SPHERE ENTERTAINMENT CO. REPORTS FISCAL 2023 FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR RESULTS

Sphere in Las Vegas Set to Open on September 29^th with First of 25 Shows by U2

Exosphere Completely Illuminated for the First Time in July

The Sphere Experience Featuring Postcard from Earth Set to Debut on October 6^th

MSG Networks Launches Direct to Consumer Offering, MSG+, Ahead of 2023-24 NBA and NHL Seasons

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE:SPHR) ("Sphere Entertainment" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and full-year ended June 30, 2023. 

During the quarter, the Company completed a number of significant strategic transactions. This included the spin-off of approximately two-thirds of its traditional live entertainment business on April 20, 2023. In addition, on May 3, 2023, the Company completed the sale of its 66.9% majority interest in Tao Group Hospitality. As a result of these transactions, the traditional live entertainment business' and Tao Group Hospitality's results are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. In addition, results from continuing operations through April 20, 2023 include certain corporate overhead expenses which the Company did not incur after the spin-off date and does not expect to incur in future periods, but did not meet the criteria for inclusion in discontinued operations. 

For fiscal 2023, the Company reported revenues of $573.8 million, a decrease of $36.2 million as compared to the prior year. In addition, the Company had an operating loss of $273.0 million, an increase of $107.3 million, and an adjusted operating loss of $122.5 million, an increase of $98.1 million, both as compared to the prior year.⁽¹⁾

For the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, the Company reported revenues of $129.1 million, a decrease of $10.7 million as compared to the prior year quarter.  In addition, the Company reported an operating loss of $70.3 million, an increase of $8.5 million, and an adjusted operating loss of $59.8 million, an increase of $24.4 million, both as compared to the prior year quarter.⁽¹⁾   

Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said, "Our Company completed a number of transactions this past year, including the live entertainment spin-off, that have supported our growth plans. As we look ahead to our next chapter with the opening of Sphere in Las Vegas, we are confident that our Company is well-positioned to generate long-term value for shareholders."

Segment Results for the Quarters and Years Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022:

Sphere

For the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, the Sphere segment reported revenues of $0.7 million, an increase of $0.1 million, as compared to the prior year quarter.

For the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, the Sphere segment had direct operating expenses of $1.1 million, which reflected advertising and marketing costs related to Sphere in Las Vegas, as compared to no direct operating expenses in the prior year quarter.

Fiscal 2023 fourth quarter selling, general and administrative expenses of $90.3 million increased $1.9 million, or 2%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the impact of the Company's transition services agreement with MSG Entertainment, higher employee compensation and related benefits, and other cost increases.  The overall increase was partially offset by the absence of certain corporate expenses that were included in the results of the prior year fourth quarter but were only included in the results for the pre-spin period (April 1, 2023 through April 20, 2023) in the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter.  While the company did not incur these costs after the spin-off date and does not expect to incur these costs in future periods, they did not meet the criteria for inclusion in discontinued operations for all periods prior to the spin-off date. In addition, professional fees decreased, as compared to the prior year quarter, inclusive of litigation-related insurance recoveries associated with the MSG Networks merger.

Fiscal 2023 fourth quarter operating loss of $95.2 million increased by $2.8 million, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily reflecting the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses (including merger and acquisition related costs and share-based compensation expense). Adjusted operating loss of $90.4 million increased by $15.7 million, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily reflecting the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding merger and acquisition related costs and share-based compensation expense).

MSG Networks

For the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter, the MSG Networks segment reported total revenues of $128.4 million, a decrease of $10.7 million, or 8%, as compared to the prior year quarter.  Affiliation fee revenue decreased $11.7 million, primarily due to a decrease in subscribers of approximately 11.5%, partially offset by the impact of higher affiliation rates in the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter. Advertising revenue increased $0.8 million, primarily due to higher advertising sales related to playoff telecasts and other net advertising revenue increases, partially offset by the impact of fewer live regular season professional sports telecasts as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily as a result of the timing of the 2021-22 NHL regular season in the prior year. 

Fiscal 2023 fourth quarter direct operating expenses of $81.6 million increased $2.8 million, or 4%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher rights fees expense of $3.1 million, which mainly reflects annual contractual rate increases in the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter.

Fiscal 2023 fourth quarter selling, general and administrative expenses of $19.3 million decreased $6.4 million, or 25%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower advertising and marketing expenses, lower employee compensation and related benefits (including share-based compensation) and other net cost decreases. 

Fiscal 2023 fourth quarter operating income of $24.8 million decreased $5.7 million, or 19%, and adjusted operating income of $30.6 million decreased $8.7 million, or 22%, both as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the decrease in revenues and increase in direct operating expenses, partially offset by the decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Other Matters

The Company remains on track to open Sphere in Las Vegas next month. Primary construction of the venue was completed in June, while installation and testing of the majority of the technological systems inside the venue was completed earlier this month. The Company is currently in the process of finishing the interior spaces and exterior grounds, ahead of the venue's opening.

The venue's exterior – the Exosphere – was completely illuminated for the first time with a special show to celebrate the Fourth of July that generated media coverage globally and was shared widely on social media.  Global rock band U2 will open the venue on September 29^th with the first of 25 performances, which will be followed by the October 6^th public debut of The Sphere Experience, featuring the original immersive production, Postcard from Earth, directed by Darren Aronofsky. And in mid-November, Formula 1 will have a multi-day takeover of Sphere for its inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.

With Sphere in Las Vegas nearing completion, the Company expects final construction costs, inclusive of core technology and soft costs, to be approximately $2.3 billion. Actual construction costs paid through August 18, 2023 were approximately $2.25 billion, which was net of $65 million received from The Venetian Resort.

As of August 18, 2023, the Company had approximately $341 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. This includes the benefit of approximately $205 million of proceeds from the Company's sale of approximately 6.9 million shares of MSG Entertainment Class A common stock in June 2023, in addition to last month's full drawdown of the $65 million delayed draw term loan facility with Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. ("MSG Entertainment"). Earlier this month, the Company repaid the delayed draw term loan, including accrued fees and interest, using approximately 1.9 million shares of MSG Entertainment Class A Common Stock.  As a result of these transactions, the Company now owns approximately 8.2 million shares of MSG Entertainment Class A common stock, which had a fair market value of approximately $270 million as of August 18, 2023.

About Sphere Entertainment Co.

Sphere Entertainment Co. is a premier live entertainment and media company. The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere venue is currently under construction in Las Vegas. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming. More information is available at www.sphereentertainmentco.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We define adjusted operating income (loss), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) before ((i) depreciation, amortization and impairments of property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets, (ii) amortization for capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs, (iii) share-based compensation expense, (iv) restructuring charges or credits, (v) merger and acquisition-related costs, including litigation expenses, (vi) gains or losses on sales or dispositions of businesses and associated settlements, (vii) the impact of purchase accounting adjustments related to business acquisitions, and (ix) gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. We believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense or benefit allows investors to better track the performance of our business without regard to the settlement of an obligation that is not expected to be made in cash. We eliminate merger and acquisition-related costs, when applicable, because the Company does not consider such costs to be indicative of the ongoing operating performance of the Company as they result from an event that is of a non-recurring nature, thereby enhancing comparability. In addition, management believes that the exclusion of gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, provides investors with a clearer picture of the Company's operating performance given that, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan are recognized in Operating income (loss) whereas gains and losses related to the remeasurement of the assets under the Company's Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, which are equal to and therefore fully offset the gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities, are recognized in Miscellaneous income (expense), net, which is not reflected in Operating income (loss).

We believe adjusted operating income (loss) is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of our business segments and the Company on a consolidated basis. Adjusted operating income (loss) and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors and analysts to analyze our performance. Internally, we use revenues and adjusted operating income (loss) as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. Adjusted operating income (loss) should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Since adjusted operating income (loss) is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to adjusted operating income (loss), please see page 6 of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments or events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community perceptions of the Company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industries in which it operates and the factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Contacts:

Conference Call Information:

The conference call will be Webcast live today at 10:00 a.m. ET at investor.sphereentertainmentco.com  

Conference call dial-in number is 888-800-3155 / Conference ID Number 8089430

Conference call replay number is 800-770-2030 / Conference ID Number 8089430 until August 29, 2023

 

SPHERE ENTERTAINMENT CO.

ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) TO

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

The following is a description of the adjustments to operating income (loss) in arriving at adjusted operating income (loss) as described in this earnings release:

• Share-based compensation. This adjustment eliminates the compensation expense relating to restricted stock units and stock options granted under the Sphere Entertainment Employee Stock Plan, MSG Sports Employee Stock Plan, MSG Networks Employee Stock Plan, as amended and assumed by Sphere Entertainment, Sphere Entertainment Non-Employee Director Plan and MSG Networks Non-Employee Director Plan in all periods.
• Depreciation and amortization. This adjustment eliminates depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets in all periods.
• Restructuring charges. This adjustment eliminates costs related to termination benefits provided to employees as part of the Company's full-time workforce reductions.
• Impairment and other (gains) losses, net. This adjustment eliminates non-cash impairment charges and the impact of gains or losses from the disposition of assets or businesses in all periods.
• Merger and acquisition related costs. This adjustment eliminates costs related to mergers and acquisitions, including litigation expenses, in all periods.
• Amortization for capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs. This adjustment eliminates amortization of capitalized cloud computing arrangement costs.
• Remeasurement of deferred compensation plan liabilities. This adjustment eliminates the impact of gains and losses related to the remeasurement of liabilities under the Company's executive deferred compensation plan.

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Sphere Entertainment Co.