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VSNT · Versant Media Group, Inc.

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$39.65 +0.74 (+1.90%) At close · Aug 14
Market Cap
$5.27B
Shares
139.17M
All earnings calls

Earnings call · FY2025 Q4

Versant Media Group, Inc. Q4 FY2025 Earnings Call

Versant Media Group, Inc. Q4 FY2025 Earnings Call

Concluded Mar 3, 2026 Audio replay
Mar 3, 2026 41:00 45 turns
Period
FY2025 Q4
Runtime
41:00
Sources
4 artifacts

Executive readout · one minute

What matters this quarter

Versant reported 2025 revenue of $6.69 billion, $930 million in net income, and $2.42 billion in Adjusted EBITDA as a newly independent company, while initiating a $0.375 quarterly dividend and authorizing a $1 billion share repurchase program.

Direct-to-consumer and digital platform expansion 66 Pay TV secular pressure and distribution 17 Standalone company transition and execution 13 Content leadership and live programming 11 Acquisitions and portfolio expansion 10 Revenue mix shift beyond pay TV 9

Management tone

Confident

Net tone +55 · moderate hedging

Grounding quotes
  • “We are pleased to report Versant's 2025 operating and financial results as an independent, well-positioned media and entertainment company.”
  • “We enter this next chapter from a position of strength; we are profitable, scaled, and disciplined.”
  • “The rate of cord-cutting has not worsened; we expect it to remain about the same as what we've experienced for some time, at a high single-digit rate, which is countered by some contractual rate increases.”
  • “Our Board has declared the company's first dividend and has also approved a $1 billion share repurchase authorization.”

Research coverage

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Key takeaways

What improved, and what deserves a closer read.

Constructive signals

  • Approved $1 billion share repurchase authorization and declared first quarterly cash dividend of $0.375 per share.
  • Generated $930 million of net income attributable to Versant and $2.42 billion of Adjusted EBITDA in 2025.
  • Non-pay TV revenue mix increased to 19% in 2025 from 17% in 2024, with a target of 33% over the next 3 to 5 years.
  • Launching new CNBC direct-to-consumer subscription service and an MS NOW direct-to-consumer platform later this year.
  • GolfNow booked a record 40 million tee-times across 9,000 courses globally; Golf Channel extended USGA partnership through 2032.
  • Fandango ad-supported streaming service launching later this year, leveraging existing brand and installed base.

Risks & pressure points

  • Total revenue declined approximately 5% year-over-year to $6.69 billion, driven by ongoing secular pressure in pay TV.
  • Expect high single-digit rate of cord-cutting to persist in 2026, pressuring distribution revenue.
  • Approximately 16% of subscribers are up for renewal, leaving a portion of distribution vulnerable to secular headwinds and skinny package dynamics.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margins face continued pressure from the pay TV secular decline noted as the primary revenue headwind.

Key moments

Jump directly to management's words in the synchronized transcript.

“We are committed to continue investing in the business and returning capital to shareholders. Our Board has declared the company's first dividend and has also approved a $1 billion share repurchase authorization. This program reflects our confidence in the business and our strong balance sheet, which provides us the flexibility to invest in growth while also delivering meaningful shareholder returns.” Mark Lazarus, CEO
“We expect revenue between $6.15 billion and $6.4 billion supported by midterm political advertising and new product initiatives. We expect adjusted EBITDA between $1.85 billion and $2 billion as we continue to invest in growth with some quarterly volatility caused by sports rights timing, particularly in the second half.” Speaker 3, CFO

Quarter detail

How the reported period landed and where the business moved.

Capital returned

Dividend / share
$0.38
Full-screen source Call document