Discovery Communications Reports Third Quarter 2013 Results

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Third Quarter 2013 Financial Highlights:

• Revenues increased 28% to $1,375 million
• Adjusted OIBDA increased 20% to $597 million
• Net income increased 24% to $255 million
• Free cash flow increased 24% to $438 million
• Repurchased 6.0 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $448 million

Discovery Communications, Inc. ("Discovery" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013.

David Zaslav, Discovery's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Discovery's strong third quarter results once again demonstrate the breadth and depth of our brands and the myriad of opportunities across our global distribution platform.   We are translating the consistent viewership gains we are delivering globally into strong advertising growth both domestically and internationally, while at the same time further leveraging our unique distribution footprint by capitalizing on the pay television evolution in many of our markets worldwide.   As we invest in the organic growth opportunities across our diverse portfolio, we are also focused on the integration of our recent acquisitions.  Building additional long-term growth prospects remains a priority as we deliver sustained financial results and return additional capital to shareholders to further build shareholder value."

Third Quarter Results

Third quarter revenues of $1,375 million were up $299 million, or 28%, compared to the third quarter a year ago, led by 59% growth at International Networks and 10% growth at U.S. Networks.  Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization⁽¹⁾ ("OIBDA") increased 20% to $597 million, as International Networks were up 34% and U.S. Networks were up 10%. Excluding the impact of licensing agreements, newly acquired businesses⁽²⁾ and foreign currency fluctuations, total company revenues increased 12% and Adjusted OIBDA increased 11%.

Third quarter net income available to Discovery Communications, Inc. stockholders of $255 million ($0.71 per diluted share) increased $50 million compared to $205 million ($0.55 per diluted share) for the third quarter a year ago, primarily due to the strong operating performance in the current year and improved earnings from equity investments partially offset by increased amortization associated with purchase price allocation for the SBS transaction.  Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share⁽³⁾, which excludes the impact of the amortization of acquisition related intangible assets, was $0.80 per diluted share during the third quarter compared with $0.55 per diluted share in the same period a year ago. 

Free cash flow was $438 million for the third quarter, an increase of $85 million or 24% from the third quarter of 2012, primarily due to increased operating performance and lower tax payments. Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment.

SEGMENT RESULTS

U.S. Networks

U.S. Networks' revenues in the third quarter of 2013 increased 10% to $733 million, primarily driven by advertising and distribution revenue growth. Advertising revenue increased 12% mainly due to higher delivery and increased pricing.  Distribution revenue increased 10% largely due to increased revenue from licensing agreements and higher rates, as well as from subscriber growth, primarily for networks carried on the digital tier. Excluding the impact of licensing agreements, distribution revenues increased 5% and total revenues increased 8% over the prior year's quarter.

Adjusted OIBDA increased 10% to $425 million, primarily reflecting the 10% revenue growth which was partially offset by 11% higher operating expenses, mainly due to increased content amortization as well as higher marketing costs.  Excluding the impact of licensing agreements, Adjusted OIBDA grew 6% over last year's third quarter.

International Networks

International Networks' revenues for the third quarter increased 59% to $620 million, as advertising revenues were up 127% and distribution revenues were up 29%. Excluding newly acquired businesses and foreign currency fluctuations, total revenues were up 18%.  Distribution revenues, excluding newly acquired businesses, in local currency terms grew 14% mainly from increased subscribers, most notably in Latin America, and from higher rates, particularly in Latin America and Asia Pacific, as well as from additional contributions due to the consolidation of Discovery Japan. Advertising revenues, excluding newly acquired businesses, were up 29% in local currency terms, primarily due to increased viewership in Western Europe and higher pricing in Western Europe and Latin America.

Adjusted OIBDA increased 34% to $232 million on a reported basis and was up 17% excluding newly acquired businesses and foreign currency fluctuations, reflecting the 18% revenue growth partially offset by a 19% increase in operating expenses. The higher operating expenses were primarily due to increased content amortization, personnel costs and marketing expense as well as costs related to consolidating Discovery Japan.

Education

Education revenues decreased by $3 million and Adjusted OIBDA decreased by $3 million compared to the third quarter of 2012 primarily due to the timing of revenues related to certain assessment products.

Corporate and Eliminations

For the third quarter of 2013 Adjusted OIBDA increased $4 million, primarily due to currency gains and lower personnel costs.

STOCK REPURCHASE

During the quarter, the Company, pursuant to its existing stock repurchase program, repurchased 6.0 million  shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $448 million, including 5.21 million shares of its Series C common stock at an average price of $74.05 per share and 0.79 million shares of its Series A common stock at an average price of $79.11 per share.

Following the quarter, from October 1, 2013 through October 29, 2013, the Company repurchased 1.44 million shares of its Series C common stock for approximately $108 million.

The Company has repurchased 67.11 million shares of Series C common stock and 2.78 million shares of its Series A common stock under its $4.0 billion stock repurchase program to date at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $3.3 billion. In aggregate, including the 17.73 million preferred shares acquired from Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership and from Advance Programming Holdings, LLC, the Company has repurchased 21% of its outstanding shares since buyback activity was authorized in 2010.

Under the stock repurchase program, management is authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open market purchases at prevailing prices or privately negotiated purchases subject to market conditions and other factors.

FULL YEAR 2013 OUTLOOK

For the full year ending December 31, 2013, Discovery Communications, Inc. expects total revenue between $5.550 billion and $5.625 billion, Adjusted OIBDA between $2.425 billion and $2.475 billion, and net income available to Discovery Communications, Inc. stockholders of $1.100 billion to $1.150 billion. Our outlook incorporates current foreign exchange rates for revenues and expenses and the current share price for mark-to-market equity-based compensation calculations.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted Earnings Per Share and Free Cash Flow

In addition to the results prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") provided in this release, the Company has presented Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share and free cash flow. The Company evaluates the operating performance of its segments based on financial measures such as revenues and Adjusted Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted OIBDA"). Adjusted OIBDA is defined as revenues less costs of revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses excluding: (i) mark-to-market equity-based compensation, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) amortization of deferred launch incentives, (iv) exit and restructuring charges, (v) certain impairment charges, and (vi) gains and losses on business and asset dispositions. The Company uses this measure to assess operating results and performance of its segments, perform analytical comparisons, identify strategies to improve performance and allocate resources to each segment. The Company believes Adjusted OIBDA is relevant to investors because it allows them to analyze the operating performance of each segment using the same metric management uses. The Company excludes mark-to-market equity-based compensation, exit and restructuring charges, certain impairment charges, and gains and losses on business and asset dispositions from the calculation of Adjusted OIBDA due to their volatility. The Company also excludes depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets and deferred launch incentives, as these amounts do not represent cash payments in the current reporting period.

The company defines Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share ("Adjusted EPS") as earnings excluding the impact of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets per share.  The Company believes Adjusted EPS is relevant to investors because it allows them to evaluate the performance of the Company's operations exclusive of the non-cash amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets that impact the comparability of results from period to period.

The Company defines free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities less acquisitions of property and equipment. The Company uses free cash flow as it believes it is an important indicator for management and investors of the Company's liquidity, including its ability to reduce debt, make strategic investments and return capital to stockholders.

Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted EPS and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures, and should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, net income, earnings per diluted share and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Please review the supplemental financial schedules beginning on page 9 for reconciliations to GAAP measures.

Conference Call Information

Discovery Communications, Inc. will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter results. To listen to the call, visit http://discoverycommunications.com or dial 1-866-271-5140 inside the U.S. and 1-617-213-8893 outside of the U.S., using the following passcode: 41986390.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties and on information available to the Company as of the date hereof. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business, which include the risk factors disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on February 19, 2013. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will" and "would" or similar words. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the full year 2013 outlook and plans for stock repurchases. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE Discovery Communications, Inc.