Nexstar Media Group Reports Second Quarter Net Revenue of $1.23 Billion

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) ("Nexstar" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 as summarized below. Please visit Nexstar’s website to view the full press release.

“Second quarter 2025 marked another solid quarter of financial results for Nexstar… Our operational milestones during the quarter highlight the success of our network growth strategies both at The CW and NewsNation.”

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STATEMENT FROM PERRY A. SOOK, FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN AND CEO

“Second quarter 2025 marked another solid quarter of financial results for Nexstar. As expected, our year-over-year results were primarily impacted by lower non-election year political advertising revenue, offset, in part, by strong expense management. Our operational milestones during the quarter highlight the success of our network growth strategies both at The CW and NewsNation. According to Nielsen, in the first half of 2025, The CW ascended to the #8-ranked network overall, reflecting five consecutive quarters of primetime ratings growth and the success of our strategic pivot to sports programming which now accounts for over 40% of The CW’s programming hours. At NewsNation, shortly after celebrating its one-year anniversary as a 24/7 cable news network, Nielsen ranked NewsNation as the fastest growing network overall year-over-year. Looking ahead, we remain optimistic about the prospect for regulatory reform, completing our upcoming distribution renewals, and capitalizing on the 2026 mid-term election political advertising opportunity.”

2025 Second Quarter Financial Summary

Company and Business Highlights

• Completed refinancings for the revolving credit facilities, Term Loan A and Term Loan B of wholly owned subsidiary, Nexstar Media Inc., and variable interest entity, Mission Broadcasting, Inc., further strengthening the Company’s capital structure and financial flexibility by extending maturities, reducing interest rate margin and providing expanded capacity under Nexstar’s revolver.
• Received shareholder approval for all proposals at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting including electing all nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors; affirming the executive compensation of Named Executive Officers, with approximately 95.5% shareholder support; and, ratifying the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Nexstar’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025.
• Celebrated NewsNation’s one-year anniversary of expanding its news programming to 24/7 in April. In June, NewsNation was ranked the #1 basic cable network for year-over-year growth with overall viewership growing nearly 50% and by 67% among adults aged 25-54 according to Nielsen.
• The CW achieved five consecutive quarters of audience growth, making it the #8 network in total audience for the first half of 2025.
• Continued to build sports programming at The CW, renewing our agreement with the Pac-12 Conference to nationally broadcast nine college football games this fall, including a “New Pac-12” double feature on Saturday, September 6, showcasing schools joining the expanded Pac-12 Conference next year and announcing a multi-year partnership with the Professional Bowlers Association to air ten live events on Sunday afternoons beginning in 2026.
• Finalized agreements to move three additional CW affiliations to Nexstar stations in September 2025 in Charlotte, NC, Erie, PA and Elmira, NY.
• Earned 52 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for outstanding journalism and exceptional locally produced news programming from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA).

Financial Highlights

• Net Revenue. Second quarter net revenue of $1.23 billion, declined $40 million year-over-year, or (3.2%), primarily due to reduced political advertising revenue.
• Distribution Revenue. Second quarter distribution revenue of $733 million, decreased $1 million, or (0.1%), versus the comparable prior year quarter. Distribution revenue primarily reflects the modest number of subscribers renewed in 2024 compared to 2023 and MVPD subscriber attrition, partially offset by increased rates and other contractual commitments, growth in vMVPD subscribers, and the addition of CW affiliations on certain of our stations.
• Advertising Revenue. Second quarter advertising revenue of $475 million, decreased $47 million, or (9.0%), from the comparable prior year quarter, primarily reflecting a $36 million decrease in political advertising to $9 million, as well as a $11 million reduction, or (2.5%), in non-political advertising revenue due to television advertising market softness.
• Net Income. Second quarter net income of $91 million decreased $15 million, or (14.2%), compared to the prior year quarter, primarily reflecting lower revenue, increased one-time corporate expenses from the Company’s debt refinancing, and reduced income from equity investments related to the performance of the TV Food Network LLC (“TVFN”) in which we have a 31.3% interest, offset, in part, by lower amortization of broadcast rights at The CW and lower interest expense, income tax and operating expenses. Net Income margin decreased to 7.4% from 8.4% in the comparable prior year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA. Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $389 million, decreased $25 million, or (6.0%), compared to the prior year quarter primarily reflecting lower revenue and reduced income from equity method investments primarily from TVFN versus the prior year. The decrease was offset, in part, by lower amortization of broadcast rights at The CW and lower operating expenses resulting from our recent restructuring initiatives. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 31.7% compared to 32.6% in the comparable prior year period.
• Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities. Second quarter Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities of $247 million, increased $71 million, or 40.3%, compared to the prior year quarter, due primarily to changes in operating assets and liabilities reflecting the timing of receipts and payments, offset, in part, by a reduction in net income excluding other non-cash items.
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow. Second quarter Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $101 million, increased $24 million, or 31.2%, compared to the prior year quarter, due primarily to lower interest expense from reduced SOFR and debt reduction, lower capital expenditures, lower cash taxes and lower operating expenses, offset, in part, by lower advertising revenues.

Capital Allocation

• In the second quarter of 2025, the Company used cash on hand and cash flow from operations to repay $101 million of debt, pay $56 million in dividends, and repurchase 311,998 shares of Nexstar’s common stock at an average price of approximately $159.71 per share for a total of $50 million.

Debt, Cash and Leverage

• As of June 30, 2025, the consolidated debt of Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting, Inc., an independently owned variable interest entity, was $6.4 billion, including senior secured debt of $3.7 billion.
• The Company calculates its leverage ratios in accordance with the terms of its credit agreements which exclude The CW Network’s operations and cash balance. In connection with the Company’s June 2025 refinancing, the Company updated its leverage ratio calculation and definition to reflect the average of the last two years of EBITDA to better reflect the Company’s business cycle which benefits from additional political advertising revenue in election years. As of June 30, 2025, The CW Network had $23 million of cash on its balance sheet.
  • As of June 30, 2025, the Company’s first lien net leverage ratio was 1.81x (new definition) compared to a covenant of 4.25x and its total net leverage ratio was 3.19x (new definition).
• The table below summarizes the Company’s cash balances and debt obligations (net of financing costs, discounts and/or premiums) as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

Second Quarter Conference Call

Nexstar will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today. Senior management will discuss the financial results and host a question-and-answer session. The dial in number for the audio conference call is +1 877-407-9208 or +1 201-493-6784, conference ID 13753994 (domestic and international callers). Participants can also listen to a live webcast of the call through the “Events and Presentations” section under “Investor Relations” on Nexstar’s website at nexstar.tv. A webcast replay will be available for 90 days following the live event at nexstar.tv.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements include information preceded by, followed by, or that includes the words "guidance," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "could," or similar expressions. For these statements, Nexstar claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication, concerning, among other things, future financial performance, including changes in net revenue, operating expenses and cash flow, involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors, including the impact of changes in national and regional economies, the ability to service and refinance our outstanding debt, successful integration of business acquisitions (including achievement of synergies and cost reductions), pricing fluctuations in local and national advertising, future regulatory actions and conditions in the television stations' operating areas, competition from others in the broadcast television markets, volatility in programming costs, the effects of governmental regulation of broadcasting, industry consolidation, technological developments and major world news events. Nexstar undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this communication might not occur. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. For more details on factors that could affect these expectations, please see Nexstar’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Definitions and Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income, plus or (minus): transaction, other one-time and restructuring expenses, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization expense (excluding amortization of broadcast rights), amortization of basis difference of equity method investments, (gain) loss on asset disposal, impairment charges, interest expense, net, pension and other postretirement plans costs (credit), income tax expense (benefit) and other operating and non-operating expense (income). We consider Adjusted EBITDA to be an indicator of our assets’ operating performance.

Free Cash Flow is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow is calculated as Free Cash Flow plus or (minus): transaction, other one-time and restructuring expenses, changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions (excluding changes in income tax payable), taxes paid on sale of assets, pension and other postretirement plans costs (credit), (payments) for capitalized software obligations, proceeds from disposal of assets and insurance recoveries and other expense (income), cash contribution from (distribution to) noncontrolling interests and other items. We consider Adjusted Free Cash Flow to be an indicator of our liquidity. We consider Adjusted Free Cash Flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business that can be available for use in ongoing operations, debt payments, pension contributions, dividends, share repurchases, acquisitions and other items. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is not intended to represent the amount of cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as certain items and non-discretionary expenditures, such as changes in working capital, mandatory debt service requirements and pension contributions, are not deducted from this measure.

For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measurements to the GAAP financial results cited in this news announcement, please see the supplemental tables at the end of this release.

About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms, including more than 316,000 hours of programming produced annually by its business units. Nexstar owns America’s largest local television broadcasting group comprised of top network affiliates, with more than 200 owned or partner stations in 116 U.S. markets reaching 220 million people. Nexstar’s national television properties include The CW, America’s fifth major broadcast network, NewsNation, our national news network providing “News for All Americans,” popular entertainment multicast networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV, and a 31.3% ownership stake in TV Food Network. The Company’s portfolio of digital assets, including its local TV station websites, The Hill and NewsNationNow.com, are collectively a Top 10 U.S. digital news and information property. For more information, please visit nexstar.tv.