tax payments related to shares withheld for vested stock and RSUs	(810)		(1,001)
Miscellaneous, net	(1,226)		(537)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	13,306		(45,441)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	107		(5,090)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of year	23,852		35,319
End of period	$	23,959	$	30,229

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Interest paid	$	57,867	$	67,347
Income taxes paid (refunded)	$	(185)	$	182
Non-cash investing information
Accrued capital expenditures	$	2,150	$	882

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-5

The E.W. Scripps Company

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited)


Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands, except per share data)	Preferred Stock		Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ("AOCI")		Total Equity

As of December 31, 2024	$	416,854	$	866	$	1,451,604	$	(476,004)	$	(75,306)	$	1,318,014
Comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		(3,455)		36		(3,419)



Preferred stock dividends, $576 of issuance costs accretion	576		—		(576)		—		—		—

Compensation plans: 1,083,215 net shares issued *	—		11		5,117		—		—		5,128
As of March 31, 2025	$	417,430	$	877	$	1,456,145	$	(479,459)	$	(75,270)	$	1,319,723

* Net of tax payments related to shares withheld for vested RSUs of $810 for the three months ended March 31, 2025.


As of December 31, 2023	$	414,549	$	848	$	1,438,518	$	(622,222)	$	(75,510)	$	1,156,183
Comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		1,626		34		1,660



Preferred stock dividends, $576 of issuance costs accretion	576		—		(576)		—		—		—

Compensation plans: 613,362 net shares issued *	—		6		4,113		—		—		4,119
As of March 31, 2024	$	415,125	$	854	$	1,442,055	$	(620,596)	$	(75,476)	$	1,161,962

* Net of tax payments related to shares withheld for vested RSUs of $1,001 for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

F-6

The E.W. Scripps Company

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

As used in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the terms “Scripps,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” may, depending on the context, refer to The E.W. Scripps Company, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiary companies, or to all of them taken as a whole.

Basis of Presentation — The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto included in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In management's opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods have been made.

Results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future interim periods or for the full year. Additionally, certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.

Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities ("VIEs") for which we are the primary beneficiary. We are the primary beneficiary of a VIE when we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE. All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in entities over which we have significant influence but not control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Income from equity method investments represents our proportionate share of net income generated by equity method investees.

Nature of Operations — We are a diverse media enterprise, serving audiences and businesses through a portfolio of local television stations and national news and entertainment networks. All of our businesses also have digital presences across online, mobile, connected television and social platforms, reaching consumers on all devices and platforms they use to consume content. Our media businesses are organized into the following reportable segments: Local Media, Scripps Networks and Other. Additional information for our segments is presented in Note 11. Segment Information.

Use of Estimates — Preparing financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make a variety of decisions that affect the reported amounts and the related disclosures. Such decisions include the selection of accounting principles that reflect the economic substance of the underlying transactions and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgment based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, including our historical experience, actuarial studies and other assumptions.

Our financial statements include estimates and assumptions used in accounting for our defined benefit pension plan; the periods over which long-lived assets are depreciated or amortized; the fair value of long-lived assets, goodwill and indefinite lived assets; the liability for uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances against deferred income tax assets; the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations; and self-insured risks.

While we re-evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis, actual results could differ from those estimated at the time of preparation of the financial statements.

Nature of Products and Services — The following is a description of principal activities from which we generate revenue.

Core Advertising — Core advertising is comprised of sales to local and national businesses. The advertising includes a combination of broadcast spots as well as digital and connected TV advertising. Pricing of advertising time is based on audience size and share, the demographic of our audiences and the demand for our limited inventory of commercial time. Local advertising time is sold by each station's local sales staff who call upon advertising agencies and local businesses. National advertising time is generally sold by calling upon advertising agencies. Digital revenues are primarily generated from the sale of

F-7

advertising to local and national customers on our business websites, tablet and mobile products, over-the-top apps and other platforms.

Political Advertising — Political advertising is generally sold through our Washington, D.C. sales office. Advertising is sold to presidential, gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and House of Representative candidates, as well as for state and local issues. It is also sold to political action groups (PACs) and other advocacy groups.

Distribution Revenues — We earn revenues from cable operators, satellite carriers, other multi-channel video programming distributors (collectively "MVPDs"), other online video distributors and subscribers for access rights to our local broadcast signals. These arrangements are generally governed by multi-year contracts and the fees we receive are typically based on the number of subscribers the respective distributor has in our markets and the contracted rate per subscriber.

Refer to Note 11. Segment Information for further information, including revenue by significant product and service offering.

Revenue Recognition — Revenue is measured based on the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for promised goods or services provided to customers, and excludes any amounts collected on behalf of third parties. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers.

Advertising — Advertising revenue is recognized, net of agency commissions, over time primarily as ads are aired or impressions are delivered and any contracted audience guarantees are met. We apply the practical expedient to recognize revenue at the amount we have the right to invoice, which corresponds directly to the value a customer has received relative to our performance. For advertising sold based on audience guarantees, audience deficiency may result in an obligation to deliver additional advertisements to the customer. To the extent that we do not satisfy contracted audience ratings, we record deferred revenue until such time that the audience guarantee has been satisfied.

Distribution — Our primary source of distribution revenue is from retransmission consent contracts with MVPDs. Retransmission revenues are considered licenses of functional intellectual property and are recognized at the point in time the content is transferred to the customer. MVPDs report their subscriber numbers to us generally on a 30- to 90-day lag. Prior to receiving the MVPD reporting, we record revenue based on estimates of the number of subscribers, utilizing historical levels and trends of subscribers for each MVPD.

Cost of Revenues — Cost of revenues reflects the cost of providing our broadcast signals, programming and other content to respective distribution platforms. The costs captured within the cost of revenues caption include programming, content distribution, satellite transmission fees, production and operations and other direct costs.

Contract Balances — Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of cash collection from customers. We record a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to cash receipt, or unearned revenue when cash is collected in advance of revenue being recognized.

Payment terms may vary by contract type, although our terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 90 days. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, we have determined our contracts do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of our invoicing terms is to provide customers with simplified and predictable ways of purchasing our products and services.

The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. We estimate the allowance based on expected credit losses, including our historical experience of actual losses and known troubled accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts totaled $8.5 million at March 31, 2025 and $7.4 million at December 31, 2024.

We record unearned revenue when cash payments are received in advance of our performance, including amounts which are refundable. We generally require amounts payable under advertising contracts with political advertising customers to be paid in advance. Unearned revenue totaled $12.3 million at March 31, 2025 and substantially all is expected to be recognized within revenue or refunded over the next 12 months. Unearned revenue totaled $18.2 million at December 31, 2024. We recorded $7.2 million of revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2025 that was included in unearned revenue at December 31, 2024.

Leases — We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, other current liabilities and operating lease liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment and other long-term liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

F-8

Lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the implicit rate is not readily determinable for most of our leases, we use our incremental borrowing rate when determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate represents an estimate of the interest rate we would incur at lease commencement to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over the term of the lease. Our lease assets also include any payments made at or before commencement and are reduced by any lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Share-Based Compensation — We have a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which is described more fully in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Plan provides for the award of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units ("RSUs") and unrestricted Class A Common shares and performance units to key employees and non-employee directors.

Share-based compensation costs totaled $5.6 million and $4.6 million for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) — Unvested awards of share-based payments with non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, such as certain of our RSUs, are considered participating securities for purposes of calculating EPS. Under the two-class method, we allocate a portion of net income to these participating securities and, therefore, exclude that income from the calculation of EPS for common stock. We do not allocate losses to the participating securities.

The following table presents information about basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		2024

Numerator (for basic and diluted earnings per share)
Net income (loss)		$	(3,455)	$	1,626


Less preferred stock dividends		(15,388)		(14,377)
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share		$	(18,843)	$	(12,751)
Denominator
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		86,912		84,891


Effect of dilutive securities		—		—
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		86,912		84,891

The dilutive effects of performance-based stock awards are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share to the extent the related performance criteria are met through the respective balance sheet reporting date. As of March 31, 2025, potential dilutive securities representing 7.9 million shares were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as the related performance criteria were not yet met, although the Company expects to meet various levels of criteria in the future.

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, we incurred a net loss to shareholders and the inclusion of RSUs would be anti-dilutive. The March 31, 2025 and 2024 diluted EPS calculations exclude the effect from 10.5 million and 4.4 million, respectively, of outstanding RSUs that were anti-dilutive. The March 31, 2025 and 2024 basic and dilutive EPS calculations also exclude the impact of the common stock warrant as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

F-9

2. Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new guidance on disaggregation of income statement expenses. The guidance requires entities to disaggregate any relevant expense caption presented on the face of the income statement within continuing operations into the following required natural expense categories: (1) purchases of inventory, (2) employee compensation, (3) depreciation, (4) intangible asset amortization, and (5) depreciation, depletion and amortization recognized as part of oil-and gas-producing activities or other types of depletion expenses. Such disclosures must be made on an annual and interim basis in a tabular format in the footnotes to the financial statements. The guidance does not change the expense captions an entity presents on the face of the income statement. The guidance also provides clarification regarding identifying relevant expense captions. Furthermore, certain other expenses and gains or losses that must be disclosed under existing U.S. GAAP, and that are recorded in a relevant expense caption, must be presented in the same tabular disclosure on an annual, and, when applicable, interim basis. In addition, the guidance requires entities to disclose selling expenses on an annual and interim basis. The guidance does not define selling expenses, rather, entities will make their own determination of the composition of selling expenses and disclose the definition on an annual basis. The guidance is effective for our annual periods beginning in 2027 and interim periods beginning in the first quarter of 2028, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied on a prospective basis, but retrospective application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new guidance on our disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued new guidance that modifies the rules on income tax disclosures. The guidance requires entities to disclose: (1) specific categories in the rate reconciliation, (2) the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and (3) income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state and foreign). The guidance also requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state and local jurisdictions, among other changes. The guidance is effective for our annual periods beginning in 2025, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied on a prospective basis, but retrospective application is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of this new guidance on our income tax disclosures.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In November 2023, the FASB issued new guidance which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. We adopted this guidance starting with our annual period beginning in fiscal year 2024 and adopted for interim periods beginning in the first quarter of 2025. The guidance is applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Upon transition, the segment expense categories and amounts disclosed in the prior periods are based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. Refer to Note 11. Segment Information for the enhanced disclosures.

3. Restructuring Costs and Other Transactions

Restructuring and Reorganization

In January 2023, we announced a strategic restructuring and reorganization of the Company to further leverage our strong position in the U.S. television ecosystem and propel our growth across new distribution platforms and emerging media marketplaces. The strategic reorganization, which was substantially completed by the end of the 2024 second quarter, created a leaner and more agile operating structure through the centralization of certain services and the consolidation of layers of management across our operating businesses and corporate office. We have continued to identify efficiency opportunities within the functional departments of our organization, which has resulted in additional restructuring charges since the end of 2024 second quarter.

On September 27, 2024, we announced plans to significantly reduce Scripps News' national network programming beginning in the fourth quarter of 2024. As of November 15, 2024, Scripps News was no longer broadcast over the air, although it remained on streaming and digital platforms with weekday live coverage from the field. These restructuring activities resulted in the elimination of more than 200 jobs during 2024.

Restructuring costs in the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 totaled $4.1 million and $5.0 million, respectively. Restructuring costs in 2025 included severance charges of $2.0 million and operating lease exit costs of $2.1 million. Restructuring costs in 2024 included severance charges and outside consulting fees associated with the strategic reorganization efforts.

F-10


Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands)	Severance and Employee Benefits		Other Restructuring Charges		Total

Liability as of December 31, 2024	$	9,653	$	—	$	9,653
Net charges	2,012		2,132		4,144
Payments	(9,802)		(110)		(9,912)
Non-cash (a)	—		(1,397)		(1,397)
Liability as of March 31, 2025	$	1,863	$	625	$	2,488


Liability as of December 31, 2023	$	6,735	$	1,430	$	8,165
Net charges	4,563		452		5,015
Payments	(8,054)		(452)		(8,506)
Non-cash (a)	—		—		—
Liability as of March 31, 2024	$	3,244	$	1,430	$	4,674

(a) Represents share-based compensation costs and asset write-downs included in restructuring charges.

Other Transactions

On February 9, 2024, following the completed sale of Broadcast Music, Inc. ("BMI") to New Mountain Capital, we received $18.1 million in pre-tax cash proceeds for our equity ownership in BMI. We did not have any carrying value associated with our BMI investment. This gain was included in Miscellaneous, net for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

On December 6, 2024, we reached an agreement on the sale of our West Palm Beach station's building for cash consideration of $40.0 million. In the first quarter of 2025, the property and equipment was classified as held for sale and its $7.5 million carrying value was included within the Miscellaneous current assets caption on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We also entered into a 2.5-year leasing agreement related to this asset upon the closing of the transaction on April 30, 2025.

4. Income Taxes

We file a consolidated federal income tax return, consolidated unitary tax returns in certain states and other separate state income tax returns for our subsidiary companies.

The income tax provision for interim periods is determined based upon the expected effective income tax rate for the full year and the tax rate applicable to certain discrete transactions in the interim period. To determine the annual effective income tax rate, we must estimate both the total income (loss) before income tax for the full year and the jurisdictions in which that income (loss) is subject to tax. The actual effective income tax rate for the full year may differ from these estimates if income (loss) before income tax is greater than or less than what was estimated or if the allocation of income (loss) to jurisdictions in which it is taxed is different from the estimated allocations. We review and adjust our estimated effective income tax rate for the full year each quarter based upon our most recent estimates of income (loss) before income tax for the full year and the jurisdictions in which we expect that income will be taxed.

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was 79% and 70%, respectively. Differences between our effective income tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate are the impact of state taxes, foreign taxes, non-deductible expenses, changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions, excess tax benefits or expense from the exercise and vesting of share-based compensation awards ($1.9 million expense in 2025 and $3.1 million expense in 2024), state deferred rate changes ($0.7 million benefit in 2025 and $1.1 million expense in 2024) and state NOL valuation allowance changes.

We recognize state NOL carryforwards as deferred tax assets, subject to valuation allowances. At each balance sheet date, we estimate the amount of carryforwards that are not expected to be used prior to expiration of the carryforward period. The tax effect of the carryforwards that are not expected to be used prior to their expiration is included in the valuation allowance.

F-11

5. Leases

We have operating leases for office space, data centers and certain equipment. We also have finance leases for office space. Our leases have lease terms of 1 year to 34 years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to 5 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within 1 year. Operating lease costs recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 totaled $5.5 million and $6.1 million, respectively, including short-term lease costs of $1.8 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Amortization of the right-of-use asset for our finance leases totaled $0.2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. Interest expense on the finance leases liability totaled $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

Other information related to our leases was as follows:


(in thousands, except lease term and discount rate)	As of March 31, 2025			As of December 31, 2024

Balance Sheet Information
Operating Leases
Right-of-use assets	$	84,229		$	90,136
Other current liabilities	17,648			18,087
Operating lease liabilities	76,311			79,399
Finance Leases
Property and equipment, at cost	28,321			28,321
Accumulated depreciation	(1,857)			(1,658)
Property and equipment, net	26,464			26,663

Other liabilities	31,134			31,021
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
Operating leases	7.35 years			7.37 years
Finance leases	33.25 years			33.50 years
Weighted Average Discount Rate
Operating leases	5.01		%	5.01		%
Finance leases	7.10		%	7.10		%


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		2024

Supplemental Cash Flows Information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases		$	5,398	$	5,754
Operating cash flows from finance leases		438		213
Financing cash flows from finance leases		—		—
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations		2,151		10,095
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for finance lease obligations		—		—

F-12

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of March 31, 2025 were as follows:


(in thousands)	Operating Leases		Finance Leases

Remainder of 2025	$	19,051	$	1,338
2026	20,542		1,824
2027	17,769		1,875
2028	14,456		1,926
2029	12,057		1,979
Thereafter	28,828		88,145
Total future minimum lease payments	112,703		97,087
Less: Imputed interest	(18,744)		(65,953)
Total	$	93,959	$	31,134

6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill consisted of the following:


(in thousands)	Local Media		Scripps Networks		Other		Total

Gross balance as of December 31, 2024	$	1,122,408	$	2,028,890	$	7,190	$	3,158,488
Accumulated impairment losses	(216,914)		(973,000)		—		(1,189,914)
Net balance as of December 31, 2024	$	905,494	$	1,055,890	$	7,190	$	1,968,574

Gross balance as of March 31, 2025	$	1,122,408	$	2,028,890	$	7,190	$	3,158,488
Accumulated impairment losses	(216,914)		(973,000)		—		(1,189,914)
Net balance as of March 31, 2025	$	905,494	$	1,055,890	$	7,190	$	1,968,574

Other intangible assets consisted of the following:


(in thousands)	As of March 31, 2025		As of December 31, 2024

Amortizable intangible assets:
Carrying amount:
Television affiliation relationships	$	1,060,244	$	1,060,244
Customer lists and advertiser relationships	220,997		220,997
Other	139,141		137,997
Total carrying amount	1,420,382		1,419,238
Accumulated amortization:
Television affiliation relationships	(343,751)		(330,233)
Customer lists and advertiser relationships	(162,201)		(156,310)
Other	(80,768)		(76,622)
Total accumulated amortization	(586,720)		(563,165)
Net amortizable intangible assets	833,662		856,073
Indefinite-lived intangible assets — FCC licenses	779,415		779,415
Total other intangible assets	$	1,613,077	$	1,635,488

F-13

Estimated amortization expense of intangible assets for each of the next five years is $67.7 million for the remainder of 2025, $86.5 million in 2026, $83.4 million in 2027, $62.0 million in 2028, $62.0 million in 2029, $61.9 million in 2030 and $410.2 million in later years.

Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually and any time events occur or changes in circumstances indicate it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit, or respective indefinite-lived intangible asset, is below its carrying value. Such events or changes in circumstances include, but are not limited to, changes in business climate, sustained declines in the price of our stock, or other factors resulting in lower cash flow related to such assets. The reporting unit valuations used to test goodwill and intangible assets for impairment are dependent on a number of significant estimates and assumptions, including macroeconomic conditions, market growth rates, competitive activities, cost containment, margin expansion and strategic business plans (inputs of which are categorized as Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy). Additionally, future changes in these assumptions and estimates with respect to long-term growth rates and discount rates or future cash flow projections, could result in significantly different estimates of the fair values.

Our fourth quarter 2024 annual goodwill impairment test indicated that the fair value of our Local Media reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by more than 20% and that the fair value of our Scripps Networks reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by 1.3%. Given that the fair value of the Scripps Networks reporting unit currently approximates carrying value, this reporting unit is more sensitive to changes in assumptions regarding its fair value. While we believe the estimates and judgments used in determining the fair values were appropriate, these estimates of fair value assume certain levels of growth for the business, which, if not achieved, could impact the fair value and possibly result in an impairment of the goodwill in future periods. For example, a 50 basis point increase in the discount rate would reduce the fair value of the Scripps Networks reporting unit by approximately $110 million.

7. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:


(in thousands)	As of March 31, 2025		As of December 31, 2024

Revolving credit facility	$	25,000	$	—
Senior secured notes, due in 2029	523,356		523,356

Senior unsecured notes, due in 2027	425,667		425,667
Senior unsecured notes, due in 2031	392,071		392,071

Term loan, due in 2026	719,310		721,213
Term loan, due in 2028	541,000		543,000

Total outstanding principal	2,626,404		2,605,307
Less: Debt issuance costs and issuance discounts	(26,798)		(29,135)
Less: Current portion	(40,612)		(15,612)
Net carrying value of long-term debt	$	2,558,994	$	2,560,560
Fair value of long-term debt *	$	2,226,980	$	2,112,999

* The fair values of debt are estimated based on either quoted private market transactions or observable estimates provided by third party financial professionals, and as such, are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Scripps Senior Secured Credit Agreement

On July 31, 2023, we entered into the Eighth Amendment to the Third Amended Restated Credit Agreement ("Eighth Amendment"). Under the terms of the Eighth Amendment, we have a $585 million Revolving Credit Facility that matures on January 7, 2026. Commitment fees of 0.30% to 0.50% per annum, based on our leverage ratio, of the total unused commitment are payable under the Revolving Credit Facility. Interest is payable on the Revolving Credit Facility at rates based on the secured overnight financing rate ("SOFR"), plus a margin based on our leverage ratio, ranging from 1.75% to 2.75%. As of March 31, 2025, we had $25.0 million outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility with an interest rate of 7.19%. The weighted-average interest rate during the periods in which we had a drawn revolver balance for the first quarter of 2025 and first quarter of 2024 was 7.18% and 8.20%, respectively. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $8.9 million and $6.9 million, respectively, under the Revolving Credit Facility.

On May 1, 2019, we issued a $765 million term loan B ("2026 term loan") that matures in May 2026. Interest is currently payable on the 2026 term loan at a rate based on SOFR, plus a fixed margin of 2.56%. The 2026 term loan requires annual principal payments of $7.6 million. Deferred financing costs and original issuance discount totaled approximately $23.0 million with this term loan, which are being amortized over the life of the loan.

As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the interest rate on the 2026 term loan was 7.00% and 7.03%, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on the 2026 term loan was 7.01% and 8.02% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

On January 7, 2021, we issued an $800 million term loan B ("2028 term loan") that matures in January 2028. Interest is currently payable on the 2028 term loan at a rate based on SOFR, plus a fixed margin of 3.00%. Additionally, the credit agreement states the SOFR rate could not be less than 0.75% for our term loans that mature in 2026 and 2028. The 2028 term loan requires annual principal payments of $8.0 million. We incurred deferred financing costs totaling $23.4 million related to this term loan and a previous amendment to the Revolving Credit Facility, which are being amortized over the life of the term loan.

As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the interest rate on the 2028 term loan was 7.44% and 7.47%, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on the 2028 term loan was 7.45% and 8.45% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

The Senior Secured Credit Agreement contains covenants that limit our ability to incur additional debt and provides for restrictions on certain payments (dividends and share repurchases). Additionally, we must be in compliance with certain leverage ratios in order to proceed with acquisitions. Our credit agreement also includes a provision that in certain circumstances we must use a portion of excess cash flow to repay debt. We granted the lenders pledges of our equity interests in our subsidiaries and security interests in substantially all other personal property including cash, accounts receivables and equipment. The Eighth Amendment contains a covenant to comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio. Through September 30, 2025, we must comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio of 4.75 to 1.0, at which point it steps down to 4.50 times thereafter. As of March 31, 2025, we were in compliance with our financial covenants.

2029 Senior Secured Notes

On December 30, 2020, we issued $550 million of senior secured notes (the "2029 Senior Notes"), which bear interest at a rate of 3.875% per annum and mature on January 15, 2029. The 2029 Senior Notes were priced at 100% of par value and interest is payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15. Prior to January 15, 2026, we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at applicable redemption prices noted in the indenture agreement. If we sell certain of our assets or have a change of control, the holders of the 2029 Senior Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the notes. Our credit agreement also includes a provision that in certain circumstances we must use a portion of excess cash flow to repay debt. The 2029 Senior Notes are guaranteed by us and the majority of our subsidiaries and are secured on equal footing with the obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Agreement. The notes are secured, on a first lien basis, from pledges of equity interests in our subsidiaries and by substantially all of the existing and future assets of Scripps. The 2029 Senior Notes contain covenants with which we must comply that are typical for borrowing transactions of this nature.

We incurred approximately $13.8 million of deferred financing costs in connection with the issuance of the 2029 Senior Notes, which are being amortized over the life of the notes.

2027 Senior Unsecured Notes

On July 26, 2019, we issued $500 million of senior unsecured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum and mature on July 15, 2027 ("the 2027 Senior Notes"). The 2027 Senior Notes were priced at 100% of par value and interest is payable semi-annually on July 15 and January 15. We may redeem the notes before July 15, 2025, in whole or in part, at applicable redemption prices noted in the indenture agreement. If we sell certain of our assets or have a change of control, the holders of the 2027 Senior Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the notes. The 2027 Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of our existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries. The 2027 Senior Notes contain covenants with which we must comply that are typical for borrowing transactions of this nature.

We incurred approximately $10.7 million of deferred financing costs in connection with the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes, which are being amortized over the life of the notes.

2031 Senior Unsecured Notes

On December 30, 2020, we issued $500 million of senior unsecured notes (the "2031 Senior Notes"), which bear interest at a rate of 5.375% per annum and mature on January 15, 2031. The 2031 Senior Notes were priced at 100% of par value and interest is payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15. We may redeem some or all of the 2031 Senior Notes before January 15, 2026 at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date plus a "make whole" premium. On or after January 15, 2026 and before January 15, 2029, we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at applicable redemption prices noted in the indenture agreement. If we sell certain of our assets or have a change of control, the holders of the 2031 Senior Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the notes. The 2031 Senior Notes are also guaranteed by us and the majority our subsidiaries. The 2031 Senior Notes contain covenants with which we must comply that are typical for borrowing transactions of this nature.

We incurred approximately $12.5 million of deferred financing costs in connection with the issuance of the 2031 Senior Notes, which are being amortized over the life of the notes.

Debt Repurchase Authorization

In February 2023, our Board of Directors provided a new debt repurchase authorization, pursuant to which we may reduce, through redemptions or open market purchases and retirement, a combination of the outstanding principal balance of our senior secured and senior unsecured notes. The authorization permits an aggregate principal amount reduction of up to $500 million and expires on March 1, 2026.

Debt Refinancing Transactions

On April 10, 2025, we completed a series of previously announced refinancing transactions, where we:

•Refinanced approximately $111 million aggregate principal amount of our then existing 2026 term loan with new tranche B-2 term loans due 2028, with the remaining 2026 term loan repaid in cash, including with proceeds from a new accounts receivable securitization facility, approximately $224 million of proceeds from new tranche B-2 term loans funded by certain participating lenders and cash on hand (including from drawings under our revolving credit facilities);

•Refinanced approximately $540 million aggregate principal amount of our existing 2028 term loan with $200 million new tranche B-2 term loans due 2028 and $340 million new tranche B-3 term loans due 2029, with remaining 2028 term loan repaid in cash with cash on hand (including from drawings under our revolving credit facilities);

•Replaced the existing revolving credit facility with a new revolving credit facility with aggregate commitments of up to $208 million due July 2027 and another new non-extended revolving credit facility with aggregate commitments of up to $70.0 million due January 2026; and

•Entered into a new three-year accounts receivable securitization facility with aggregate commitments of up to $450 million. The maximum availability allowed is limited by our eligible accounts receivable balances, as defined under the terms of the securitization facility.

In connection with the debt refinancing, we incurred transaction costs totaling approximately $70.0 million. We are currently evaluating the impact of these transaction fees to our financial statements.

Following completion of the transactions:

•The accounts receivable securitization facility is subject to interest charges, at the one-month term SOFR rate, subject to a 1.00% floor with a blended spread of 3.72% based on customary assumptions. On April 10, 2025, we drew approximately $362 million under the accounts receivable securitization facility and used the proceeds to repay a portion of the then existing 2026 term loan.

•No amounts remain outstanding for our existing 2026 term loan, existing 2028 term loan or existing Revolving Credit Facility.

•We have $545 million aggregate principal outstanding for a new tranche B-2 term loan due 2028, interest charged at the SOFR rate plus a margin of 5.75%, and $340 million aggregate principal outstanding for a new tranche B-3 term loan due 2029, interest charged at the SOFR rate plus a margin of 3.35%.

•We will have total aggregate revolving commitments up to $278 million, which includes the new revolving credit facility and the new non-extended revolving credit facility. For the new $208 million revolving credit facility, interest is payable at the SOFR rate plus a margin of 5.50%. For the new non-extended revolving credit facility, interest is payable at the SOFR rate plus a margin based on our leverage ratio, ranging from 1.75% to 2.75%. On April 10, 2025, we had $177 million outstanding under these revolving commitments.

This new credit agreement contains covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur additional debt and provides for restrictions on certain payments (dividends and share repurchases). Additionally, we must be in compliance with certain leverage ratios in order to proceed with acquisitions. Our credit agreement also includes a provision that in certain circumstances we must use a portion of excess cash flow to repay debt. We granted the lenders pledges of our equity interests in our subsidiaries and security interests in substantially all other personal property including cash and equipment. The new credit agreement also contains covenants to comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio. For the new revolving credit facility, we must comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio of 3.50 to 1.0 through September 30, 2026, at which point it steps down to 3.25 times for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2026, and thereafter. For the non-extended revolving credit facility, we must comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio of 4.75 to 1.0 through September 30, 2025, at which point it steps down to 4.50 times for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2025, and thereafter.

8. Other Liabilities

Other liabilities consisted of the following:


(in thousands)	As of March 31, 2025		As of December 31, 2024

Employee compensation and benefits	$	29,259	$	28,996
Deferred FCC repack income	36,701		37,733
Programming liability	221,215		248,634
Liability for pension benefits	71,164		71,211
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions	33,033		32,515
Finance leases	31,134		31,021
Other	14,348		14,464
Other liabilities (less current portion)	$	436,854	$	464,574

9. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The following table presents additional information about the change in certain working capital accounts:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2025		2024

Accounts receivable	$	47,550	$	43,835
Other current assets	(8,061)		(12,271)
Accounts payable	(7,679)		7,535
Unearned revenue	(5,823)		1,694
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	(34,204)		(17,168)
Accrued income taxes	(619)		1,086
Accrued interest	(17,330)		(15,742)
Other accrued liabilities	(1,991)		7,917
Other, net	(28)		(1,660)
Total	$	(28,185)	$	15,226

F-14

10. Employee Benefit Plans

We sponsor a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan and non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans ("SERPs"). The accrual for future benefits has been frozen in our defined benefit pension plan and SERPs.

We sponsor a defined contribution plan covering substantially all non-union and certain union employees. We match a portion of employees' voluntary contributions to this plan.

Other union-represented employees are covered by defined benefit pension plans jointly sponsored by us and the union, or by union-sponsored multi-employer plans.

The components of the employee benefit plan expense consisted of the following:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		2024


Interest cost		$	5,649	$	5,602
Expected return on plan assets, net of expenses		(5,558)		(6,018)

Amortization of actuarial loss and prior service cost		4		5

Total for defined benefit pension plan		95		(411)

SERPs		243		234
Defined contribution plan		5,144		5,503
Net periodic benefit cost		$	5,482	$	5,326

We contributed $0.3 million to fund current benefit payments for our SERPs during the three months ended March 31, 2025. During the remainder of 2025, we anticipate contributing an additional $1.2 million to fund the SERPs' benefit payments. We have met regulatory funding requirements for our qualified benefit pension plan and do not have a mandatory contribution in 2025.

11. Segment Information

We determine our operating segments based upon our management and internal reporting structure, as well as the basis that our chief operating decision maker makes resource-allocation decisions.

Our Local Media segment includes more than 60 local television stations and their related digital operations. It is comprised of 18 ABC affiliates, 11 NBC affiliates, nine CBS affiliates and four FOX affiliates. We also have 11 independent stations and 10 additional low power stations. Our Local Media segment earns revenue primarily from the sale of advertising to local, national and political advertisers and retransmission fees received from cable operators, telecommunications companies, satellite carriers and over-the-top virtual MVPDs.

Our Scripps Networks segment includes national news outlets Scripps News and Court TV as well as popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every U.S. television home through free over-the-air broadcast, cable/satellite, connected TV and/or digital distribution. These operations earn revenue primarily through the sale of advertising.

Our segment results reflect the impact of intercompany carriage agreements between our local broadcast television stations and our national networks. The intercompany carriage fee revenue earned by our local broadcast television stations is equal to the carriage fee expense incurred by our national networks. We also allocate a portion of certain corporate costs and expenses, including accounting, human resources, employee benefit and information technology to our segments. These intercompany agreements and allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management, which may differ from an arms-length amount.

The other segment caption aggregates our operating segments that are too small to report separately. Costs for centrally provided services and certain corporate costs that are not allocated to the segments are included in shared services and corporate costs. These unallocated corporate costs would also include the costs associated with being a public company. Corporate assets are primarily cash and cash equivalents, property and equipment primarily used for corporate purposes and deferred income taxes.

F-15

Our President and Chief Executive Officer is the Company's chief operating decision maker. He evaluates the monthly operating performance of our segments, including budget-to-actual variances, and makes decisions about the allocation of resources to our segments using a measure called segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, defined benefit pension plan amounts, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income (loss) determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Information regarding our segments is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
(in thousands)	Local Media		Scripps Networks		Total

Revenues from external customers	$	320,706	$	198,007	$	518,713
Intersegment revenues	4,683		—		4,683
Reportable segments revenues	325,389		198,007		523,396
Other revenues(a)					5,680
Intersegment eliminations					(4,683)
Total consolidated operating revenues					$	524,393
Less:(b)
Employee compensation and benefits	105,169		20,873
Programming(c)	139,697		76,410
Other segment items(d)	45,604		36,631
Segment profit for reportable segments	34,919		64,093		$	99,012
Other segment profit (loss)(a)					(6,405)
Shared services and corporate					(22,606)
Restructuring costs					(4,144)
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets					(38,460)

Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment					78
Interest expense					(43,750)
Defined benefit pension plan income (expense)					(338)
Miscellaneous, net					156
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes					$	(16,457)

(a) Reflects revenues and profit (loss) from operating segments below the reportable quantitative thresholds. These operating segments include our Tablo business, the Scripps National Spelling Bee and operational aspects of the Scripps News and Scripps Sports business units. None of these operating segments have ever met any of the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments.

(b) The significant expense categories and amounts align with the segment-level information that is regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker.

(c) Programming includes the cost of national television network programming, carriage agreements with local television broadcasters, programming produced by us or for us by independent production companies, rights acquired under multi-year sports programming agreements and programs licensed under agreements with independent producers.

(d) Other segment items for each reportable segment includes marketing and advertising expenses, research costs, certain occupancy costs and other administrative costs.

F-16


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
(in thousands)	Local Media		Scripps Networks		Total

Revenues from external customers	$	348,073	$	209,278	$	557,351
Intersegment revenues	4,763		—		4,763
Reportable segments revenues	352,836		209,278		562,114
Other revenues(a)					4,113
Intersegment eliminations					(4,763)
Total consolidated operating revenues					$	561,464
Less:(b)
Employee compensation and benefits	106,726		29,981
Programming(c)	130,744		89,162
Other segment items(d)	49,810		40,481
Segment profit for reportable segments	65,556		49,654		$	115,210
Other segment profit (loss)(a)					(6,397)
Shared services and corporate					(21,575)
Restructuring costs					(5,015)
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets					(38,688)

Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment					(147)
Interest expense					(54,917)
Defined benefit pension plan income (expense)					177
Miscellaneous, net					16,821
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes					$	5,469

(b) The significant expense categories and amounts align with the segment-level information that is regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker.

(d) Other segment items for each reportable segment includes marketing and advertising expenses, research costs, certain occupancy costs and other administrative costs.

F-17

Other segment disclosures are as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		2024

Depreciation:
Local Media		$	9,608	$	10,033
Scripps Networks		4,888		4,825
Total depreciation for reportable segments		14,496		14,858
Other		46		60
Shared services and corporate		362		202
Total depreciation		$	14,904	$	15,120
Amortization of intangible assets:
Local Media		$	8,550	$	8,945
Scripps Networks		12,977		12,977
Total amortization of intangible assets for reportable segments		21,527		21,922
Other		357		451
Shared services and corporate		1,672		1,195
Total amortization of intangible assets		$	23,556	$	23,568
Additions to property and equipment:
Local Media		$	1,206	$	15,461
Scripps Networks		497		2,316
Total additions to property and equipment for reportable segments		1,703		17,777
Other		—		118
Shared services and corporate		151		2
Total additions to property and equipment		$	1,854	$	17,897

A disaggregation of the principal activities from which we generate revenue is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		2024

Operating revenues:
Core advertising		$	322,588	$	333,790
Political		3,262		15,968
Distribution		188,924		202,560
Other		9,619		9,146
Total operating revenues		$	524,393	$	561,464

Total assets by segment were as follows :


(in thousands)	As of March 31, 2025		As of December 31, 2024

Assets:
Local Media	$	2,291,399	$	2,323,964
Scripps Networks	2,693,967		2,753,971
Total assets by reportable segments	4,985,366		5,077,935
Other(a)	38,705		34,800
Shared services and corporate	92,118		85,840


Total assets	$	5,116,189	$	5,198,575

(a) Reflects assets of operating segments below the reportable quantitative thresholds. These operating segments include our Tablo business, the Scripps National Spelling Bee and operational aspects of the Scripps News and Scripps Sports business units.

F-18

12. Capital Stock

Capital Stock — We have two classes of common shares, Common Voting shares and Class A Common shares. The Class A Common shares are only entitled to vote on the election of the greater of three or one-third of the directors and other matters as required by Ohio law.

On January 7, 2021, we issued 6,000 shares of series A preferred stock, having a face value of $100,000 per share. The preferred shares are perpetual and will be redeemable at the option of the Company beginning on the fifth anniversary of issuance, and redeemable at the option of the holders in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the terms of the preferred shares), in each case at a redemption price of 105% of the face value, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The 9% per annum dividend rate on the preferred shares, which compounds quarterly, will be incurred at that rate for the remaining periods that the preferred shares are outstanding.

We did not declare or provide payment for the first quarter 2025 preferred dividend or any of the 2024 quarterly preferred dividends. At March 31, 2025, aggregated undeclared and unpaid cumulative dividends totaled $70.6 million and the redemption value of the preferred stock totaled $703 million.

Under the terms of the preferred shares, we are prohibited from paying dividends on and repurchasing our common shares until all preferred shares are redeemed.

Class A Common Shares Stock Warrant — In connection with the issuance of the preferred shares, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. ("Berkshire Hathaway") also received a warrant to purchase up to 23.1 million Class A shares, at an exercise price of $13 per share. The warrant is exercisable at the holder's option at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, until the first anniversary of the date on which no preferred shares remain outstanding.

13. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI") by component, including items reclassified out of AOCI, were as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
(in thousands)	Defined Benefit Pension Items		Other		Total

Beginning balance, December 31, 2024	$	(74,957)	$	(349)	$	(75,306)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	—		—		—
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax of $12(a)	25		11		36

Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	25		11		36
Ending balance, March 31, 2025	$	(74,932)	$	(338)	$	(75,270)


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
(in thousands)	Defined Benefit Pension Items		Other		Total

Beginning balance, December 31, 2023	$	(75,247)	$	(263)	$	(75,510)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	—		—		—
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax of $11(a)	29		5		34
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	29		5		34
Ending balance, March 31, 2024	$	(75,218)	$	(258)	$	(75,476)

(a) Actuarial gain (loss) is included in defined benefit pension plan expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

F-19

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. You should read this discussion in conjunction with those financial statements.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "estimate," "could," "should," "outlook," "guidance," and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements the Company makes regarding expected operating results and future financial condition. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on management’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of the industry and the economy, the Company’s plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstance that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company’s control. A detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties is included in the section of this document titled "Risk Factors." The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made in this document is based only on currently available information and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

Executive Overview

The E.W. Scripps Company (“Scripps”) is a diverse media enterprise that serves audiences and businesses through a portfolio of more than 60 local television stations in more than 40 markets and national news and entertainment networks. Our local stations have programming agreements with ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through national news outlets Scripps News and Court TV and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff. We also serve as the longtime steward of one of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational programs, the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Additionally, we provide a television viewing device called Tablo that allows households to watch and record dozens of free, over-the-air and streaming channels anywhere in their home without a subscription.

Scripps is a leader in free, ad-supported television. All of our local stations and national entertainment networks reach consumers over the air, and all of our television brands can also be found on free streaming platforms. We have continued to expand in the fast-growing connected television marketplace, and we are leveraging our leadership position in the growing over-the-air marketplace. Currently, one in five non pay-TV homes is watching television over the air alongside their streaming subscription services, and as cord-cutting and streaming service price increases continue, over-the-air channels will be an important part of television viewers' choices. To that end, Scripps continues efforts to broaden antenna use even more, and is working with key partners in retail, manufacturing and antenna installation to help television owners understand the quality and quantity of programming available over the air and the ease of antenna use.

In January 2025, we announced the formation of a joint venture with Gray Media, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. and Sinclair, Inc. Leveraging broadcasters' uniquely efficient network architecture and the ATSC 3.0 transmission standard, EdgeBeam Wireless, LLC will provide expansive, reliable and secure data delivery services. This partnership creates a spectrum footprint that no individual broadcaster could achieve on its own, unlocking the potential of ATSC 3.0 to offer nationwide coverage for data delivery to billions of potential devices on market-disrupting terms. We have committed to total cash contributions of $12.8 million for our 25% ownership interest in the joint venture. During the first quarter of 2025, we made a cash contribution of $6.4 million, with the remaining due by the end of the year.

On March 13, 2025, we announced a multi-year agreement with the Las Vegas Aces, which will begin when the regular season begins in May 2025. Under the new agreement, we will televise all non-nationally exclusive Aces games with distribution on cable, satellite and over-the-air television. In addition to game broadcasts, the Aces and our local station Vegas 34 will partner to produce and air "In the Paint," an award-winning weekly 30-minute show featuring highlights, interviews and behind-the-scenes access to the 2025 Las Vegas Aces.

F-20

On April 10, 2025, we completed a series of previously announced refinancing transactions. Following the completion of the transactions, no amounts remain outstanding for our prior 2026 term loan, our prior 2028 term loan or our prior Revolving Credit Facility. Additionally, we now have $545 million aggregate principal outstanding for a new term loan due 2028 and $340 million aggregate principal outstanding for a new term loan due 2029. We also replaced the prior revolving credit facility with a new $208 million revolving credit facility, maturing on July 7, 2027, and a $70 million non-extended revolving credit facility, maturing on January 7, 2026. Finally, we also entered into a new three-year accounts receivable securitization facility with aggregate commitments of up to $450 million. Additional information about the refinancing transactions is presented in Note 7. Long-Term Debt.

We did not declare or provide payment for the first quarter 2025 or any of the 2024 quarterly preferred dividends. The 9% per annum dividend rate on the preferred shares, which compounds quarterly, will be incurred at that rate for the remaining periods that the preferred shares are outstanding. Deferral of preferred stock dividend payments provides us better flexibility for accelerating deleveraging and maximizing the paydown of our traditional bank debt. Under the terms of the preferred shares, we are prohibited from paying dividends on and repurchasing our common shares until all preferred shares are redeemed.

Results of Operations

The trends and underlying economic conditions affecting the operating performance and future prospects differ for each of our operating segments. Accordingly, you should read the following discussion of our consolidated results of operations in conjunction with the discussion of the operating performance of our operating segments that follows.

Consolidated Results of Operations

Consolidated results of operations were as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		Change		2024

Operating revenues		$	524,393	(6.6)	%	$	561,464
Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization		(317,153)		(3.5)	%	(328,533)
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization		(137,239)		(5.8)	%	(145,693)


Restructuring costs		(4,144)				(5,015)
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets		(38,460)				(38,688)

Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment		78				(147)
Operating income		27,475				43,388
Interest expense		(43,750)				(54,917)

Defined benefit pension plan income (expense)		(338)				177


Miscellaneous, net		156				16,821
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes		(16,457)				5,469
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		13,002				(3,843)


Net income (loss)		$	(3,455)			$	1,626

Operating revenues decreased $37.1 million or 6.6% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter driven by decreases of $11.2 million in core advertising revenue, $12.7 million in political revenue and $13.6 million in distribution revenue.

Cost of revenues, which is comprised of programming costs and costs associated with distributing our content, decreased $11.4 million or 3.5% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. Programming expense decreased $3.8 million or 1.8% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. The programming expense decrease was driven by an $8.2 million decrease in syndicated programming costs and a $4.3 million decrease in network programming costs related to carriage affiliation fees. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $9.0 million in sports rights fees. The year-over-year decrease in cost of revenues was also due to a $4.8 million decrease in employee compensation costs that reflects the impact of our restructuring initiatives.

Selling, general and administrative expenses are primarily comprised of sales, marketing and advertising expenses, research costs and costs related to corporate administrative functions. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased

F-21

$8.5 million or 5.8% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. Employee compensation costs decreased $3.7 million due to savings achieved through our restructuring efforts. Additionally, advertising and promotions costs decreased $3.3 million and our national sales commissions decreased $2.6 million.

Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets remained relatively flat in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter.

Interest expense decreased $11.2 million in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. The decrease in interest expense was due to lower year-over-year interest rates on our variable debt borrowings. Additionally, interest on the revolving credit facility decreased $6.2 million year-over-year as the amount drawn on our revolving credit facility during the first quarter of 2025 was significantly lower than the amount drawn during the first quarter of 2024.

The effective income tax rate was 79% and 70% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Differences between our effective income tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate are the impact of state taxes, foreign taxes, non-deductible expenses, changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions, excess tax benefits or expense from the exercise and vesting of share-based compensation awards ($1.9 million expense in 2025 and $3.1 million expense in 2024), state deferred rate changes ($0.7 million benefit in 2025 and $1.1 million expense in 2024) and state NOL valuation allowance changes.

F-22

Operating Performance — As discussed in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, our chief operating decision maker evaluates operating performance using a measure called segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, defined benefit pension plan amounts, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income (loss) determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

For our operating segments, items excluded from segment profit generally result from decisions made in prior periods or from decisions made by corporate executives rather than the managers of the segments. Depreciation and amortization charges are the result of decisions made in prior periods regarding the allocation of resources and are, therefore, excluded from the measure. Generally, our corporate executives make financing, tax structure and divestiture decisions. Excluding these items from measurement of segment performance enables us to evaluate operating performance based upon current economic conditions and decisions made by the managers of those segments in the current period.

Information regarding our operating performance and a reconciliation of such information to the condensed consolidated financial statements is as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		Change		2024

Segment operating revenues:
Local Media		$	325,389	(7.8)	%	$	352,836
Scripps Networks		198,007		(5.4)	%	209,278
Other		5,680		38.1	%	4,113
Intersegment eliminations		(4,683)		(1.7)	%	(4,763)
Total operating revenues		$	524,393	(6.6)	%	$	561,464
Segment profit (loss):
Local Media		$	34,919	(46.7)	%	$	65,556
Scripps Networks		64,093		29.1	%	49,654
Other		(6,405)		0.1	%	(6,397)
Shared services and corporate		(22,606)		4.8	%	(21,575)

Restructuring costs		(4,144)				(5,015)
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets		(38,460)				(38,688)

Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment		78				(147)
Interest expense		(43,750)				(54,917)

Defined benefit pension plan income (expense)		(338)				177


Miscellaneous, net		156				16,821
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes		$	(16,457)			$	5,469

F-23

Local Media — Our Local Media segment includes more than 60 local television stations and their related digital operations. It is comprised of 18 ABC affiliates, 11 NBC affiliates, nine CBS affiliates and four FOX affiliates. We also have 11 independent stations and 10 additional low power stations. Our Local Media segment earns revenue primarily from the sale of advertising to local, national and political advertisers and retransmission fees received from cable operators, telecommunications companies, satellite carriers and over-the-top virtual MVPDs.

National television networks offer affiliates a variety of programming and sell the majority of advertising within those programs. In addition to network programs, we broadcast internally produced local and national programs, syndicated programs, sporting events and other programs of interest in each station's market. News is the primary focus of our locally produced programming.

The operating performance of our Local Media group is most affected by local and national economic conditions, particularly conditions within the automotive and services categories, and by the volume of advertising purchased by campaigns for elective office and political issues. The demand for political advertising is significantly higher in the third and fourth quarters of even-numbered years.

Operating results for our Local Media segment were as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		Change		2024

Segment operating revenues:
Core advertising		$	132,146	(3.1)	%	$	136,443
Political		3,263		(78.5)	%	15,166
Distribution		187,191		(5.2)	%	197,499
Other		2,789		(25.2)	%	3,728
Total operating revenues		325,389		(7.8)	%	352,836
Segment costs and expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		105,169		(1.5)	%	106,726
Programming		139,697		6.8	%	130,744
Other expenses		45,604		(8.4)	%	49,810
Total costs and expenses		290,470		1.1	%	287,280
Segment profit		$	34,919	(46.7)	%	$	65,556

Revenues

Total Local Media revenues decreased $27.4 million or 7.8% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. During this non-election year, political revenues decreased $11.9 million in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. Distribution revenues decreased $10.3 million or 5.2% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. Distribution revenues were unfavorably impacted by mid-single-digit subscriber declines. Local Media revenues were also impacted by a decrease in core advertising revenues of $4.3 million or 3.1% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter.

Costs and expenses

Employee compensation and benefits decreased $1.6 million or 1.5% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter due to savings achieved through our restructuring efforts.

Programming expense increased $9.0 million or 6.8% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. During 2024, we entered into a sports rights contract for the airing of games for the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers ("Panthers"), which began with the 2024-2025 season in October 2024. Costs attributed to the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Hockey Club (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) sports rights agreements increased programming expense by $8.8 million in the first quarter of 2025.

Other expenses decreased $4.2 million or 8.4% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. The year-over-year decrease was due to lower national sales commissions of $1.4 million and lower facility costs of $1.9 million.

F-24

Scripps Networks — Our Scripps Networks segment includes national news outlets Scripps News and Court TV and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff. The networks reach nearly every U.S. television home through free over-the-air broadcast, cable/satellite, connected TV and/or digital distribution. Our Scripps Networks segment earns revenue primarily through the sale of advertising. The advertising received by our national networks can be subject to seasonal and cyclical variations and is most impacted by national economic conditions.

Operating results for our Scripps Networks segment were as follows:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025		Change		2024







Total operating revenues		$	198,007	(5.4)	%	$	209,278
Segment costs and expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		20,873		(30.4)	%	29,981
Programming		76,410		(14.3)	%	89,162
Other expenses		36,631		(9.5)	%	40,481
Total costs and expenses		133,914		(16.1)	%	159,624
Segment profit		$	64,093	29.1	%	$	49,654

Revenues

Scripps Networks revenues, which are primarily comprised of advertising revenues, decreased $11.3 million or 5.4% in the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. The amount of advertising revenue we earn is a function of the pricing negotiated with advertisers, the number of advertising spots sold and the audience impressions delivered. Lower ratings in our key monetized demographics unfavorably impacted Scripps Networks revenues by 7.2% year-over-year. Lower ratings were partially offset by an increase in connected TV revenue, which increased revenues 3.8% year-over-year.

Costs and expenses

Employee compensation and benefits decreased $9.1 million or 30% for the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2024, we shut down the over-the-air broadcast for Scripps News. The savings achieved from this Scripps News action and other restructuring efforts were the primary contributor to the year-over-year decrease in employee compensation and benefits.

Programming expense decreased $12.8 million or 14% for the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter, driven by a decrease in carriage affiliation fees of $4.5 million and a decrease in syndicated programming of $8.1 million.

Other expenses decreased $3.9 million or 10% for the first three months of 2025 when compared to the prior year quarter. The shut down of the over-the-air broadcast for Scripps News accounted for $1.2 million of the year-over-year decrease. Other expenses also decreased due to lower national sales commissions of $1.1 million and lower advertising and promotion costs of $0.8 million.

F-25

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary source of liquidity is our available cash and borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility. Our primary source of cash is generated from our ongoing operations and can be affected by various risk and uncertainties. At the end of March 31, 2025, we had $24.0 million of cash on hand and $551 million of additional borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2025, we had $25.0 million outstanding under our credit facility. On April 10, 2025, we replaced the existing revolving credit facility with a new $208 million revolving credit facility, maturing on July 7, 2027, and a $70 million non-extended revolving credit facility, maturing on January 7, 2026. Based on our current business plan, we believe our cash flow from operations will provide sufficient liquidity to meet the Company’s operating needs for the next 12 months.

Cash Flows


	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2025		2024


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	(3,309)	$	45,436
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,890)		(5,085)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	13,306		(45,441)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	107	$	(5,090)

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash used in operating activities in 2025 was $3.3 million compared to cash provided by operating activities in 2024 of $45.4 million. There was a year-over-year decrease in segment profit of $17.2 million and a $43.4 million decrease in cash provided by changes in certain working capital accounts, which were partially offset by a decrease of $9.5 million in cash interest paid. The decrease in cash provided by changes in working capital accounts was primarily driven by decreases in accounts payable, unearned revenue and accrued employee compensation and benefits.

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash used in investing activities was $9.9 million in 2025 compared to $5.1 million in 2024. Investing activities in 2025 reflect $6.8 million in cash used for investment purchases and $5.1 million in capital expenditures. On February 9, 2024, following the completed sale of Broadcast Music, Inc. ("BMI") to New Mountain Capital, we received $18.1 million in pre-tax cash proceeds for our equity ownership in BMI. This increase in cash provided by investing activities in 2024 was more than offset by $22.1 million of capital expenditures.

Cash flows from financing activities

Cash provided by financing activities was $13.3 million in 2025 compared to cash used in financing activities of $45.4 million in 2024. During the first three months of 2025, we had net debt proceeds of $25.0 million, reflecting borrowings on our Revolving Credit Facility. These proceeds were partially offset by financing cost payments of $5.8 million. During the first three months of 2024, we had net debt payments of $40 million under our revolving credit facility.

Debt

On July 31, 2023, we entered into the Eighth Amendment to the Third Amended Restated Credit Agreement ("Eighth Amendment"). Under the Eighth Amendment, we have a $585 million Revolving Credit Facility that matures on January 7, 2026. In connection with our credit agreement, we also have $1.3 billion of outstanding balance on our term loans as of March 31, 2025. The annual required principal payments on these term loans total $15.6 million.

As of March 31, 2025, we also have $1.3 billion of senior notes outstanding. Senior secured notes totaling $523 million bear interest at a rate of 3.875% per annum and mature on January 15, 2029. Senior unsecured notes have a total outstanding principal balance of $818 million. The senior unsecured notes that mature on July 15, 2027 bear interest at 5.875% per annum and the senior unsecured notes that mature on January 15, 2031 bear interest at a rate of 5.375% per annum.

F-26

Debt Refinancing Transactions

On April 10, 2025, we completed a series of previously announced refinancing transactions, where we:

In connection with the debt refinancing, we incurred transaction costs totaling approximately $70 million. We are currently evaluating the impact of these transaction fees to our financial statements.

Following completion of the transactions:

•No amounts remain outstanding for our existing 2026 term loan, existing 2028 term loan or existing Revolving Credit Facility.

Debt Covenants

Our term loans and notes do not have maintenance covenants. The Eighth Amendment to our Revolving Credit Facility, which matures in the first quarter of 2026, permits a maximum leverage through September 30, 2025 of 4.75 times the two-year average earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) as defined by our credit agreement. The maximum leverage covenant steps down to 4.50 times thereafter. As of March 31, 2025, we were in compliance with our financial covenants.

The new credit agreement we reached on April 10, 2025 contains covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur additional debt and provides for restrictions on certain payments (dividends and share repurchases). Additionally, we must be in compliance with certain leverage ratios in order to proceed with acquisitions. Our credit agreement also includes a provision that in certain circumstances we must use a portion of excess cash flow to repay debt. We granted the lenders pledges of our equity interests in our subsidiaries and security interests in substantially all other personal property including cash and equipment. The new credit agreement also contains covenants to comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio. For the new revolving credit facility, we must comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio of 3.50 to 1.0 through September 30, 2026, at which point it steps down to 3.25 times for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2026, and thereafter. For the non-

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extended revolving credit facility, we must comply with a maximum first lien net leverage ratio of 4.75 to 1.0 through September 30, 2025, at which point it steps down to 4.50 times for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2025, and thereafter.

Debt Repurchase Program

In February 2023, our Board of Directors provided a new repurchase authorization, pursuant to which we may reduce, through redemptions or open market purchases and retirement, a combination of the outstanding principal balance of our senior secured and senior unsecured notes. The authorization permits an aggregate principal amount reduction of up to $500 million and expires on March 1, 2026.

Equity

On January 7, 2021 we issued 6,000 shares of series A preferred stock, having a face value of $100,000 per share. The preferred shares are perpetual and will be redeemable at the option of the Company beginning on the fifth anniversary of issuance, and redeemable at the option of the holders in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the terms of the preferred shares), in each case at a redemption price of 105% of the face value, plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). We did not declare or provide payment for the first quarter of 2025 or any of the 2024 quarterly preferred dividends. Deferral of preferred stock dividend payments provides us better flexibility for accelerating deleveraging and maximizing the paydown of our traditional bank debt. At March 31, 2025, aggregated undeclared and unpaid cumulative dividends totaled $70.6 million. In connection with the issuance of the preferred shares, Berkshire Hathaway also received a warrant to purchase up to 23.1 million Class A shares, at an exercise price of $13 per share.

Under the terms of the preferred shares, we are prohibited from paying dividends on and repurchasing our common shares until all preferred shares are redeemed.

Other

During the remainder of 2025, we anticipate contributing an additional $1.2 million to fund the SERPs' benefit payments. We have met regulatory funding requirements for our qualified benefit pension plan and do not have a mandatory contribution in 2025.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes to the off-balance sheet arrangements disclosed in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make a variety of decisions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures, including the selection of appropriate accounting principles and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgment based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, including our historical experience, actuarial studies and other assumptions. We are committed to incorporating accounting principles, assumptions and estimates that promote the representational faithfulness, verifiability, neutrality and transparency of the accounting information included in the financial statements.

Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K describes the significant accounting policies we have selected for use in the preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures. An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used or changes in estimates that are likely to occur could materially change the financial statements. We believe the accounting for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and pension plans to be our most critical accounting policies and estimates. A detailed description of these accounting policies is included in the Critical Accounting Policies section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Recent Accounting Guidance

Refer to Note 2. Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q) for further discussion.

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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Earnings and cash flow can be affected by, among other things, economic conditions and interest rate changes. We are also exposed to changes in the market value of our investments.

Our objectives in managing interest rate risk are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on our earnings and cash flows and to reduce overall borrowing costs. We may use derivative financial instruments to modify exposure to risks from fluctuations in interest rates. In accordance with our policy, we do not use derivative instruments unless there is an underlying exposure, and we do not hold or enter into financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

We are subject to interest rate risk associated with our credit agreement, as borrowings bear interest at the secured overnight financing rate ("SOFR") plus respective fixed margin spreads or spreads determined relative to our Company’s leverage ratio. Accordingly, the interest we pay on our borrowings is dependent on interest rate conditions and the timing of our financing needs. A 100 basis point increase in SOFR would increase annual interest expense on our variable rate borrowings by approximately $12.9 million.

The following table presents additional information about market-risk-sensitive financial instruments:


	As of March 31, 2025				As of December 31, 2024
(in thousands)	Cost Basis		Fair Value		Cost Basis		Fair Value

Financial instruments subject to interest rate risk:
Revolving credit facility	$	25,000	$	25,000	$	—	$	—
Senior secured notes, due in 2029	523,356		408,218		523,356		384,667

Senior unsecured notes, due in 2027	425,667		356,496		425,667		343,726
Senior unsecured notes, due in 2031	392,071		239,163		392,071		199,956

Term loan, due in 2026	719,310		716,613		721,213		701,380
Term loan, due in 2028	541,000		481,490		543,000		483,270

Long-term debt, including current portion	$	2,626,404	$	2,226,980	$	2,605,307	$	2,112,999

Financial instruments subject to market value risk:
Investments held at cost	$	6,393	(a)		$	6,353	(a)

(a) Includes securities that do not trade in public markets, thus the securities do not have readily determinable fair values. We estimate the fair values of these investments approximate their carrying values at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

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Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Scripps management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:


1.			pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;


2.			provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and


3.			provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, collusion and the improper overriding of controls by management. Accordingly, even effective internal control can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time.

The effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was evaluated as of the date of the financial statements. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There were no changes to the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

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