Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCO) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

I think out of home is going to be positioned really well and that we’ve been doing enough test and learns with brands that suggest they’re getting good return on using our out of home assets in that way, that that could be a positive. But this is speculation at this point, Richard, we don’t have enough money in the books to be to be declaring anything. But I would characterize the outlook for 2024 as positive. Anything you’d add, Brian or Dave?

Richard Choe: Okay. Great. And is there anything on the programmatic side that you could do to maybe prep for higher demand or will that kind of take care of itself?

Scott Wells: The beauty of programmatic is it is highly scalable. So we’ve done if you think back to when we first started this, there was a lot more manual intervention on our part to make it work. It’s still not perfect, but we are we are in position to absorb demand as it goes. And, I dream about a world where I’m so constrained on capacity that I’m having to tell, programmatic people that we’re not able to fulfill their demand because that’ll only help us on the on the direct business.

Richard Choe: Now, that would be a great position to be in. Last one for me. Europe North continues to perform and do well. How is that impacting the strategic review and the way maybe other bidders are looking at the process and how you’re viewing the business at this point? Because it seems like it’s doing pretty well.

Scott Wells: So it is it is doing pretty well. I actually think it’s worth Justin maybe saying something about the why on that. But let me answer your question first. When we when we pivoted the middle of last year to doing the tough markets first and to cleaning up the portfolio, that was with an understanding with the Europe North team that the focus that they would have and that, the continued digital conversion, the continued investment in launch pad and programmatic tools, things along those lines would help them achieve what’s been achieved. When you look at our Page 5 of our of our slide deck, I can’t speak to what potential buyers are thinking as they see it. But the kind of basic feedback that we’ve gotten is that people appreciate.

That we have adapted our portfolio, they appreciate the work that we’ve done with our portfolio and that they’re impressed with how Europe North has over delivered relative to SIP that we published in January of 2022. And that’s about all I can say on the on the process at this point. It is still early days. But, Justin, why don’t you give us just 30 seconds on — on drivers of the performance? Because it’s been pretty special.

Justin Cochrane : Yeah. Sure. Thanks, Scott. Well, I think the biggest driver is continued digital rollout, and that’s especially across what we’re doing the roadside assets, mainly street furniture and in markets like the UK, where we’ve continued with the plan and continue to see growth. Programmatic is small, but has had quite a big impact. It’s because most of the revenue we take there is incremental. And when you have that alongside a digital footprint that’s growing, that really helps. That really helps the business. So I think there’s a there’s a couple of things that really help drive that. And it can only be good for the process. I’m assuming. But yeah — but yeah so strong, continued digital rollout with programmatic adding a bit extra on top.

Scott Wells: Thanks, Justin. Thank you. Richard. Appreciate questions.

Operator: Our next question comes from Cameron McVeigh from Morgan Stanley. Cameron, your lines now open. Please go ahead.

Cameron McVeigh: Hi, thanks. Just a couple. On the Europe North point, I noticed there’s over 50% of revenue is from digital. So you guys are thinking about digital conversion, I guess, in the US going forward and what the ideal revenue contribution is. Both for the US and airports? Thanks.