Although big TV station group Tegna reported higher revenue growth from political advertising, overall revenue results came in under industry estimates.
The McLean, Virginia-based
company’s second-quarter media revenue grew 10% to $458.9 million, around $6 million below industry consensus. Much revenue growth was driven by retransmission fees, which were 33% higher to
$145.8 million.
Political advertising came in at $10.2 million, up $7.5 million over the same period a year ago -- which, according to Barton Crockett, media analyst for FBR & Co., was $12
million less than anticipated.
Crockett says political advertising in the quarter was down 13% from the last presidential election in 2012 and down nearly 40% from the midterm elections in
2014.
But Gracia Martore, president/CEO of Tegna, said in an earnings release that political revenue has been a bit slow-moving: "We expect political revenue to ramp up steadily in the third
and fourth quarters as a longer-than-usual primary process led to delayed ad buys from front running candidates."
Tegna’s nonpolitical core TV advertising revenues -- local and national
spot -- was virtually flat at $267.1 million versus $268.8 million.
Tegna’s digital revenue grew 3.9% to $352.8 million. Overall revenue was 7.3% higher to $811.8 million. Net income
from continuing operations was $99.5 million versus $38.5 million in the second-quarter 2015.
Mid-day Tuesday trading of Tegna’s stock was down over 6% to $23.45.