TV revenue was down $5 million to $157 million -- largely as a result of off-season political advertising, which sank to $4.3 million from $21.3 million in the same period a year before.
Retransmission revenues more than doubled to $36 million for the Cincinnati-based media company, including newly acquired TV stations. Excluding those stations, retransmission revenues still grew $12 million.
Local TV advertising was flat at $78.8 million, with national spot TV off 2.5% to $35 million. Net income at its TV division was off 32% to $31.7 million.
Radio revenue was flat at $20.4 million, with net income down 9% to $4.1 million. Digital revenues nearly tripled to $10.9 million from $3.7 million.
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Overall company-wide revenues climbed 49% to $189.7 million, with net losses widening to $24.4 million from $1.3 million. Results were cast to reflect discontinued operations from its newspaper business.
The company says its over-the-top video news service, Newsy -- which was acquired in January 2014 -- has experienced “slower revenue growth than original revenue models for its website and mobile app.”
Scripps recorded a non-cash charge of $23.9 million reducing the carrying value of Newsy. Recently, it announced new partners including Apple TV and Comcast’s Watchable.