Harmonic announced revenue for first quarter of 2016 of $81.8 million, a decrease of 21.3% versus Q1 2015 and a decrease of 5.5% versus the Q4 2015. 

Guidance for Q1 2016 had been for revenue in the range of $82 million to $86 million.  The guidance not include any potential contribution from the acquisition of Thomson Video Networks (“TVN”), which closed in late February.  Revenue contribution from TVN was approximately $3.5 million during quarter.

Managed attributed the underperformance of revenue against guidance to challenges in recognizing software and services revenue.  This is a visible aspect of Harmonic’s ongoing transformation to a software business model, which has created complexity in the accounting for the separate portions of software and services in solutions sales.

The accounting impact highlights Harmonic’s progress in selling its virtualized solutions, including VOS.  During the earnings release, Harmonic announced VOS has surpassed 200,000 channel deployments globally.  Management expects to clear up the revenue recognition challenges later in year, which would lead to an acceleration of revenue recognition in Q4 2016.

GAAP gross margins were 49.7% for the first quarter, a decline versus the 52.9% recorded in Q1 2015 and a decline against the 54.3% gross margins in Q4 2015.  Harmonic attributed lower gross margins to the delays in recognizing software and services revenue, which has high gross margins.

For the quarter, Harmonic recorded a GAAP net loss of $25.1 million or $(0.33) per diluted share.  This compares to a net loss of $2.6 million or $(0.03) per share in Q1 2015 and a net loss of $7.2 million or $(0.08) per share in Q4 2015.  The decline in overall profitability is due to the lower revenue levels for the quarter.

Bookings for the first quarter of 2016 were $109.6 million (including $5 million from TVN), an increase of 8.5% versus the year earlier period, and a 12.6% increase versus the preceding quarter.

The Company’s total backlog in deferred revenue was $180 million, up 47% and 49.8% over Q1 2015 and Q4 2015, respectively.  The backlog benefited from the slippage in revenue recognition and also a $21 million contribution from the acquisition of TVN.

On a geographic basis:

• Americas accounted for 54% of the revenue for Q1 2016, a slight decline versus the 47% from Q1 2015, and equivalent to the 54% contribution recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015

• The EMEA region was responsible for 24% of the revenue in the quarter, equivalent to the contribution from Q1 2015, and slightly lower than the 25% contribution in Q4 2015

• APAC represented 16% of the revenue for the quarter, a slight decline versus the 18% contribution in Q1 2015, and a steeper decline against the 22% contribution in Q4 2015

On a product line basis:

• Video products revenue for the quarter was $44.2 million, a decrease of 9.2% compared to Q1 2015, and a decrease of 12% versus Q4 2015. As a percent of total sales, video products represented 54% of revenue in Q1 2016.  This compares to 47% in year-earlier period Q1 2015 and 58% in the preceding quarter Q4 2015

• Cable Edge revenue was $13.4 million during the quarter, a decrease of 57.8% versus first quarter of 2015, though an increase of 17.3% compared to the preceding fourth quarter. Cable Edge represented 16% of revenue in Q1 2016, a decrease versus the 30% contribution in Q1 2015, though an increase over the 13% of revenue recorded in Q4 2015.  The continued decline of Harmonic’s legacy EdgeQAM technology was anticipated.  Harmonic remains on schedule to ship its CableOS product line in the second half of 2016.

• Services and support revenue amounted to $24.1 million in Q1 2016, an increase of 2.7% against Q1 2015, and a decrease of 2.8% versus Q4 2015. Service and support revenue was 30% of revenue for Q1 2016, an increase over the 23% from Q1 2015, and in-line with the 29% from Q4 2015

On a segment basis:

• Broadcast and Media sales were $30.5 million during the quarter, a year-over-year decrease of 15.2%, and a decrease of 11.5% against the preceding quarter. Broadcast and Media was responsible for 37% of revenue for the first quarter of 2016, a slight percent increase from 35% in Q1 2015, and a decrease versus the 40% in Q4 2015.

• Service Provider sales were $51.3 million in the first quarter, a 24.5% year-over-year decrease, and a decrease of 1.5% versus Q4 2015. Service Provider represented 63% of revenue in the quarter, a slight decrease from 65% contribution in Q1 2015, though an increase from the 60% contribution during Q4 2015.

The Company’s cash position ended the first quarter of 2016 at $76.2 million, down from $152.8 million from the end of 2015.  The decrease is primarily attributable to the cash purchase price paid for the acquisition of TVN.

Harmonic ended the first quarter with 1,418 employees, up from 989 at the end of 2015.  The TVN acquisition added approximately 430 employees.

Business outlook:

For Q2 2016 management is anticipating total revenue in the range of $102M – $107M and GAAP gross margins of 48% – 49%.  Operating loss is expected between $14.5 million and $12.5 million with earnings per share of $(0.19) to $(0.16).

As part of the release, management confirmed it remains on track to realize the $20 million annual synergy savings expected from the integration of TVN.  The full impact of these savings will begin with the start of 2017.

Managed also reiterated the prior financial guidance for 2016 from the Q4 2015 earnings release.

Commenting on quarter’s results, Harmonic President and CEO Patrick Harsham stated, “While our first quarter results fell below our expectations, new bookings grew sequentially and year-over-year and we ended the quarter with record backlog and deferred revenue.  We are excited that our transformation to virtual architectures and associated services remains on track including the announcement of our new VOS Cloud and VOS 360 software-as-a-service offerings. Our full-year financial guidance remains unchanged.”