Scripps Networks Interactive Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

• Revenue of $601 million, up 13 percent
• Segment profit of $285 million, up 3.9 percent
• Income from continuing operations of $0.93 per share

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (NYSE: SNI) today reported operating results for the second quarter 2012.

Consolidated revenues for the quarter increased 13 percent to $601 million from the prior-year period. Results for the three-month period ended June 30 reflect strong advertising revenue of $417 million, up 12 percent, and affiliate fee revenue of $171 million, up 16 percent year-over-year.

Expenses for the quarter increased 22 percent from the prior-year period to $316 million. The increase was driven primarily by increased programming and marketing expenses to drive viewership at all of the company’s lifestyle television networks. Higher employee costs and investments in planned domestic and international growth initiatives also contributed to the increase in expenses.

Total segment profit increased 3.9 percent to $285 million. (See note 2 for a definition of segment profit.)

Second quarter income from continuing operations attributable to Scripps Networks Interactive was $142 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, compared with $133 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, in the second quarter 2011.

During the second quarter 2012, the company repurchased 4.6 million shares of its common stock for $250 million, completing its previous authorization. Under the completed program, the company repurchased 21.4 million shares of common stock for $1 billion at an average price of $46.72. On July 31, 2012, the board of directors authorized another $1 billion share repurchase plan.

“Scripps Networks Interactive has created a clear, competitive advantage on multiple video screens and other platforms by uniquely defining and staying true to the lifestyle content categories that we own,” said Kenneth W. Lowe, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The company’s strong second quarter financial performance is a direct result of our successful strategy to differentiate our networks by focusing on avid consumer interest in their homes, food and travel.”

“Food Network and HGTV consistently aggregate record numbers of engaged, passionate viewers, and we’re creating considerable momentum at the Travel Channel, where our creative team is working to define the brand and the content genre,” Lowe said. “At Cooking Channel and DIY Network we’re seeing very strong double digit growth both in viewership and in revenues as we appeal on a deeper level to cooking and home improvement enthusiasts who choose to watch our premium-tier channels.”

“Our networks and brand of lifestyle programming attract a highly qualified and upscale audience that our advertising and distribution partners value,” Lowe said. “We set a company record this year for advance advertising sales and reached an important distribution agreement that will make our content easily and widely accessible to millions of consumers on tablets and other mobile platforms.”

“At Scripps Networks Interactive, we’re moving forward on several fronts – digitally, domestically and globally – with the intention of creating long-term value for our shareholders.”

Revenues by network are as follows:

• Food Network was $218 million, up 17 percent.
• HGTV was $205 million, up 8.4 percent.
• Travel Channel was $73.8 million, up 4.9 percent.
• DIY Network was $33.7 million, up 16 percent.
• Cooking Channel was $22.4 million, up 41 percent.
• Great American Country (GAC) was $5.0 million, down 15 percent.

Revenue from the company’s digital businesses, which include its network-branded websites, was $28.3 million, up 3.4 percent.

Updated 2012, Full-year Guidance

Total revenue is now expected to increase between 10 and 12 percent. Contributing to the increase is better than expected advertising revenue during the first half of the year that resulted from strong viewership performance at the company’s lifestyle networks. The inclusion of Travel Channel International results in the second half of the year also is contributing to the increase in expected revenue.

Non-programming expenses are now expected to increase between 16 and 18 percent. Contributing to the increase is the inclusion of Travel Channel International expenses and a decision by the company to accelerate marketing and promotional programs to further drive audience growth at its lifestyle networks.

The company’s effective tax rate is now expected to be between 28 and 30 percent. The effective rate has been favorably affected by changes in the allocation of income to various U.S. and international tax jurisdictions.

The company reaffirms its other previously issued guidance of:

• Programming expenses expected to increase 13 percent to 15 percent.
• Depreciation and amortization, $100 million to $110 million.
• Interest expense, $45 million to $50 million.
• Noncontrolling share of net income, $170 million to $180 million.
• Capital expenditures, $60 million to $70 million.

Conference call

The senior management team of Scripps Networks Interactive will discuss the company’s second quarter results during a telephone conference call at 10 a.m. ET today. Scripps Networks Interactive will offer a live webcast of the conference call. To access the webcast, visit www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com and follow the Investor Relations link at the top of the page. The webcast link can be found next to the microphone icon.

To access the conference call by telephone, dial 800-288-8960 (U.S.) or 612-332-0342 (international) approximately ten minutes before the start of the call. Callers will need the name of the call, “SNI Second Quarter Earnings Call,” to be granted access. Callers also will be asked to provide their name and company affiliation. The media and general public are granted access to the conference call on a listen-only basis.

A replay line will be open from 12:30 p.m. ET Aug. 2 until 11:59 p.m. ET Aug. 16. The domestic number to access the replay is 800-475-6701 and the international number is 320-365-3844. The access code for both numbers is 253935. A replay of the conference call also will be available online. To access the audio replay, visit www.scrippsnetworksinteractive.com approximately four hours after the call, choose Investor Relations then follow the Audio Archives link on the left side of the page.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements related to the company’s businesses that are based on management’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, including changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. The company’s written policy on forward-looking statements can be found on page F-3 of its 2011 Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date the statement is made.

About Scripps Networks Interactive

Scripps Networks Interactive is one of the leading developers of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, where on-air programming is complemented with online video, social media areas and e-commerce components on companion websites and broadband vertical channels. The company’s media portfolio includes popular lifestyle television and Internet brands HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and country music network Great American Country.

SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)	Three months ended								Six months ended
	June 30,								June 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2012			2011			Change		2012			2011			Change
Operating revenues	$	600,986		$	533,984		12.5	%	$	1,136,331		$	1,014,815		12.0	%
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization of intangible assets		(150,903	)		(123,297	)	22.4	%		(288,684	)		(235,708	)	22.5	%
Selling, general and administrative		(165,402	)		(136,586	)	21.1	%		(323,731	)		(277,756	)	16.6	%
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets		(25,938	)		(22,174	)	17.0	%		(50,454	)		(43,735	)	15.4	%
Gains (losses) on disposal of property and equipment		(27	)		(3	)				(86	)		(19	)
Operating income		258,716			251,924		2.7	%		473,376			457,597		3.4	%
Interest expense		(13,247	)		(8,576	)	54.5	%		(25,427	)		(17,191	)	47.9	%
Equity in earnings of affiliates		21,114			13,024		62.1	%		35,027			22,682		54.4	%
Miscellaneous, net		3,868			421					11,022			468
Income from operations before
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		270,451			256,793		5.3	%		493,998			463,556		6.6	%
Provision for income taxes		(79,028	)		(79,472	)	(0.6	)%		(145,624	)		(141,683	)	2.8	%
Income from continuing operations, net of tax		191,423			177,321		8.0	%		348,374			321,873		8.2	%
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax					(55,465	)							(54,700	)
Net income		191,423			121,856		57.1	%		348,374			267,173		30.4	%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(49,059	)		(44,427	)	10.4	%		(91,107	)		(89,219	)	2.1	%
Net income attributable to SNI	$	142,364		$	77,429		83.9	%	$	257,267		$	177,954		44.6	%
Income from continuing operations attributable to SNI common shareholders per basic share of common stock	$	0.94		$	0.79				$	1.67		$	1.38
Income from continuing operations attributable to SNI common shareholders per diluted share of common stock	$	0.93		$	0.78				$	1.66		$	1.37
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding		152,086			168,815					154,102			168,624
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding		153,438			170,048					155,247			169,875
Net income per share amounts may not foot since each is calculated independently.
See notes to results of operations.

SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)	As of
	June 30,			December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2012			2011
(in thousands, except per share data)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	261,773		$	760,092
Accounts and notes receivable (less allowances: 2012- $6,329; 2011- $5,000)		592,789			553,022
Programs and program licenses		364,128			336,305
Other current assets		40,530			66,549
Total current assets		1,259,220			1,715,968
Investments		468,786			455,267
Property and equipment, net		223,403			219,845
Goodwill		571,790			510,484
Other intangible assets, net		633,144			556,095
Programs and program licenses (less current portion)		352,909			299,089
Unamortized network distribution incentives		33,131			46,239
Other non-current assets		152,758			158,683
Total Assets	$	3,695,141		$	3,961,670
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	10,588		$	12,482
Program rights payable		41,643			50,402
Customer deposits and unearned revenue		44,362			52,814
Employee compensation and benefits		34,647			49,920
Accrued marketing and advertising costs		10,166			6,838
Other accrued liabilities		57,158			60,443
Total current liabilities		198,564			232,899
Deferred income taxes		75,802			100,002
Long-term debt		1,384,081			1,383,945
Other liabilities (less current portion)		187,685			148,429
Total liabilities		1,846,132			1,865,275
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		116,843			162,750
Equity:
SNI shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par - authorized: 25,000,000 shares; none outstanding Common stock, $.01 par:
Class A - authorized: 240,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 2012 - 114,652,750 shares; 2011 - 122,828,359 shares		1,147			1,228
Voting - authorized: 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 2012 - 34,317,173 shares; 2011 - 34,317,173 shares		343			343
Total		1,490			1,571
Additional paid-in capital		1,344,041			1,346,429
Retained earnings		172,369			364,073
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(44,805	)		(33,347	)
Total SNI shareholders' equity		1,473,095			1,678,726
Noncontrolling interest		259,071			254,919
Total equity		1,732,166			1,933,645
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	3,695,141		$	3,961,670

SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)	Six months ended
	June 30,
(in thousands)	2012			2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	348,374		$	267,173
Loss (income) from discontinued operations					54,700
Income from continuing operations, net of tax		348,374			321,873
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets		50,454			43,735
Amortization of network distribution costs		13,108			20,915
Program amortization		231,027			190,043
Equity in earnings of affiliates		(35,027	)		(22,682	)
Program payments		(312,684	)		(242,335	)
Capitalized network distribution incentives		(2,948	)		(6,631	)
Dividends received from equity investments		23,119			16,422
Deferred income taxes		(45,099	)		9,641
Stock and deferred compensation plans		23,597			15,414
Changes in certain working capital accounts:
Accounts receivable		(32,081	)		(26,195	)
Other assets		(5,761	)		(9,581	)
Accounts payable		(4,116	)		24
Accrued employee compensation and benefits		(13,420	)		(9,554	)
Accrued income taxes		18,045			33,984
Other liabilities		(8,298	)		12,713
Other, net		(6,395	)		4,509
Cash provided by (used in) continuing operating activities		241,895			352,295
Cash provided by (used in) discontinued operating activities					13,253
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities		241,895			365,548
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Additions to property and equipment		(19,090	)		(24,875	)
Collections (funds advanced) on note receivable		6,030
Purchase of subsidiary companies, net of cash acquired		(119,036	)		(3,400	)
Other, net		(15,675	)		(5,132	)
Cash provided by (used in) continuing investing activities		(147,771	)		(33,407	)
Cash provided by (used in) discontinued investing activities		10,000			141,786
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(137,771	)		108,379
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividends paid		(37,003	)		(29,539	)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(132,840	)		(44,680	)
Noncontrolling interest capital contribution					52,804
Repurchase of Class A common stock		(500,251	)		(300,000	)
Proceeds from stock options		62,145			16,779
Other, net		5,444			(6,023	)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(602,505	)		(310,659	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		62			291
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(498,319	)		163,559
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of year		760,092			549,897
End of period	$	261,773		$	713,456
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:
Interest paid, excluding amounts capitalized	$	24,445		$	16,186
Income taxes paid		154,592			82,693

Notes to Results of Operations

1. OTHER CHARGES AND CREDITS

During the second quarter of 2011, our Board of Directors approved the sale of our Shopzilla business and its related online comparison shopping brands. We received consideration totaling approximately $160 million upon finalizing the sale of the business on May 31, 2011. The results of operations for this business have been retrospectively presented as discontinued operations within our consolidated financial statements for all periods. Discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2011 reflect a loss on divestiture of $53.3 million related to the sale of the Shopzilla business. No income tax benefit related to the capital losses attributed to the sale was recognized. Year-to-date net income attributable to SNI was decreased $.31 per share.

In August 2010, we contributed the Cooking Channel to the Food Network Partnership (the “Partnership”). At the close of our 2010 fiscal year, the noncontrolling owner had not made a required pro-rata capital contribution to the Partnership and as a result its ownership interest was diluted from 31 percent to 25 percent. Accordingly, following the Cooking Channel contribution, profits from the partnership were allocated to the noncontrolling owner at its reduced ownership percentage. In February 2011, the noncontrolling owner made the pro-rata contribution to the Partnership and its ownership interest was returned to the pre-dilution percentage as if the contribution had been made as of the date of the Cooking Channel contribution. The retroactive impact of restoring the noncontrolling owner’s interest in the Partnership increased net income attributed to noncontrolling interest $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2011. Year-to-date net income attributable to SNI was decreased $4.7 million, $.03 per share.

2. SEGMENT INFORMATION

We determine our business segments based upon our management and internal reporting structure. We manage our operations through one reportable operating segment, Lifestyle Media.

Lifestyle Media includes our national television networks, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country (“GAC”). Lifestyle Media also includes websites that are associated with the aforementioned television brands and other Internet-based businesses serving food, home and travel related categories. The Food Network and Cooking Channel are included in the Food Network Partnership of which we own approximately 69%. We also own 65% of Travel Channel. Each of our networks is distributed by cable and satellite distributors and telecommunication service providers.

The results of businesses not separately identified as reportable segments are included within our corporate caption. Corporate includes the results of the lifestyle-oriented channels we operate in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, operating results from the international licensing of our national networks’ programming, and other interactive and digital business initiatives that are not associated with our Lifestyle Media or international businesses.

Our chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating performance of our business segments and makes decisions about the allocation of resources to our business segments using a measure we call segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Refer to Note 4—Non-GAAP Financial Measures, for reconciliations to GAAP measures.

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 business 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. Financing, tax structure and divestiture decisions are generally made by corporate executives. Excluding these items from our business segment performance measure enables us to evaluate business segment operating performance for the current period based upon current economic conditions and decisions made by the managers of those business segments in the current period.

Information regarding the operating performance of our business segments and a reconciliation to our results of operations is as follows:
(in thousands)	Three months ended								Six months ended
	June 30,								June 30,
	2012			2011			Change		2012			2011			Change
Segment operating revenues:
Lifestyle Media	$	591,016		$	527,353		12.1	%	$	1,119,599		$	1,000,906		11.9	%
Corporate and other / intersegment eliminations		9,970			6,631		50.4	%		16,732			13,909		20.3	%
Total operating revenues	$	600,986		$	533,984		12.5	%	$	1,136,331		$	1,014,815		12.0	%
Segment profit (loss):
Lifestyle Media	$	310,419		$	288,859		7.5	%	$	575,056		$	533,464		7.8	%
Corporate		(25,738	)		(14,758	)	74.4	%		(51,140	)		(32,113	)	59.3	%
Total segment profit		284,681			274,101		3.9	%		523,916			501,351		4.5	%
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets		(25,938	)		(22,174	)	17.0	%		(50,454	)		(43,735	)	15.4	%
Gains (losses) on disposal of property and equipment		(27	)		(3	)				(86	)		(19	)
Interest expense		(13,247	)		(8,576	)	54.5	%		(25,427	)		(17,191	)	47.9	%
Equity in earnings of affiliates		21,114			13,024		62.1	%		35,027			22,682		54.4	%
Miscellaneous, net		3,868			421					11,022			468
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	270,451		$	256,793		5.3	%	$	493,998		$	463,556		6.6	%
Operating results from our international operations and the costs associated with other interactive and digital business initiatives increased the segment loss at corporate by $7.4 million in the second quarter of 2012 and $11.8 million for the year-to-date period of 2012 compared with $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2011 and $2.2 million for the year-to-date period of 2011.

3. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Our Lifestyle Media division earns revenue primarily from the sale of advertising time on our national television networks, affiliate fees paid by cable and satellite television operators that carry our network programming, the licensing of its content to third parties, the licensing of its brands for consumer products such as books and kitchenware, and from the sale of advertising on our Lifestyle Media affiliated websites.
Supplemental information for Lifestyle Media is as follows:
(in thousands)	Three months ended									Six months ended
	June 30,									June 30,
	2012			2011			Change			2012		2011			Change
Operating revenues by brand:
Food Network	$	218,467		$	187,486		16.5	%	$	417,290		$	361,531		15.4	%
HGTV		204,975			189,166		8.4	%		390,710			360,530		8.4	%
Travel Channel		73,771			70,303		4.9	%		140,361			132,302		6.1	%
DIY Network		33,745			29,042		16.2	%		61,369			52,387		17.1	%
Cooking Channel		22,408			15,934		40.6	%		42,220			31,201		35.3	%
GAC		4,988			5,896		(15.4	)%		9,982			12,360		(19.2	)%
Digital Businesses		28,325			27,394		3.4	%		50,720			46,775		8.4	%
Other		4,497			2,208					7,144			4,431		61.2	%
Intrasegment eliminations		(160	)		(76	)				(197	)		(611	)
Operating revenues by type:
Advertising	$	415,093		$	372,894		11.3	%	$	770,434		$	694,653		10.9	%
Network affiliate fees, net		166,062			146,318		13.5	%		332,463			290,406		14.5	%
Other		9,861			8,141		21.1	%		16,702			15,847		5.4	%
Subscribers (1):
Food Network										99,600			100,600		(1.0	)%
HGTV										98,900			99,900		(1.0	)%
Travel Channel										94,700			96,000		(1.4	)%
DIY Network										57,800			54,300		6.4	%
Cooking Channel										59,600			58,000		2.8	%
GAC										62,600			60,200		4.0	%
(1) Subscriber counts are according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks.

4. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
In addition to the results prepared in accordance with GAAP provided in this release, the Company has presented segment profit. A reconciliation of segment profit to operating income determined in accordance with GAAP for each business segment is as follows:
(in thousands)	Three months ended				Six months ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Operating income	$	258,716	$	251,924	$	473,376	$	457,597
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets:
Lifestyle Media		24,188		21,656		47,317		42,705
Corporate		1,750		518		3,137		1,030
Losses (gains) on disposal of property and equipment:
Lifestyle Media		27		3		86		19
Corporate
Total segment profit	$	284,681	$	274,101	$	523,916	$	501,351

The Company defines free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities less dividends paid to noncontrolling interests and acquisitions of property and equipment. The Company measures free cash flow as it believes it is an important indicator for management and investors as to the Company’s liquidity, including its ability to reduce debt, make strategic investments and return capital to shareholders. A reconciliation of free cash flow is as follows:
(in thousands)	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
Segment profit	$	284,681		$	274,101		$	523,916		$	501,351
Income taxes paid		(153,281	)		(81,400	)		(154,592	)		(82,693	)
Interest paid		(8,537	)		(221	)		(24,445	)		(16,186	)
Working capital and other		(89,137	)		(52,735	)		(102,984	)		(50,177	)
Cash provided by continuing operating activities		33,726			139,745			241,895			352,295
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(85,032	)		(29,453	)		(132,840	)		(44,680	)
Additions to property and equipment		(11,776	)		(13,686	)		(19,090	)		(24,875	)
Free cash flow	$	(63,082	)	$	96,606		$	89,965		$	282,740
Since segment profit and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures, they should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, net income, cash flow provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP.