The upfront TV advertising market will kick off in May as usual despite dire protestations during the writer’s strike that it would be a casualty of a new post-strike business model for broadcast and cable networks. NBC is saying it will not participate as usual but all the rest of the major broadcast and cable […]
https://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gif00Steve Birenberghttps://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gifSteve Birenberg2008-03-20 13:43:202026-03-17 16:58:30Previewing The TV Upfront
Catching up some email, I found a couple of interesting pieces on the major media companies from Merrill Lynch analyst and my friend, Jessica Reif Cohen. Back in early March, Jessica noted that as a group the media companies she follows reported 4Q07 earnings ahead of her estimates. Her universe had revenue growth of 15% […]
https://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gif00Steve Birenberghttps://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gifSteve Birenberg2008-03-19 09:35:522026-03-17 16:58:30Big Media Fundamentals Holding Up For Now
I was quite pleased with the 4Q07 results, 2008 guidance, and conference call from American Apparel (APP), which reported after the close last night. The consensus I was using consisted of just one analyst so it wasn’t really meaningful. Just three analysts asked questions on the call but they were enthusiastic, asked a lot of […]
https://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gif00Steve Birenberghttps://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gifSteve Birenberg2008-03-18 09:32:492026-03-17 16:58:30Good News From American Apparel But Stock Remains Under Pressure
Central European Media Enterprises (CETV) shares have steadied since the sharp fall last week following announcement and pricing of their convertible deal. The timing on the convert was terrible coming in the midst of the market’s meltdown. I think the fact that it included a complicated capped call transaction made folks shutter as complicated is […]
For 2008, I have treated myself to a subscription to SNL Kagan. Kagan is a long-time research firm focusing on media with a great reputation. They don’t care if I mention their research, in fact they encourage it. This week in their Media Money newsletter, Kagan looks at the windows between movies in theatres and […]
https://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gif00Steve Birenberghttps://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gifSteve Birenberg2008-03-12 08:51:112026-03-17 16:58:30Watching Movie Windows
The weekend box office fell by 33% against what is probably the toughest comparison it will face until May. The box office has now declined for 5 straight weekends but remains up almost 7% year to date. Comps may remain negative for a few more weeks but the rate of decline should moderate significantly. Analyst […]
The UK newspaper The Observer is reporting that it has seen a new memo outlining possible private equity approaches to Virgin Media. VMED has been a rumored private target for some time and it is generally accepted that private equity made an offer in upper $20s or low $30s over a year ago. VMED is […]
https://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gif00Steve Birenberghttps://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gifSteve Birenberg2008-03-10 15:20:542026-03-17 16:58:30Virgin Media Back In Private Equity Game?
Reuters is reporting that theatre chains representing 40% of North American screens and the major movie studios have finally agreed to a financing plan to upgrade 14,000 movie screens to digital and 3-D capable technology. The upgrade will cost about $1.1 billion or $70,000 to $75,000 per screen. Studios, theatres, and other content providers would […]
https://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gif00Steve Birenberghttps://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gifSteve Birenberg2008-03-10 15:19:552026-03-17 16:58:31Studios and Theatres Finalize Plans for Digital Upgrade
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) released its package of theatrical market statistics for 2007 last week. Most of the data I have already recounted in my many updates about the box office. However, there is some interesting data, especially as it relates to the major movie studios which are owned by Disney, News […]
Within traditional media, the newspaper and radio industries have been in their own recession for some time. TV is better off for now. Both newspapers and radio are in secular decline due to two major trends. First, the internet is stealing market share from traditional advertising. Newspapers are especially hurt by this trend as classified […]
https://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gif00Steve Birenberghttps://northlakecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/nl_logo.gifSteve Birenberg2008-03-07 11:21:422026-03-17 16:58:31Newspapers and Radio Ad Markets Remain Troubled
Previewing The TV Upfront
The upfront TV advertising market will kick off in May as usual despite dire protestations during the writer’s strike that it would be a casualty of a new post-strike business model for broadcast and cable networks. NBC is saying it will not participate as usual but all the rest of the major broadcast and cable […]
Big Media Fundamentals Holding Up For Now
Catching up some email, I found a couple of interesting pieces on the major media companies from Merrill Lynch analyst and my friend, Jessica Reif Cohen. Back in early March, Jessica noted that as a group the media companies she follows reported 4Q07 earnings ahead of her estimates. Her universe had revenue growth of 15% […]
Good News From American Apparel But Stock Remains Under Pressure
I was quite pleased with the 4Q07 results, 2008 guidance, and conference call from American Apparel (APP), which reported after the close last night. The consensus I was using consisted of just one analyst so it wasn’t really meaningful. Just three analysts asked questions on the call but they were enthusiastic, asked a lot of […]
CETV Presents At Bear Stearns Conference
Central European Media Enterprises (CETV) shares have steadied since the sharp fall last week following announcement and pricing of their convertible deal. The timing on the convert was terrible coming in the midst of the market’s meltdown. I think the fact that it included a complicated capped call transaction made folks shutter as complicated is […]
Watching Movie Windows
For 2008, I have treated myself to a subscription to SNL Kagan. Kagan is a long-time research firm focusing on media with a great reputation. They don’t care if I mention their research, in fact they encourage it. This week in their Media Money newsletter, Kagan looks at the windows between movies in theatres and […]
Weekend Box Office and Weather Channel Updates
The weekend box office fell by 33% against what is probably the toughest comparison it will face until May. The box office has now declined for 5 straight weekends but remains up almost 7% year to date. Comps may remain negative for a few more weeks but the rate of decline should moderate significantly. Analyst […]
Virgin Media Back In Private Equity Game?
The UK newspaper The Observer is reporting that it has seen a new memo outlining possible private equity approaches to Virgin Media. VMED has been a rumored private target for some time and it is generally accepted that private equity made an offer in upper $20s or low $30s over a year ago. VMED is […]
Studios and Theatres Finalize Plans for Digital Upgrade
Reuters is reporting that theatre chains representing 40% of North American screens and the major movie studios have finally agreed to a financing plan to upgrade 14,000 movie screens to digital and 3-D capable technology. The upgrade will cost about $1.1 billion or $70,000 to $75,000 per screen. Studios, theatres, and other content providers would […]
Final Wrap-Up of 2007 Box Office
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) released its package of theatrical market statistics for 2007 last week. Most of the data I have already recounted in my many updates about the box office. However, there is some interesting data, especially as it relates to the major movie studios which are owned by Disney, News […]
Newspapers and Radio Ad Markets Remain Troubled
Within traditional media, the newspaper and radio industries have been in their own recession for some time. TV is better off for now. Both newspapers and radio are in secular decline due to two major trends. First, the internet is stealing market share from traditional advertising. Newspapers are especially hurt by this trend as classified […]