In April, the first full month of sheltering in place resulted in a 50% sequential increase in gaming hours watched on Twitch, the most popular video game streaming platform. According to Engine Media’s (MLLLF) audience measurement subsidiary Stream Hatchet, total hours streamed in 2Q 2020 across the three largest platforms (Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming), increased by 54%, to 7.6 billion hours streamed vs. 4.9 billion streamed in 1Q 2020, which reflects an all-time high. According to market research firm NPD Group, 244 million people in the U.S., or three out of every four, play video games, an increase of 32 million people in the last two years alone.

As millions have been quarantined at home, many have looked to esports for entertainment. Deloitte’s 2020 digital media trends survey found that, during the crisis, a third of consumers have, for the first time, subscribed to a video gaming service, used a cloud gaming service, or watched esports or a virtual sporting event. According to Nielsen, while most consumers prefer to play games rather than watch others play, one-third of esports fans say they watched esports as an alternative to traditional TV content.

Like many ecommerce or online businesses, the pandemic has pulled forward and accelerated many trends that were already underway. We had expected that as people began returning to work, and as traditional sports returned to the airwaves, that streaming hours would begin reverting to pre-pandemic levels. However, according to Stream Hatchet’s 3Q 2020 report, game streaming hours watched fell just 2% to 7.4 billion hours in 3Q 2020 from 7.6 billion hours in 2Q 2020. These types of numbers will likely increase investor and strategic interest in the gaming and esports sectors.

OUTLOOK – INTERNET AND DIGITAL MEDIA

INTERNET AND DIGITAL MEDIA COMMENTARY

Gaming Sector M&A Heats Up
The significant increase in time spent streaming games has helped to drive M&A activity in the gaming space to new levels. Noble tracked 14 gaming transactions in the third quarter with a transaction value of $11.7 billion. Two transactions alone account for $11.2 billion of this total: Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of gaming studio/game developer ZeniMax Media, and the $3.5 billion reverse merger between esports platform Skillz and the SPAC Flying Eagle Acquisition Corp. Historically Noble tracks M&A transactions in the internet and digital media sectors and focuses on transactions in North America and Europe. The chart in the report shows the largest gaming/esports transactions in 3Q 2020 in those respective regions. We should note that the largest number of M&A deals in the sector in 3Q took place in Asia, which is home to the largest gaming audiences.

Internet & Digital Media M&A Sees Sequential Improvement in 3Q 2020
During the third quarter, Noble tracked 105 M&A transactions in the internet and digital media sector. This represents a 5% sequential improvement over the 100 M&A transactions we tracked in 2Q 2020. Third quarter deal values totaled $28.1 billion, a 118% increase over 2Q 2020 levels, as four deals alone accounted for nearly $25 billion worth of deal value. The largest deal was Adevinta’s acquisition of eBay Classified Group for $9.2 billion, followed by the gaming deals mentioned earlier (Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of gaming studio/game developer ZeniMax Media, and Skillz’ $3.5 billion reverse merger with Flying Eagle Acquisition Corp). Blackstone’s $4.7 billion acquisition of information/genealogy company Ancestry.com was the fourth deal of more than $1 billion that we tracked.

Of the 105 deals we tracked in 3Q 2020, 37 of them were in the digital content category, while the marketing technology sector trailed with 26 deals, followed by the always active advertising agency deals with 23. These three sectors were also the most active sectors in the first and second quarters of 2020.

The digital content sector had not just the largest number of transactions, but also the largest value of deals in the third quarter, with $22.2 billion of deals, or 79% of the entire deal value of the internet and digital media deals we track. Within the digital content segment, the gaming sector accounted for 14 of the 37 transactions and totaled $11.7 billion in deal value or nearly 53% of total digital content deal value.

Other segments of digital content where M&A was strong includes video focused transactions (6 transactions), publishing (4 transactions) and audio (5 transactions, 4 of which were in the podcast space). Notable video focused deals include

CuriosityStream’s $512 million reverse merger with the SPAC Software Acquisition Group, and Enthusiast Gaming’s $34 million acquisition of Omnia Media, a YouTube Video Gaming Network. Notable digital publishing deals include Red Venture’s $500 million acquisition of CNET Media Group from ViacomCBS. Notable audio deals include SiriusXM’s $325 million acquisition of podcast network Stitcher from E.W. Scripps; The New York Times’ $25 million acquisition of podcast programmer Serial; and the $70 million acquisition of Rhapsody International from MelodyVR Group.

Internet and Digital Media Stocks Continued to Rebound
In our 2Q media newsletter we noted that every single stock in the four sectors we monitor was up in the quarter. While 3Q 2020’s performance was not nearly as strong, all sectors performed well, and three of the four sectors outperformed the S&P 500. In the third quarter the S&P 500 index increased by 8.5%, while Noble’s Adtech Index increased by 26%, Noble’s MarTech Index increased by 19%, Noble’s Social Media Index increased by 16%, and Noble’s Digital Media Index increased by 4%.

While last quarter saw 5 stocks more than double off their March lows, only one company, Autoweb (AUTO, +143%), posted a more than doubling of their stock price. The stock surged when the company provided a 3Q mid-quarter update that showed that gross margins in July 2020 had nearly doubled from July 2019 levels resulting in positive adjusted EBITDA (versus a loss a year-ago), and provided further evidence of the company’s turnaround.

Autoweb wasn’t the only adtech stock to perform well during the quarter. Other notable performers included the stocks of Quinstreet (QNST,+51%) and Fluent (FLNT, +39%). It’s interesting to note that all three of the best performing advertising technology companies are lead generation businesses. As companies re-open their businesses post-pandemic, it’s expected that performance marketing companies will do well as companies focus less on branding and more on generating new business, an imperative for many businesses that have struggled during the pandemic. Several other adtech stocks performed well during the quarter including the stocks of Synacor (SYNC, +34%), Perion Networks (PERI, +34%), The Trade Desk (TTD, +28%) and Interclick Interactive (ICLK, +25%).

E-commerce retailing was hot, driven by stay at home mandates and social distancing. 1800Flowers.com's (view report) stock increased 144% from March lows in the latest quarter. The company reported that its fiscal fourth quarter end June 30 revenues increased a strong 61%. We believe that e-commerce trends will remain strong even as the pandemic subsides.

Marketing tech stocks that performed well during the quarter include Salesforce (CRM, +34%), Hubspot (HUBS, +30%), Brightcove (BCOV, +30%), SharpSpring (SHSP, +27%), and LivePerson (LPSN, +26%). As noted in our M&A study, MarTech was one of the most active sectors in M&A during 3Q 2020, but M&A was not a driver of stock price performance. Strong organic revenue appears to be the sector driver, with revenue growth exceeding 20% on average, as shown on our revenue growth chart on page 7.

Social media stocks also performed well during the quarter, with our index up 16%. Our index is market cap weighted so it generally performs in-line with how Facebook has performed. Nevertheless, several social media stocks significantly outperformed, including Twitter (TWTR, +49%) and Spark Networks (LOV, +48%). While the stock of Snap Interactive (SNAP, +11%) underperformed its peers during the quarter, it consolidated its gains for the year (+60%) and is the strongest performing social media stock in 2020.

Digital media stocks were the only stock sector to underperform the S&P 500, as shares of Google (GOOG.L) were up only 3%, and Google represents 73% of the market cap of this market-cap weighted sector. Google posted its first year-over-year quarterly revenue decline in the company’s history and like Apple, Amazon and Facebook, is under intense regulatory scrutiny as the Justice Department reviews potential anti-competitive behavior among big tech companies. Despite Google weighing on the sector, several digital media stocks performed well including The Leaf Group (LEAF, +37%), The Maven (MVEN, +37%), Travelzoo (TZOO, +14%) and Netflix (NFLX, +10%).

OUTLOOK - TRADITIONAL MEDIA

OVERVIEW

The Fog of the Elections
Most media stock Indices were in line to slightly outperformed the general market in the third quarter, save the radio stocks, as the following figure illustrates. Overall returns of media stocks were disappointing given that media stocks tend to outperform the general market in the early stage of an economic recovery. The media indices are market cap weighted, so what is notable regarding the media performance is that there was a disparity between larger cap and smaller cap companies. For instance, the average media stock was down in the quarter, though the indices (save radio) were up.

Following a difficult (to say the least) second quarter, revenue trends are expected to sequentially improve in the third quarter, fueled by political advertising and digital revenues. Investors have now realized, however, that the shape of the advertising recovery is not likely to be "V" shaped. Third quarter revenues, excluding political, are expected to be down double-digits for many advertising driven mediums, in the range of 10% to 15% versus 30% to 40% experienced on average in the second quarter. For mediums that benefit from political advertising, we believe that there likely will be some positive upside revenue and cash flow surprise potential. Political is coming in better than expected and some companies, discussed later in this report, gave updated third quarter and/or political guidance. The question will be whether investors will brush off the potential revenue and cash flow upside surprise?

We believe that investors are heavily engaged in the outcome of the general elections and implications for the broader economy. Investors worry that a Biden win could imply that tax rates will go up, given his tax platform plans to roll back the Trump tax cuts. We are often asked, when should we lock in gains? Now? Or, after the election? That question is not of significant importance for most media investors. The only traditional media sector that investors may have gains over the course of the last year are Publishing stocks, up 13%. Television and Radio stocks are down 27% and 46% respectively.

In addition, with many state economies not fully opened, investors are likely concerned about the sustainability of the economic recovery, especially without visibility of a Covid-19 vaccine. Given these concerns, investors may have already discounted the potential revenue and cash flow upside in the third and fourth quarters from political advertising. We highlight the fact that Townsquare Media's stock did not significantly react to the company's updated third quarter revenue guidance on September 21, which provided positive upside in revenue and implied positive cash flow expectations. TSQ shares increased a modest 5% since that announcement. As such, while we believe that fundamentals are improving, it appears likely that the media stocks may be range bound until the elections are over, or that there is a developed timetable for a Covid-19 vaccine, which may allow some normalcy to reopening the US economy.

TELEVISION BROADCASTING

Ion Got Investors Positively Excited
Television stocks slightly under-performed the general market in the last quarter, up 6.9% versus 8.5% for the market as measured by the S&P 500 Index. The best performing stocks in the index were ViacomCBS and E.W. Scripps, up 20% and 31% respectively. In the case of E.W. Scripps, the company announced a significant $2.65 billion acquisition of Ion Media, with the backing of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway. Notably, the acquisition will bring Scripps to the current ownership cap of 39% of US TV households. This takes another potential buyer of local TV stations out of the market, leaving Gray Television as among the few large broadcasters with the ability to add stations. Gray Television currently covers 24% of the nation's TV households, with a significant runway to get to 39%. The question will be whether another inning of consolidation is in the offing with the mid-tier broadcast groups, like Meredith and Graham Holdings. Barring regulatory changes there is no mistaking that the industry is in the final innings of consolidation unless there is relaxation of ownership rules.

Such a prospect may come from the courts. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to examine the media ownership rules that the FCC directed to relax but was blocked by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. The FCC would have ended or loosened ownership limits such as 1) the elimination of the newspaper/television cross ownership rule (which would allow a company to own a newspaper and television station in a single market), 2) the elimination of radio/television cross ownership, 3) the elimination of owning two of the top four stations in a market, and 4) allow a company to own two TV stations in a single market. The prospective appointment of another conservative on the bench, like Amy Coney Barrett, could significantly improve the chances that the FCC would win the appeal.

For most investors, these rules don't matter much. Television station groups are not likely to buy a newspaper or radio station in an existing market. In many cases, public market values for television groups are double that of a publishing or radio company. Investors would frown on potentially lowering the stock valuation on such an acquisition. In addition, the history of broadcasters successfully integrating and operating a newspaper in market or even radio stations under grandfathered rules have not been that good. TV broadcasters would more likely seek to own two of the Big Four network affiliates in market. This is where a broadcaster would get the biggest bang for the buck and investors would cheer. Those opportunities will be few and far between given the recent consolidation. Consequently, we view the prospective rule ownership changes as ho hum from a TV perspective. It would be far more beneficial to the TV stocks to see the ownership cap lifted from the current 39%. There does not seem to be any political will or leadership to push for that change.
Consequently, we believe that management's will turn their attention to seek opportunities for internal growth. Recently, a number of broadcasters have launched expanded news programming. We believe it is likely that broadcasters will invest in original programming to take advantage of their increased scale. News programming tends to be the lowest hanging fruit for a broadcaster, but the development of original programming is only a modest incremental step toward enhanced cash flow growth. In our view, broadcasters will need to seek ways to take advantage of their spectrum and find innovative revenue opportunities, possibly through the implementation of the new broadcast standard, ATSC 3.0.

As we look toward the fourth quarter, investors will be looking at revenue recovery for some direction. There were some early indications that it will be a strong revenue quarter, fueled by political advertising. E.W. Scripps raised its political advertising guidance from $200 million to over $230 million. That guide was impressive given that it was based solely on the strength of political advertising in the third quarter. The company may once again increase its guidance, if, as we expect, the political advertising momentum continues into the fourth quarter. Political advertising carries very high margins, and as such, it is likely that there will be positive upside surprises in the quarterly results.

Given that the vast majority of Television stocks have not performed well in the latest quarter, we believe there should be better performance in the fourth quarter. In our view, the market has not baked in the improving revenue trends and the upside surprise potential from political advertising. In addition, the stocks should perform better as the fate of the upcoming elections is known.

RADIO BROADCASTING

Did Investors Overlook Favorable News?
Radio stocks underperformed the general market in the third quarter, down 6% versus an 8% gain for the market as measured by the S&P 500 Index. The Noble Radio index is market weighted, and, as such, the performance was skewed by the larger cap stocks in the index. The average stock was down greater than 6% and closer to 10%, with the worst performing stocks in the latest quarter being Beasley Broadcast Group (BBGI), Salem Media (SALM) and Saga Communications (SGA), which were down 49%, 19% and 22%, respectively. Shares of Cumulus Media (CMLS) outperformed the group, up 36% in the quarter, with Entercom (ETM) coming in second, up 17% and Townsquare Media (TSQ) up 4%. The outperformance of Cumulus Media shares in the second quarter was off an exceptionally low base established early in the second quarter, when the shares dropped from a high of over $16 to below $4.

The underperformance of radio stocks is despite the expected sequential improvement in third quarter revenues from the second quarter, when some radio broadcasters reported revenues down as much as 60%. Recently, Urban One announced in an 8K filing that its radio revenues declined 40% in July and 38% in August, with September down a more modest 11%. Combined with the company's other businesses outside of radio, Urban One's third quarter total company revenue is expected to be down in the high teens percent. Townsquare Media appears to be doing better than most in the industry. It updated its investor presentation on September 21st and indicated that its July and August total company revenues declined 21% in July and 16% in August. We expect that much like Urban One there will be a significant improvement in revenues for September. In addition to a higher than expected amount of political advertising, Townsquare appeared to benefit from strength in its digital businesses. The company indicated that its Townsquare Interactive business increased revenues in July and August by 13% and 15%, respectively. We believe that investors have not fully baked in the significance of this revenue improvement. In addition, given the high margin revenue, we believe that there is positive upside cash flow surprise potential.

Radio is among the most out of favor sectors in the traditional media landscape. The recent under performance of the sector is likely a combination of the industry's relatively high debt leverage and an extraordinary impact from Covid-19 mitigation efforts. Given that they are down an average of 52% year to date, radio stocks have been the poster industry for among the worst performing of many industries adversely affected by the pandemic. Are investors paying attention to the improving revenue trends? Surprisingly, the shares of Townsquare Media increased a modest 5% following the company's announcement that implied it will exceed third quarter revenue and cash flow expectations. In our view, there likely will be further positive developments heading into the fourth quarter as well. So, in our view, the answer is no.

PUBLISHING

The Dinosaurs Just Beat the Market!
Publishing stocks had a relatively good quarter, up 9%, slightly outperforming the general market as measured by the S&P 500 Index. The three largest cap stocks in the index, News Corp., New York Times, and Tribune, accounted for the gains, with News Corp. and Tribune accounting for the majority of the third quarter out performance, up 18% and 17%, respectively. Notably, all three companies have significant digital businesses, which have weathered well in the pandemic given increased digital subscriptions, visitors, and engagement.

Focusing on Tribune, we believe that despite the recent rise, the company’s shares are significantly undervalued. Trading at roughly 4.5 times Enterprise Value to EBITDA, we believe that the shares do not reflect the underlying value of its assets, particularly its e-commerce business, BestReviews, nor reflect the positive upside cash flow potential. In lieu of recent upward revisions to our estimates, we believe that earlier cost cutting actions at the company are not fully realized. Noble revised its third quarter estimate upward (which was at the lower end of the company's guidance) and indicated that it believed fourth quarter estimates were also conservative.

Given the improved fundamentals, the company is building its cash hoard, estimated to be over $90 million. Given the prospect that the company may sell BestReviews and given its pristine balance sheet, with virtually no debt, the company's board may reinstate its $0.25 per share quarterly dividend. The dividend was suspended in the second quarter due to concerns over Covid-19.

Nearly one third of Tribune’s market cap is reflected in its cash position. Another third of the company's market cap is reflected in the value of its 60% owned BestReviews business. This leaves only one third of the value of the company reflected in the cash flow generating publishing and digital businesses. Notably, should the company reinstate its dividend, near current levels the shares would offer an annualized dividend yield of over 7%.

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