Q1 2026 iHeartMedia Inc Earnings Call

May 11, 2026

Speaker #1: To ask a question at this time, please press star followed by the number 1 on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded.

Speaker #1: I would now like to turn the call over to Andre Relations. Thank you. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for taking the time to join us for our first quarter 2026 earnings call. Joining me for today's discussion are Bob Pittman, our Chairman and CEO; Rich Bressler, our President and COO; and Mike McGuinness, our CFO.

Operator: Good afternoon, everyone and thank you for taking the time to join us for our Q1 2026 earnings call. Joining me for today's discussion are Bob Pittman, our Chairman and CEO, Rich Bressler, our President and COO, and Mike McGuinness, our CFO. At the conclusion of our prepared remarks, management will take your questions. In addition to our press release, we have an earnings presentation available on our website that you can use to follow along with our remarks. Please note that this call may include forward-looking statements regarding our financial performance and operating results. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results could differ from what is stated as a result of certain factors identified on today's call and in the company's SEC filings, including our recent 8-K filing. Additionally, during this call, we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial measures.

Andrey Hart: Good afternoon, everyone and thank you for taking the time to join us for our Q1 2026 earnings call. Joining me for today's discussion are Bob Pittman, our Chairman and CEO, Rich Bressler, our President and COO, and Mike McGuinness, our CFO. At the conclusion of our prepared remarks, management will take your questions. In addition to our press release, we have an earnings presentation available on our website that you can use to follow along with our remarks. Please note that this call may include forward-looking statements regarding our financial performance and operating results. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results could differ from what is stated as a result of certain factors identified on today's call and in the company's SEC filings, including our recent 8-K filing. Additionally, during this call, we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial measures.

Speaker #2: At the conclusion of our prepared remarks, management will take your questions. In addition to our press release, we have an earnings presentation available on our website that you can use to follow along with our remarks.

Speaker #2: Please note that this call may include forward-looking statements regarding our financial performance and operating results. These statements are based on management's current expectations, and actual results could differ from what is stated as a result of certain factors identified on today's call.

Speaker #2: And in the company's SEC filings, including our recent 8-K filing. Additionally, during this call, we will refer to certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are included in our earnings release.

[Company Representative] (iHeartMedia): Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are included in our earnings release, earnings presentation, and our SEC filings, which are available in the investor relations section of our website. Now I'll turn the call over to Bob.

Andrey Hart: Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are included in our earnings release, earnings presentation, and our SEC filings, which are available in the investor relations section of our website. Now I'll turn the call over to Bob.

Speaker #2: Earnings presentation and our SEC filings, which are available on the website. And now I'll turn the call over to

Speaker #3: Thanks, Andre, and good afternoon, everyone. In the first quarter, our consolidated revenue was $884 million, up 9.6% compared to the prior-year quarter and in line with our guidance of up high single digits.

Bob Pittman: Thanks, Andre. Good afternoon, everyone. In Q1, our consolidated revenue was $884 million, up 9.6% compared to the prior year quarter and in line with our guidance of up high single digits. Excluding the impact of political, our consolidated revenue was up 9.3%. We generated Adjusted EBITDA of $93 million in Q1, slightly below our previously provided guidance of approximately $100 million, compared to $105 million in the prior year. The timing of the non-cash marketing expenses that we discussed in the last few earnings calls drove the majority of our slight underperformance relative to our Adjusted EBITDA guidance, as we recognized more of this non-cash expense in the period than previously anticipated due to timing of some of our partnership campaigns.

Bob Pittman: Thanks, Andrey. Good afternoon, everyone. In Q1, our consolidated revenue was $884 million, up 9.6% compared to the prior year quarter and in line with our guidance of up high single digits. Excluding the impact of political, our consolidated revenue was up 9.3%. We generated Adjusted EBITDA of $93 million in Q1, slightly below our previously provided guidance of approximately $100 million, compared to $105 million in the prior year. The timing of the non-cash marketing expenses that we discussed in the last few earnings calls drove the majority of our slight underperformance relative to our Adjusted EBITDA guidance, as we recognized more of this non-cash expense in the period than previously anticipated due to timing of some of our partnership campaigns.

Speaker #3: Excluding the impact of political, our consolidated revenue was up 9.3%. We generated adjusted EBITDA of $93 million in the first quarter, slightly below our previously provided guidance of approximately $100 million, compared to $105 million in the prior year.

Speaker #3: The timing of the non-cash marketing expenses that we discussed in the last few earnings calls drove the majority of our slight underperformance relative to our EBITDA guidance as we recognized more of this non-cash expense in the period than previously anticipated due to timing of some of our partnership campaigns.

Speaker #3: This was also driven in part by our March advertising revenues coming in a little lower than anticipated, and we believe this correlated with advertiser and consumer uncertainty resulting from the impact of current macroeconomic issues.

Bob Pittman: This was also driven in part by our March advertising revenues coming in a little lower than anticipated, and we believe this correlated with advertiser and consumer uncertainty resulting from the impact of current macroeconomic issues. Before I go into the details of this quarter's results, today we're announcing a new cost reduction initiative that will generate an additional $50 million of annualized savings, which we will begin realizing in H2 of the year. As a reminder, this is in addition to the $100 million of in-year 2026 savings that we have previously announced. As you know, we continually reevaluate our organizational structure, flatten layers of management, and push the adoption of new technologies and tools, including AI, to improve our operating efficiency. This latest announcement is further evidence of that commitment.

Speaker #3: Before I go into the details of this quarter's results, today we're announcing a new cost reduction initiative that will generate an additional $50 million of annualized savings, which we will begin realizing in the second half of the year.

Speaker #3: As a reminder, this is in addition to the $100 million of end-year 2026 savings that we have previously announced. As you know, we continually reevaluate our organizational structure, flatten layers of management, and push the adoption of new technologies and tools, including AI, to improve our operating efficiency and this latest announcement is further evidence of that commitment.

Speaker #3: I also want to add, as a result of the implementation of changes to the tax code, we expect our cash taxes for 2026 to be effectively eliminated.

Bob Pittman: I also want to add, as a result of the implementation of changes to the tax code, we expect our cash taxes for 2026 to be effectively eliminated and for the next few years, as long as the current tax laws remain in effect. This will materially improve our free cash flow generation moving forward. Rich will speak to all of this in a bit more detail. Now I'd like to turn to our individual operating segments. The Digital Audio Group generated Q1 revenues of $327 million, up 18% versus prior year and slightly ahead of our previously provided guidance of up mid-teens.

Speaker #3: And for the next few years, as long as the current tax laws remain in effect. This will materially improve our free cash

Speaker #3: And for the next few years, as long as the current tax laws remain in effect, this will materially improve our free cash flow generation moving forward.

Speaker #3: detail, and now I'd like to turn to our individual operating segments. The digital audio group generated first quarter revenues Bob. of $327 million up 18% versus prior year, and slightly ahead of our previously provided guidance of up mid-teens.

Speaker #3: Within the digital audio group, our podcast revenue momentum continues, and was $147 million for the quarter, up 26.9% compared to prior year of $116 million, above our guidance of up low 20s.

Bob Pittman: Within the Digital Audio Group, our podcast revenue momentum continues and was $147 million for the quarter, up 26.9% compared to prior year of $116 million above our guidance of up low 20s, approximately 50% of our podcasting revenue was generated by our local sales force. Our podcasting EBITDA margins remained accretive to our total company EBITDA margins, which we achieve by applying rigorous financial discipline. We believe we have the most profitable podcasting business in the US. In fact, we're the number one podcast publisher as measured by both Podtrac and Triton. We're also the podcasting industry's number one podcast sales network. One more thing to note, a major key to our success in building our podcast business has been our broadcast radio assets.

Speaker #3: And approximately 50% of our podcasting revenue was generated by our local sales force. Our podcasting EBITDA margins remained accretive to our total company EBITDA margins which we achieve by applying rigorous financial discipline and we believe we have the most profitable podcasting business in the United States.

Speaker #3: In fact, we're the number one podcast publisher as measured by both PodTrack and Triton and we're also the podcasting industry's number one podcast sales network.

Speaker #3: And one more thing to note: a major key to our success in building our podcast business has been our broadcast radio assets. If Netflix is, in essence, TV on demand, then podcasting is radio on demand.

Bob Pittman: If Netflix is in essence TV on demand. Podcasting is radio on demand. As the number one radio company in America, that gives us a great advantage. In Q1, digital ex-podcast revenue grew 11.6% compared to prior year. The Digital Audio Group generated Q1 Adjusted EBITDA of $87 million, flat to prior year. The Digital Audio Group's Adjusted EBITDA margins were 26.5%. As a reminder, Q1 margins are always the lowest of the year, and we expect to see DAG's full-year Adjusted EBITDA margins in the mid-30s as they were for the full year 2025. Turning now to the Multiplatform Group, which includes our broadcast radio, networks, and events businesses.

Bob Pittman: If Netflix is in essence TV on demand. Podcasting is radio on demand. As the number one radio company in America, that gives us a great advantage. In Q1, digital ex-podcast revenue grew 11.6% compared to prior year. The Digital Audio Group generated Q1 adjusted EBITDA of $87 million, flat to prior year. The Digital Audio Group's adjusted EBITDA margins were 26.5%. As a reminder, Q1 margins are always the lowest of the year, and we expect to see DAG's full-year adjusted EBITDA margins in the mid-30s as they were for the full year 2025. Turning now to the Multiplatform Group, which includes our broadcast radio, networks, and events businesses.

Speaker #3: And as the number one radio company in America, that gives us a great advantage. In the first quarter, digital X podcast revenue grew 11.6% compared to prior year.

Speaker #3: The digital audio group generated first quarter adjusted EBITDA of $87 million flat to prior year. The digital audio group's adjusted EBITDA margins were 26.5%.

Speaker #3: And as a reminder, Q1 margins are always the lowest of the year, and we expect to see DAG's full-year adjusted EBITDA margins in the mid-30s, as they were for the full year 2025.

Speaker #3: Turning now to the multi-platform group, which includes our broadcast radio, networks, and events businesses. First quarter revenue was $493 million up 4.3% versus prior year, and slightly below the midpoint of our guidance range of up mid-single digits.

Bob Pittman: Q1 revenue was $493 million, up 4.3% versus prior year and slightly below the midpoint of our guidance range of up mid-single digits. Excluding the impact of political advertising, Multiplatform Group revenue was up 3.9%. The Multiplatform Group's Adjusted EBITDA was $47 million, compared to $70 million in the prior year. Despite this quarter's Multiplatform Group Adjusted EBITDA performance, we remain confident we can return the Multiplatform Group to Adjusted EBITDA growth during this year. To reach that goal, in addition to our continuing efforts on cost, we're focused on four major drivers. Number 1, programmatic. We have built the ad tech infrastructure and systems to make our broadcast inventory available through programmatic buying platforms.

Speaker #3: Excluding the impact of political advertising, multi-platform group revenue was up 3.9%. The multi-platform group's adjusted EBITDA was $47 million compared to $70 million in the prior year.

Speaker #3: Despite this quarter's multi-platform group adjusted EBITDA performance, we remain confident we can return the multi-platform group to adjusted EBITDA growth during this year. And to reach that goal, in addition to our continuing efforts on cost, we're focused on four major drivers.

Speaker #3: Number one, programmatic. We have built the ad tech infrastructure and systems to make our broadcast inventory available through programmatic buying platforms. These partnership agreements with Amazon DSP, Yahoo DSP, Google DV360, and others will enable our broadcast radio inventory to participate alongside our digital inventory in the same growing programmatic TAM.

Bob Pittman: These partnership agreements with Amazon DSP, Yahoo DSP, Google, DV360, and others will enable our broadcast radio inventory to participate alongside our digital inventory in the same growing programmatic TAM. Second, integrated sales. By positioning ourselves as a true marketing partner for our clients and agency partners, we focus on bringing all of our advertising assets to bear, including continuing to bundle broadcast radio with other platforms for the benefit of our advertising partners. Third, increasing share of the broadcast radio TAM. In Q1, we outperformed the radio industry's revenue performance by 5.8 percentage points, according to Miller Kaplan, and we expect this to continue given the unique scale of our audience, our ad tech platforms, and the fact that we have the largest sales force in audio. Fourth, our resilient radio audience. There are more broadcast radio listeners today than there were 20 years ago.

Speaker #3: Second, integrated sales. By positioning ourselves as a true marketing partner for our clients and agency partners, we focus on bringing all of our advertising assets to bear.

Speaker #3: Including continuing to bundle broadcast radio with other platforms for the benefit of our advertising partners. Third, increasing share of the broadcast radio TAM. In Q1, we outperformed the radio industry's revenue performance by 5.8 percentage points according to Miller Kaplan, and we expect this to continue given the unique scale of our audience, our ad tech platforms, and the fact that we have the largest sales force in audio.

Speaker #3: Fourth, our resilient radio audience. There are more broadcast radio listeners today than there were 20 years ago. And one constant in advertising is that the revenue eventually follows consumer usage.

Bob Pittman: One constant in advertising is that the revenue eventually follows consumer usage. We continue to see our partnerships with companies like Netflix and TikTok as validation of the unique power of our broadcast radio assets. We continue to premiere new music with our TikTok partnership with our broadcast radio. Following on the tremendous success of our Bruno Mars album preview earlier this year, we have nationwide programming campaigns coming up to launch new music by Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter. If you're looking for further validation of the power of our broadcast radio assets and our radio personalities, out of all the video podcasts that appear on Netflix, in the first quarter, one podcast got over 40% of all their podcast views, according to Samba TV, and that's our own Breakfast Club with Charlamagne tha God. Why? Because they talk about it on the radio every morning.

Speaker #3: We continue to see our partnerships with companies like Netflix and TikTok as validation of the unique power of our broadcast radio assets. We continue to premiere new music with our TikTok partnership with our broadcast radio, and following on the tremendous success of our Bruno Mars album preview earlier this year, we have nationwide programming campaigns coming up to launch new music by Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter.

Speaker #3: And if you're looking for further validation of the power of our broadcast radio assets and our radio personalities, out of all the video podcasts that appear on Netflix in the first quarter, one podcast got over 40% of all their podcast views according to Samba TV, and that's our own Breakfast Club with Charlamagne.

Speaker #3: Why? Because they talk about it on the radio every morning. One more way we're quantitatively proving the value of broadcast radio to advertisers and marketers.

Bob Pittman: One more way we're quantitatively proving the value of broadcast radio to advertisers and marketers. Before I turn it over to Rich, I want to give you our view on the current macro environment. Our internal corporate insights group does weekly updates on consumer sentiment to help our on-air talent and programmers stay in touch with the issues that are important to our listeners. This week, one of the studies showed that 61% of US consumers say the economy is getting worse, and 31% list inflation or price of goods as their most important issue, which is the highest since 2022. We believe this has probably created some softness in what we feel is a reasonably healthy advertising marketplace. With that, I'll turn it over to Rich.

Speaker #3: And before I turn it over to Rich, I want to give you our view on the current macro environment. Our internal Corporate Insights group does weekly updates on consumer sentiment to help our on-air talent and programmers stay in touch with the issues that are important to our listeners.

Speaker #3: This week, one of the studies showed that 61% of U.S. consumers say the economy is getting worse, and 31% list inflation or price of goods as their most important issue, which is the highest since 2022.

Speaker #3: And we believe this has probably created some softness in what we feel is a reasonably healthy advertising marketplace. And with that, I'll turn it over to Rich.

Speaker #4: Thank you, Bob. And good afternoon. Our Q1 2026 consolidated revenue was in line with our guidance of up high single digits, and was up 9.6% compared to the prior year quarter.

Rich Bressler: Thank you, Bob, and good afternoon. Our Q1 2026 consolidated revenue was in line with our guidance of up high single digits and was up 9.6% compared to the prior year quarter. As Bob mentioned, we saw some softness in March that appeared to correlate with the start of the conflict in the Middle East. Having said that, we still believe that 2026 will be a significant year in terms of Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow generation for iHeart. I want to repeat two key updates that Bob gave. The first is the update on our cost reduction work and our new savings initiative that will generate an additional $50 million of annual savings, which we will begin realizing in the H2.

Speaker #4: As Bob mentioned, we saw some softness in March that appeared to correlate with the start of the conflict in the Middle East, having said that, we still believe that 2026 will be a significant year in terms of adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow generation for iHeart.

Speaker #4: I want to repeat two key updates that Bob gave. The first is the update on our cost reduction work, and our new savings initiative that will generate an additional $50 million of annual savings which we will begin realizing in the second half of the year.

Speaker #4: As a reminder, this is in addition to the $100 million of in-year 2026 savings that we have previously announced. The second is an update to our cash taxes.

Rich Bressler: As a reminder, this is in addition to the $100 million of in-year 2026 savings that we have previously announced. The second is update to our cash taxes. As a result of changes to the tax code, we now expect to have minimal cash taxes over the next 3 years, assuming the current tax laws remain in effect. As we think about our free cash flow generation, this will preserve approximately $150 to 200 million of cash from 2026 to 2028. Let me provide you with some additional detail on our advertising revenue performance in Q1. As a reminder, one of our strengths is our diversified advertising revenues.

Speaker #4: As a result of changes to the tax code, we now expect to have minimal cash taxes over the next three years, assuming the current tax laws remain in effect.

Speaker #4: As we think about our free cash flow generation, this will preserve approximately $150 to $200 million of cash from 2026 to 2028. Let me provide you with some additional detail on our advertising revenue performance in the first quarter.

Speaker #4: As a reminder, one of our strengths is our diversified advertising revenues. There is no advertising category that is greater than about 5% of our total advertising revenue, and no individual advertiser that is about more than 2% of our total advertising revenue.

Rich Bressler: There is no advertising category that is greater than about 5% of our total advertising revenue, and no individual advertiser that is about more than 2% of our total advertising revenue. In Q1, the largest category gainers in terms of absolute dollars were healthcare, financial services, computers, electronics and appliances, and political. The 4 categories that declined the most in terms of absolute dollars were entertainment, beauty and fitness, government, and telco. In Q1, our 5 largest advertising categories in terms of absolute dollars were healthcare, financial services, auto, and home building and improvement. Our consolidated direct operating expenses increased 5.3% for the quarter. This increase was primarily driven by higher variable content costs associated with the revenue growth of our digital business. Our consolidated SG&A expenses increased 11.9% for the quarter.

Speaker #4: In the first quarter, the largest category gainers in terms of absolute dollars were healthcare, financial services, computers, electronics, and appliances, and political. And the fourth categories that declined the most in terms of absolute dollars were entertainment, beauty and fitness, government, and telco.

Speaker #4: And in the first quarter, our five largest advertising categories in terms of absolute dollars were healthcare, financial services, auto, and home building and improvement.

Speaker #4: Our consolidated direct operating expenses increased 5.3% for the quarter. This increase was primarily driven by higher variable content costs associated with the revenue growth of our digital business.

Speaker #4: Our consolidated SG&A expenses increased 11.9% for the quarter. This increase was primarily driven by expenses related to our non-cash co-marketing partnerships, partially offset by a decrease in employee compensation costs.

Rich Bressler: This increase was primarily driven by expenses related to our non-cash co-marketing partnerships, partially offset by a decrease in employee compensation costs. We generated Q1 GAAP operating income of $1.5 million, compared to an operating loss of $20 million in the prior year quarter. We generated Adjusted EBITDA of $93 million, slightly below our previously provided guidance of approximately $100 million and compared to $105 million in the prior year. As Bob mentioned, this performance below guidance was driven primarily by the timing of non-cash marketing expenses recognized earlier in the year than expected, and some softness in the advertising marketplace in March as a result of uncertainty correlated with the conflict in the Middle East.

Speaker #4: We generated a first quarter gap operating income of $1.5 million, compared to an operating loss of $25 million in the prior year quarter. We generated adjusted EBITDA of $93 million, slightly below our previously provided guidance of approximately $100 million and compared to $105 million in the prior year.

Speaker #4: As Bob mentioned, this performance below guidance was driven primarily by the timing of non-cash marketing expenses recognized earlier in the year than expected, and some softness in the advertising marketplace in March as a result of uncertainty correlated with the conflict in the Middle East.

Speaker #4: As we've previously discussed, some of the investment in our proprietary audience database which is the foundation of our broadcast programmatic offerings takes the form of co-marketing partnerships to drive engagement with the iHeartRadio digital services.

Rich Bressler: As we previously discussed, some of the investment in our proprietary audience database, which is the foundation of our broadcast programmatic offerings, takes the form of co-marketing partnerships to drive engagement with the iHeartRadio digital services. We continue to view these marketing activities as critical for the success of our broadcast programmatic initiative. As a reminder, this is all in support of our efforts to make our broadcast inventory as easy for our advertising partners to transact as our digital inventory. This is one of the important steps in returning the Multiplatform Group back to EBITDA growth. We'll continue these partnerships in Q2, and they will start tapering off in the H2 of the year. As you know, all the revenue and expense associated with each partnership has net zero impact on Adjusted EBITDA over time.

Speaker #4: We continue to view these marketing activities as critical for the success of our broadcast programmatic initiative. And as a reminder, this is all in support of our efforts to make our broadcast inventory as easy for our advertising partners to transact as our digital inventory.

Speaker #4: This is one of the important steps in returning the Multi-Platform Group back to EBITDA growth. We will continue these partnerships in Q2, and they will start tapering off in the second half of the year.

Speaker #4: As you know, all the revenue and expense associated with each partnership has net zero impact on adjusted EBITDA over time. And as a reminder, the majority of this revenue and expense impacts the multi-platform group segment.

Rich Bressler: As a reminder, the majority of this revenue and expense impacts the Multiplatform Group segment. I think it's important to also tie this non-cash marketing activity to our focus on reducing costs and conserving cash. If you go back 10 years, this company spent approximately $100 million a year on cash marketing in support of driving listeners to our stations. Since then, we have replaced most of this cash marketing expense with these non-cash marketing partnerships and have focused those marketing efforts on driving our broadcast programmatic initiatives in addition to radio listenership. Turning now to the performance of our operating segments. In Q1, the Digital Audio Group's revenue was $327 million, up 18% year-over-year and slightly ahead of our guidance of up mid-teens.

Speaker #4: I think it's important also to tie this non-cash marketing activity to our focus on reducing costs and conserving cash. If you go back 10 years, this company spent approximately $100 million a year on cash marketing in support of driving listeners to our stations.

Speaker #4: And since then, we have replaced most of this cash marketing expense with these non-cash marketing partnerships. And our focus is those marketing efforts on driving our broadcast programmatic initiatives, in addition to radio listenership.

Speaker #4: Turning now to the performance of our operating segments. In the first quarter, the digital audio group's revenue was $327 million, up 18% year over year, and slightly ahead of our guidance of up mid-teens.

Speaker #4: The Digital Audio Group's adjusted EBITDA was $87 million, flat to the prior year, and our Q1 adjusted EBITDA margins were 26.5% compared to 31.4% in the prior year.

Rich Bressler: The Digital Audio Group's Adjusted EBITDA was $87 million, flat to prior year. Our Q1 Adjusted EBITDA margins were 26.5% compared to 31.4% in the prior year. Within the Digital Audio Group, our podcasting revenue was $147 million, which grew 26.9% year over year and above the guidance we provided of up low 20s. Our Q1 digital ex-podcast revenue grew 11.6% year over year to $180 million. Turning now to the Multiplatform Group, revenue was $493 million, up 4.3% compared to prior year, slightly below the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range of up mid-single digits. Adjusted EBITDA was $47 million, down from $70 million in the prior year quarter.

Speaker #4: Within the digital audio group, our podcasting revenue was $147 million, which grew 26.9% year over year, and above the guidance we provided of up low 20s.

Speaker #4: Our first quarter Digital Audio Podcast revenue grew 11.6% year over year, to $180 million. Turning now to the Multi-Platform Group, revenue was $493 million, up 4.3% compared to the prior year, slightly below the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range of up mid-single digits.

Speaker #4: Adjusted EBITDA was $47 million, down from $70 million in the prior year quarter. Turning to the Audio Media Services Group, revenue was $67 million, up 12.2% year over year, driven primarily by the continued growth of its digital revenues.

Rich Bressler: Turning to the Audio and Media Services Group, revenue was $67 million, up 12.2% year over year, driven primarily by the continued growth of its digital revenues. Excluding the impact of political revenue, the Audio and Media Services Group revenues were up 13%. Adjusted EBITDA was $24 million, up 54.7% compared to the prior year. In Q1, our free cash flow was -$114 million, compared to -$81 million in the prior year quarter. This was driven by an increase in our interest expense. As a reminder, in Q1 2025, we recognized low interest expense due to the acceleration of a portion of our interest payments into Q4 2024 related to our refinancing. This drove year over year increase in interest expense of approximately $40 million.

Speaker #4: Excluding the impact of political revenue, the audio media services group revenues were up 13%, adjusted EBITDA was $24 million, up 54.7% compared to the prior year.

Speaker #4: In the first quarter, our free cash flow was negative $114 million, compared to a negative $81 million in the prior year quarter. This was driven by an increase in our interest expense.

Speaker #4: As a reminder, in Q1 2025, we recognized low interest expense due to the acceleration of a portion of our interest payments into Q4 2024 related to our refinancing.

Speaker #4: This drove a year-over-year increase in interest expense of approximately $40 million. Adjusted for that shift, our free cash flow improved slightly compared to the prior year.

Rich Bressler: Adjusted for that shift, our free cash flow improved slightly compared to prior year. At quarter end, our net debt was approximately $4.7 billion. Our total liquidity was $495 million, and our cash balance was $135 million, which included $50 million borrowed under the ABL facility. Our quarter-ending net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio was 6.9x. At the end of April, we drew down $75 million from our ABL, which now has an outstanding balance of $125 million. We fully expect to pay down that balance by the end of 2026 with our free cash flow generation. As a reminder, we typically have negative free cash flow in H1 of the year and then generate meaningful free cash flow in H2 of the year.

Speaker #4: At quarter end, our net debt was approximately $4.7 billion. Our total liquidity was $495 million, and our cash balance was $135 million, which included $50 million borrowed under the ABL facility.

Speaker #4: Our quarter-ending net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio was 6.9 times. At the end of April, we drew down $75 million from our ABL, which now has an outstanding balance of $125 million.

Speaker #4: We fully expect to pay down that balance by the end of 2026 with our free cash flow generation. As a reminder, we typically have negative free cash flow in the first half of the year, and then generate meaningful free cash flow in the second half of the year.

Speaker #4: And remember, 80% of political advertising comes in the back half of the year and helps drive free cash flow. On May 1st, we repaid $51.2 million remaining balances of our 6 and 3/8 notes, as well as the term loan and incremental term loan, fully retiring those sub-facilities.

Rich Bressler: Remember, 80% of political advertising comes in the back half of the year and helps drive free cash flow. On 1 May, we repaid $51.2 million remaining balances of our 6 3/8% Notes, as well as the term loan and incremental term loan, fully retiring those stub facilities. Let me now turn to our guidance for Q2 and the full year within that context that Bob discussed regarding the current economic environment. For Q2, we expect to generate Adjusted EBITDA between $140 million and $160 million. We expect our consolidated revenue to be up low single digits compared to prior year. We're still closing April, but it's pacing up low single digits year over year.

Speaker #4: Let me now turn to our guidance for the second quarter and the full year within that context that Bob discussed regarding the current economic environment.

Speaker #4: For the second quarter, we expect to generate adjusted EBITDA between $140 and $160 million. We expect our consolidated revenue to be up low single digits compared to prior year.

Speaker #4: We're still closing April, but it's pacing up low single digits year over year. Turning to the individual segments, we expect the digital audio group's revenue to be up approximately 10% year over year, with podcasting revenue expected to grow in the low 20s and digital X podcasting to be up low single digits.

Rich Bressler: Turning to the individual segments. We expect the Digital Audio Group's revenue to be up approximately 10% year-over-year, with podcasting revenue expected to grow in the low twenties and digital ex-podcasting to be up low single digits. We expect the Multi-Platform Group's revenues to be approximately flat compared to prior year. We expect the Audio and Media Services Group's revenue to be up low teens year-over-year. Turning to the full year, we are reaffirming our full year Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $800 million and our free cash flow guide of $200 million. Embedded in our Adjusted EBITDA guidance are the following: We expect to generate approximately $200 million of overall programmatic revenue in 2026, up approximately 50% from $135 million in 2025.

Speaker #4: We expect the multi-platform group's revenues to be approximately flat compared to prior year. We expect the audio and media services group's revenue to be up low teens year over year.

Speaker #4: Turning to the full year, we are reaffirming our full year adjusted EBITDA guidance of $800 million, and our free cash flow guide of $200 million.

Speaker #4: Embedded in our adjusted EBITDA guidance are the following: we expect to generate approximately $200 million of overall programmatic revenue in 2026, up approximately 50% from $135 million in 2025.

Speaker #4: And as a reminder, we expect our broadcast programmatic revenue trajectory to be similar to that of the growth we experienced in podcasting revenue. We expect podcasting revenue to continue its strong momentum.

Rich Bressler: As a reminder, we expect our broadcast programmatic revenue trajectory to be similar to that of the growth we experienced in podcasting revenue. We expect podcasting revenue to continue its strong momentum. We expect this to be a robust midterm election year in terms of generating political revenue. As a reminder, the vast majority of our political revenue occurs in Q3 and Q4. Our guidance also includes the benefit of our cost savings programs. Let me provide some of the inputs embedded in our free cash flow guidance. Interest expense will be approximately $440 million. As we discussed earlier, due to tax planning actions taken in response to changes to the tax code, we now expect to have minimal cash taxes this year and for the next few years as long as the current tax laws are in effect.

Speaker #4: We expect this to be a robust midterm election year in terms of generating political revenue, and as a reminder, the vast majority of our political revenue occurs in Q3 and Q4.

Speaker #4: And our guidance also includes the benefit of our cost savings programs. Let me provide some of the inputs embedded in our free cash flow guidance.

Speaker #4: Interest expense will be approximately $440 million. As we discussed earlier, due to tax planning actions taken in response to changes to the tax code, we now expect to have minimal cash taxes this year, and for the next few years, as long as the current tax laws are in effect.

Speaker #4: As I said before, this is a great outcome, and will help us avoid approximately $150 to $200 million of cash taxes over the next three years.

Rich Bressler: As I said before, this is a great outcome and will help us avoid approximately $150 to 200 million of cash taxes over the next three years. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $90 million. Cash restructuring expenses will be approximately $50 million. We expect our net leverage ratio at the end of 2026 to be in the mid-5s, which would be more than a full turn improvement year-over-year. Before we open the line for Q&A, I want to remind you that our company does not comment on rumors or speculation. Now we will turn it over to the operator to take your questions. Thank you.

Speaker #4: Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $90 million. Cash restructuring expenses will be approximately $50 million. We expect our net leverage ratio at the end of 2026 to be in the mid-fives, which would be more than a full turn improvement year over year.

Speaker #4: And before we open the line for Q&A, I want to remind you that our company does not comment on rumors or speculation. And now, we will turn it over to the operator to take your questions.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, please press star, followed by the number 1 on your telephone keypad. To withdraw any questions, press star 1 again.

Operator: Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, please press star followed by 1 on your telephone keypad. To withdraw any questions, press star 1 again. Our first question comes from Aaron Watts from Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Speaker #1: Our first question comes from Aaron Watts from Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Speaker #3: Hi, everyone. Thanks for having me on. A couple of questions, if I may. First, you're affirming your full year guidance. Is the right way to think about that as being a balance between the macro headwinds, that you're that the whole industry is experiencing, balance against kind of the incremental cost savings you've introduced, and on the political side, I know you refocused your efforts there.

Aaron Watts: Hi, everyone. Thanks for having me on. A couple questions, if I may. First, you're affirming your full year guidance. Is the right way to think about that as being a balance between the macro headwinds that the whole industry is experiencing, balanced against kind of the incremental cost savings you've introduced? On the political side, I know you refocused your efforts there. Can you give us your latest thoughts on how this year is shaping up for you relative to the last election and how much political is baked into that full year guide you've given us?

Speaker #3: Can you give us your latest thoughts on how this year is shaping up for you relative to the last election, and how much political is baked into that full year guide you've given us?

Speaker #4: You know, I think that's probably an accurate assessment of where it is. I think we also obviously have the political revenue coming in, and I think, you know, you read the same headlines we do and talk to the same people.

Bob Pittman: You know, I think that's probably an accurate assessment of where it is. I think we also obviously have the political revenue coming in. I think, you know, you read the same headlines we do and talk to the same people. I think everybody thinks it's gonna be a very big political spend year. As a reminder, most of that comes Q3, Q4.

Speaker #4: I think everybody thinks this is going to be a very big political spend year. And as a reminder, most of that comes in Q3 and Q4.

Speaker #5: Yeah. And Aaron, it's rich. I would just add a couple of things, build them up, Bob said, about confirming the full year guidance. I mean, obviously, we're sitting here in May.

Rich Bressler: Yeah, Aaron, it's Rich. I would just add a couple things building on what Bob said about confirming the full year guidance. I mean, obviously we're sitting here in May. Again, not Nostradamus. You all read the same things we do. We have a lot of moving pieces. As a reminder, Q1 is by far the smallest quarter we have of the year. That's nothing new. It always has been. Q2 or Q3 are about the same from a financial standpoint. Q4, just with the rest of the advertising industry, is our biggest quarter out there. We expect this to be a strong, you know, nobody's gonna be able to think it'll be another strong political year.

Speaker #5: Again, not in Ostra Domus—you all read the same things we do. We have a lot of moving pieces. And also, as a reminder, Q1 is by far the smallest quarter we have of the year.

Speaker #5: That's nothing new. Always has been. Q2 and Q3 are about the same from a financial standpoint. Q4, just with the rest of the advertising industry, is our biggest quarter out there.

Speaker #5: And we expect this to be a strong no reason we don't think it'll be another strong political year. And then we announced the last savings program today, which actually is in page 7 of the investor deck.

Rich Bressler: We announced the last savings program today, which actually is in page 7 of the investor deck. We tried because we know there's a lot of moving pieces, to do even a better job of laying it out and how it hits on the individual quarters. You take that all together, and as we sit here today, vested everything we see, that's what comprises reaffirming our $800 million EBITDA guidance.

Speaker #5: We tried because we know there's a lot of moving pieces. Tried to do even a better job of laying it out and how it hits on the individual quarter.

Speaker #5: So, you take that all together, and as we sit here today, based on everything we see, that's what comprises reaffirming our $800 million EBITDA guidance.

Speaker #3: Okay, great. And then secondly, on your non-cash marketing, I believe I heard you say it came in a bit heavier than you anticipated in this quarter, but that it would moderate as the year kind of progressed.

Aaron Watts: Okay, great. Secondly, on your non-cash marketing, I believe I heard you say it came in a bit heavier than you anticipated in this quarter, but that it would moderate as the year kind of progressed. Did I hear that correctly? Are you extracting from these efforts or are you getting from these efforts what you expected? Can you give us an update on how it's translating into kind of your ability to sell programmatically, especially your broadcast inventory?

Speaker #3: Did I hear that correctly? And are you extracting from these efforts or are you getting from these efforts what you expected? And can you give us an update on how it's translating into kind of your ability to sell programmatically?

Speaker #3: Especially your broadcast inventory.

Speaker #4: Well, maybe I'll just start. And Bob, I'll try my—just, you know, a couple of things. Yes, on timing. You heard exactly correctly. With its impact, again, more of small numbers in Q1.

Rich Bressler: Well, maybe I'll just start and Bob will chime in. Just, you know, a couple things. Yes on timing. You heard exactly correctly with its impact. Again, large small numbers in Q1. Nothing changes in terms of the way to think about, you know, the full year. Just doesn't change anything. It's just a slight timing difference as I said earlier. When you think about from building up

Speaker #4: Nothing changes in terms of the way to think about the full year. It doesn't change anything; it's just a slight timing difference, as I said earlier.

Speaker #4: When you think about from building up from a programmatic standpoint, we reiterated that we expect programmatic to be up 50% year over year. We I think Bob noted in his remarks and we've talked about that we are in, if you want, in terms of the measurement of that, in addition to the dollars, we are look at the DSPs that we've talked about in terms of Yahoo, DB360, being in the from a broadcast standpoint, the Amazon DSP, the second half of this year.

Rich Bressler: From a programmatic standpoint, we reiterated that we expect programmatic to be up 50% year-over-year. We, I think Bob noted in his remarks, and we've talked about that we are in, if you want, in terms of measurement of that, in addition to the dollars, we are looking at the DSPs that we've talked about in terms of Yahoo, DV360, being in the from a broadcast standpoint, the Amazon DSP the H2 of this year, we said previously. We continue to be pleased about that, and it continues to be an important part as we noted when we gave guidance of returning the Multiplatform Group back to EBITDA growth.

Speaker #4: We said previously, so we continue to be pleased about that. And it continues to be an important part, as we know, when we gave guidance of returning the Multi-Platform Group back to EBITDA growth.

Speaker #3: And I think as you look at that the whole programmatic, you know, we've said in the past that we expect the trajectory of the growth to be somewhat like podcasting.

Bob Pittman: I think as you look at the whole programmatic, you know, we've said in the past that we expect the trajectory of the growth to be somewhat like podcasting. We, you know, anticipate some healthy growth moving ahead. Again, going to the point on non-cash marketing expense, anytime we can use non-cash instead of cash is a good thing. If you go back 10 years, it this was a substantial cash expenditure for the company when we needed to attract users. Obviously being able to do it this way has a very positive benefit for the company.

Speaker #3: So we, you know, anticipate some healthy growth moving ahead. And again, going to the point on non-cash marketing expense, anytime we can use non-cash instead of cash is a good thing.

Speaker #3: And if you go back 10 years, this was a substantial cash expenditure for the company when we needed to attract users. And obviously, being able to do it this way has a very positive benefit for the company.

Speaker #4: Yeah, and I think, Adam, I would just Aaron, I would just ask this is Mike. In terms of the timing, we did say that, you know, we will continue this into Q2.

Mike Mike McGinnis: Yeah. I think, Aaron, I would just ask, this is Mike, in terms of the timing, we did say that, you know, we will continue this into Q2. We feel we'll have enough of a media bank to drive those efforts, then we'll taper down to the H2. That's all embedded in the guidance, obviously evens out over time.

Mike McGuinness: Yeah. I think, Aaron, I would just ask, this is Mike, in terms of the timing, we did say that, you know, we will continue this into Q2. We feel we'll have enough of a media bank to drive those efforts, then we'll taper down to the H2. That's all embedded in the guidance, obviously evens out over time.

Speaker #4: And we feel we'll have enough of a media bank to drive those efforts. And then we'll taper down through the back half of the year.

Speaker #4: That's all embedded in the guidance, and obviously, it evens out over time.

Speaker #3: Okay, very helpful. If I could sneak one more in—and again, thank you for the time. Rich, it sounds like you attack some of your stub maturities post-quarter.

Aaron Watts: Okay. Very helpful. If I could sneak one more in, and again, thank you for the time.

Rich Bressler: Sure.

Rich Bressler: Rich, it sounds like you attacked some of your stub maturities post-quarter, and you have a series of debt maturities to address beginning in earnest in 2028. Can you remind us how you're thinking about that? Also, if you could just confirm your flexibility to address those maturities within the confines of your various covenant packages.

Aaron Watts: Rich, it sounds like you attacked some of your stub maturities post-quarter, and you have a series of debt maturities to address beginning in earnest in 2028. Can you remind us how you're thinking about that? Also, if you could just confirm your flexibility to address those maturities within the confines of your various covenant packages.

Speaker #3: And you have a series of debt maturities to address beginning in earnest in 2028. Can you remind us how you're thinking about that? And also, if you could just confirm your flexibility to address those maturities within the confines of your various covenant packages.

Rich Bressler: Yeah. Well, first of all, we're gonna continue. You saw we reiterated our guidance for the generation of, $200 million of, free cash flow for this year. We also mentioned, and I wanna reiterate the importance of our tax planning and the tax synergies that we expect to generate, $150 to 200 million over the next, 3 years or so, a period of time in that. I think between, you know, the operations of the business, the generation of that free cash flow, we're very comfortable with our, payable from free cash flow, the upcoming, stub maturities. Yeah. I'm sorry, what was the second question?

Speaker #5: Yeah. Well, first of all, yeah, we're going to continue—you saw—we reiterate our guidance for the generation of $200 million of free cash flow for this year.

Speaker #5: And we also mentioned and I want to reiterate the importance of our tax planning and tax synergies that we expect to generate $150 to $200 million over the next three years or so period of time on that.

Speaker #5: So I think between the operations of the business, the generation of that free cash flow, we're very comfortable with our paying off from free cash flow, the upcoming stub maturities.

Speaker #5: There. I'm sorry, what was the second question?

Mike Mike McGinnis: I think-

Mike McGuinness: I think-

Speaker #4: I didn't.

Aaron Watts: Oh, just with that.

Speaker #3: Just that, you know, within the framework of the debt documents. And yeah, so the answer is within the framework of the debt documents that we believe we will do that with free cash flow generation.

Mike Mike McGinnis: In the frame-

Mike McGuinness: In the frame-

Aaron Watts: Yeah

Mike Mike McGinnis: Within the framework of the debt documents is. The answer is within the framework of the debt documents. We believe we will do that with free cash flow generation. We have the ability to do that within the debt documents.

Mike McGuinness: Within the framework of the debt documents is. The answer is within the framework of the debt documents. We believe we will do that with free cash flow generation. We have the ability to do that within the debt documents.

Speaker #3: And we have the ability to do that within the debt documents. Great. Thank you again, guys.

Aaron Watts: Great. Thank you again, guys.

Rich Bressler: Okay. Thanks.

Speaker #5: Okay, thanks.

Mike Mike McGinnis: Sure. Thank you.

Mike McGuinness: Sure. Thank you.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Steven Laschik from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Operator: Our next question comes from Steven Cahall from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead, your line is open.

Steven Cahall: Hey, great. Thanks for taking the questions. Bob, Rich, maybe just to unpack advertising a bit more, I would just be curious if you could dive into the ad market today, you know, what you're seeing in terms of ad categories. What's been, you know, more resilient, less resilient or more sensitive against this macro backdrop? I guess, as you look into the Q2 and ultimately out to the full year for the guide, what's implied in terms of some of either recovery or still some sensitivity in the macro impacting top line in the guide? Thank you.

Stephen Laszczyk: Hey, great. Thanks for taking the questions. Bob, Rich, maybe just to unpack advertising a bit more, I would just be curious if you could dive into the ad market today, you know, what you're seeing in terms of ad categories. What's been, you know, more resilient, less resilient or more sensitive against this macro backdrop? I guess, as you look into the Q2 and ultimately out to the full year for the guide, what's implied in terms of some of either recovery or still some sensitivity in the macro impacting top line in the guide? Thank you.

Speaker #6: Hey, great. Thanks for taking the questions. Bob Rich, maybe just to unpack advertising a bit more, it would just be curious if you could dive into the ad market today.

Speaker #6: You know, what are you seeing in terms of ad categories—what's been more resilient, less resilient, or more sensitive against this macro backdrop? And then, I guess, as you look into the second quarter and ultimately out to the full year for the guide, what's implied in terms of some sort of either recovery or still some sensitivity in the macro impacting top line in the guide?

Speaker #6: Thank you.

Speaker #3: Yeah, look, I think we've got a reasonably healthy ad market, especially considering all the macro factors at work. But I will say, I think we watch it closely.

Bob Pittman: Hey, look, I think we've got a reasonably healthy ad market, especially considering all the macro factors at work. I will say, I think we watch it closely. I gave you a little bit of our internal numbers, which we use to work with our on-air talent and our programmers so they understand the mood of America. I think when you see high gas prices and you see inflation, you're probably gonna have more of an impact on lower income groups. The bigger spenders, higher income appear to be, you know, not as affected by it. We watch it closely.

Speaker #3: I gave you a little bit of our internal numbers, which we use to work with our on-air talent and our programmers so they understand the mood of America.

Speaker #3: I think when you see high gas prices and you see inflation, you're probably going to have more of an impact on lower-income groups. But the bigger spenders, higher income, appear to be not as affected by it.

Speaker #3: But we watch it closely. And again, I don't think anybody's heading for the hills. But I do think we have to be cognizant of the fact that it has some moderating effect on the ad market.

Bob Pittman: Again, I don't think anybody's heading for the hills, but I do think we have to be cognizant of the fact that it has some moderating effect on the ad market.

Speaker #5: And by the way, and Steve, adjusted terms of categories, I covered a number of areas in my remarks. Also, I'll just point to everybody to slide 12 in the deck that was attached to the presentation, which kind of goes through the top category gains, decliners, and in terms of total revenue.

Rich Bressler: By the way, Steven, just in terms of categories, I covered a number of areas in my remarks. Also, I will just point everybody to slide 12 in the deck that was attached to the presentation, which kind of goes through the top category gains, decliners, and in terms of total revenue. In terms of the rest of the year and the advertising marketplace, you know, Bob Pittman covered that. I would just continue to point out, you know, with that aspect of uncertainty, you know, just the continued resiliency of the medium that we have. We expect that will play well as we go through the rest of this year and into the future.

Speaker #5: And in terms of the rest of the year, and the advertising marketplace, you know, Bob covered, I would just continue to point out with that aspect of uncertainty, you know, just to continue a resiliency of the medium that we have.

Speaker #5: And we expect that will play well as we go through the rest of this year and into the future.

Bob Pittman: Yeah. Also, just to add, you know, remember political does eat up, you know, a meaningful piece of the inventory, which, you know, has a positive effect on the entire marketplace.

Speaker #3: Yeah, also just to add, you know, remember, political does eat up, you know, a meaningful piece of the inventory, which, you know, has a positive effect on the entire marketplace.

Speaker #6: Got it. That's very helpful. And then maybe just one on the programmatic opportunity. You mentioned the $200 million target growth for 50%. Just curious if you could talk more about the drivers of programmatic this year.

Steven Cahall: Got it. That's very helpful. Maybe just one on the programmatic opportunity. You mentioned the $200 million target growth of 50%. Just curious if you could talk more about the drivers of programmatic this year, so far in the first months of the year. What's been executed against that opportunity? If we think about longer term unlocks on programmatic, if there's any pieces that still need to come together over the course of the next couple of quarters or years to unlock, you know, further revenue upside past $200 million. Thank you.

Stephen Laszczyk: Got it. That's very helpful. Maybe just one on the programmatic opportunity. You mentioned the $200 million target growth of 50%. Just curious if you could talk more about the drivers of programmatic this year, so far in the first months of the year. What's been executed against that opportunity? If we think about longer term unlocks on programmatic, if there's any pieces that still need to come together over the course of the next couple of quarters or years to unlock, you know, further revenue upside past $200 million. Thank you.

Speaker #6: So far in the first months of the year, what's been executed against that opportunity? And then, if we think about longer-term unlocks on programmatic, are there any pieces that still need to come together over the course of the next couple of quarters or years to unlock further revenue upside past $200 million?

Speaker #6: Thank you.

Speaker #3: Well, I think you look at in terms of what's driving it has been our digital and podcasting strong with our broadcast radio beginning to come on.

Bob Pittman: Well, I think you look at, in terms of what's driving it, has been our digital and podcasting strong with our broadcast radio beginning to come on. Obviously, we think the big growth driver in the long term will be broadcast radio getting into the digital TAM. Right now, unlike video, if you try and plan a digital audio campaign, you really have a hard time getting reach.

Speaker #3: And obviously, we think the big growth driver in the long term will be broadcast radio getting into the digital TAM. Right now, unlike video, if you try and plan a digital audio campaign, you really have a hard time getting reach.

Rich Bressler: Of what broadcast?

Bob Pittman: I'm sorry. Broadcast. You have a hard time getting reach without broadcast radio. We are, you know, very cognizant of that. I think that's the reason the DSPs are anxious to get us into their buying platform so that these campaigns can deliver the reach that they're accustomed to getting when they do a video campaign.

Speaker #3: I'm sorry. Broadcast, you have a hard time getting reach without broadcast radio. So we are very cognizant of that. I think that's the reason the DSPs are anxious to get us into their buying platforms so that these campaigns can deliver the reach that they're accustomed to getting when they do a video campaign.

Speaker #5: You know, and just by the way, just to come back, and Bob pointed this out because you talked about the future, you know, again, just Bob mentioned it, but I think it's worth repeating.

Rich Bressler: You know, just by the way, just to come back, Bob pointed this out because you talked about the future. You know, again, just Bob mentioned it, but I think it's worth repeating. When we look at broadcast, you know, thinking about that, think about that similar to the podcasting revenue trajectory. We did about $550 million in podcasting revenue 2025. If you go back about 5 years before that, we did about $50 million overall. We're just trying to, you know, in terms of context, how to think about that.

Speaker #5: When we look at broadcast, you know, and thinking about that, think about that similar to the podcasting revenue trajectory we did about $550 million in podcasting revenue in 2025.

Speaker #5: If you go back about five years before that, we did about $50 million overall. So we're just trying to, you know, in terms of context, how to think about that.

Speaker #5: And then I would say also in addition to all the DSPs out there or as part of it, you know, everything we're all reading about what's happening with agenda AI and the relationships we'll have not just with the DSPs, what but direct with the advertising holding companies is also going to be a continued driver there.

Rich Bressler: I would say also in addition to all the DSPs out there or as part of it, you know, everything we're all reading about what's happening with agentic AI and the relationships we'll have, not just with the DSPs, but direct with the advertising holding companies, is also going to be a continued driver there. Again, all to the optimistic in terms of our thinking about our future there.

Speaker #5: So again, all to the optimistic in terms of our thinking about our future there.

Speaker #6: Great. Thank you both.

Steven Cahall: Great. Thank you both.

Stephen Laszczyk: Great. Thank you both.

Operator: Our next question comes from Sebastiano Petti from JP Morgan. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Sebastiano Petty from JPMorgan. Please go ahead, your line is open.

Sebastiano Petti: Hi. Thank you for taking the question. I guess, just thinking about the business portfolio over time and I guess how you're evaluating it. I mean, Bob, you talked about the importance of, you know, one of the major success, or one of the major drivers of the success in podcasting has been your broadcast radio assets. We're increasingly getting the question on whether or not do those two assets need to stick together long term, or is there an opportunity for perhaps there is, you know, value unlocked by some sort of separation? Is that something you guys have contemplated in the past or looking at going forward? Thank you.

Speaker #7: Hi. Thank you for taking the question. I guess just thinking about the business portfolio over time and I guess how you're evaluating it. I mean, Bob, you talked about the importance of one of the major success or one of the major drivers of the success in podcasting has been your broadcast radio assets.

Speaker #7: But we're increasingly getting the question on whether or not do those two assets need to stick together long term, or is there an opportunity for perhaps a value unlocked by some sort of separation?

Speaker #7: Is that something you guys have contemplated in the past or looking at going forward? Thank you.

Speaker #3: Yeah, we haven't looked at it because we do think they go together well. Having said that, we're always open to maximizing the value of the company.

Bob Pittman: Yeah, we haven't looked at it because we do think they go together well. Having said that, we're always open to maximizing the value of the company. For us, we have been, I think, pretty smart in how we've used broadcast radio, not only to build podcasting, but to build the iHeartRadio app, to build the iHeart brand name, to build the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the award show, et cetera, et cetera. That is at the base. Why? We have this extraordinary reach, and we have very high engagement. I mean, I go back to look at what happened with Netflix. They put all these video podcasts on the air, and one of them got 40% of all the views. Which one? The Big Morning Radio Show, Charlamagne & The Breakfast Club, because they were talking about it on the radio.

Speaker #3: And for us, we have been I think pretty smart in how we've used broadcast radio, not only to build podcasting, but to build the iHeartRadio app, to build the iHeart brand name, to build the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the award show, etc., etc.

Speaker #3: That it's at the base. Why? Because we have this extraordinary reach and we have very high engagement. I mean, I go back to look at what happened with Netflix.

Speaker #3: They put all these video podcasts on the air and one of them got 40% of all the views, which one? The big morning radio show, Charlemagne and the Breakfast Club, because they were talking about it on the radio.

Speaker #3: That kind of power allows us to propel and build a lot of the future of the company.

Bob Pittman: That kind of power allows us to propel and build a lot of the future of the company.

Speaker #5: You know, and Sebastian, the other thing I might just point out because you talked about the assets and all the assets we have, just, you know, and Bob mentioned this, I think, in his remarks, is that remember, you know, broadcast radio listening has had a high it's been in 10 years.

Rich Bressler: Sebastian, the other thing I might just point out, because you talked about the assets and all the assets we have, Bob mentioned this, I think, in his remarks, is that broadcast radio listening is at a high it's been in 10 years. It's in 20 years, it's high it's been in 10 years out there. If you think about the platform that Bob talked about with broadcast, in addition to the absolute performance of our Multiplatform Group. By the way, just as a reminder, financially, 75%, 80% of the incremental dollars of broadcast revenue dollars drop to the bottom line. It's an incredible financial performing asset, great free cash flow generator.

Speaker #5: It's been 20 years since high, it's been 10 years out there. And if you think about the platform that Bob talked about with broadcast, in addition to the absolute performance of our multi-platform group—and by the way, just financially, 75 to 80% of the incremental dollars of broadcast revenue dollars drops to the bottom line.

Speaker #5: So it's an incredible financial performing asset great free cash flow generator. Bob touched upon Netflix and everything we're seeing out there with the Netflix deal.

Rich Bressler: Bob touched upon Netflix and everything we're seeing out there with the Netflix deal. Remember, that was born off of looking at the impact we have and the reach we have, the attraction, whether it's Netflix, I don't think we've mentioned on this call, but you're well aware the deal we did with TikTok, which affects not just influencers and podcasting, but also our broadcast radio assets. We've said one or two times in this call about the importance of all the DSPs and being in the Amazon DSP for broadcast the H2 of the year. I think you've got to think about all these assets working together. Finally, as you think about the revenue side, as a reminder, we have a 1,000 plus ad salespeople that can sell anything, anywhere, anytime.

Speaker #5: Remember, that was born off of look at the impact we have and the reach we have and so the attraction whether it's Netflix I don't think we've mentioned on this call, but you were aware of the deal we did with TikTok which affects not just influencers and podcasting, but also our broadcast radio assets.

Speaker #5: And we've said one or two times in this call about the importance of all the DSPs and being in the Amazon DSP for broadcast to second half of the year.

Speaker #5: So I think you've got to think about all these assets working together and then finally, as you think about the revenue side, as a reminder, we have 1,000 plus ad salespeople that can sell anything anywhere anytime.

Rich Bressler: That's a delivery strategy across the company. They're selling all of our assets. Think about it, we have 1,000 plus people also selling podcasts, both nationally and locally on a daily basis. I think we touched upon, you know, it's great that almost half of our podcasting revenue now is originated locally. I think you got to think about it as all the assets working together. It's hard to pick out any one piece.

Speaker #5: That's a deliberate strategy across the company. So they're selling all of our assets. So think about it. We have 1,000 plus people also selling podcasts, both nationally and locally, on a daily basis.

Speaker #5: And I think we touched upon it's great that almost half of our podcasting revenue now is originated locally. So I think you got to think about it as all the assets working together.

Speaker #5: It's hard to pick out any one piece. If I could quickly follow up there, you talked about the Netflix deal. So just a reminder, is that now at full run rate as we think about the revenue contribution to the digital business, or is there some stub or partial quarter?

Sebastiano Petti: If I could quickly follow up there, you talked about the Netflix deal. Just a reminder, is that now at full run rate as we think about the revenue contribution to digital business? Is there some, like, stub or, you know, partial quarter? As we think about incremental opportunity from Netflix. Yeah. Is that, you know, any contextualizing? You don't need to get into the fixed versus variable, is it, you know, at scale and as we kind of think about going forward?

Speaker #5: But as we think about incremental opportunity from Netflix, yeah, is that a any contextualizing you don't need to get into the fixed versus variable, but is it at scale and as we kind of think about going forward?

Sebastiano Petti: Yeah. Is that, you know, any contextualizing? You don't need to get into the fixed versus variable, is it, you know, at scale and as we kind of think about going forward?

Speaker #3: Well, I think the way to think about it, let's take it up a level. There's a new thing called video podcast, which appear to be incremental to audio podcasts.

Bob Pittman: Well, I think the way to think about it, let's take it up a level. There's a new thing called video podcast, which appear to be incremental to audio podcast. It's not the same usage case. It's another time in which people are doing it, and now we're able to get the video podcast in there. It opens up a new revenue stream for this business called podcasting. Netflix, I think, is the first example of that. Are there others that would like to carry our video podcasting? By the way, the iHeartRadio app, we are now carrying, just beginning to roll it out this month, beginning to carry video versions of audio podcasts, too. You're seeing the same with Spotify and Apple. Certainly YouTube, you know, has been doing it.

Speaker #3: It's not the same usage case. It's another time at which people are doing it. And now we're able to get the video podcast in there.

Speaker #3: So it opens up a new revenue stream for this business called podcasting. And Netflix, I think, is the first example of that. But are there others that would like to carry our video podcasting?

Speaker #3: And by the way, the iHeartRadio app, we are now carrying just beginning to roll it out this month, beginning to carry video versions of audio podcasts too.

Speaker #3: And you're seeing the same with Spotify and Apple. And certainly YouTube, has been doing it. So I think that's the big concept here, is that you found yet another market that we can play in.

Bob Pittman: I think that's the big concept here, is that you found yet another market that we can play in.

Speaker #5: Thank

Sebastiano Petti: Thank you.

Operator: Our last question comes from Patrick Sholl from Barrington Research. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Speaker #1: Our last question comes from Patrick Scholl from Barrington Research. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Speaker #8: Hi. Thanks for taking the question. Just following up on a programmatic and the flow-through of incremental revenue to the MPG group. I was just wondering if there was any sort of difference between the programmatic sales efforts and your traditional ad sales efforts on that flow-through to EBITDA.

Patrick Sholl: Hi, thanks for taking the question. Just following up on programmatic and the flow-through of incremental revenue to for the MPG group. I was just wondering if there was, like, any sort of difference between the programmatic sales efforts and your traditional ad sales efforts on that flow through to EBITDA.

Speaker #3: You know what you mean in terms of the margin on the business? Is that the question?

Bob Pittman: You know what I mean in terms of the margin on the business? Is that the question?

Speaker #8: Yeah. Yeah.

Patrick Sholl: Yeah. Yeah.

Bob Pittman: You know, I think it's relatively the same.

Speaker #3: I think it's relatively the same.

Patrick Sholl: Yeah. Okay. Just on, like, just the macro uncertainty, any extent to which, you know, that's helping, you know, contribute to, you know, people buying advertising later and maybe, you know, switching their buys from, you know, direct to programmatic.

Speaker #5: Yeah. Okay. And then just on just the macro uncertainty, any extent to which that's helping contribute to people buying advertising later and maybe switching their buys from direct to programmatic?

Speaker #3: I don't think it will do I don't think it's that. I think you're finding some players are saying, "Look, we're sort of automating our process." Some advertisers are buying directly using programmatic.

Bob Pittman: I don't think it's that. I think you're finding some players are saying, Look, we're sort of automating our process. Some advertisers are buying directly using programmatic. You know, agencies are using it a lot. I think, you know, they've got one platform there. They're able to put almost all the players on one platform, make it easy to buy, easy to coordinate, and I think that's the basic appeal of it. And by the way, they need a whole lot fewer people to do it, and it happens faster. I think it's more of that trend than anything that has to do with the macroeconomics in the world.

Speaker #3: Agencies are using it a lot. I think they've got one platform there. They're able to put almost all the players on one platform, make it easy to buy easy to coordinate.

Speaker #3: And I think that's the basic appeal of it. And by the way, they need a whole lot fewer people to do it. And it happens faster.

Speaker #3: So I think it's more of that trend than anything that has to do with the macroeconomics in the world.

Speaker #5: And remember, I might just add one last piece. Agente programmatic and putting our broadcast inventory to be bought and sold as easy as digital, this is the way the advertising industry is transacting.

Rich Bressler: Remember, I might just add one last piece. You know, agentic, programmatic, you know, and putting our broadcast inventory to be bought and sold as easy as digital. You know, you know, this is the way the advertising industry is transacting. Just to be clear, you know, we're talking about, you know, ourselves and again, as a reminder on digital, we're already in all the programmatic buying systems. You know, and programmatic and agentic, it's a little bit different but along the same lines. This has been going on for some period of time, not in broadcast, but in the video world. This is not a new way to transact.

Speaker #5: And just to be clear, we're talking about ourselves and again, as a reminder, on digital, we're already in all the programmatic buying systems. And programmatic and agentics, a little bit different, but along the same lines.

Speaker #5: But this has been going on for some period of time—not in broadcast, but in the video world. So this is not a new way to transact.

Speaker #5: It's the way the advertising industry has been transacting and we're just making sure with all of our assets starting the uniqueness of broadcast and digital is already there, that we meet the industry, the agencies, our advertisers, the way they wanted their business.

Rich Bressler: It's the way the advertising industry has been transacting. We're just making sure with all of our assets, starting with uniqueness of broadcast and digital's already there, that we meet the industry, the agencies, our advertisers, the way they want to do business.

Speaker #8: Okay. Thank you.

Patrick Sholl: Okay. Thank you.

Speaker #3: Great.

Bob Pittman: Great.

Speaker #5: Great. Well, if there are no other questions, we really all appreciate everybody taking the time. Thank you for the interest in the iHeart story.

Rich Bressler: Great. Well, if there are no other questions, we really all appreciate everybody taking the time. Thank you for the interest in the iHeart story. Bob, myself, Mike, and Andre are always available for follow-ups and to answer any questions.

Speaker #5: Bob, myself, Mike, Andre are always available for follow-ups and to answer any questions.

Operator: This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.