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Sphere Entertainment Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 4% to $274.3 million: Total revenues were $274.3 million, up $11.7 million or 4%. Sphere revenue growth of $24.8 million exceeded the $13.0 million decline at MSG Networks. Source
  • Operating loss widened to $240.6 million: Operating loss was $240.6 million, an increase of $77.5 million or 47% from the prior year quarter. The MSG Networks impairment noted below is the main driver. Source
  • Sphere revenue rose 14%: Sphere segment revenue was $198.9 million, up from $174.1 million. Nine-month Sphere revenue was $691.2 million, up 36%. Source
  • Sphere operating loss narrowed: Sphere operating loss narrowed $17.5 million to $67.0 million. Adjusted operating income rose $15.3 million or 90% to $32.4 million. Source
  • Wizard of Oz passed half a billion: The Wizard of Oz at Sphere passed half a billion dollars in ticket sales, with over four million tickets sold since its August 2025 debut. Source
  • MSG revenue fell on fewer subscribers: MSG Networks revenue was $75.4 million, down $13.0 million or 15%. Distribution revenue fell $12.8 million as total subscribers dropped about 15.5%. Source
  • Goodwill impairment drove MSG loss: A non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $177.6 million, against $98.8 million a year earlier, drove the MSG Networks operating loss of $173.6 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for nine months: Net cash provided by operating activities was $159.5 million for nine months, against $63.1 million a year earlier. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ended at $527.3 million. Source

“With today’s results, our Sphere segment remains on track to deliver substantial growth this calendar year.”

Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The calendar-year growth statement in the second quarter release, as we remain on track to deliver substantial growth this calendar year, is worded the same way in this release.
  • New: A multi-year sponsorship agreement with Lyft was announced. The second quarter release did not mention it. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 4% to $274.3 million: Total revenues were $274.3 million, up $11.7 million or 4%. Sphere revenue growth of $24.8 million exceeded the $13.0 million decline at MSG Networks. Source
  • Operating loss widened to $240.6 million: Operating loss was $240.6 million, an increase of $77.5 million or 47% from the prior year quarter. The MSG Networks impairment noted below is the main driver. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 8%: Adjusted operating income was $39.2 million, up $2.8 million or 8%. The company defines it as a non-GAAP measure and reconciles it to operating loss in the release. Source
  • Net loss and loss per share: Net loss attributable to stockholders was $176.0 million, or $4.84 per diluted share, compared with $3.47 per diluted share a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month revenue rose 18%: For the nine months, revenues were $974.3 million, up 18%. Adjusted operating income was $200.1 million, up 50%, against $133.8 million a year earlier. Source

Sphere segment revenue and costs

  • Sphere revenue rose 14%: Sphere segment revenue was $198.9 million, up from $174.1 million. Nine-month Sphere revenue was $691.2 million, up 36%. Source
  • Experience revenue rose on more shows: The Sphere Experience added $13.1 million, reflecting more performances and, to a lesser extent, higher per-show revenue. The quarter included 241 Wizard of Oz performances. Source
  • Exosphere advertising lifted sponsorship: Sponsorship, Exosphere advertising and suite license fees rose $6.2 million, mainly on higher Exosphere advertising revenue, with smaller gains in sponsorship and suite fees. Source
  • Concerts lifted event revenue: Event-related revenue rose $6.1 million, mainly from concerts. The increase reflected three additional concert residency shows held at Sphere in Las Vegas. Source
  • Experience costs drove direct expenses: Direct operating expenses were $83.8 million, up $5.1 million or 6%. Sphere Experience costs rose $7.6 million on higher per-show costs and more performances. Source
  • Sphere operating loss narrowed: Sphere operating loss narrowed $17.5 million to $67.0 million. Adjusted operating income rose $15.3 million or 90% to $32.4 million. Source

“Looking ahead, we continue to make progress on our long-term vision for Sphere, including a global network of venues and a growing slate of original content.”

Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan

Wizard of Oz and residencies

  • Wizard of Oz passed half a billion: The Wizard of Oz at Sphere passed half a billion dollars in ticket sales, with over four million tickets sold since its August 2025 debut. Source
  • Enhanced 4D effects debuted in September: Enhanced and expanded 4D effects for The Wizard of Oz debuted in late September. The production also surpassed its 1,000th showing in early October. Source
  • Backstreet Boys and Eagles extended: The Backstreet Boys and the Eagles extended their long-running residencies to up to 63 and 74 planned nights, respectively. Source

MSG Networks decline and impairment

  • MSG revenue fell on fewer subscribers: MSG Networks revenue was $75.4 million, down $13.0 million or 15%. Distribution revenue fell $12.8 million as total subscribers dropped about 15.5%. Source
  • MSG costs rose on pay and SG&A: MSG direct operating expenses were $59.3 million, up 2%. SG&A was $10.0 million, up 43%, on $3.5 million higher employee pay, partly offset by $1.6 million lower advertising. Source
  • Goodwill impairment drove MSG loss: A non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $177.6 million, against $98.8 million a year earlier, drove the MSG Networks operating loss of $173.6 million. Source
  • MSG adjusted operating income fell: Adjusted operating income was $6.8 million, down $12.5 million or 65%, on lower revenue. Nine-month MSG adjusted operating income was $53.5 million, down 32%. Source

Share-based pay and other costs

  • Lower stock price offset Sphere SG&A rise: Sphere SG&A was $98.3 million, up $5.6 million or 6%, on higher employee pay. Mark-to-market gains on share-based awards from the lower stock price partly offset the rise. Source
  • Restructuring and interest costs fell: Restructuring charges were $2.5 million against $6.0 million a year earlier. Interest expense was $8.0 million against $9.4 million. Source
  • Income tax benefit rose: The income tax benefit was $68.8 million, against $44.4 million a year earlier. Source

Cash, debt and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow rose for nine months: Net cash provided by operating activities was $159.5 million for nine months, against $63.1 million a year earlier. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ended at $527.3 million. Source
  • Financing outflow narrowed: Net cash used in financing activities was $90.0 million for nine months, against $192.1 million a year earlier. Investing activities used $63.2 million. Source
  • Goodwill fell after impairment: Goodwill fell to $80.6 million from $258.1 million at December 31, 2025. Long-term debt, net was $708.8 million, with $59.7 million current. Source
  • Equity fell with accumulated deficit: Total stockholders’ equity was $1,977.1 million, against $2,168.6 million at December 31, 2025. Accumulated deficit was $461.0 million. Source

Prior-period revision for goodwill errors

  • Prior periods revised for goodwill errors: Management revised prior-period statements for immaterial errors in MSG Networks goodwill impairment charges. The errors came mainly from misallocated deferred tax liabilities between reporting units. Source
  • Errors judged not material to prior statements: Management concluded the errors were not material to previously issued financial statements. It nonetheless revised the statements for all periods presented. Source
  • 2025 quarter impairment revised upward: The third-quarter 2025 impairment and other losses were revised from $65.5 million to $98.8 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Rocky Horror Sphere Experience due by March 2027: Production is underway on The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sphere, which the company expects to debut by the end of March 2027. Source
  • Metallica residency runs to March 2027: Metallica began a new Sphere concert residency in October, with 24 concerts planned through March 2027. Source
  • Oprah Winfrey and John Mayer 2027 residencies: Oprah Winfrey and John Mayer each announced new residencies for 2027. The release gives no dates for them. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Wizard of Oz tickets sold since August 2025 debut Sourceover four million
Wizard of Oz ticket sales since debut Sourceexceeded half a billion dollars
Wizard of Oz performances in the quarter Source241
MSG Networks total subscribers change Sourcedecrease of approximately 15.5%

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.