Net Loss Narrows on Increased Revenue and Lower Subscriber Acquisition Costs
Fifth Consecutive Quarter of Record Automotive Additions
Second Quarter Ending Subscribers Grow 17% Year over Year to Exceed 9.6 Million
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.