The analysis today from Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson could dampen the mood at TV networks as we head into the big upfront ad sales season. The most startling discovery: total ad revenues didn’t grow at all in 2012 at the Big Media companies he tracks. Declines at Viacom and News Corp outweighed gains at Discovery and Scripps Networks while sales were “essentially flat” at CBS, Disney, and Time Warner.
Nomura Equity Research’s Michael Nathanson underscored his concern about the upcoming earnings reports by cutting his 3Q estimates across the board this morning. He dropped CBS by 5.2% (to 60 cents in 3Q earnings per share), News Corp. by 4.6% (to 40 cents), Disney by 4.5% (to 69 cents), Discovery by 3.2% (to 63 cents) Scripps Networks by 2.7% (to 77 cents), Viacom by 1.3% (to $1.16) and Time Warner by 1% (to 81 cents).
