Q4 2026 Stingray Group Inc Earnings Call

June 10, 2026

Operator: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Stingray Group's Q4 2026 conference call. At this time, all lines are in listen only mode. Following the presentation, we will conduct a question and answer session. At any time during this call, if you require immediate assistance, please press star zero for the operator. Also note that this call is being recorded on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I would like to turn the conference over to Mathieu Péloquin. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Following the presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. And at any time during this call, if you require me to assistance, please press star zero for the operator.

Speaker #2: Also note that this call is being recorded on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I would now like to turn the conference over to Mathieu Péloquin.

Speaker #2: Please go ahead. Thank you. Bon matin. Bonjour tout le monde. Good morning, and thank you for joining us for Stingray's conference call for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2026.

Mathieu Péloquin: Thank you. Bon matin. Bonjour tout le monde. Good morning, and thank you for joining us for Stingray's conference call for the Q4 and fiscal year ended March 31, 2026. Today, Eric Boyko, President, CEO, and Co-founder, as well as Marie-Hélène Fournier, Interim Chief Financial Officer, will be presenting Stingray's operational and financial highlights. Our press release reporting Stingray's unaudited Q4 and full year results for fiscal 2026 was issued yesterday after the market close. Please note that the financial information discussed on today's call is currently unaudited. Our final audited financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year will be finalized, posted on our investor website at stingray.com, and filed on SEDAR+ by June 30, 2026. The additional time to close our audit this year reflects the scope of work involved in bringing TuneIn into our consolidated financial statements.

Speaker #2: Today, Eric Boiko, president, CEO, and co-founder, as well as Marie-Hélène Fournier, interim chief financial officer, will be presenting Stingray's operational and financial highlights. Our press release reporting Stingray's audited fourth quarter and full year results for fiscal 2026 was issued yesterday after the market close.

Speaker #2: Please note that the financial information discussed on today's call is currently on audited. Our final audited financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the fiscal year will be fine lines posted on our investor website at stingray.com and filed on setter plus by June 30, 2026.

Speaker #2: The additional time to close our audit this year reflects the scope of work involved in bringing tune in into our consolidated financial statements. I will now provide you with the customary caution that today's discussion of the corporation's performance and its future prospect may include forward-looking statements.

Mathieu Péloquin: I will now provide you with the customary caution that today's discussion of the Corporation's performance and its future prospects may include forward-looking statements. The Corporation's future operation and performance are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors identified in Stingray's annual information form, dated June 10, 2025, which is available on SEDAR+. The Corporation specifically disclaim any intention or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Accordingly, you are advised not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Also, please be advised that some of the financial measures discussed over the course of this conference call are non-IFRS.

Speaker #2: The corporation's future operation and performance are subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results may differ materially. These risk and uncertainties include but are not limited to the risk factors identified in Stingray's annual information form dated June 10, 2025, which is available on setter plus.

Speaker #2: The corporation specifically disclaim any intention or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Speaker #2: Accordingly, you are advised not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Also, please be advised that some of the financial measures discussed over the course of this conference call are non-IFRS.

Mathieu Péloquin: A complete definition and reconciliation of such measures to IFRS financial measures is included in yesterday's press release and will also be detailed in our upcoming MD&A. Finally, let me remind you that all amounts on this call are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. With that, let me turn the call over to Eric.

Speaker #2: A complete definition and reconciliation of such measures to IFRS financial measures is included in yesterday's press release and will also be detailed in our upcoming MDNA.

Speaker #2: Finally, let me remind you that all amounts on this call are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. With that, let me turn the call over to Eric.

Eric Boyko: Hey, merci Mathieu. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our Q4 and full year results conference call for fiscal 2026. Stingray delivered a strong financial performance in fiscal 2026, reflecting strong execution in our key growth initiatives. Thanks to the game-changing TuneIn acquisition and a rapidly growing FAST channel segment, revenues increased by 21.9% and adjusted EBITDA by 12.6%. That momentum carried right through in the Q4, where revenues surged by 43% and EBITDA grew by 21.3%. TuneIn has truly transformative and synergistic impact on our business. Its programmatic advertising capabilities and extensive partner network of over 5,000 agencies will support the growth across all of our business units in the coming years. The success is driven by a number of factors. First, TuneIn is delivering strong organic growth both on and off platform.

Speaker #3: Hey, merci Mathieu. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our fourth quarter and full year results conference call for fiscal 2026. Stingray delivered a strong financial performance in fiscal 2026, reflecting strong execution in our key growth initiative.

Speaker #3: Thanks to the game-changing tune-in acquisition and a rapidly growing fast-channel segment, revenues increased by 21.9% and adjusted EBITDA by 12.6. That momentum carried right to in the fourth quarter, where revenues surged by 43% and EBITDA grew by 21.3.

Speaker #3: Tune-in has truly transformative and synergistic impact on our business. Its programmatic advertising capabilities and extensive partner network of over 5,000 agencies will support the growth across all of our business units in the coming years.

Speaker #3: The success is driven by a number of factors. First, tune-in is delivering strong organic growth both and on and off-platform. Second, Stingray's premium ad network launch, what we call backfill, just over a year ago, is expanding rapidly.

Eric Boyko: Second, Stingray's Premium Ad Network launch, what we call backfill, just over a year ago, is expanding rapidly. We've achieved 175,000 US sales a day, which is a $90 million run rate over the last three months, directly benefiting from its demand partners in TuneIn's advertising demand. This is creating a powerful flywheel effect across our advertising business. As a result from our FAST channel surge over 60% year over year, a major highlight is our recent selection of a few CTV partners of choice to resell excess inventory. Additionally, several platform partners have chosen us to introduce and resell audio ads inventory alongside their video offering. This proves the power of combining TuneIn's expertise with Stingray's reach. Today, we stand as one of the few players, and I would say the only one, able to sell audio ads on connected TVs.

Speaker #3: We've achieved 175,000 US sales a day which is a $90 million run rate. Over the last three months, directly benefiting from its demand partners in tune-ins, advertising demand.

Speaker #3: This is creating a powerful flywheel effect across our advertising business. As a result, from our fast-channel surge over 60% year over year, a major highlight is our region selection of a few CTV partners of choice to resell excess inventory.

Speaker #3: Additional, several platform partners have chosen us to introduce and resell audio ads inventory alongside the video offering. This proves the power of combining tune-ins, expertise with Stingray's reach.

Speaker #3: Today, we stand as one of the few players—and I would say the only one—able to sell audio ads on connected TVs.

Eric Boyko: The most noticeable impact is that we are well ahead of schedule on our planned acquisition synergies. In less than six months since the TuneIn integration, revenue synergies have topped CAD 42 million, and cost optimization has reached CAD 12 million. Now, looking at other growth vectors. We continue to make progress on the retail media front with the integration of DMI, Walgreens, and the strengthening of our revenue streams through more profitable managed services accounts where retailers are integrating our offering into their sales effort. We continue to work on enabling the introduction of programmatic advertising with retail media, which for us will be a game changer, where we should see some activity over the next two quarters. On retail media, we still have CAD 400 million of unsold inventory. We have a lot of inventory to sell.

Speaker #3: The most of schedule on our planned acquisition synergies. In less than six months since the tune-in integration, revenue synergies have topped $42 million Canadian and cost optimization has reached $12 million.

Speaker #3: Now looking at other growth vectors, we continue to make progress on the retail media front. We need the creation of DMI, Walgreens, and the strengthening of our revenue streams through more profitable managed services accounts where retailers are integrating our offering into their sales effort.

Speaker #3: We continue to work on enabling the introduction of programmatic advertising retail with retail media, which for us will be a game changer where we should see some activity over the next two quarters.

Speaker #3: On retail media, we still have 400 million of unsold inventory, so we have a lot of inventory to sell. In the connected space, we are excited to see the user engagement where our new European rollout of BYD Audio the availability of Stingray in music in Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the US rollout of tune-in in Nissan and Infiniti vehicles.

Eric Boyko: In the connected car space, we are excited to see the user engagement with our new European rollout of BYD Audio, the availability of Stingray Music in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and the US rollout of TuneIn in Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. Driven by this momentum, broadcasting commercial music revenues surged 33% to reach CAD 339 million in 2026. As mentioned, this growth was fueled by TuneIn deal, our expanded FAST channels, but also strong hardware sales from The Singing Machine. In parallel, our radio revenues held steady at CAD 132 million, with higher digital ad revenues successfully offsetting lower airtime sales. Well, now talking for 2027. We are very excited to say that we have an exceptional start of the year, probably the best start of the year since I've been CEO of this company, so for 20 years. Early signs of Q1 are very encouraging.

Speaker #3: Driven by this momentum, broadcasting commercial music revenue surge 33% to reach $339 million in 2026. As mentioned, this growth was fueled by tune-in deal or expanded fast channels but also strong hardware sales from the singing machine.

Speaker #3: In parallel, our radio revenues held steady at $332 million with higher digital ad revenues successfully offsetting lower airtime sales. Well, now talking for 2027, we are very excited to say that we have an exceptional start of the year, probably the best start of the year since I've been CEO of this company.

Speaker #3: So for 20 years, early signs of Q1 are very encouraging. Both April and May are showing organic sales well above 20%. This is a direct impact of the synergies we talked about.

Eric Boyko: Both April and May are showing organic sales well above 20%. This is a direct impact of the synergies we talked about. Going from 11.7% in Q4 to over 20% in Q1 is very exciting for the management team. Combined programmatic ad sales across Stingray and TuneIn are now approaching the run rate of CAD 275 million. We had told the market that one of our goals is to beat the $500,000 US a day, so we're achieving $520,000 USD sales per day. This proves our scalable growth model based on unparalleled reach and distribution, best-in-class monetization capabilities, and the right content truly engaging audience worldwide across major platform. An important note, while we are maintaining our adjusted EBITDA margin target of 35%, we know Q4 was lower for many reasons, that we maintain that position.

Speaker #3: So, going from 11.7% in Q4 to over 20% in Q1 is very exciting for the management team. Combined programmatic ad sales across Stingray and TuneIn are now approaching a run rate of $275 million.

Speaker #3: We had told the market that one of our goals is to beat the 500,000 US a day. So we've achieved 520. We're achieving 520,000 USD sales per day.

Speaker #3: This proves our scalable growth model based on unparalleled reach and distribution best in class monetization capabilities and the right content truly engaging audience worldwide across major platforms.

Speaker #3: An important note, while we are maintaining our adjusted EBITDA margin target of 35%, we know Q4 was lower for many reasons, but that we maintain that position.

Eric Boyko: We see clear potential for long-term margin expansion as TuneIn synergies continue to scale. I will now turn over the call to Marie-Hélène for our financial review of Q4. Marie.

Speaker #3: We see clear potential for long-term margin expansion as tune-in synergies continue to scale. I will now turn over the call to Marie-Hélène. ne. For our financial review of the fourth quarter.

Speaker #3: Bonne chance, Marie.

Marie-Hélène Fournier: Merci, Louis. Good morning, everyone. Revenues reached CAD 137.8 million in Q4 of fiscal 2026, up 43.6% from CAD 96 million in Q4 2025. The year-over-year growth was mainly driven by higher advertising and subscription revenues from the recent TuneIn acquisition, along with greater equipment sales related to The Singing Machine acquisition. These factors were partially offset by a -foreign exchange impact. Revenues in Canada decreased 5.5% to CAD 44.2 million in Q4 2026. The year-over-year decline can be attributed to lower radio revenues stemming from softer airtime sales. Revenues in the US grew 117% to CAD 82.5 million in Q4 2026 for the same reasons previously outlined for the consolidated revenues. Revenues in other countries decreased 0.6% to CAD 11.1 million in the most recent quarter. The year-over-year decline was mainly due to lower subscription revenues, partially offset by greater FAST channel sales.

Speaker #4: Merci beaucoup. Good morning, everyone. Revenues reach 137.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, up 43.6% from 96 million in Q4 2025. The year-over-year growth was mainly driven by higher advertising and subscription revenues from the recent tune-in acquisition, along with greater equipment sales related to the singing machine acquisition.

Speaker #4: These factors were partially offset by a negative foreign exchange impact. Revenues in Canada decreased 5.5% to 44.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Speaker #4: The year-over-year decline can be attributed to lower radio revenues stemming from softer airtime sales. Revenues in the US grew 117% to 82.5 million in Q4 2026 for the same reasons previously outlined for the consolidated revenues.

Speaker #4: Revenues in other countries decreased 0.6% to 11.1 million in the most recent quarter. The year-over-year decline was mainly due to lower subscription revenues, partially offset by greater fast channel sales.

Marie-Hélène Fournier: Looking at our performance by business segment, Broadcasting and Commercial Music revenues increased 68.4% to CAD 108.8 million in Q4 2026. The growth was driven by higher advertising and subscription revenues from the TuneIn acquisition, greater equipment sales from The Singing Machine transaction, and higher FAST channel revenues. These factors were partially offset by a negative foreign exchange impact. Looking at the breakdown by products for the full year. The Broadcasting and Commercial division's performance was highlighted by exceptional growth in advertising, which surged 74% to CAD 150.7 million. This was further supported by a 63% increase in equipment and labor to CAD 46.1 million, while our core subscription revenues remained stable, growing 2% to CAD 142.3 million. For their part, Radio revenues decreased 7.5% to CAD 21.1 million in Q4 2026, largely due to lower airtime sales.

Speaker #4: Looking at our performance by business segment, broadcasting and commercial music revenues increased 68.4% to 108.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2026. The growth was driven by higher advertising and subscription revenues from the tune-in acquisition, greater equipment sales from the singing machine transaction, and higher fast channel revenues.

Speaker #4: These factors were partially offset by a negative foreign exchange impact. Now looking at the breakdown by products for the full year, the broadcast and commercial division performance was highlighted by exceptional growth in advertising, which surged 74% to 150.7 million.

Speaker #4: This was further supported by a 63% increase in equipment and labor to 46.1 million, while our core subscription revenues remained stable growing 2% to 142.3 million.

Speaker #4: For their part, radio revenues decreased 7.5% to 21.1 million. In Q4 2026, largely due to lower airtime sales. In terms of profitability, consolidated adjusted EBITDA improved 21.3% to 42.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Marie-Hélène Fournier: In terms of profitability, consolidated adjusted EBITDA improved 21.3% to CAD 42.5 million in Q4 2026. Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 30.8% in Q4 2026 compared to 36.5% for the same period in 2025. The increase in adjusted EBITDA was mainly driven by increased revenues from the TuneIn acquisition. The decline in EBITDA margin, meanwhile, can be attributed to lower gross margins on higher sales related to the TuneIn and The Singing Machine acquisition. By business segment, Broadcasting and Commercial Music adjusted EBITDA grew 32.4% to CAD 37.3 million in Q4 2026, primarily driven by the TuneIn acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA for our Radio business dropped by 18.6% year-over-year to CAD 7 million in Q4 2026. The decrease is primarily due to a higher cost of sales reflecting a change in sales mix, coupled with lower airtime revenues, partially offset by increased digital advertising sales.

Speaker #4: Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 30.8% in Q4 2026 compared to 36.5% for the same period in 2025. The increase in adjusted EBITDA was mainly driven by increased revenues from the tune-in acquisition.

Speaker #4: The decline in EBITDA margin meanwhile can be attributed to lower gross margins on higher sales related to the tune-in and the singing machines acquisition.

Speaker #4: By business segment, broadcasting and commercial music adjusted EBITDA grew 32.4% to 37.3 million in Q4 2026. Primarily driven by the tune-in acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA for our radio business dropped by 18.6% year-over-year to 7 million in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Speaker #4: The decrease is primarily due to a higher cost of sales reflecting a change in sales mix, coupled with lower airtime revenues, partially offset by increased digital advertising sales.

Marie-Hélène Fournier: In terms of corporate adjusted EBITDA, it amounted to CAD -1.8 million in Q4 2026 compared to CAD -1.7 million in the same period of 2025. Stingray reported a net loss of CAD 64.6 million or CAD 0.95 per diluted share in Q4 2026, compared to net income of CAD 7.7 million or CAD 0.11 per diluted share in Q4 2025. The year-over-year decline is primarily due to a goodwill and license impairment charge for the Radio division of CAD 64.7 million, along with higher acquisition costs, amortization expenses, and restructuring costs. These factors were partially offset by an income tax recovery in the most recent quarter versus an income tax expense in the same period last year, as well as improved operating results.

Speaker #4: In terms of corporate adjusted EBITDA, it amounted to negative 1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2026 compared to negative 1.7 million in the same period of 2025.

Speaker #4: Stingray reported an net loss of 60.6 million or 95 cents per diluted shares in the fourth quarter of 2026 compared to net income of 7.7 million or 11 cents per diluted share in Q4 2025.

Speaker #4: The year-over-year decline is primarily due to a goodwill and license and permanent charge for the radio division of 64.7 million along with higher acquisition costs, amortization expenses, and restructuring costs.

Speaker #4: These factors were partially offset by an income tax recovery in the most recent quarter versus an income tax expense in the same period last year, as well as improved operating results.

Marie-Hélène Fournier: Adjusted net income totaled CAD 20.8 million or CAD 0.31 per diluted share in Q4 2026, compared to CAD 18.6 million or CAD 0.20 per diluted share in the same period in 2025. The increase is largely due to higher operating results and an income tax recovery in Q4 2026 compared to an income tax expense for the same period last year, partially offset by a greater interest expense. Turning to liquidity and capital resources. Cash flow from operating activities amounted to CAD 35.2 million in Q4 2026, compared to CAD 39.7 million in Q4 2025. The decline was mainly due to increased legal fees and settlements and higher restructuring and other expenses. Adjusted free cash flow totaled CAD 20.1 million in Q4 2026 compared to CAD 18.4 million in the same period of 2025. The improvement can be attributed to enhanced operating results, partially offset by higher interest expense and greater realized foreign exchange loss.

Speaker #4: Adjusted net income totaled 20.8 million or 31 cents per diluted share in Q4 2026 compared to 18.6 million or 20 cents per diluted share in the same period in 2025.

Speaker #4: The increase is largely due to higher operating results and an income tax recovery in Q4 2026 compared to an income tax expense for the same period last year partially offset by a greater interest expense.

Speaker #4: Turning to liquidity and capital resources, cash flow from operating activities amounted to 35.2 million in Q4 2026 compared to 39.7 million in Q4 2025.

Speaker #4: The decline was mainly due to increased legal fees and settlements and higher restructuring and other expenses. Adjusted free cash flow totaled 20.1 million in Q4 2026 compared to 18.4 million in the same period of 2025.

Speaker #4: The improvement can be attributed to enhanced operating results partially offset by higher interest expense and greater realized foreign exchange loss. For balance sheet standpoint, Stingray had cash-on-cash equivalents of 20.7 million at the end of the fourth quarter and accredited facilities of 524.1 million.

Marie-Hélène Fournier: For a balance sheet standpoint, Stingray had cash and cash equivalents of CAD 20.7 million at the end of Q4 and accredited facilities of CAD 524.1 million. Net debt at the end of Q4 2026 totaled CAD 503.4 million, up CAD 1 million sequentially, while our leverage ratio improved to 2.38 times at the end of Q4. Finally, we repurchased 185,772 shares for a total of CAD 2.8 million during Q4 under our NCIB program. Overall, this year, we repurchased 1.1 million shares for CAD 12.9 million. This ends my presentation. I will now turn the call back to Eric.

Speaker #4: Net debt at the end of the fourth quarter of 2026 totaled $503.4 million, up $1.0 million sequentially, while our leverage ratio improved to 2.38 times at the end of the fourth quarter.

Speaker #4: Finally, we repurchased 185,772 shares for a total of $2.8 million during the fourth quarter under our NCIB program. Overall, this year we repurchased 1.1 million shares for $12.9 million.

Speaker #4: This ends my presentation. I will now turn the call back to Eric.

Eric Boyko: Okay. Merci, Marie. Again, this concludes our prepared remarks. At this point, Marie and I are pleased to answer your questions from our fantastic analysts. Very proud of the analysts that we have.

Speaker #5: Okay. Merci, Marie. Again, this concludes our prepared remarks. At this point, Marie and I are pleased to answer your questions from our fantastic analysts.

Speaker #5: So I'm very proud of the analysts that we have. And Aussie.

Operator: Thank you, sir.

Eric Boyko: Allons-y.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, if you do have any questions, please press star followed by one on your touch-tone phone. You will then hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. Should you wish to withdraw from the polling process, please press star followed by two. If you're using a speakerphone, you will need to lift the handset first before pressing any keys. Thank you. Please go ahead and press star one now if you have any questions. First, we will hear from Adam Shine at National Bank Financial. Please go ahead, Adam.

Speaker #6: Ladies. Ladies and gentlemen, if you do have any questions, please press star followed by one on your touch-tone phone. You will then hear a prompt that your hand has been raised.

Speaker #6: And should you wish to withdraw from the polling process, please press star followed by two. And if you're using a speakerphone, you will need to lift the handset first before pressing any keys.

Speaker #6: Thank you. Please go ahead and press star one now if you have any questions. First, we will hear from Adam Shine at National Bank Financial.

Speaker #6: Please go ahead, Adam.

Adam Shine: Thanks a lot. Good morning. Eric, if we remove the revenue synergies, obviously tracking ahead of plan for TuneIn, what sort of growth rate at the top line are you seeing? I think at the time when the deal was announced, I think the expectation was 10%, 15% top-line growth initially. Can we start there? I've got a few others.

Speaker #7: Thanks a lot. Good morning. Eric, if we remove the revenue synergies obviously tracking ahead of plan for TuneIn, what sort of growth rate at the top line are you seeing?

Speaker #7: Because I think at the time with the deal was announced, I think the expectation was 10, 15 percent top line growth initially. Can we start there?

Eric Boyko: Yeah. In our budget this year, we're planning to be, I think, between 12% and 14% growth for the standalone Stingray budget. What's happening, Adam, which is out of our control, is incredible news is, on the backfill, we were doing 30,000 a day in January, February, March. In the back, we started doing audio ads on connected TVs with the help of TuneIn and the Stingray team. Now the backfill went from 30,000 a day. Our dream was to do $100,000 US a day, and now we're hitting $175,000 US a day. The backfill went from a CAD 20 million business, and now we're rolling at CAD 90 million. That's why the organic sales are jumping in April and May.

Speaker #7: I've got a few others.

Speaker #5: Yeah. Yeah. And our budget this year, I think our budget is we're planning to be I think between 12 and 14 percent growth for the standalone Stingray budget.

Speaker #5: But what's happening, Adam, which is out of our control, is incredible news. On the backfield, we were doing 30,000 a day in January, February, March.

Speaker #5: And the back, we started doing audio ads on connected TVs with the help of TuneIn and the Stingray team. And now with the backfield went from 30,000 a day.

Speaker #5: Our dream was to do $100,000 US a day, and now we're hitting $175,000 US a day. So the backfield went from a $20 million business, and now we're rolling at $90 million.

Speaker #5: So that's why the organic sales are jumping in April and May. The only issue is the backfill of 175,000 a day U.S., or $90 million.

Eric Boyko: The only issue is the backfill of $175,000 a day US, or CAD 90 million. We feel it's going to go to CAD 200,000 a day, which we'll see maybe in June. That's the big difference. That's where the synergies of TuneIn are really coming up. The backfill is all coming on our side.

Speaker #5: And we feel it's going to go to 200,000 a day. Which we'll see maybe in June. But that's the big difference. So that's where the synergies of TuneIn and are really coming up.

Speaker #5: So the backfield is all coming on our side.

Adam Shine: Okay. Understood. Just in terms of retail media, I think in the press release yesterday, you talked about pursuing more profitable managed service capabilities. Can you elaborate a little bit further on that?

Speaker #7: Okay. Understood. And just in terms of retail media, I think in the press release yesterday, you talked about pursuing more profitable managed service capabilities.

Speaker #7: Can you elaborate a little bit further on that?

Eric Boyko: Good questions. On retail media, a bit of a change in direction, but also I think very good news. The first change is A lot of retailers do core programs. When people buy via the core program, we'll charge a managed service fee, which is higher EBITDA margin than what we would make with us selling and the share that we give the retailers. On the EBITDA side, it's going to improve our EBITDA margin. It's going to Because it's 100% EBITDA, but for a period of change, it's going to affect a bit of the organic sales because we're going from gross. Instead of selling CAD 100 and making CAD 20, we're charging CAD 20 and keeping CAD 20. It's not that material for the company as a whole. That's the first change that's happening.

Speaker #5: Yeah. Good question. So on retail media, a bit of a change in direction, but also I think very good news. So the first change is a lot of the a lot of retailers do core programs.

Speaker #5: So when people buy via their core program, we'll charge a managed service fee. Which is higher EBITDA margin than what we would make with us selling and the share that we give the retailers.

Speaker #5: So on the EBITDA side, it's going to improve our EBITDA margin. It's going to because it's 100% EBITDA. But for a period of change, it's going to affect a bit of the organic sales because we're going from gross instead of selling $100 and making $20.

Speaker #5: We're charging $20 and keeping $20. So but it's not that material for the company as a whole. So that's the first change that's happening.

Eric Boyko: The second change is that one of our partners, Stratacache, is having financial difficulties. A lot of retailers were promised big MGs from that company. Now all retailers are accepting non-endemic. The importance of accepting non-endemic in stores is that that's where we can get TuneIn involved, and for us, working very hard to get the multiplier. The multiplier is to accept that there's 40 person in a store listening to an audio ad. I think we're 2 quarters away. Once we can start bringing the TuneIn inventory into our retail stores, again, reminding you that we have CAD 400 million of unsold inventory on the retail media, that for us will be a game changer, and we will be the first company, again, pioneering of bringing the programmatic sales into retail media.

Speaker #5: The second change is that one of our partners, StrataCash, is having financial difficulties. So a lot of retailers were promised big MGs from that company.

Speaker #5: So now all retailers are accepting non-endemic. And the importance of accepting non-endemic in stores is that that's where we can get TuneIn involved. And for us, working very hard to get them multiplier.

Speaker #5: So the multiplier is to accept that there is 40% in a store listening to an audio ad. I think we're two quarters away. And once we can start bringing the TuneIn inventory into our retail stores, again, reminding you that we have 400 million of unsold inventory on the retail media.

Speaker #5: That for us will be a game changer. And we will be the first company again pioneering of bringing the programmatic sales into retail media.

Eric Boyko: I think we're 2 quarters away from that will be a game changer for us and for the retail media.

Speaker #5: So I think we're two quarters away from that. And that will be a game changer for us and for the retail media.

Adam Shine: I'll let someone else ask on the margin profile, just on capital allocation, I think last quarter you talked about leverage ultimately perhaps getting below 2 times in 2027. I mean, the stock has pulled back. I would assume that you might step up some of your buyback activity, maybe just talk about some of the priorities for capital allocation in 2027.

Speaker #7: I'll let someone else ask on the margin profile. But just on capital allocation, I think last quarter you talked about leverage ultimately perhaps getting below two times in FY27.

Speaker #7: I mean, the stock has pulled back, I would assume, that you might step up some of your buyback activity. But maybe just talk about some of the priorities for capital allocation in F27.

Eric Boyko: Yeah. Again, we are maintaining. We're very confident that by December, not by year-end, by December, we'll be very close to 2x or below 2x EBITDA. We will finish the year well below 2x EBITDA. The TuneIn acquisition. Don't forget, we also have CAD 200 million of tax losses. The TuneIn acquisition, in terms of a cash basis, the EBITDA equals cash. Very low CapEx in TuneIn, and lots of tax savings. We're very happy with our cash flow generation. I think the forecast from you guys, from Adam, from the analysts, sales up 40%, EBITDA roughly up 50%, and our free cash flow up 60%. I think the analysts are expecting us to deliver about CAD 2.30 a share as a free cash flow.

Speaker #5: Yeah. So again, we are again, we are maintaining our we're very confident that by December, not by year-end, by December, we'll be very close to two or below two times EBITDA.

Speaker #5: We will finish the year well below two times EBITDA. The TuneIn acquisition is don't forget, we also have 200 million of tax losses. So the TuneIn acquisition in terms of a cash basis is the EBITDA equals cash.

Speaker #5: Very low CapEx in TuneIn. And lots of tax savings. So we're very happy with the our cash flow generation. I think the forecast from you guys, from Adam, from the analysts, sales up 40%, EBITDA roughly up 50%.

Speaker #5: And our free cash flow is up 60%. So I think the analysts are expecting us to deliver about $2.30 a share of free cash flow.

Eric Boyko: We as a company and as a board, our budget is above the consensus of our analysis of your group of peers. Very confident to deliver a strong year and very confident for the delivering. Very happy about that. Right now, our number 1 focus is just executing the TuneIn deal.

Speaker #5: And we, as a company and as a board, our budget is above the consensus of our analysts and your group of peers, so we're very confident we can deliver a strong year.

Speaker #5: And very confident for the delivery. So that is very happy about that. Right now, our number one focus is just executing the TuneIn deal.

Adam Shine: Okay. Appreciate that. I'll queue up again. Thanks.

Speaker #7: Okay. Appreciate that. I'll queue up again. Thanks.

Eric Boyko: Thank you, Adam.

Speaker #5: Thank you, Adam.

Operator: Next question will be from Aravinda Galappatthige at Canaccord Genuity. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Next question will be from Aravinda Galapitich at Canaccord GMP. Please go ahead.

Aravinda Galappatthige: Good morning. Thanks for taking my questions. With respect to the organic growth numbers that you quoted, Eric, the 11.6% for Q4 and the 20% plus, it seems that obviously much of that is coming from TuneIn, sort of the pro forma growth within TuneIn. Can you just give us a sense of what the growth rates have been, in particular on the advertising side and perhaps on an aggregate revenue side for TuneIn since you closed the acquisition? I realize it's still a short period of time, but just to kind of help us with modeling.

Speaker #8: Good morning. Thanks for taking my questions. With respect to the organic growth numbers that you quoted, Eric, the 11.6% for Q4 and the 20% plus, it seems that obviously much of that is coming from TuneIn.

Speaker #8: So the pro forma growth within TuneIn can you just give us a sense of what the growth rates have been in particular on the advertising side and perhaps on an aggregate revenue side for TuneIn since you closed the acquisition?

Speaker #8: I realize it's still a short period of time, but just to help us with the modeling.

Eric Boyko: Yeah. Again, I know there's a lot of numbers, but what we call the premium ad network, which is the backfill. When Vizio, LG, or Samsung doesn't sell the ad, they only sell 40% to 50%. We now have the right to sell after them. We call it the backfill, but we need a better word than that. Right now, that backfill segment, we were doing $30,000 a month in Q4. In January, February, March, the backfill went from $30,000 a day to $175,000 a day. Right now we're running at a CAD 90 million run rate. That backfill is 100% Stingray. This is us selling on connected TVs with the synergies with TuneIn. What happened, the big change? The big change is that a lot of our partners accepted audio ads.

Speaker #5: Yeah. Again, I noticed a lot of numbers, but what we call the premium ad network, which is the backfill. So when Visio, LG, or Samsung doesn't sell the ad, they only sell 40 to 50 percent.

Speaker #5: We now have the right to sell after them. So we call it the backfill, but we need a better word than that. But so right now, that backfill segment, we were doing 30,000 a month in Q4.

Speaker #5: So in January, February, March, the backfill went from 30,000 a day U.S. to 175,000 U.S. a day. So right now, we're running at a $90 million Canadian run rate.

Speaker #5: That backfill is 100% sting rate. This is us selling on connected TVs. With the synergies, with TuneIn, what happened, the big change, the big change is that a lot of our partners accepted audio ads.

Eric Boyko: You're watching TV and you'll see a photo, and then while you see this photo, you'll hear an audio ad, and that's TuneIn doing that, and that's where we get the CAD +42 million of synergies. Our partners have over CAD 500 million of unsold inventory on CTV. It's unlimited inventory for us to sell, and that's really coming on our side. TuneIn also. TuneIn is growing. The organic growth of TuneIn right now, because of the synergies, their growth right now is between 60% to 70%. TuneIn is growing at a very high rate, and Stingray organic sales are growing highly. April and May, again, we doubled the organic sales from January, February, March to April and May, and June is looking even stronger. Very excited to speak to you on August to report our Q1.

Speaker #5: So you're watching TV and you'll see a photo. And then while you see this photo, you'll hear an audio ad. And that's TuneIn doing that.

Speaker #5: And that's where we get the 42 million of positive synergies. We have over 500 million of unsold or partners have over 500 million of unsold inventory on CTV.

Speaker #5: So it's unlimited inventory for us to sell. And that's really coming on our side. TuneIn also, TuneIn is growing. And again, TuneIn is their organic growth of TuneIn right now because of the synergies.

Speaker #5: Their growth right now is between 60 to 70 percent. So TuneIn is growing at a very high rate. And sting rate, organic sales are growing highly.

Speaker #5: And April and May, again, we doubled the organic from January, February, March to April and May. And June is looking even stronger. So very excited to speak to you on August to report our Q1.

Eric Boyko: I think Q1, you will see the real numbers of Stingray and TuneIn. This Q4 of last year, it was a start. When we first started selling the synergies in January, February, we buy the inventory from our CTV partners, so there's a cost, and we were buying and selling at the same price. Our gross margin for the first 2 months of the calendar year was zero. Now we've arranged everything. It's great to get synergies, but the first 2 months, we had synergies at 0% margin, which explains a bit what happened in Q4. The beauty about Stingray, we adjusted quickly. In March, we were back in line, and now we're happy that the backfill is generating above 30% gross margin. Very excited about that move, and excited to report more in August.

Speaker #5: I think in Q1, you will see the real numbers of Stingray and TuneIn. This Q4 of last year, it was a start. We also had, when we first started selling the synergies in January, February, we buy the inventory from our CTV partners.

Speaker #5: So there's a cost. And we were buying and selling at the same price. So our gross margin for the first two months of the year of the calendar year was zero.

Speaker #5: But now we've arranged everything. But it's great to get synergies. But the first two months, we had synergies at 0% margin, which explains a bit what happened in Q4.

Speaker #5: But the beauty about sting rate, we adjusted quickly. In March, we were back in line. And now we're happy that the backfill is generating above 30% gross margin.

Speaker #5: We're very excited about that move and look forward to reporting more in August.

Aravinda Galappatthige: Thanks, Eric. Just to follow up on your comments about retail media, I just wanted to be clear. What you're saying is within 6 months, so let's say by the end of the calendar year, you're in a position to be deploying programmatic ad sales within the retail media platform as well. Just wanted to clarify that, and what needs to happen between now and then? What are the bumps on the road that you need to get past to make sure that that execution happens? Because obviously, that's another material piece going forward.

Speaker #8: Thanks, Eric. And then just to follow up on your comments about retail media, I just wanted to be clear. So what you're saying is within six months, so let's say by the end of the calendar year, you're in a position to be deploying programmatic ad sales within the retail platform as retail media platform as well.

Speaker #8: Just wanted to clarify that. And what kind of needs to happen between now and then? What are kind of the bumps on the road that you need to kind of get past to make sure that that execution happens?

Speaker #8: Because, obviously, that's another material piece going forward.

Eric Boyko: Yeah. The multiplier, it's a very simple concept, is the multiplier is the fact that all of TuneIn audience and every ad we sell right now on the CTV is one-to-one. One ad, one person. In a retail store, there's 40, 60 people. With the multiplier, the same concept that's been given for out-of-home. When you drive on the highway and you see a billboard, the billboard is not a one-to-one. They estimate the number of cars, and there's a multiplier. We're bringing this multiplier into effect in the audio space, and we're not the only one that wants it. You can imagine that SiriusXM also would like the multiplier for their satellite. For the radio business, we would like to use programmatic sales to have the multiplier for terrestrial and for retail media.

Speaker #5: Yeah. So the multiplier is a very simple concept. The multiplier is the fact that all of TuneIn audience and every ad we sell right now on the CTV is one-to-one.

Speaker #5: So one ad, one person. But in a retail store, there's 40, 60 people. So the multiplier is the same concept that's been given for out-of-home.

Speaker #5: So when you drive on the highway and you see a billboard, the billboard is not a one-to-one. They estimate the number of cars. And there's a multiplier.

Speaker #5: So we're bringing this multiplier into effect in the audio space. And we're not the only one that wants it. So you can imagine an XM Sirius also would like the multiplier for their satellite.

Speaker #5: For the radio business, we would like to use programmatic sales to have the multiplier for terrestrial. And for retail media, a lot of companies are working together to try to get the multiplier.

Eric Boyko: A lot of companies are working together to try to get the multiplier. The biggest issue there is not the technology, is for the agencies to accept that you have a one to 40. I think that because a lot of us are working on this project, I think we're 6 months away from the agencies accepting it. It's not about technology, it's really about acceptance of the new technology.

Speaker #5: The biggest issue there is not the technology. It's for the agency's to accept that you have a 1 to 40. And I think that because a lot of us are working on this project, I think we're six months away from the agency's accepting it.

Speaker #5: So it's not about technology. It's really about acceptance of the new technology.

Aravinda Galappatthige: Okay. That's very helpful. Thank you, Eric Boyko.

Speaker #8: Okay, that's very helpful. Thank you, Eric. I'll pass it on.

Eric Boyko: Thank you, sir.

Speaker #5: Thank you, sir.

Operator: Next question will be from Stephanie Price at CIBC. Please go ahead, Stephanie.

Speaker #1: Next question will be from Stephanie Price at CIBC. Please go ahead, Stephanie.

Sam Schmidt: Hi, it's Sam Schmidt on for Stephanie Price. I wanted to ask around TuneIn cost synergies. It looks like those are progressing more slowly compared to the revenue synergies. Can you share some color on that and how you're thinking about the timing of executing on those cost synergies?

Speaker #9: Hi. It's Sam Schmidt on for Stephanie Price. I wanted to ask around TuneIn cost synergies. It looks like those are progressing more slowly compared to the revenue synergies.

Speaker #9: Can you share some color on that and how you're thinking about the timing of executing on those cost synergies?

Eric Boyko: Well, what is happening is that TuneIn right now, how can I say? They are beating their budget by 30% to 40%. Like I said before to Adam, I think, organic sales of TuneIn are between 60% to 70%. Our sales are so strong, we are executing so well with the positive synergies that there is less plan to do cost-saving because right now we got a team that is in a Stanley Cup winning every game. We do not want to change the players on that team because we have the winning team. The focus is really on the positive synergies. We have achieved CAD 42 million, and I think that we have achieved that after six months, and I think we have a long way to go on the synergies.

Speaker #5: Well, what's happening is that the TuneIn right now are how can I say? They're beating their budget by 30 to 40 percent. Like I said before to Adam, I think organic sales of TuneIn are between 60 to 70 percent.

Speaker #5: So our sales are so strong. We're executing so well with the positive synergies that there is less plan to do cost saving because right now, we got right now, we got a team that's in the Stanley Cup winning every game.

Speaker #5: So we don't want to change the players on that team because we have the winning team. So the focus is on really on the positive synergies.

Speaker #5: We've achieved 42 million. And I think that we have achieved that after six months. And I think we have a long way to go on the synergies because, again, because of the fact that the CTV that the CTV manufacturers Vizio, Samsung, and LG are accepting audio ads, those synergies are so important that we're just focused on that side.

Eric Boyko: Again, because of the fact that the CTV manufacturers, Vizio, Samsung, and LG, are accepting audio ads, those synergies are so important that we are just focused on that side. I think there is more value creation for Stingray. On the cost saving, we have achieved our goals. On the cost saving, we told the market CAD 10 million, we have achieved CAD 12 million, we are very happy on that side.

Speaker #5: I think there's more value creation for sting rate. And on the cost saving, we've achieved our goal. So on the cost saving, we told the market 10 million.

Speaker #5: We've achieved 12 million, so we're very happy on that side.

Sam Schmidt: Okay, thank you. Maybe just on the advertising demand environment more broadly, what are you seeing at this point, and can you share some color on the organic advertising revenue outlook? Thanks.

Speaker #9: Okay, thank you. And then maybe just on the advertising demand environment more broadly, what are you seeing at this point? And can you share some color on the organic advertising revenue outlook?

Eric Boyko: Yeah. Advertising for us, we told the market that one of our dream was to do $500,000 USD a day of programmatic sales. We have achieved $550, that is why we know we mentioned today. Right now our run rate is $275 million of programmatic ad sales. A year ago, it was zero. A lot of it is coming from TuneIn, you got about $180 million from TuneIn, and then the rest, the other $90 million is coming from the backfill we talked about. Very excited about what is happening there. To be on that side, we will do $90 million of sales this year, our run rate is, and we have one person. It is not based on number of salespeople you have, it is about the fact that we have 7,000 to 8,000 commercial partners or advertising partners buying.

Speaker #9: Thanks.

Speaker #5: Yeah. So advertising for us, we told the market that one of our dreams was to do 500,000 USD a day of programmatic sales. We've achieved 550.

Speaker #5: So that's why we mentioned today. So right now, our run rate is 275 million. Of programmatic ad sales. A year ago, it was zero.

Speaker #5: So a lot of it is coming from TuneIn. So you got about 180 million from TuneIn. That were and then the rest the other 90 million is coming from the backfill we talked about.

Speaker #5: So very excited about what's happening there. And to be on that side, we don't see it's not we have we'll do 90 million of sales this year, a run rate is.

Speaker #5: And we have one person. So it's not based on number of salespeople you have. It's about the fact that we have 7 to 8 thousand commercial partners or advertising partners buying.

Eric Boyko: What happens is that, let's say you got Subway once, gives us $20,000 a day. If we bring in a CTV with one of our partners and we increase our reach, automatically the next day they'll give us $30,000 just because we have more reach. The programmatic advertising is all about scale. Now we got 75 million users on TuneIn, and we're teaming up with the 25 million users of Vizio, the 100 million users of Samsung, so we're able to reach everybody in the US. We are in a unique position to really reach everybody, and we don't know where that will stop. I must tell you that this, and programmatic ad sales are a bit like Costco. Our average CPM is between $6 to $8.

Speaker #5: And what happens is that let's say you got Subway once gives us 20,000 a day. But if we bring in a CTV with one of our partners and we increase our reach, then automatically the next day, they'll give us 30,000.

Speaker #5: Just because we have more reach. So the programmatic advertising is all about scale. And now we got 75 million users on TuneIn. And we're teaming up with all the 25 million users of Vizio, the 100 million users of Samsung.

Speaker #5: So we're able to reach everybody in the US. So we are in a unique position to really reach everybody. And we don't know where that will stop.

Speaker #5: But I must tell you that this and programmatic ad sales are a bit like Costco. Our average CPM is between $6 and $8.

Eric Boyko: The beauty about Costco is that even if the economy goes well or bad. People still go to Costco.

Speaker #5: But the beauty about Costco is that even if the economy goes well or bad, people still go to Costco. Is that a good answer?

Sam Schmidt: Great. Thank you, I'll pass it on.

Eric Boyko: Is that a good answer?

Sam Schmidt: Thank you very much.

Speaker #9: Thank you very much.

Eric Boyko: Okay.

Speaker #5: Okay.

Operator: Next question will be from Jerome Dubreuil at Desjardins. Please go ahead, Jerome.

Speaker #1: Next question will be from Jérôme Dubreuil at Desjardins. Please go ahead, Jérôme.

Jerome Dubreuil: Jerome Dubreuil. Thanks for taking my questions. Just want to jump on something you said earlier in the Q&A. You were talking about the budget being above consensus. I'm just not sure if you were referring to free cash flow there in what you said, or all of the revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow line that you're seeing.

Jérome Dubreuil: Jerome Dubreuil. Thanks for taking my questions. Just want to jump on something you said earlier in the Q&A. You were talking about the budget being above consensus. I'm just not sure if you were referring to free cash flow there in what you said, or all of the revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow line that you're seeing.

Speaker #10: Bonjour tout le monde. Thanks for taking my questions. Just want to jump on something you said earlier in the Q&A. You were talking about the budget being above consensus.

Speaker #10: I'm just not sure if you were referring to free cash flow there in what you said. Or all of the revenue we did on free cash flow line that you're seeing.

Eric Boyko: Well, roughly, what we see with our consensus, I can look at our sheet here, but roughly I think the market's at 226, Marie?

Speaker #5: Well, roughly, what we see with our consensus, I can look at our sheet here. But roughly, I think the market's at 226, Marie?

Marie-Hélène Fournier: Yeah.

Eric Boyko: CAD 226 million of EBITDA. I think, our budget is above that, and we're ahead of budget, good news. Marie-Hélène Fournier doesn't want you guys to change your consensus, that's a lot of pressure from Marie-Hélène Fournier on that one. Please, Jerome Dubreuil, don't change your consensus. Right now, we're looking. Again, the year started to have organic sales growing by above 20% in the first two months of the year, and June looking even stronger than April and May. We're starting the year, we're doubling organic sales compared to last year. Again, one point I want to mention that we haven't mentioned, it's going to be our third year in a row that we have organic sales above double digit. That's something we should, when you do your reports, I think our EV to EBITDA should be higher.

Speaker #2: Yeah.

Speaker #5: $226 million of EBITDA. So, I think our budget is above that, and we're ahead of budget—so, good news. But Marie doesn't want you guys to change your consensus.

Speaker #5: So that's a lot of pressure for Marie on that one. So please, Jérôme, don't change your consensus. So I know. But right now, we're looking again, the year started to have organic sales growing by above 20% in the first two months of the year.

Speaker #5: And June looking even stronger than April and May. We're starting the year we're doubling organic sales compared to last year. And again, one point I want to mention that we haven't mentioned.

Speaker #5: It's going to be our third year in a row that we have organic sales above a double digit. So that's something we should when you do your reports, I think our EV to EBITDA should be higher.

Eric Boyko: Right now we're trending at 7.11 EV to EBITDA, for a company growing with our cash flow at double digits. Right now, we're starting the year above 20%. I think it's a strong start.

Speaker #5: Right now, we're trending at 7.11 EV to EBITDA. For a company growing with our cash flow at double digits. And right now, we're starting the year above 20%.

Speaker #5: So, no, we're very, very — I think it's a strong start.

Jerome Dubreuil: Great. Second for me. You're pretty upbeat on FAST bouncing back or accelerating in the next quarter. You said one of the reasons for that is the audio ads now being sold, I'm also seeing in the press release that you're talking about Vizio allowing you to resell excess inventory. Can you clarify what exactly that is and if this could be another fundamental reason for the bounce back and growth on FAST?

Jérome Dubreuil: Great. Second for me. You're pretty upbeat on FAST bouncing back or accelerating in the next quarter. You said one of the reasons for that is the audio ads now being sold, I'm also seeing in the press release that you're talking about Vizio allowing you to resell excess inventory. Can you clarify what exactly that is and if this could be another fundamental reason for the bounce back and growth on FAST?

Speaker #10: Great. Second for me, so you're pretty upbeat on the fast bouncing back or accelerating in the next quarter. You said one of the reasons for that is the audio ads now being sold.

Speaker #10: But I'm also seeing in the press release that you're talking about Vizio allowing you to resell excess inventory. Can you clarify what exactly that is, and if this could be another fundamental reason for the bounce back and growth on FAST?

Eric Boyko: Yeah. Again, we call it backfill. For marketing terms, we call it the Stingray's Premium Ad Network. At the end of the day, it's that Vizio, Samsung, LG, they only sell 40% of the ads on their channels. What the partners are giving us, which only a handful of partners have the right to, is to resell the inventory that they're not selling on all their channels. Not only on our channels, but all the channels of Vizio, all the channels of Samsung, all the channels of LG. We're talking about billions of impressions a day. That's a big advantage for us, and this inventory seems to be increasing. That's why our backfill went from, again, 30,000 USD a day to 175,000 USD a day.

Speaker #5: Yeah, so again, we call it backfill. For marketing terms, we call it the Stingray Premium Ad Network. But at the end of the day, where is that?

Speaker #5: Vizio, Samsung, LG, they only sell 40% of the ads on their channels. And what the partners are giving us, which are only a handful of partners have the right to, is to resell the inventory that they're not selling.

Speaker #5: On all their channels. So not only on our channels, but all the channels of Vizio, all the channels of Samsung, all the channels of LG.

Speaker #5: So we're talking about billions of impressions a day. So that's a big advantage for us. And this inventory seems to be increasing. And that's why our backfill went from, again, 30,000 US a day to 175,000 US a day.

Eric Boyko: We had budgeted for the backfill this year, CAD 25 million, and now we're humming at CAD 90 million of run rate per year. I think this is exciting, and here's the good news, is that when we do backfill, we give back the money to our partners. The more money we give them, it's a bit like they become addicted to the money. They put it in their budget. These will be partners, as long as we give them money, they'll be partners for life. I can tell you in the case of Vizio, they told us that our number with them is so strong that it even gets reported to Walmart. One of our dream was to tell Vizio maybe it's time for us to get the Walmart account for audio and digital media in the US.

Speaker #5: So we had budgeted for the backfill this year, 25 million. And now we're humming at 90 million Canadian of run rate per year. So I think this is exciting.

Speaker #5: And here's the good news: when we do backfill, we give back the money to our partners. And the more money we give them, it's a bit like they become addicted to the money.

Speaker #5: They put it in our budget. And so these will be partners as long as we give them money, they'll be partners for life. I can tell you in the case of Vizio, they told us that our number with them is so strong that they even get reported to Walmart.

Speaker #5: So one of our dreams was to tell Vizio, "Maybe it's time for us to get the Walmart account for audio and digital media in the US." So that will be one of our dreams.

Eric Boyko: That will be one of our dreams.

Jerome Dubreuil: Yeah. Walmart is a huge retail media player there. All right, thanks for the answers.

Jérome Dubreuil: Yeah. Walmart is a huge retail media player there. All right, thanks for the answers.

Speaker #10: Yeah. Walmart is a huge retail media player there. So all right. Thanks for the answers.

Eric Boyko: Merci, Jerome.

Speaker #5: Merci, Jérôme.

Operator: Next question will be from Tim Casey at BMO. Please go ahead, Tim. I am sorry, Tim, we are having trouble hearing you.

Speaker #1: Next question will be from Tim Casey at BMO. Please go ahead, Tim. I'm sorry, Tim, we're having trouble hearing you.

Eric Boyko: Sorry, Tim.

Tim Casey: There?

Speaker #5: Sorry, Tim.

Speaker #10: You there?

Eric Boyko: Okay. Now we can hear you. Yes.

Speaker #5: Yeah, okay. Now we can hear you.

Tim Casey: Yeah. What happened in radio this quarter? If you look at the revenue run rate year over year, it has been positive or very marginally negative for many years, and you are down seven and a half. Was that airtime sales? Was that digital advertisers moving away from the radio websites? What happened in radio in the quarter, and how are you thinking about radio in 2027 and 2028?

Speaker #10: Yeah. What happened in radio this quarter? I mean, if you rate, year over year, it's been positive or very marginally negative for many years. And you're down 7.5%.

Speaker #10: What's advertisers moving away from, and how are you thinking about what happened in radio in the quarter? '28?

Eric Boyko: Hey, a very good question. You're correct on both points. Point number one, I think the Olympics did not really help us in radio. A very tough quarter. I agree. It was the toughest quarter we had since COVID. I think maybe the Olympics, we're not 100% sure. The second point is, the online gambling in Ontario, huge customers for us on the digital side. Online gambling, there's a lot of competition in Ontario, so that also dips. With both of them coming at the same time. The good news is radio for Q1, radio is on budget. The budget was, we were looking to be down by about 3%, but at least we're both on budget on sales and on budget on EBITDA, we're stabilizing. The very good news on online gambling is the fact that Alberta.

Speaker #5: Hey, so a very good question. So you're correct on both points. So point number one, I think the Olympics did not really help us in radio.

Speaker #5: A very tough quarter. I agree. It was the toughest quarter we had since COVID. So I think we're maybe the Olympics were not 100% sure.

Speaker #5: And the second point is the online gambling in Ontario. Huge customers for us on the digital side. So online gambling, there's a lot of competition in Ontario.

Speaker #5: So that also dipped. So with both of them coming at the same time, the good news is radio for Q1, radio is on budget.

Speaker #5: The budget was we were looking to be down about 3%, but at least we're both on budget on sales and on budget on EBITDA.

Speaker #5: So we're stabilizing. And the very good news on online gambling is the fact that Alberta, Alberta is also doing the same thing in Ontario.

Eric Boyko: Alberta is also doing the same thing in Ontario. The online gambling in Ontario is going to be a CAD 10 billion business. Incredible, huh? Just good for Ontario. What we like about Alberta is we have 43 radio stations. We are dominant, and I think you're going to see a lot of buying coming this year because we're going to be dominant for Alberta and the opening of the online gambling. Online gambling includes also sports betting and all these jackpot and all these websites. I'm not a big gambler myself. I'm not against it, I think it's going to be good for us this year. There's no doubt that the terrestrial radio ads are declining, and that has to be offset by digital ads.

Speaker #5: So the online gambling in Ontario is going to be a $10 billion business. Incredible. Just good for Ontario. So we're and what we like about Alberta is we have 43 radio stations we are dominant.

Speaker #5: And I think you're going

Speaker #5: Alberta and the opening of the online gambling. Online gambling includes also sports betting and radio in '27 and all these jackpot and all these websites.

Speaker #5: I'm not a big gambler myself. I'm not against it, but I'm just saying. But I think it's going to be good for us this year.

Speaker #5: But there's no doubt that the terrestrial radio ads are declining. And that has to be offset by digital ads. And the third line that we're doing that we're doing that we're very successful is I think the radio business will sell this year $3 million of ads on TuneIn.

Eric Boyko: The third line that we're doing that were very successful is, I think, now the radio business will sell this year CAD 3 million of ads on TuneIn. The beauty about that is that CAD 3 million is 100% EBITDA margin because there's no cost on TuneIn. That's one of our strategy, so that should help the EBITDA. On the radio side, there's no doubt that we'll need to look at cost savings because our OPEX there is CAD 62 million, and with the business being tougher growth. The goal is to have digital compensate for terrestrial radio, but terrestrial radio is coming down and the trend is it will go down, so we have to adjust ourself with that. Hopefully, we'll be able to bring programmatic sales to radio. I think that not only us, but in the US, XM, iHeart, everybody's looking at that.

Speaker #5: And the beauty about that is that $3 million is 100% EBITDA margin. Because there's no cost on TuneIn. So that's one of our strategies.

Speaker #5: So that should help the EBITDA. And on the radio side, there's no doubt that we'll need to look at the cost savings. Because OPEX, there is $62 million.

Speaker #5: And with the business being tougher growth, but the goal is to have digital compensate for terrestrial radio. But terrestrial radio is coming down. And the trend is it will go down.

Speaker #5: So we have to adjust ourselves with that. And hopefully, we'll be able to bring programmatic sales to radio. I think that not only us, but in the US, XM, iHeart, everybody's looking at that.

Eric Boyko: How can we put all that together and bring programmatic sales to radio? We're about CAD 10 to 15 million of unsold inventory on terrestrial, and that could be filled up by programmatic sales. We got to work with technology, and we got to diversify.

Speaker #5: How can we put all that together and bring programmatic sales to radio? We're about 10 to 15 million of unsold inventory on terrestrial. And that could be filled up by programmatic sales.

Speaker #5: So we got to work with technology. And we got to diversify.

Speaker #10: And what do you so if we if you consider an operating environment where you've got declines in radio, you talked about cost savings. What how do you think about the margin outlook for radio?

Tim Casey: If you consider an operating environment where you've got declines in radio, you talked about cost savings. How do you think about the margin outlook for radio?

Eric Boyko: Yeah. We're very confident that our EBITDA for this year and our budget for this year and for next year, radio budget, the EBITDA will be growing. EBITDA will not be coming down. We'll have a growing EBITDA in terms of dollars. I think the margin will be also very stable. We got a great plan for radio because what we're doing on the digital side. The home run for us on the radio side, for everybody in Canada, now that we're much more involved in the US, the US are allowed to have 8 radio stations per city, and the FCC is looking to take away that rule. There's unlimited radio stations. The CRTC going from 2 to 3 was a ridiculous decision because everybody owns 2 stations, so nobody's going to sell you 1 station.

Speaker #5: Yeah. So we're very confident that our EBITDA for this year and our budget for this year and for next year radio budget, the EBITDA will be growing.

Speaker #5: So EBITDA will not be coming down. We'll have a growing EBITDA in terms of dollars, and I think the margin will also be very stable.

Speaker #5: So, we've got a great plan for radio because of what we're doing on the digital side, and for us, the home run on the radio side for everybody in Canada—now that we're much more involved in the US—is that the US is allowed to have eight radio stations per city.

Speaker #5: And the FCC is looking to take away that rule. There's the unlimited radio stations. The CRTC going from two to three was a ridiculous decision.

Speaker #5: Because everybody owns two stations. So nobody's going to sell you one station. So really, you got to push the minister. We got to push the CRTC to go to four stations.

Eric Boyko: Really, you got to push the minister, we got to push the CRTC to go to 4 stations. At 4 station, the market can consolidate, and we all start making more money. That for us will be the major win in Canada. Radio will keep on doing the CAD 42 million EBITDA, almost CAD 42 million free cash flow, well-run organization, and we do the positive synergies with TuneIn. Also, just a quick note, not material, but the TuneIn listenership in Canada, because we're promoting it through radio, has gone up 571% in the last 3 months. Just to show you the power that radio can do to a product like TuneIn. I understand Canada is not the US, so it's not going to be billions of dollars. But as Canadians and as Montrealers and Quebecois, I'm very proud that TuneIn is becoming a known name in Canada.

Speaker #5: At four stations, then the market can consolidate. And we all start making more money. So that for us will be the major win in Canada.

Speaker #5: Radio will keep on doing the $42 million EBITDA almost $42 million free cash flow. Well-run organization. And we do the positive synergies with TuneIn.

Speaker #5: Also, just a quick note, not material, but the TuneIn or TuneIn listenership in Canada, because we're promoting it through radio, has gone up 571% in the last three months.

Speaker #5: So just to show you the power that radio can do to a product like TuneIn, I understand Canada is not the US. So it's not going to be billions of dollars.

Speaker #5: But as Canadians, and as Montrealers and Québécois, I'm very proud that TuneIn is becoming a known name in Canada.

Tim Casey: When you think about the potential ownership rule changes, would you be willing to put new capital to work and acquire radio, or would it be more about trading stations so operators can consolidate markets?

Speaker #10: When you think about the potential ownership rule changes, would you be willing to put new capital to work and acquire radio? Or would it be more about trading stations so you can consolidate so operators can consolidate markets?

Eric Boyko: Yeah, there's a big advantage. It will be about trading, absolutely. There's a big advantage. You own two radio stations, you own three radio stations, you have one sales force, you have four radio station, you have one sales force. There's a lot of savings to having four radio stations or three. We're happy that we bought a third one in Calgary. The synergies there are incredible. I think that one day, the CRTC and the government, if you want to protect local media, both on the TV and radio side, you'll need to accept to have more dominant players per city, because it's the only way that you will get radio.

Speaker #5: Yeah. It would really be about there's a big advantage. It would be about trading. Absolutely. And there's a big advantage. You own two radio stations.

Speaker #5: You own three radio stations. You have one sales force. You have four radio stations. You have one sales force. There's a lot of savings to having four radio stations or three.

Speaker #5: We're happy that we bought a third one in Calgary. The synergies there are incredible. And I think that one day, the CRTC and the government, if you want to protect local media, both on the TV and radio side, you'll need to accept to have more dominant players per city.

Speaker #5: Because it's the only way that the.

Speaker #10: Yeah. I know. Eric, you just took a $65 million write-down on radio. I mean, you're not suggesting you're going to put more capital into radio, are you?

Tim Casey: Eric, you just took a CAD 65 million write-down on radio. I mean, you're not suggesting you're going to put more capital into radio, are you?

Eric Boyko: No, it would be trading. Not more capital, it would be good for us to trade certain cities that we're strong. We would love-

Speaker #5: No, no. It would be trading. Not more capital, but it would be good for us to trade certain cities that were strong. We would love to get two more stations in Ottawa.

Tim Casey: Yeah

Eric Boyko: to get two more stations in Ottawa. In Ottawa, we have one and two. We'd love to get two more stations in Ottawa. Where we're very strong, it would be great to add stations, where we're weaker, it'd be great to let go of stations.

Speaker #5: In Ottawa, we have one and two. We'd love to get two more stations in Ottawa. We're very strong. It would be great to add stations.

Speaker #5: And where we're weaker, it'd be great to let go stations.

Tim Casey: The other thing I'd like to, if you could flesh out, is you have a line in the press release where you talk about CAD 275 million of revenue. Can you explain to us what is in that bucket? Because I think one of the challenges we have is what buckets do all these revenue items fall in as we try and model out the business. Could you flesh out what's in that CAD 275 and where the growth is coming from?

Speaker #10: The other thing I'd like to if you could flesh out is you have a line in the press release where you talk about 275 million dollars of revenue.

Speaker #10: Can you explain to us what is in that bucket? Because I think one of the challenges we have is where does what buckets do all these revenue items fall in?

Speaker #10: As we try and model out the business. So could you flesh out what's in that 275 and where the growth is coming from?

Eric Boyko: Yeah. Roughly the CAD 275 is CAD 90 million of backfill and CAD 185 million of TuneIn programmatic sales. TuneIn does CAD 185 million, and we do CAD 90 million.

Speaker #5: Yeah. So roughly, the $275 million is $90 million of backfill and $185 million of TuneIn programmatic sales. So TuneIn does $185 million, and we do $90 million.

Tim Casey: That is legacy TuneIn before backfill?

Speaker #10: So that is legacy TuneIn before backfill?

Eric Boyko: That's what TuneIn does itself, and the backfill is what we're doing incremental sells.

Speaker #5: That's what TuneIn does as sales. And the backfill is what we're doing incremental sales.

Tim Casey: What's the growth rate on that TuneIn? Like 185 this year, what did it do last year, notionally?

Speaker #10: And what would—what's the growth rate on that TuneIn? $185 this year—what did it do last year, notionally?

Eric Boyko: I think that the last year, because we're talking US and Canadian, but I think TuneIn right now is growing around 50%.

Speaker #5: I think that the last year, because we're talking US and Canadian. But I think TuneIn right now is growing around.

Tim Casey: Okay. Eric, let's stick with Canadian. You've talked about 275 Canadian.

Speaker #10: Okay. Well, let's take Eric, let's stick with Canadian. So you've talked about 275 Canadian. 90 of it is backfill. And 185 is TuneIn.

Eric Boyko: Yes.

Tim Casey: 90 of it is backfill, and 185 is TuneIn?

Eric Boyko: Yes.

Speaker #5: Yes.

Tim Casey: Notionally, what did TuneIn do last year, legacy TuneIn, that's comparable to the 185 you're looking for this year?

Speaker #10: So what notionally, what did TuneIn do last year? Legacy TuneIn that's comparable to the 185 you're looking to this year?

Eric Boyko: TuneIn roughly did about CAD 120 last year, and right now we're running at 185.

Speaker #5: So TuneIn roughly did about 120 Canadian last year. And right now, we're running at 185.

Tim Casey: Got it. Okay.

Eric Boyko: Canadian.

Speaker #10: Got it. Okay.

Tim Casey: Perfect. Got it.

Speaker #5: Canadian. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Tim, you know I love numbers, huh?

Eric Boyko: Okay, thank you.

Tim Casey: That's it for me. Thank you.

Eric Boyko: Tim, you know I love numbers, huh?

Tim Casey: That's what we do, Eric. We just look at numbers all day long.

Speaker #10: That's what we do, Eric. We just look at numbers all day long. Show us the money, Eric.

Eric Boyko: I agree.

Tim Casey: Show us the money, Eric.

Eric Boyko: You're nice with numbers. I agree.

Speaker #5: You're nice. You're nice to have lunch. I agree.

Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, a reminder to please press star one if you have any questions. At this time, we have no other questions registered. I will turn the call back over to Eric.

Speaker #11: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, a reminder to please press star one if you have any questions. At this time, we have no other questions registered.

Speaker #11: I will turn the call back over to Eric.

Eric Boyko: Okay. Merci. Thank you, everyone. On behalf of the entire Stingray team, thank you for joining us on the conference call. We look forward to speaking with you in August for the Q1 results. That's going to be quick. It's going to be in less than two months. Excited about that and excited to have more view and execution on the TuneIn acquisition. We're very pleased and excited to officially be able to tell you the exact numbers for Q1. Again, thank you for all the analysts, your time, and work you dedicate to us. We're very happy. The good news is we might have a couple of new friends joining us the next quarter. I think we have a few new analysts that are looking and maybe one or two from the US.

Speaker #5: Okay. I am actually thank you, everyone. So on behalf of the entire Stingray team, thank you for joining us on the conference call. We look forward to speaking with you in August for the first quarter results.

Speaker #5: And that's going to be quick. It's going to be in less than two months. So excited about that. And excited to show the to have more view and execution on the TuneIn acquisition.

Speaker #5: That we're very pleased. And excited to officially be able to tell you the exact numbers for Q1. And again, thank you for all the analysts, your time and work you dedicate to us.

Speaker #5: We're very happy. And the good news is we might have a new couple of new friends joining us in next quarter. So I think we have a few new analysts that are looking and maybe one or two from the US, so step by step.

Eric Boyko: Step by step. We'll have more friends. Okay. Merci tout le monde.

Speaker #5: But we'll have more friends. Okay. Merci tout le monde.

Operator: Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, this does indeed conclude your conference call for today. Once again, thank you for attending. At this time, we do ask that you please disconnect your line.

Speaker #11: Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, this does indeed conclude your conference call for today. Once again, thank you for attending. And at this time, we do ask that you please disconnect your line.

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