CVC Cablevision Systems Corp. Class A

Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

First quarter consolidated net revenues increased 2.5% to $1.615 billion, consolidated adjusted operating cash flow (“AOCF”)1 increased 4.5% to $454.0 million and consolidated operating income increased 8.0% to $223.8 million, all compared with the prior year period.

Operating highlights for the first quarter include:

• Average Monthly Cable Revenue per Customer ("RPC") of $155.34, an increase of $7.12 or 4.8%, compared with the prior year period.
• Consolidated Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations1 of $49.0 million.

Cablevision CEO James L. Dolan said, "Cablevision had a solid start to 2015 with growth in net revenue, AOCF and revenue per customer. As we move through the year, we will continue to address evolving consumer demand by expanding our product offerings to provide greater value and flexibility. Connectivity is the wave of the future, and we plan to leverage our industry-leading position to be the preferred choice for consumers in our market."

1. See definition of AOCF and Consolidated Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations included in the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures on page 3 of this earnings release.

Cable

Cable includes our Optimum-branded digital cable television, high-speed Internet and voice services as well as Optimum WiFi, the nation's most robust WiFi network.

Cable net revenues for the first quarter 2015 increased 2.4% to $1.452 billion, AOCF increased 0.8% to $446.6 million and operating income increased 1.0% to $252.1 million, all compared with the prior year period. First quarter net revenue growth primarily reflects rate initiatives and continued disciplined pricing strategies, partially offset by a decline in customers. First quarter AOCF reflects the increase in revenue and lower employee and customer service-related costs, partially offset by higher programming and marketing costs, as compared to the prior year period.

The following table illustrates the change in the Cable customer base during the first quarter of 2015:

 

Customer Data

(rounded to nearest thousand)

 

                   

TotalDecember 31, 2014

   

Net Gain/(Loss)

   

TotalMarch 31, 2015

   

 

    Total Customers(a) 3,118 (6) 3,112   Video 2,681 (28) 2,653 High-Speed Data 2,760 7 2,767 Voice 2,229 (14) 2,215   Serviceable Passings 5,046     9     5,055  

(a) Total customers are defined as the number of households/businesses that receive at least one of the Company's services.

Lightpath

Lightpath is a premier provider of integrated business communications solutions to large and mid-sized commercial organizations across the New York metropolitan area.

For the first quarter 2015, Lightpath net revenues increased 5.0% to $91.1 million, AOCF increased 12.8% to $43.4 million and operating income increased 10.4% to $19.3 million, each as compared with the prior year period. First quarter results primarily reflect an increase in revenue from Ethernet services.

Other

Other principally consists of Newsday, News 12 Networks, Cablevision Media Sales Corporation and certain other businesses and unallocated corporate costs.

First quarter net revenues increased 0.4% to $81.8 million, AOCF deficit decreased 23.9% to $35.9 million and operating loss decreased 20.6% to $47.6 million, all compared with the prior year period. First quarter net revenue growth primarily reflects increased advertising revenue at News 12 Networks partially offset by lower advertising revenue at Newsday. First quarter AOCF reflects a decrease in expenses at Newsday due to lower operating costs and a distribution agreement settlement, as well as reduced expenses at corporate and certain other businesses.

Other Matters

On May 1, 2015, the Board of Directors of Cablevision declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share on each outstanding share of Cablevision NY Group Class A Common Stock and Cablevision NY Group Class B Common Stock. This quarterly dividend is payable on June 12, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 22, 2015.

There were no stock repurchases during the first quarter of 2015. As of March 31, 2015, Cablevision had approximately $455 million available under its stock repurchase authorization.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We define adjusted operating cash flow (“AOCF”), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization (including impairments), excluding share-based compensation expense and restructuring charges or credits. Because it is based upon operating income (loss), AOCF also excludes interest expense (including cash interest expense) and other non-operating income and expense items. We believe that the exclusion of share-based compensation expense allows investors to better track the performance of the various operating units of our business without regard to expense associated with awards of restricted shares, restricted stock units and stock options that are not expected to be made in cash.

We present AOCF as a measure of our ability to service our debt and make continuing investments, including in our capital infrastructure. We believe AOCF is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of our business segments and the company on a consolidated basis. AOCF and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors, analysts and peers to compare performance in our industry. Internally, we use net revenues and AOCF measures as the most important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management’s effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. AOCF should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities, and other measures of performance and/or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Since AOCF is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies. For a reconciliation of AOCF to operating income (loss), please see page 6 of this release.

We define Consolidated Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations (“Free Cash Flow”), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net cash from operating activities (continuing operations) plus any excess tax benefit related to share-based awards less capital expenditures (continuing operations), all of which are reported in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Net cash from operating activities excludes net cash from operating activities of our discontinued operations. We believe the most comparable GAAP financial measure of our liquidity is net cash from operating activities. We believe that Free Cash Flow is useful as an indicator of our overall liquidity, as the amount of Free Cash Flow generated in any period is representative of cash that is available for debt repayment and other discretionary and non-discretionary cash uses. It is also one of several indicators of our ability to make investments and/or return capital to our shareholders. We also believe that Free Cash Flow is one of several benchmarks used by analysts and investors who follow our industry for comparison of our liquidity with other companies in our industry, although our measure of Free Cash Flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies.

ABOUT CABLEVISION

Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) is a leading media and telecommunications company, serving millions of households and businesses throughout the greater New York area. Providing quality products that keep customers connected, Cablevision offers Optimum-branded digital cable television, high-speed Internet and voice services as well as Optimum WiFi, the nation's most robust WiFi network. Cablevision’s Lightpath subsidiary is a premier provider of integrated business communications solutions for larger companies. Through its local media and programming properties – News 12 Networks and Newsday Media Group – Cablevision also delivers news and information created specifically for the communities it serves. Additional information about Cablevision is available at www.cablevision.com.

This earnings release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community and rating agency perceptions of the company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industries in which it operates and the factors described in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein. The company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Cablevision’s website: www.cablevision.com

The conference call will be webcast live today at 10:00 a.m. ET

Conference call dial-in number is (888) 694-4641 / Conference ID Number 27267807 / Conference call replay number (855) 859-2056 / Conference ID Number 27267807 until May 11, 2015.

 

CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATIONCONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)(Unaudited)

        Three Months Ended March 31, 2015     2014   Revenues, net $ 1,614,771 $ 1,575,586   Operating expenses Technical and operating 795,888 772,983 Selling, general and administrative 376,764 380,220 Restructuring expense (credits) (532 ) 1,015 Depreciation and amortization 218,900   214,285   Operating income 223,751 207,083 Other income (expense): Interest expense, net (145,012 ) (140,882 ) Loss on investments, net (33,071 ) (41,775 ) Gain on equity derivative contracts, net 46,166 38,649 Write-off of deferred financing costs, net of gain on extinguishment of debt — (611 ) Miscellaneous, net 1,007   731   Income from continuing operations before income taxes 92,841 63,195 Income tax benefit (expense) (a) (37,940 ) 26,939   Income from continuing operations 54,901 90,134 Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (b) (10,502 ) (434 ) Net income 44,399 89,700 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 234   63   Net income attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders $ 44,633   $ 89,763     Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders: Income from continuing operations $ 0.21   $ 0.34   Loss from discontinued operations $ (0.04 ) $ —   Net income $ 0.17   $ 0.34   Basic weighted average common shares (in thousands) 267,919 262,328   Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders: Income from continuing operations $ 0.20   $ 0.34   Loss from discontinued operations $ (0.04 ) $ —   Net income $ 0.16   $ 0.33   Diluted weighted average common shares (in thousands) 274,370 268,224   Amounts attributable to Cablevision Systems Corporation stockholders: Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes $ 55,135 $ 90,197 Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (10,502 ) (434 ) Net income $ 44,633   $ 89,763   Cash dividends declared per share of common stock $ 0.15   $ 0.15     (a)   Income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2014 includes a tax benefit of $53,132 resulting from the reversal of an uncertain tax position liability. (b)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded an expense of $10,502, net of income taxes, with respect to the decision in a case relating to Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, a business whose operations were previously discontinued.

   

CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATIONRECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO ADJUSTED OPERATING CASH FLOW AND CONSOLIDATED FREE CASH FLOW FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS(Dollars in thousands)(Unaudited)

 

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO ADJUSTED OPERATING CASH FLOW(a)

       

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

2015     2014   Operating income $ 223,751 $ 207,083 Share-based compensation expense 11,911 11,906 Restructuring expense (credits)

(532)

1,015 Depreciation and amortization 218,900 214,285 Adjusted operating cash flow $ 454,030 $ 434,289    

CONSOLIDATED FREE CASH FLOW FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS(a)

        Three Months Ended March 31, 2015     2014     Net cash provided by operating activities(b) $ 215,334 $ 283,682 Add: excess tax benefits related to share-based awards 275 488 Less: capital expenditures(c) (166,631) (186,075) Consolidated free cash flow from continuing operations $ 48,978 $ 98,095   (a)   See Non-GAAP Financial Measures on page 3 of this release for a definition and discussion of AOCF and Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations. (b) The level of net cash provided by operating activities will continue to depend on a number of variables in addition to our operating performance, including the amount and timing of our interest payments and other working capital items. (c) See page 10 of this release for additional details relating to capital expenditures.  

 

CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATIONCONSOLIDATED RESULTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS(Dollars in thousands)(Unaudited)

 

REVENUES, NET

        Three Months Ended March 31,     % 2015     2014 Change   Cable $ 1,451,538 $ 1,417,148 2.4 % Lightpath 91,124 86,754 5.0 % Other(a) 81,780 81,482 0.4 % Eliminations(b) (9,671) (9,798) 1.3 % Total Cablevision $ 1,614,771 $ 1,575,586 2.5 %    

ADJUSTED OPERATING CASH FLOW AND OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

       

Adjusted OperatingCash Flow

       

Operating Income (Loss)

   

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

%

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

% 2015     2014 Change 2015     2014 Change   Cable $ 446,555 $ 443,032 0.8 % $ 252,099 $ 249,621 1.0 % Lightpath 43,395 38,483 12.8 % 19,275 17,464 10.4 % Other(c) (35,920) (47,226) 23.9 % (47,623) (60,002) 20.6 % Total Cablevision $ 454,030 $ 434,289 4.5 % $ 223,751 $ 207,083 8.0 %   (a)   Represents revenues of Newsday, News 12 Networks, Cablevision Media Sales Corporation and certain other entities. (b) Represents inter-segment revenues. (c) Includes unallocated corporate general and administrative costs and the operating results of Newsday, News 12 Networks, Cablevision Media Sales Corporation, and certain other entities.    

CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATIONSUMMARY OF CABLE OPERATING STATISTICS(Unaudited)

 

CABLE

     

March 31,2015

   

December 31,2014

   

March 31,2014

  (in thousands) Total Customers(a)

 

3,112

 

3,118

 

3,186

Video Customers

 

2,653

 

2,681

 

2,799

High-Speed Data Customers

 

2,767

 

2,760

 

2,788

Voice Customers

 

2,215

 

2,229

 

2,280

                              Serviceable Passings (in thousands)(b)

 

5,055

 

5,046

 

5,048

  Penetration Total Customers to Serviceable Passings 61.6% 61.8% 63.1% Video Customers to Serviceable Passings 52.5% 53.1% 55.4% High-Speed Data Customers to Serviceable Passings 54.7% 54.7% 55.2% Voice Customers to Serviceable Passings 43.8% 44.2% 45.2%                               Revenues for the three months ended

(dollars in millions)

  Video(c) $ 801 $ 788 $ 793 High-Speed Data 363 359 347 Voice 232 230 220 Advertising 31 48 32 Other(d)   25   29   25 Total Cable Revenue $ 1,452 $ 1,454 $ 1,417                              

Average Monthly Cable Revenue per Customer (“RPC”)(e)

$

155.34

$

155.20

$

148.22

  (a)   Represents the number of households/businesses that receive at least one of the Company's services. (b) Includes residential passings, as well as commercial establishments that have connected to our cable distribution network. (c) Includes equipment rental, DVR, franchise fees, video-on-demand and pay-per-view revenue. (d) Includes installation revenue, advertising sales commissions, home shopping and other product offerings. (e) RPC is calculated by dividing average monthly Cable GAAP revenue for the quarter by the average number of total customers for the quarter.    

CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATIONCAPITALIZATION AND LEVERAGE(Dollars in thousands)(Unaudited)

 

CAPITALIZATION

        March 31, 2015   Cash and cash equivalents $ 884,422   Credit facility debt $ 2,765,430 Senior notes and debentures 5,857,019 Collateralized indebtedness 1,033,040 Capital lease obligations and notes payable 63,889 Debt $ 9,719,378    

LEVERAGE

  Debt $ 9,719,378 Less: Collateralized indebtedness of unrestricted subsidiaries(a) 1,033,040

Cash and cash equivalents

884,422

Net debt

$ 7,801,916   Leverage Ratios(b) Consolidated net debt to AOCF leverage ratio(a)(c) 4.3x Restricted Group leverage ratio (Credit Facility Test)(d)(e) 2.9x CSC Holdings notes and debentures leverage ratio(e)(f) 3.2x Cablevision senior notes leverage ratio(e)(g) 5.0x   (a)   Collateralized indebtedness is excluded from the leverage calculation because it is viewed as a forward sale of the stock of an unaffiliated company and the Company's only obligation at maturity is to deliver, at its option, the stock or its cash equivalent. (b) Leverage ratios are based on face amount of outstanding debt. (c) AOCF is annualized based on the first quarter 2015 results, as reported. (d) Reflects the net debt to cash flow ratio as defined in the CSC Holdings’ credit facility debt agreement (which excludes approximately $2.8 billion of Cablevision’s senior notes and the debt and cash flows related to CSC Holdings’ unrestricted subsidiaries). The annualized AOCF (as defined) used in the Restricted Group leverage ratio was $1.878 billion. (e) Includes CSC Holdings’ guarantee of Newsday LLC’s $480 million senior secured credit facility. (f) Reflects the debt to cash flow ratio applicable under CSC Holdings' senior notes and debentures indentures (which excludes approximately $2.8 billion of Cablevision’s senior notes and the debt and cash flows related to CSC Holdings’ unrestricted subsidiaries). The annualized AOCF (as defined) used in the CSC Holdings notes and debentures leverage ratio was $1.878 billion. (g) Adjusts the debt to cash flow ratio as calculated under the CSC Holdings notes and debentures leverage ratio to include approximately $2.8 billion of Cablevision’s senior notes plus $611 million of Cablevision’s senior notes that were contributed to Newsday Holdings LLC.    

CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATIONCAPITAL EXPENDITURES(Dollars in thousands)(Unaudited)

       

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

2015     2014     Customer premise equipment $ 42,593 $ 56,804 Scalable infrastructure 39,983 46,829 Line extensions 6,481 1,236 Upgrade/rebuild 12,141 7,619 Support 32,373 32,837 Cable 133,571 145,325 Lightpath 23,732 26,870 Other(a) 9,328 13,880 Total Cablevision $ 166,631 $ 186,075  

(a) Other primarily includes Newsday, News 12 Networks, Cablevision Media Sales Corporation and Corporate.

Cablevision Systems CorporationCharles Schueler, 516-803-1013Executive Vice PresidentMedia and Community RelationsorCindi Buckwalter, 516-803-2264Senior Vice PresidentInvestor Relations