News Corp today released its Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings for the year ending June 30 2021, including subscriber highlights for the Foxtel Group and financial highlights for the Subscription Video Services segment.
WHAT WAS UP
Total Foxtel Group subscribers reached 4.019 million (3.891 million paid), up 40% on FY20.
Total streaming subscribers, including Kayo Sports, BINGE, and Foxtel Now reached 2.134 million (2.006 million paid), up 142% on FY20. Streaming subscribers represent 53% of the Foxtel Group’s total subscribers.
Kayo reached 1.079 million subscribers (1.054 million paid), up 132% on FY20.
BINGE reached 827,000 subscribes (733,000 paid) – launched May 2020.
Total paying subscribers was up 40% on FY20.
WHAT WAS DOWN
Foxtel Now reached 288,000 subscribers (219,000 paid), down 32% on FY20.
Foxtel residential and commercial broadcast subscribers were 1.885 million, down 5.2% on FY20.
Foxtel residential subscribers declined to less than 1.7 million.
SUBSCRIPTION VIDEO SERVICES FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ($US)
- Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) was up 4% on FY20, rising to A$81.
- Fiscal year revenue up 10% on FY20, increasing by $188 million. The revenue increase was partially offset by the impact from fewer residential broadcast subscribers. Adjusted Revenues declined 2%.
- Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) was up 11% on FY20, increasing by $36 million. Lower expenses related to entertainment programming, transmission and employee costs were offset by increased investment in streaming products and $35 million of higher sports programming rights and production costs, primarily driven by the absence of live sports in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 due to COVID‐19 restrictions. Adjusted Segment EBITDA declined 37% to $66 million or 46% on an adjusted basis.
- For Subscription Video Services for the full year, Segment EBITDA increased 11%.
- Revenue growth in the fourth quarter surged 33% from previous year, increasing by $135 million
Commenting on the Foxtel Group in News Corp’s FY21 Earnings announcement, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson said:
“The Foxtel narrative is particularly positive, as our early emphasis on streaming and on securing long‐term, valuable sports and entertainment rights has put the company on a decidedly upward trajectory.”
All data and quotes are sourced from News Corp’s Fiscal 2021 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Announcement and Investor Briefing of August 5, 2021 (New York).
Full details can be found at https://investors.newscorp.com/
