Costs and Expenses
Operating Expenses (excluding Depreciation and Amortization) totaled $62.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, down $13.0 million, or 17%, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in direct operating expense, specifically programming expense, which aligns with the reduction in Video RGUs between periods, as well as decreases in call center costs, stock compensation and bad debt expenses, partially offset by increases in compensation related expenses. Selling, General, and Administrative expenses totaled $37.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, up $0.4 million, or 1%, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The increase is primarily driven by legal and professional fees, partially offset by reductions in marketing expenses and stock compensation.
Net Loss
Net Loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $22.4 million as compared to net loss of $104.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Net Profit Margin was (14.2)% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 as compared to (60.4)% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $77.3 million, an increase of $6.4 million compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 48.9% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as compared to 41.0% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
Subscribers
WOW! reported Total Subscribers of approximately 490,500 as of September 30, 2024, a decrease of 26,900, or 5%, compared to September 30, 2023, down 4,700 compared to June 30, 2024. HSD RGUs totaled 480,600 as of September 30, 2024, a decrease of 22,800, or 5%, compared to September 30, 2023, and down 4,400 compared to June 30, 2024.
Market Expansion
Market Expansion projects passed an additional 1,700 homes for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, including 100 additional homes in Greenfield markets and 1,600 additional homes in Edge-out projects. As of September 30, 2024, Greenfield initiatives passed a total of 52,600 homes and 9,200 subscribers, representing a 17.5% penetration rate.
At September 30, 2024, the 2024 Edge-out projects passed 6,000 new homes and 2,700 subscribers, representing a 45.0% penetration rate. The 2023 Edge-out projects passed 18,500 new homes and 5,500 subscribers, which represents 29.7% penetration. The 2022 Edge-out projects passed 2,900 new homes and 900 subscribers, which represents 31.0% penetration.
Capital Expenditures
Capital Expenditures totaled $40.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, representing a $24.0 million decrease compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The decrease is primarily related to decreases in scalable infrastructure, line extensions, and support capital and other as a result of lower spending on market expansion initiatives. Core Capital Expenditures, or total capital expenditures excluding expansion capital expenditures, equated to 19% of Total Revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Liquidity and Leverage
On October 11, 2024, the Company closed on a new super-priority credit agreement consisting of a new Senior Term Loan in an aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million, with a group of existing lenders. The super-priority credit agreement will mature in December 2028, bear interest at a rate equal to SOFR plus 7.00% and have priority over the Company’s existing credit facility.
As of September 30, 2024, the total outstanding amount of long-term debt and finance lease obligations was $973.0 million, and cash and cash equivalents were $21.6 million. Total Net Leverage as of September 30, 2024, was 3.4x on a LTM Adjusted EBITDA basis and undrawn revolver capacity totaled $0.4 million.
Acquisition Proposal Update
On May 2, 2024, the WOW! Board of Directors received an unsolicited non-binding preliminary acquisition proposal from DigitalBridge Investments, LLC and various Crestview entities. A special committee of independent directors has been formed to evaluate the Proposal. The Special Committee has retained Centerview Partners and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as its financial and legal advisors. The work of the Special Committee is ongoing. WOW! does not undertake any obligation to make any further public comment or disclosure on matters related to the proposal or related matters unless and until WOW! determines that additional disclosure is appropriate or required by law.