News Corp Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year for Fiscal 2017

News Corp Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year for Fiscal 2017

Fiscal 2017 Full Year Key Financial Highlights

Revenues of $8.14 billion compared to $8.29 billion in the prior year

(Loss) income from continuing operations was ($643) million compared to $235 million in the prior year. The loss includes approximately $1 billion of pre-tax non-cash impairments and write-downs and a one-time pre-tax gain of $107 million as a result of the sale of REA Group's European business

Total Segment EBITDA was $885 million compared to $684 million in the prior year; fiscal 2016 included the NAM Group settlement charge of $280 million and the $122 million gain from the Zillow settlement

Strong growth in the Digital Real Estate Services segment, which represented 37% of Total Segment EBITDA, driven by strong audience gains and new product offerings

Reported EPS were ($1.27) compared to $0.28 in the prior year - Adjusted EPS were $0.36 compared to $0.40 in the prior year

Digital revenues represented 25% of News and Information Services segment revenues, compared to 22% in the prior year

New York, NY - August 10, 2017 - News Corporation ( News Corp or the Company ) (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) today reported financial results for the three months and fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 (includes 13 and 52 weeks, respectively, compared to 14 and 53 weeks in the three months and fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, respectively).

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Robert Thomson said:

Fiscal 2017 was a significant year for News Corp as we saw tangible improvement in profitability, powered by the fast-growing Digital Real Estate Services segment, and we charged a premium for premium content while focusing on operating efficiencies.

News Corp led the global debate about content value and values, prompting the digital platforms to address a dysfunctional content eco-system, in which the fake and the fraudulent have flourished. We are now in advanced discussions with those platforms over the creation of payment mechanisms for news of verified veracity.

Move, the operator of realtor.com , and REA Group continue to post record revenues driven by higher traffic and improved yields. Digital real estate overall accounted for nearly 40% of our profits and we expect to expand earnings in coming years as the sector is still at a relatively early stage of its e-evolution.

HarperCollins posted higher EBITDA and margins this year through poignant books with broad appeal in the U.S., such as The Magnolia Story and Hillbilly Elegy. We believe that the emergence of digital audio and our expanding global footprint are potent sources of long-term growth.

FOX SPORTS Australia reinforced its leadership in Australia with the successful launch of the Fox League Channel and by extending its domestic soccer rights for another six years. Foxtel and FOX SPORTS Australia are capitalizing on the growing SVOD market with the recent rollout of its rebranded Foxtel Now streaming service, which has been well received and is improving subscriber volume.

Full Year Results from Continuing Operations

The Company reported fiscal 2017 full year total revenues of $8.14 billion, a 2% decline as compared to the prior year revenues of $8.29 billion. The decline reflects lower print advertising revenues at the News and Information Services segment, a $147 million negative impact from foreign currency fluctuations and the absence of $112 million from the additional week in the prior year, partially offset by strong growth in the Digital Real Estate Services segment and the acquisitions of Wireless Group plc ( Wireless Group ) and Australian Regional Media ( ARM ).

(Loss) income from continuing operations was ($643) million for fiscal 2017 as compared to $235 million in the prior year. The decline was driven by pre-tax non-cash impairment charges of approximately $785 million, primarily related to the write-down of fixed assets at the U.K. and Australian newspapers. The decline was also due to lower equity earnings of affiliates, primarily from a $227 million pre-tax non-cash write-down of the Company's investment in Foxtel, and higher tax expense, due in large part to the release of U.S. tax asset valuation allowances associated with the divestiture of Amplify in the prior year. These charges were partially offset by a gain of $107 million ($91 million, net of tax) from the sale of REA Group's European businesses and higher Total Segment EBITDA, as discussed below.

The Company reported full year Total Segment EBITDA of $885 million, a 29% increase as compared to $684 million in the prior year. Total Segment EBITDA in the prior year included a one-time charge of $280 million for the settlement of litigation and related claims at News America Marketing (the NAM Group settlement charge ) and a one-time gain of $122 million for the settlement of the Zillow litigation. Excluding these items, full year Total Segment EBITDA for fiscal 2016 would have been $842 million. Adjusted Total Segment EBITDA (as defined in Note 1), which excludes the impact of the settlements noted above, as well as the other items described in Note 1, increased 5% compared to the prior year, as strong growth at the Digital Real Estate Services segment and improvement in the Book Publishing segment were partially offset by the declines at the News and Information Services segment.

Earnings per share from continuing operations available to News Corporation stockholders were ($1.27) for the full year as compared to $0.28 in the prior year.

Adjusted EPS (as defined in Note 3) were $0.36 compared to $0.40 in the prior year.

Please click here for the full Earnings Release information

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About News Corp

News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distribut

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