Q2 2026 PodcastOne Inc Earnings Call & Business Update
Thank you for standing by. Welcome to podcast 1 Q to fiscal 2026, Financial results, and business update conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question during this time, seemed to press a star followed, by the number 1 on your telephone keypad. If you, if you would like to withdraw your question, please press the star 1 again. Thank you.
I would now like to turn the conference over to Ryan. Carhartt Chief Financial Officer. Please go ahead sir.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for standing by. Welcome to podcast 1 fiscal. Second quarter 2026, business update and financial results conference call and webcast.
During today's presentation, all parties will be in a listen-only mode. Following the presentation, the conference will be open for questions on our call today is kit. Grey president and founder of podcast, 1 myself, Ryan carheart, Chief Financial Officer
I would like to remind you that some of the statements made on today's call are forward-looking. And are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve various risks and uncertainties, these statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding the future performance of the company, including expected future Financial results and expected future growth in the business. Actual results May differ materially from those discussed on this call for a variety of reasons, please refer to podcast 1's filings with the SEC for information about factors, which could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements,
You will find reconciliations of non-gaap financial measures to the most comparable. Gaap Financial measures discussed today in the company's earnings release, which is posted on its investor relations website. The company encourages you to periodically visit its investor relations website for important content.
Ally it is, the property of the company, and any redistribution, retransmission, or rebroadcast of the call or the webcast in any form, without the company's express written consent, is strictly prohibited. Now, I would like to turn the call over to PodcastOne's President, Kit Gray. Great. Thank you, and welcome to our fiscal second quarter 2026 earnings call. As a reminder, we are not on a calendar reporting year, and our fiscal year 2026 starts on April 1st.
Today I'll provide an overview of podcast 1. Share key highlights from the quarter and discuss how our AI powered platform continues to drive Innovation growth and monetization across the network before. Turning the call over to Ryan for financial results. Finally, we'll open it up for Q&A. We're thrilled to report a strong fiscal second quarter demonstrating the power of our AI driven platform to scale Revenue, expand audience reach and support our creators in delivering outstanding content.
PodcastOne continues to stand out as the leading pure-play podcasting platform in the public markets. Our vertically integrated approach, from talent development and content creation to distribution, analytics, and monetization, is strengthened by advanced AI tools that enhance efficiency and performance across every aspect of our business. Our AI toolkit is at the heart of this group.
Growth flight path. Leverages Predictive Analytics to optimize profitability. Booster powers are advertising management, including a proposal recommendation engine that scales or ad Revenue efficiently. Adobe Audition, ensures Superior audio, quality through AI driven noise, and speech cleanup. Opus Pro turns long form, video into shorts, with a single click, boosting audience engagement across platforms. We also continue to attract High Caliber creators through recognized. The strength of our platform, 1 of our recently acquired shows shared when the host asked chat GPT, which podcast Network would be the best fit for her Show podcast. 1 was the top recommendation, a great example of how our reputation and AI driven Innovation are resonating across the industry, momentum, remains strong and meaningful growth across multiple Revenue channels, pod, roll or dynamic ad Marketplace Jenner.
A 71% increase, which nearly tripled since last year, underscores its rapid adoption and scalability. This is now a seven-figure revenue-generating tool for our podcast. Our creator monetization initiatives continue to perform exceptionally well. Adam Carolla's subscription and video channels, spanning YouTube, Rumble, and Apple TV, rose 51% from last quarter, highlighting strong audience engagement and demand. Overall, we have achieved a record high.
Total revenues for the quarter marked a significant milestone for PodcastOne. Additionally, programmatic and Amazon's Art19 revenue saw a 14% increase from Q1, driven by the growing strength of our ad tech stack, demand from brand partners, and growth in our monthly capacity. PodcastOne moved to a higher revenue tier. PodcastOne continues to attract high-profile talent and shows this quarter. We celebrated Adam Cole's record-breaking 4,000th episode featuring Jay Leno. Other notable guests across the network include Bill O'Reilly, Amanda Knox, Mel Robbins, Charlie Sheen, and more. We also expanded our content portfolio through strategic partnerships and acquisitions, including a new collaboration with media giant BuzzFeed on a brand new original podcast series, "Phone A Fan Girl," and the acquisition of "Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet" and exclusive sales rights to "Not Sam."
Wrestling.
Apple podcasts also selected pop-ups for their creators. We love campaign, a strong recognition of the quality and impact of our content. Our platform and Powers creators with end-to-end support, enabling them to focus on producing exceptional content. While our AI enhanced tools Drive discoverability, audience growth and monetization from Studio access and editing to distribution and marketing. Combined with a data-driven sales approach. We ensure
We're both creators and advertisers maximize value on our Network.
Rumble and substack popular titles like b**** Bible full coverage pop apologists some more news. The Adam Corolla show and you're welcome experience, significant engagement highlighting the ongoing demand for video-driven podcast content. Now before going further I'd like to turn the call over to Ryan or CFO to walk through the financial results for the fiscal first quarter Ryan.
Thank you kit at kit, mentioned at the beginning of the call, I want to again remind listeners that our fiscal year starts on April 1st.
Revenue in the fiscal, second quarter of 2026 was 15.2 million. Operating loss in the fiscal second quarter of 2026, was 975,000 compared to an operating loss of 1.7 million. In the same year ago quarter, this was primarily driven by an increase in programmatic revenue and lower costs and operating expenses that loss in the fiscal second quarter of 2026, was 975,000 or 4 cents per basic and diluted share compared to a net loss of 1.7 million or 7 cents per basic and diluted share in the same year ago. Quarter adjusted Ava and the fiscal second quarter of 2026 was 1.1 million compared to adjusted ebit the loss of 403,000. In the same year ago, quarter the change in adjusted ebita was primarily
Fairly driven by higher revenue and talent Revenue, share paid in the form of shares. We ended the fiscal quarter with zero debt on our balance sheet and 2.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30th 2025. As we look ahead, I'd like to also briefly touch on guidance, reiterating expected fiscal, 2026 revenue of 55 to 60 million, in fiscal 2026 adjusted IBA, a 4 and a half to 6 million.
Now I'd like to turn the call back to kit for closing statements and questions from the audience. Thanks looking ahead, we're excited to build on this momentum with several initiatives that leverage our AI capabilities to maximize impact and reach.
From predictive ad analytics with flight paths to streamlined ad management through Booster, our platform is continually optimizing operations and outcomes for creators and advertisers alike. We're also focused on expanding our audience through high-profile events and partnerships. In addition to our collaboration with BuzzFeed and key acquisitions, we are actively exploring opportunities to bring our creators to new audiences and continue strengthening PodcastOne's position as the leading destination for podcast talent and innovation. To close, I want to recognize the hard work and dedication of our team, our partners, and our creators. PodcastOne thrives because we stay.
Focused on what matters most compelling content, strategic, monetization, and trusted relationships with talent and advertisers, with our AI tools and Creator. First approach, we are well, positioned for continued growth deeper audience, engagement and expanded monetization opportunities in the months ahead. We remain proud of our achievements, this quarter, and confident in the path forward with that. We'll now open the line for questions, operator.
Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. If you have dialed in and would like to ask a question, please press *1 on your telephone keypad to raise your hand and join the queue. If you would like to rewind your question, simply press *1 again. When you are called upon to ask your question and are listening through our loudspeaker on your device, please pick up your handset and ensure that your phone is not on mute when asking your question.
And your first question comes from the line of Shun McAllen with Broad Capital Partners. Please go ahead.
I can't. Hi Ryan, how are you?
Hey, Sean, how are you? Good. A couple of questions. Let me start with, um, if you could. Um, can you, yeah. Sometimes these podcast rankings numbers are a little... I want to say slippery, but like, the growth in the audience is sometimes not consistent across the time period. So can you parse out for us how much of your ranking success? I think you're now like number 9. How much of that is real?
Growth versus consolidation, you know, among competitors around you.
um, well, you know
it's a good question, the
The rankings are.
In all the different rankers that are out there. We just had a really good relationship with podra over the years and, um, we work with them. Uh, and, you know, I think it's, it's interesting. The timing always is different, right? Like as as um, you know, NFL rolls out, typically the sports networks, you know, the the strong ones like bar stool Sports and so forth, have you know, good growth, um, you know, and for us, being more of a, uh, you know, on the, The Housewives and and reality TV stuff. When we see a bump, when, you know, new Vanderpump shows startup or, um, Dancing with the Stars or, or things like that. So it's very much cyclical on that. Um, you know, there's definitely been some consolidation in terms of podcasts, uh, production in terms of new shows being launched and, uh, Dead shows. So we're constantly monitoring um, our Network.
Working kind of watching what other networks are doing on that side of things to make sure, um, you know, we're kind of all aligned but the, the rankings at the end of the day, um, they're they're important but not really, uh, a real reflection of of actual growth. You know, when I look at things, I look at Revenue growth, I look at sellout rates, I look at cpms and that's where, um, you know, you've seen the, the great financial results there. I mean, we,
We've grown, and I, I think each impression that we've had is more valuable. And I think that's how we kind of rate ourselves or score ourselves. And, and, in terms of performance, but yeah. Nice. That's helpful. Um, and I noticed or it seems like you're you did a great job of calling out the various ways that AI is helping you, uh, you know, across multiple fronts. So, I guess a question I have is how much of that is stuff that you weren't doing before that you're doing now, as opposed to your, you've been doing in a while and you're just calling it out now. So, like, how many of those tools? I've I've only recently been applied versus, you know, maybe they were there already and we just didn't hear about it.
Yeah, you know, I think we'd all agree, uh, that over the last 12 months, AI is just, you know, drastically changed. So, people were doing a year ago, they're not doing now. Um, and even the, the things that seem to be working, they've been enhanced tremendously over the last, you know, 6 12 months. Um, so we are doing a lot more, um, you know, with the ones that I highlighted and there's others that we do work with, as well. Uh, we're constantly talking to them about, you know, the, uh, enhancements that they're bringing to the table to make their products better or even new Services. Um, we really get approached almost like on a daily basis with other AI like uh, companies that um are
Are designed to help us now, will they do? They that's really the question. So what we do as an industry or as our Network and what gives us the advantages you know, being a small boutique um you know uh company that that can that can you know, bring these new technologies on we test them, we test them with some of our shows and then we activate if they work and and and that has to do with the operational efficiencies that has to do with production, efficiency, um, marketing and sales and and really every single level. So we're constantly looking at new things. These are ones that have been really uh useful for us. And and we're doubling down or it's not tripling down on them. And you know we'll be continuing to add more um over top.
Uh, thanks. That's helpful. And then, if I could switch to Ryan for a bit. Um, I have a couple of questions about expenses. You know, there were some that were higher than I thought and some that were lower than I thought. I just wanted to know if there’s anything that you could point out that might be,
You know, unusual or one-time items that would have driven that. For example, sales and marketing was quite a bit lower than I thought and quite a bit lower than it was last year. Was there anything unusual that brought it down, or should we expect this kind of level? Um, you know, similar with G&A—it was actually higher. You know, is there anything unusual driving that up? And same question with, um, I mean you've been talking about stock-based comps, so I guess we'll be at that level. But is there anything, you know?
Kind of in this quarter that is not indicative of what we should expect going forward.
Of of what you're going to see going forward. Um, GNA quarter recorder is not a huge uh, change. I think the change that you're seeing is additional stock that comes through, right? So, that's the 1 thing. That's flowing through the GNA line. That was a little bit higher. Is we, we have some, some new awards that are a little bit higher. So you'll see that come through, but it gets adjusted out through adjusted. Even, uh, um, this last quarter was a little higher on that professional fees side as well. Um, and so you should see that part of it, come down. So it it'll be a little higher because the stock comp, but, uh, lower in the future quarters because uh, professional fees related to, you know, Audits and all all the things we're doing on the professional side. Uh, we're a little higher, uh, during Q2
Very helpful. Can you tell us that now, how much of the GNA, how much of the stock based compost or is reflected in the GNA line?
Let hold on, 1 sec.
Um, can I get you that breakout when we talk in a bit?
All right. Thank you.
That's it for me. Thank you. Thanks, man. Thanks, Sean. Stay warm up there in New York, all right?
The next question comes from the line of Leo Carpio with Joseph Kenner. Please go ahead.
Hi, good morning gentlemen, uh a couple of quick questions. I had about the quarter, I just want to walk through them. Uh first, can you talk about the competitive environment uh because of your higher rankings? Are you now in a better position to recruit higher tier talent and how helpful is your stock as a currency and those negotiations?
Yeah. Um, you know, we've been pretty competitive. Um, you guys have seen, you know, our growth in terms of shows and and content. We've got a huge, uh, slate of shows that we're currently pitching. And, um, you know, I think, to me, in my, my personal opinion is that, you know, we're known as a, a really good, um, solid company for people to come work with us, but not just a year or 2 years, but to, to really grow and build a business around it. Um, you know, 1 of our shows that just came on to this, you know, chat TV gbt. Um, and what podcast network is the best network for them to join. And we came up and I think it's just super cool, right? And, uh, I, I think that people out there are seeing, you know, the Jordan harbingers, the atom Corollas, the lady gangs, the Caitlyn's, um, the a&es, uh, the stasis that are just coming,
Over from other competing networks and seeing how well we're doing for them and and it's not necessarily a spot where we're asking them to do more. Um, but using our resources and talented staff and, and Tech stack and AI development to, um, you know, grow their shows, not only in an audience base but also, you know, monetarily for that same amount of content. Um, so it's, it's, it's been great in that sense. I think we have that reputation out in the streets. Uh, not only with shows individually but um, with with the agents, so really competitive, it it helps to be in the top 10 on pod track. Um, it helps to be, um, where we're at it helps to be growing. And and the stock side of things um, is a unique tool that really no 1 else uses, um, like we do and it gives everybody this uh swim in the same direction kind of feel. Um, when we run promos on show,
Um, they're getting equal and more value in return. But they're also, you know, they want to see these guys succeed, everybody succeeds, then then we all succeed and and that's the design by, you know, including them on the, on the stock based composite compensation. And that's what's really exciting and I I think it just just far outweighs what we have to offer, um, the other people have to offer as well. So it's, uh, it's it's a, it's a good spot to be.
Okay, could you hear some details on the expanded Amazon partnership? I saw in the press release. You went from about 16 and a half million dollars to a 20 million annual run rate. So I mean, what are the expectations in terms of from Amazon's perspective in terms of uh downloads activity? Any details? You can share
that, um,
Really short order. So that's really exciting for us and, um, you know, that has to do with bringing on new, um, programming, uh, having our existing programming. Um, get, you know, more growth in terms of audio downloads and listenership. But also promoting backlog episodes and classic episodes, as as people go back. And, and listen to these great episodes, they, they have the ability to to monetize it. So we, we, um, we've just seen tremendous growth there. And I think, you know, if you'd ask Amazon, um, they're seeing more Demand on the podcasting platforms and different ways to, uh, reach advertisers, you know, using using that qualitative audience, right? People, people people really see the value and the, and the strength and the podcast listener. And, um, so as we bring them more, they're able to get more sellout rates, higher cpms, and so forth. So, um, it's been a great partnership. So,
So far, we're talking to them almost daily about new things that we can do, and there are some exciting developments coming.
Okay, and can you discuss the advertising environment as I understand your business model? The holiday season is going to be is a major driver of AD revenue for your podcast talent and just seeing what's the early pulse check right now, you're seeing
Sure. Um, so I was actually just looking at our upcoming every week, we look at our pacing report just to see how things are going in the quarter. Um, our direct sales led by a senior mcnamera and, you know, our 12 sales people across the, the country, these are relationships with Brands Integrations in our shows, this doesn't have anything to do with the Amazon or, um, even the programmatic marketplaces, which are are really driving some significant growth, that is at an all-time high for us as we are in this quarter. And, um, you know, we're still fighting for every dollar, but it's looking really strong in terms of us having a direct sales, great quarter. And and what that means for us is, uh, maybe less of Impressions available for the programmatic, uh, marketplaces and even power 19 Amazon, but a much higher cpms. Right? So when we look at the waterfall, it's it's always our direct sales, has the highest
Cpms. And then we get into the r19 and Amazon deal, and then the programmatic marketplace and their tiered, right? They based on priority and what's available to sell. Um, so seeing our sales team, uh, kill it. Um, as they are, I I it's really good for the business and its really good for us. And, you know, again, we're a company that goes well, past spots and dots. And I think that's what what is shown with our ability to, to put these Integrations in work with our production,
Team to make sure advertisers are really happy, and that's what we do best. So, we're excited about things so far.
Okay. And then my last question is about the, uh, Revenue guidance. Uh, you you raised, uh, what needs to be in place for you to achieve the high end of the guidance that is in the 5960 million range. Is it a, a factor of function of more shows on the platform? Uh, better Revenue just more downloads
Okay, thank you and congrats to the quarter.
Hey, thanks, Leo. It's good to talk to you, man.
and once again, if you would like to ask a question,
And I'm showing no further questions at this time. I would like to turn it back to keep gray for closing remarks.
The news and listen to our podcasts. Um, I hope everyone has a safe holiday season as we approach Thanksgiving and um, the rest of the holidays throughout the remainder of the Year. Thank you so much. And have a great day.