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XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2008 Results

Posted : Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:01:35 GMT
Author : XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.
Category : Press Release
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Net Loss Narrows on Increased Revenue and Lower Subscriber Acquisition Costs Fifth Consecutive Quarter of Record Automotive Additions
WASHINGTON, July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: XMSR) today announced earnings for the three-month period ended June 30, 2008. Revenue for the second quarter 2008 rose to $318 million, a nearly 15 percent increase over second quarter 2007 revenue of $277 million.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070313/XMLOGO )
XM ended second quarter 2008 with 9.65 million subscribers, a 17 percent increase, compared to 8.25 million subscribers at the end of second quarter 2007. This growth was driven, in part, by a 39 percent year-over-year increase in the number of gross additions through the automotive (OEM) channel. Second quarter 2008 OEM gross additions were 857 thousand, the company's fifth consecutive quarter of record OEM gross additions. This compared to 618 thousand OEM gross additions in second quarter 2007.
In second quarter 2008, XM reported total gross additions of 1.08 million, and 322 thousand net subscriber additions, compared to 942 thousand gross additions and 338 thousand net subscriber additions in second quarter 2007. Net OEM subscriber additions of 360 thousand in the second quarter more than offset a loss of 38 thousand net retail subscribers.
Second quarter 2008 adjusted operating loss narrowed to $37 million, compared to a loss of $47 million in second quarter 2007. XM's second quarter 2008 net loss improved to $120 million, compared to a second quarter 2007 net loss of $176 million. For a reconciliation of XM's net loss to adjusted operating loss, see the attached financial schedules.
In second quarter 2008, XM's subscriber acquisition costs (SAC), a component of cost per gross addition (CPGA), improved year over year to $65, compared to $75 in second quarter 2007. CPGA in the second quarter was $100 and compares to $121 in the second quarter 2007.
XM continued to maintain stability in the key operating metrics of conversion rate and churn, both of which improved year over year. Second quarter 2008 conversion was 53.4 percent, compared to second quarter 2007 conversion of 52.7 percent. Second quarter 2008 churn improved to 1.67 percent, compared to second quarter 2007 churn of 1.84 percent.
XM announced its preliminary results for second quarter 2008 yesterday in connection with an offering of senior notes associated with XM's pending merger with SIRIUS.
About XM
XM (Nasdaq: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 9.6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2008 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.
XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2008. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. XM programming is also available through XM Radio Online, as downloads of original XM shows via podcasts from XM's Web site or the Apple's iTunes Store, and as streams of commercial-free XM music channels to AT&T and Alltel wireless customers through XM Radio Mobile. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com/.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio's service, our significant expenditures and losses, our dependence on technology and third party vendors, our potential need for additional financing, the health of our satellites, the impact of our proposed merger with SIRIUS, our substantial indebtedness as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 7-21-08. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.


 XM SATELLITE RADIO HOLDINGS INC.
  UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 (in thousands, except   Three months endedSix months ended
  share and per share  June 30, June 30,
  data)   2008 2007 20082007

 Revenue:
   Subscription$284,136 $245,778 $559,862$482,264
   Activation 5,0444,766   10,188   9,419
   Merchandise7,4915,658   11,812  10,955
   Net ad sales  10,432   10,153   19,550  17,631
   Other 10,932   10,921   25,078  21,118
 Total revenue  318,035  277,276  626,490 541,387
 Operating expenses:
   Cost of revenue
(excludes
depreciation &
amortization, shown
below):
 Revenue share &
  royalties  73,586   49,723  142,408  97,149
 Customer care &
  billing operations (1) 36,388   30,749   70,698  58,677
 Cost of merchandise  9,055   12,694   17,606  30,970
 Ad sales (1) 4,8795,4809,583   8,866
 Satellite &
  terrestrial (1)13,472   13,472   26,653  27,354
 Broadcast & operations:
   Broadcast (1)  6,3086,885   13,269  13,429
   Operations (1)11,0269,683   21,516  19,399
 Total broadcast &
  operations 17,334   16,568   34,785  32,828
 Programming &
  content (1)49,604   41,827  101,166  85,779
   Total cost of revenue204,318  170,513  402,899 341,623
   Research & development
(excludes depreciation
& amortization,
shown below) (1)  9,4148,159   20,435  15,469
   General & administrative
(excludes depreciation
& amortization, shown
below) (1)   30,989   35,869   61,719  70,053
   Marketing (excludes
depreciation &
amortization, shown
below):
   Retention &
support (1)  11,032   10,618   22,829  20,374
   Subsidies &
distribution 69,193   63,855  140,717 107,457
   Advertising &
marketing36,865   43,244   63,367  76,053
 Marketing  117,090  117,717  226,913 203,884
 Amortization of GM
  liability   6,5046,504   13,007  13,008
   Total marketing  123,594  124,221  239,920 216,892
   Depreciation &
amortization 32,438   46,506   77,921  93,387
 Total operating
  expenses (1)  400,753  385,268  802,894 737,424
 Operating loss (82,718)(107,992)(176,404)   (196,037)
 Other income
  (expense):
   Interest income  7434,2382,419   7,781
   Interest expense (30,480) (32,423) (59,807)(60,032)
   Loss from de-leveraging
transactions  ---  (2,965)
   Loss from impairment
of investments-  (35,824)   - (35,824)
   Equity in net loss
of affiliate (4,373)  (2,752)  (8,550) (8,177)
   Minority interest (3,153)  (3,266)  (6,390) (4,962)
   Other income   1,082  413  895 856
 Net loss before income
  taxes(118,899)(177,606)(247,837)   (299,360)
   (Provision for)
benefit from
deferred income
taxes  (673)   1,859   (1,004)  1,175
 Net loss $(119,572)   $(175,747)   $(248,841)  $(298,185)
 Net loss per common
  share - basic and
  diluted (0.38)   (0.57)   (0.80)  (0.97)
 Weighted average
  shares used in
  computing net loss
  per common share -
  basic and diluted 310,886,180  306,425,375  310,283,700 306,154,565

 Reconciliation of Net
  loss to Adjusted
  operating loss:
   Net loss as reported   $(119,572)   $(175,747)   $(248,841)  $(298,185)
 Add back Net loss
  items excluded from
  Adjusted operating
  loss:
   Interest income (743)  (4,238)  (2,419) (7,781)
   Interest expense  30,480   32,423   59,807  60,032
   Provision for (benefit
from) deferred
income taxes673   (1,859)   1,004  (1,175)
   Loss from
de-leveraging
transactions  ---   2,965
   Equity in net loss
of affiliate  4,3732,7528,550   8,177
   Minority interest  3,1533,2666,390   4,962
   Other income  (1,082)(413)(895)   (856)
 Operating loss (82,718)(107,992)(176,404)   (196,037)
   Depreciation &
amortization 32,438   46,506   77,921  93,387
   Share-based payment
expense  12,947   14,080   30,451  28,211
 Adjusted operating
  loss (3) $(37,333)$(47,406)$(68,032)   $(74,439)


 Footnotes:

 (1) These captions
 include non-cash
 share-based payment  Three months ended   Six months ended
 expense as follows:   June 30, June 30,
 (in thousands)   2008 2007 20082007

 Customer care &
  billing operations   $752 $497   $1,641$937
 Ad sales   436  4601,044 816
 Satellite &
  terrestrial   447  4911,089   1,010
 Broadcast  558  6061,351   1,206
 Operations 359  351  829 729
 Programming &
  content 1,8202,0614,363   4,227
 Research &
  development 1,7021,7164,164   3,442
 General &
  administrative  4,6865,829   10,737  11,878
 Retention & support  2,1872,0695,233   3,966
   Total share-based
payment expense $12,947  $14,080  $30,451 $28,211


 (2) Adjusted operating loss is net loss before interest income, interest
 expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, loss from
 de-leveraging transactions, loss from impairment of investments,
 equity in net loss of affiliate, minority interest, other income
 (expense) and share-based payment expense. This non-GAAP measure
 should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the
 analysis provided in the statement of operations. We believe Adjusted
 operating loss is a useful measure of our operating performance and
 improves comparability between periods. Adjusted operating loss is a
 significant basis used by management to measure our success in
 acquiring, retaining and servicing subscribers because we believe
 this measure provides insight into our ability to grow revenues in a
 cost-effective manner. We believe Adjusted operating loss is a
 calculation used as a basis for investors, analysts and credit rating
 agencies to evaluate and compare the periodic and future operating
 performances and value of our company and similar companies in our
 industry.

 Because we have funded the build-out of our system through the
 raising and expenditure of large amounts of capital, our results of
 operations reflect significant charges for depreciation, amortization
 and interest expense. We believe Adjusted operating loss provides
 helpful information about the operating performance of our business
 apart from the expenses associated with our physical plant or capital
 structure. We believe it is appropriate to exclude depreciation,
 amortization and interest expense due to the variability of the
 timing of capital expenditures, estimated useful lives and
 fluctuation in interest rates. We exclude income taxes due to our tax
 losses and timing differences, so that certain periods will reflect a
 tax benefit, while others an expense, neither of which is reflective
 of our operating results. Because of the variety of equity awards
 used by companies, the varying methodologies for determining
 share-based payment expense and the subjective assumptions involved
 in those determinations, we believe excluding share-based payment
 expense enhances the ability of management and investors to compare
 our core operating results with those of similar companies in our
 industry.

 Equity in net loss of affiliate represents our share of losses in a
 non-US affiliate in a similar business and over which we exercise
 significant influence, but do not control. Management believes it is
 appropriate to exclude this loss when evaluating the performance of
 our own operations. Additionally, we exclude loss from de-leveraging
 transactions, loss from impairment of investments, minority interest
 and other income (expense) because these items represent activity
 outside of our core business operations and can distort period to
 period comparisons of operating performance.

 There are limitations associated with the use of Adjusted operating
 loss in evaluating our company compared with net loss, which reflects
 overall financial performance. Adjusted operating loss does not
 reflect the impact on our financial results of (i) interest income,
 (ii) interest expense, (iii) income taxes, (iv) depreciation and
 amortization, (v) loss from de-leveraging transactions, (vi) loss
 from impairment of investments, (vii) equity in net loss of
 affiliate, (viii) minority interest, (ix) other income (expense) and
 (x) share-based payment expense, which are included in the
 computation of net loss. Users that wish to compare and evaluate our
 company based on our net loss should refer to our Consolidated
 Statements of Operations. Adjusted operating loss does not purport to
 represent operating loss or cash flow from operating activities, as
 those terms are defined under United States generally accepted
 accounting principles, and should not be considered as an alternative
 to those measurements as an indicator of our performance. In
 addition, our measure of Adjusted operating loss may not be
 comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.



 XM SATELLITE RADIO HOLDINGS INC.
 SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING METRICS

  As of
(in thousands)   June 30, 2008   December 31, 2007
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA(Unaudited)

  Cash and cash equivalents$183,853  $156,686
  System under construction 166,786   151,142
  Property and equipment, net   660,274   710,370
  DARS license  141,412   141,412
  Investments37,19236,981
  Total assets1,723,886 1,609,230
  Total subscriber deferred revenue 547,377   514,926
  Total deferred income 132,992   134,803
  Long-term debt, net of current portion  1,480,226 1,480,639
  Total liabilities   2,868,158 2,533,787
  Stockholders' deficit  (1,204,472) (984,303)

   Three months ended June 30,
SELECTED OPERATING METRICS 2008   2007(15)

  Subscriber Data (in thousands,
   except percentages):
OEM Gross Subscriber Additions (1)  857   618
Retail Gross Subscriber Additions (2) (12)  224   323
  Total Gross Subscriber Additions (12)   1,081   942

OEM Net Subscriber Additions (3)360   295
Retail Net Subscriber Additions (4) (38)   43
  Total Net Subscriber Additions322   338

Conversion Rate (5)   53.4% 52.7%
Monthly Churn Rate (6) (12)   1.67% 1.84%

OEM Subscribers   4,178 3,047
Retail Subscribers (13)   4,433 4,459
Subscribers in OEM Promotional Periods  876   649
XM Activated Vehicles with Rental Car
 Companies   9040
Data Services Subscribers5840
Outsourced Commercial Subscribers (13)   1817
  Total Ending Subscribers (7)9,653 8,252


Percentage of Ending Subscribers on Annual
 and Multi-Year Plans (12)44.7% 43.6%
Percentage of Ending Subscribers on Family
 Plans (12)   22.7% 23.5%

  Revenue Data (monthly average):
Subscription Revenue per Retail, OEM &
 Other Subscriber (8) (14)   $10.31$10.37
Subscription Revenue per Subscriber in
 OEM Promotional Periods  $5.68 $6.18
Subscription Revenue per XM Activated
 Vehicle with Rental Car Companies$6.02 $7.07
Subscription Revenue per Subscriber of
 Data Services   $33.40$33.96

Average Monthly Subscription Revenue
 per Subscriber ("ARPU") (9) (14) $9.98$10.15
Net Ad Sales Revenue per Subscriber   $0.37 $0.42
Activation, Merchandise and Other Revenue
 per Subscriber (14)  $0.81 $0.88
  Total Revenue per Subscriber   $11.16$11.45

  Expense Data:
Subscriber Acquisition Costs ("SAC")
 (10) (12)  $65   $75
Cost Per Gross Addition ("CPGA") (11) (12) $100  $121

(Certain totals may not add due to
   the effects of rounding)
Footnotes:
(1) OEM gross subscriber additions are paying subscribers newly activated
in the reporting period and include Subscribers in OEM promotional
periods as well as XM activated vehicles with rental car companies.

(2) Retail gross subscriber additions are paying subscribers newly
activated in the reporting period and include Data services
subscribers and commercial subscribers for 2007 only.

(3) OEM net subscriber additions (OEM gross subscriber additions less
disconnects) represent the total net incremental paying subscribers
added during the period.

(4) Retail net subscriber additions (Retail gross subscriber additions
less disconnects) represent the total net incremental paying
subscribers added during the period, including net Outsourced
commercial subscribers for 2008.

(5) We measure the success of these promotional programs included in our
OEM promotional subscriber count based on the percentage of new
promotional subscribers that receive the XM service and convert to
self-paying subscribers after the initial promotion period. We refer
to this as the "conversion rate." At the time of sale, vehicle owners
generally receive a three month prepaid trial subscription.
Promotional periods generally include the period of trial service plus
30 days to handle the receipt and processing of payments. In
situations where audio service of 12 months or longer is bundled with
the sale of the vehicle, XM counts those subscribers for the first 3
months of service as OEM promotional subscribers and for the remainder
of the bundled service period as OEM subscribers. We measure
conversion rate three months after the period in which the trial
service ends. Based on our experience it may take up to 90 days after
the trial service ends for subscribers to respond to our marketing
communications and become self-paying subscribers. Vehicles that have
bundled service for 12 months or greater are counted in our conversion
rate calculation as being converted six months after the start of the
bundled service. These same vehicles are included as part of our
overall churn calculation after the date conversion is measured.
During Q2 2008 if we calculated conversion rate by excluding 12 months
or greater bundled service subscribers from the calculation, our
conversion rate would have been 52.7% for the three months ended
June 30, 2008.

(6) Monthly churn rate for the quarter represents the weighted average
Churn rate for each month in the quarter. Churn rate represents the
average percentage of self-paying Retail, OEM & other subscribers that
discontinued service during the month divided by the average of these
beginning and ending subscribers for the month. Churn rate does not
include OEM promotional period deactivations and deactivations
resulting from the change-out of XM activated vehicles with rental car
companies.

(7) Subscribers -- Subscribers are those who are receiving and have agreed
to pay for our service, including those who are currently in
promotional periods paid in part by vehicle manufacturers, XM
activated radios in vehicles for which we have a contractual right to
receive payment for the use of our service and commercial
establishments that receive our service through our relationship with
a third party vendor. We count radios individually as subscribers.
Retail subscribers consist primarily of subscribers who purchased
their radio at retail outlets, distributors, or through XM's direct
sales efforts. OEM subscribers are self-paying subscribers whose XM
radio was installed by an OEM and are not currently in OEM promotional
programs. OEM promotional subscribers are subscribers who receive a
fixed period of XM service where XM receives revenue from the OEM for
the trial period following the initial purchase or lease of the
vehicle. In situations where XM receives no revenue from the OEM
during the trial period, the subscriber is not included in XM's
subscriber count. At the time of sale, some vehicle owners receive a
three month prepaid trial subscription. Promotional periods generally
include the period of trial service plus 30 days to handle the receipt
and processing of payments. The automated activation program provides
activated XM radios on dealer lots for test drives but XM does not
include these vehicles in its subscriber count. XM's OEM partners
generally indicate the inclusion of three months of XM service on the
window sticker of XM-enabled vehicles. XM, historically and including
the 2006 model year, receives a negotiated rate for providing audio
service to rental car companies. Beginning with the 2007 model year,
XM entered into marketing arrangements which govern the rate which XM
receives for providing audio service on certain rental fleet vehicles.
Data services subscribers are those subscribers that are receiving
services that include stand-alone XM WX Satellite Weather service,
stand-alone XM Radio Online service and stand-alone NavTraffic
service. Stand-alone XM WX Satellite Weather service packages range in
price from $29.99 to $99.99 per month. XM charges up to $7.99 per
month for stand-alone XM Radio Online service. Stand-alone NavTraffic
service is $9.95 per month. XM generally charges a range of
$9.99-$11.87 per month for its audio service for annual and multi-year
plans and $6.99 per month for a family plan.

(8) Other subscribers include weather and other stand-alone service
subscribers.

(9) Subscription revenue includes monthly subscription revenues for our
satellite audio service and data services, net of any promotions or
discounts.

(10) Subscriber Acquisition Costs -- Subscriber acquisition costs include
 Subsidies & distribution and the negative gross profit on merchandise
 revenue. Subscriber acquisition costs are divided by gross additions
 to calculate what we refer to as "SAC."

(11) Cost Per Gross Addition ("CPGA") -- CPGA costs include the amounts in
 SAC, as well as Advertising & marketing. These costs are divided by
 the gross additions for the period to calculate CPGA. CPGA costs do
 not include marketing staff (included in Retention & support) or the
 amortization of the GM guaranteed payments (included in Amortization
 of GM liability).

(12) Outsourced commercial subscribers are excluded for 2008.

(13) Approximately 17 thousand subscribers, previously reported as Retail
 subscribers, are presented as Outsourced commercial subscribers for
 2007 for comparability.

(14) Beginning in 2008, revenue from Outsourced commercial subscribers,
 previously reported as Subscription revenue, is reported as Other
 revenue.

(15) No previously reported metrics have been adjusted to reflect the
 exclusion of Outsourced commercial subscribers except for as stated
 in footnote 13.
SOURCE XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.

Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.




Article : XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2008 Results
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