Entertainment
For the fiscal 2023 third quarter, the Entertainment segment generated revenues of $201.9 million, an increase of $7.3 million, or 4%, as compared to the prior year period. Revenues related to the Company’s arena license agreements with the Knicks and Rangers increased $11.7 million. This included a $10.1 million increase in revenues subject to the sharing of economics with Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (“MSG Sports”), primarily reflecting higher food, beverage and merchandise sales and higher suite license fees revenues at Knicks and Rangers games. Revenues from the presentation of the Christmas Spectacular production increased $3.5 million, which reflected seven performances during the current year quarter as compared to no performances in the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was partially offset by a decrease in advertising sales commissions of $9.6 million in the current year period due to the termination of MSG Networks’ advertising sales representation agreement.
Fiscal 2023 third quarter direct operating expenses of $120.8 million increased $10.1 million, or 9%, as compared to the prior year quarter. Expenses associated with the sharing of economics with MSG Sports pursuant to the arena license agreements increased $4.5 million, reflecting the increase in related revenues, while direct operating expenses also included $4.4 million associated with the Company’s Sphere initiative.
Fiscal 2023 third quarter selling, general and administrative expenses of $120.3 million increased $24.1 million, or 25%, as compared with the prior year quarter. This increase primarily reflected higher professional fees of $11.4 million, mainly due to costs related to the Company’s spin-off of its live entertainment business, as well as higher employee compensation and related benefits of $8.0 million and other general administrative expenses of $4.7 million, both primarily due to the Company’s Sphere initiative.
Fiscal 2023 third quarter operating loss of $81.1 million increased by $36.3 million and adjusted operating loss of $39.3 million increased by $27.0 million, both as compared to the prior year period. The increases in operating loss and adjusted operating loss were primarily due to higher selling, general and administrative expenses and, to a lesser extent, higher direct operating expenses, partially offset by the increase in revenues. The increase in operating loss also reflected the impact of higher restructuring charges in the current year period.
MSG Networks
For the fiscal 2023 third quarter, the MSG Networks segment generated revenues of $161.4 million, a decrease of $6.1 million, or 4%, as compared to the prior year period. Affiliation fee revenue decreased $11.1 million, primarily due to a decrease in subscribers of approximately 10%, partially offset by the impact of higher affiliation rates in the current year quarter. Advertising revenue increased $4.5 million, primarily reflecting higher advertising sales related to professional sports telecasts due to a higher number of live telecasts and an increase in per-game advertising sales as compared to the prior year period, as well as higher sales related to MSG Networks’ non-ratings-based advertising initiatives.
Fiscal 2023 third quarter direct operating expenses of $89.3 million increased $2.1 million, or 2%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher rights fees expense of $2.5 million, which mainly reflects annual contractual rate increases in the current year period.
Fiscal 2023 third quarter selling, general and administrative expenses of $60.1 million increased $27.8 million, or 86%, as compared to the prior year quarter. This mainly reflects a $44.6 million net increase in expenses, primarily litigation-related, associated with the Company’s acquisition of MSG Networks. This was partially offset by net lower advertising sales commission expenses of $8.3 million in the current year period due to the termination of MSG Networks’ advertising sales representation agreement, lower advertising and marketing expenses of $5.0 million, lower employee compensation and related benefits of $1.3 million and other cost decreases.
Fiscal 2023 third quarter operating income of $10.4 million decreased $35.5 million, or 77%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses (including merger and acquisition-related costs), and, to a lesser extent, the decrease in revenues and the increase in direct operating expenses. Adjusted operating income of $58.3 million increased $7.5 million, or 15%, as compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses (excluding merger and acquisition-related costs), partially offset by the decrease in revenues and increase in direct operating expenses.
Other Matters
The Company continues to make significant progress in its final phases of construction of Sphere in Las Vegas. This includes completing LED installation on the Exosphere earlier in the third quarter, and the interior LED display plane this month, while continuing to build out the venue’s interior spaces, including the suites and hospitality areas. Global rock band U2 will open the venue on September 29th with the start of its five-week, 17-show run. “Sphere Experiences,” one of the core content categories to
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