Detailed Narrative
FIFA Men's World Cup Success
The FIFA Men's World Cup broadcast was a significant driver for FOX in FY26, leading to record audiences in the U.S. and demonstrating the company's ability to deliver live premium sports at scale. The event fueled a 78% increase in Q4 advertising revenue and served as a key customer acquisition opportunity for FOX One, surpassing subscriber acquisition and retention expectations. The tournament's success led FOX to top all networks in live event sports consumption in fiscal '26.
Tubi's Outperformance and Strategic Value
Tubi delivered its most streamed and highest revenue quarter ever, with revenue growth accelerating to 35% and total viewing time increasing by 17%. The platform reached 110 million monthly active users by year-end, with its World Cup hub attracting over 20 million viewers. Tubi's success is attributed to its large cordless audience (close to 70% of viewers) and high engagement with video-on-demand content (96% of viewing), making it a valuable advertising vehicle.
Strategic Digital Expansion
FOX's digital evolution is highlighted by the successful launch of FOX One and the pending acquisition of Roku. FOX One has shown minimal cannibalization of traditional pay-TV, attracting incremental subscribers with churn well below expectations. The Roku acquisition, expected to close in the first half of calendar 2027, is anticipated to bolster FOX's position in connected TV distribution and advertising, leveraging Roku's scale and platform capabilities.
NFL Contract Stability and Sports Rights
FOX confirmed that there will be no amendments to its existing contractual relationship with the NFL, which extends to the completion of the 2029 season. Discussions for opt-out seasons and beyond will occur closer to the 2030 season, maintaining a stable outlook for NFL broadcast rights. The company emphasized its positive relationship with the NFL, noting its long-standing commitment and recent acquisition of NFL rights for Mexico.
Strong Advertising Market and Political Tailwinds
The company experienced a very strong advertising market across its portfolio, with double-digit volume growth in the upfronts for sports, news, and Tubi, achieving leading rates of change. This momentum is expected to continue into Q1 FY27. Political advertising for the upcoming midterm elections is anticipated to be a record cycle, with industry estimates exceeding $11 billion and FOX expecting to beat its prior midterm record of over $260 million.
Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns
In FY26, Fox repurchased an additional $2 billion in shares and distributed $243 million in dividends. The company increased its semiannual dividend to $0.29 per share. Cumulatively, $10.7 billion of capital has been returned to shareholders since June 2018, including $8.6 billion in share repurchases representing 36% of total shares outstanding since the buyback program's launch in November 2019. The buyback program is expected to continue unabated.