Starz Reports Fourth Quarter And Year End 2013 Financial Results

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) today reported fourth quarter and year end 2013 results.  Highlights include ⁽¹⁾:

• Achieved annual increases in revenue of 9%, Adjusted OIBDA⁽²⁾ of 7% and operating income of 5% in 2013
• STARZ/ENCORE combined subscribers reach 57.1 million; leads U.S. premium television category
  • STARZ subscriptions at 22.2 million; up 1 million, or 5%, since December 31, 2012
  • ENCORE subscriptions at 34.9 million; up slightly since December 31, 2012
• Since September 30, 2013, STARZ subscriptions increased by 200K, or 1%, while ENCORE subscriptions were essentially flat
• Repurchased 3.7 million shares from November 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014; since trading began on January 14, 2013, Starz has repurchased 10.5% of its outstanding shares
• Authorized an additional $400.0 million for share repurchase program; total remaining repurchase authorization of $474.5 million
• Strong debut for STARZ Original series "Black Sails" - more than 2.9 million average viewers per episode linear + DVR thru first 3 episodes of the series
• STARZ Original series "Power" from Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson selected for MIPTV World Premiere TV Screening in Cannes; will debut on STARZ in Summer 2014
• Greenlit STARZ Original series "Survivor's Remorse" half-hour comedy project from LeBron James and Tom Werner for 2014 Q4 slate, "Flesh and Bone" ballet drama for 2015
• Launched STARZ PLAY on Xbox 360; ENCORE PLAY/MOVIEPLEX PLAY and Xbox One full suite deployments coming in 2014
• Signed Starz Worldwide Distribution/Amedia 15-country distribution output deal for Russia, Georgia, and The Baltics for STARZ Original series and other TV/movie programming

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"This was another strong quarter for Starz and a strong end to 2013. During 2013, we delivered solid growth in revenue, Adjusted OIBDA, and subscriber performance," said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht.  "Over the past year, we increased our investments in exclusive original programming at STARZ and implemented new offerings to our ENCORE thematic channels for African-American, Latino, Baby Boomer, and Millennial audiences."

Albrecht continued, "The new STARZ Original series, 'Black Sails,' is off to an excellent start with worldwide audiences and the strongest ever debut for a new STARZ Original series in the U.S.  Through the first three episodes of the debut season, more than 2.9 million viewers in the U.S. have watched on STARZ, with data for on-demand and online viewing yet to be included in the tally. Global sales of 'Black Sails' were robust. The second season of 'Da Vinci's Demons,' and our new 2014 series, 'Power,' 'Outlander,' and the recently greenlit 'Survivor's Remorse' are on the schedule as we finalize the programming slate for the fourth quarter.  We remain on track to grow our original programming hours to 65-75 hours in the next few years."

Consolidated
For the year, revenue increased 9% to $1,777.5 million, Adjusted OIBDA increased 7% to $476.9 million and operating income increased 5% to $425.2 million.  For the quarter, revenue decreased 2% to $414.7 million, Adjusted OIBDA increased 16% to $117.2 million and operating income increased 21% to $103.4 million. 

Starz Networks
For the year, revenue increased 2% to $1,297.7 million due to the one-time recognition during Q2 2013 of $18.6 million of previously deferred revenue and annual rate increases.  Adjusted OIBDA increased 2% to $456.2 million as a result of the increase in revenue and lower programming costs, partially offset by increased advertising related to original programming, increased cooperative marketing efforts with our distributors, increased litigation related legal costs and costs associated with becoming an independent public company.

For the quarter, revenue increased 2% to $322.0 million primarily as a result of annual rate increases from various distributors.  Adjusted OIBDA decreased 2% to $118.8 million due to higher advertising expense in December 2013 associated with the January 2014 premiere of "Black Sails."  An increase in cooperative marketing efforts with our distributors and costs associated with becoming an independent public company also contributed to the decrease. 

Starz Distribution
For the year, revenue increased 40% to $449.5 million primarily as a result of a greater number of higher performing titles from The Weinstein Company ("Weinstein") including Django Unchained and Silver Linings Playbook, various STARZ Original series titles including "The White Queen," "Spartacus," and "Da Vinci's Demons" and AMC's "The Walking Dead."  Adjusted OIBDA increased 588% to $24.0 million primarily due to the increase in revenue and a decrease in impairments of investment in films and television programs during 2013.

For the quarter, revenue decreased 14% to $83.8 million as a result of fewer high performing new releases in Q4 2013 as compared to Q4 2012.  Q4 2012 included the Weinstein film Lawless and Season 1 of the STARZ Original series "Magic City." There were no significant new releases in Q4 2013.  Adjusted OIBDA increased 98% to ($0.5) million primarily due to lower production and acquisition costs resulting from a decrease in impairments of investment in films and television programs as compared to the prior period.

Starz Animation
The decrease in both revenue and Adjusted OIBDA for the year and the quarter was due to fewer projects in production at the company's Film Roman studio. 

Operating Income
The increase for the year was primarily due to the increase in Adjusted OIBDA and lower depreciation and amortization expense partially offset by an increase in stock compensation expense.  The increase for the quarter was primarily due to the increase in Adjusted OIBDA, decreased stock compensation expense and lower depreciation and amortization. 

Cash Paid for Investment in Films and Television Programs
The increase for the year and quarter was primarily due to payments for certain Weinstein titles partially offset by timing of cash spend related to our original programming. 

Share Repurchases
From November 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014, 3.7 million shares of Series A common stock (NASDAQ: STRZA) were purchased at an average cost per share of $28.65 for total cash consideration of $106.4 million.  Since trading began on January 14, 2013, Starz has repurchased approximately 12.8 million shares at an average cost per share of $25.50 for aggregate cash consideration of $325.5 million.  These repurchases represent 10.5% of the shares outstanding at January 14, 2013. In addition, on February 20, 2014, the Starz board authorized a $400 million increase in the share repurchase program.  As of January 31, 2014, $474.5 million remains under the $800 million authorization, which includes the newly authorized amount.  Under the share repurchase program, Starz may acquire its common stock from time to time through open market transactions and privately negotiated transactions.

FOOTNOTES

NOTES

• Unless otherwise noted, the foregoing discussion compares financial information for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013 to the same period in 2012.
  

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
As a supplement to Starz's condensed consolidated statements of operations, to be included in its Form 10-K, the following is a presentation of quarterly financial information and operating metrics for the periods indicated.

Please see the definition of Adjusted OIBDA below and a discussion of why management believes the presentation of Adjusted OIBDA provides useful information for investors.  Schedule 1 to this press release provides a reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA to operating income for the same periods, as determined under GAAP.

QUARTERLY SUMMARY

CASH AND DEBT
The following presentation is provided to separately identify cash and debt information.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release includes a presentation of Adjusted OIBDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, together with a reconciliation to operating income, as determined under GAAP.  We define Adjusted OIBDA as revenue less programming costs, production and acquisition costs, home video cost of sales, operating expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses. Our chief operating decision maker uses this measure of performance in conjunction with other measures to evaluate our operating segments' performance and make decisions about allocating resources among our operating segments. We believe that Adjusted OIBDA is an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of our operating segments, including each operating segment's ability to assist in servicing our debt and to fund investments in films and television programs. In addition, this measure allows management to view operating results and perform analytical comparisons and benchmarking between operating segments and identify strategies to improve performance. This measure of performance excludes stock compensation and depreciation and amortization that are included in the measurement of operating income pursuant to GAAP. Accordingly, Adjusted OIBDA should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, operating income, income before income taxes, net income, net cash provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.  Please see Schedule 1 below for the applicable reconciliation.

SCHEDULE 1

The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA for Starz to its operating income calculated in accordance with GAAP for the three months ended December 31, 2012, March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013, September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

• Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) CEO, Chris Albrecht will discuss Starz's financial performance, and may discuss future opportunities in a conference call which will begin at 12:00 p.m. (ET) on February 21, 2014.  The call can be accessed by dialing (877) 718-5095 or (719) 325-4850 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time.  Replays of the conference call can be accessed through 3:00 p.m. (ET) on February 28, 2014, by dialing (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 plus the passcode 8329263#.  The call will also be broadcast live via the Internet and archived on our website.  To access the webcast go to http://ir.starz.com/events.cfm.  Links to this press release will also be available on the Starz website.
  
• This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about business strategies, market potential, future financial prospects, new service and product launches including original content programming, new distribution platforms for our programming, the continuation of our stock repurchase plans, international expansion opportunities and other matters that are not historical facts.  These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, market acceptance of new products or services, the timely launch of our original programming, the cooperation of our distributors in marketing our services, competitive issues, regulatory matters affecting our businesses, continued access to capital on terms acceptable to Starz, changes in law and market conditions conducive to stock repurchases and the ability to enter into transactions for international expansion. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Starz expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Starz's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Please refer to the publicly filed documents of Starz, including the most recent Form 10-K, for additional information about Starz and about the risks and uncertainties related to Starz's business which may affect the statements made in this press release. 

About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.

Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ^® and ENCORE^® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies.  As of December 31, 2013, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 57.1 million subscribers, including 22.2 million at STARZ, and 34.9 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S.  STARZ^® and ENCORE^®, along with Starz Networks' third network MOVIEPLEX^®, air over 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television.  Starz Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties.  Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.

SOURCE Starz