v3.26.1
REVENUE
6 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2026
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
REVENUE REVENUE
The following table presents our revenue disaggregated by source:
Three months EndedSix months ended
(Thousands of Dollars)March 29,
2026
March 30,
2025
March 29,
2026
March 30,
2025
Operating revenue:
Print advertising revenue14,274 16,532 31,465 36,393 
Digital advertising and marketing services revenue40,693 43,941 83,488 90,670 
Advertising and marketing services revenue54,967 60,473 114,953 127,063 
Print subscription revenue32,902 41,079 67,898 84,511 
Digital subscription revenue22,279 23,789 44,985 45,354 
Subscription revenue55,181 64,868 112,883 129,865 
Print other revenue7,032 7,213 14,578 15,101 
Digital other revenue4,784 4,826 9,612 9,913 
Other revenue11,816 12,039 24,190 25,014 
Total operating revenue121,964 137,380 252,026 281,942 
Recognition principles
Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for goods or services. Revenues are recognized as performance obligations are satisfied either at a point in time, such as when an advertisement is published, or over time, such as audience subscription revenue.
Advertising and marketing services revenue
Print advertising revenue includes amounts charged to customers for retail, national, or classified advertising space purchased in our newspapers, advertising marketing services and other print advertising products such as preprint inserts and direct mail.
Digital advertising revenue includes amounts for advertisements placed on our digital platforms, amounts charged to customers for digital marketing services which include: audience extension, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, web and mobile production, social media services and reputation monitoring and management.
Payments for print and digital advertising revenue are due upon completion of our performance obligations at previously agreed upon rates. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, such timing differences are not large. As a result, we have determined that our contracts do not include a significant financing component. Depending on the product, revenue is recognized over time or at the point in time in which performance obligations are met.
Subscription revenue
Print subscription revenue results from the sale of print editions of newspapers to individual subscribers and to sales outlets that resell the newspapers. Print subscriptions include full access to all forms of content provided. Single copy revenue is also included in subscription revenue. Subscription revenue from single copy and home delivery subscriptions are recognized at the point in time the publications are delivered.
Digital subscription revenue results from the sale of digital-only access to our content delivered via digital products purchased. Digital subscription revenue is recognized over time as performance obligations are met throughout the subscription period.
Payments for print and digital subscription revenue are typically collected in advance, or for contract periods of one year or less, and result in an unearned revenue liability that is reduced when revenue is recognized.
Other revenue
Other revenue primarily consists of digital services, commercial printing and delivery of third party products. Digital services revenues, which are primarily delivered through BLOX Digital, are primarily comprised of contractual agreements to provide web hosting and content management services. As such, digital services revenue is recognized over the contract period. Prices for digital services are agreed upon in advance of the contract beginning and are typically billed in arrears on a monthly basis. Commercial printing and delivery revenue is recognized when the product is delivered to the customer or to the third party's subscriber.
Contract Liabilities
Our primary source of unearned revenue is from subscriptions paid in advance of the service provided. We expect to recognize the revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations over the next twelve months in accordance with the terms of the subscriptions and other contracts with customers. The unearned revenue balances described herein are our only contract liability. Revenue recognized in the six months ended March 29, 2026, that was included in the contract liability as of September 28, 2025, was $21.2 million.
Accounts receivable, excluding allowance for credit losses, was $49.3 million and $59.4 million as of March 29, 2026, and September 28, 2025, respectively. Allowance for credit losses was $3.7 million and $4.8 million as of March 29, 2026, and September 28, 2025, respectively.
Valuation and qualifying account information related to the allowance for credit losses related to continuing operations is as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars)March 29,
2026
September 28,
2025
Balance, beginning of period4,827 6,514 
Additions charged to expense4,832 15,262 
Deductions from reserves(5,977)(16,949)
Balance, end of period3,682 4,827 
Practical expedients
Sales commissions are expensed as incurred as the associated contractual periods are one year or less. These costs are recorded within "Compensation" on our Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss. The vast majority of our contracts have original expected lengths of one year or less and revenue is earned at a rate and amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer.