FORM 10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

     (MARK ONE)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED March 31, 2004

OR

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____________________________ TO ____________________________

Commission File Number 1-13452

PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (561) 659-4122

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   x   No    o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes   x   No    o

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of April 30, 2004:

PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

INDEX

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Part I — Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

     The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     Paxson Communications Corporation (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, was organized in 1993. The Company owns and operates televsion stations nationwide, and on August 31, 1998, launched PAX TV. PAX TV is the brand name for the programming that the Company broadcasts through its owned, operated and affiliated television stations, and through certain cable television system owners and satellite television providers. The financial information contained in the financial statements and notes thereto as of March 31, 2004 and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 is unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of such financial information have been included. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

     The preparation of financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. The Company believes the most significant estimates involved in preparing the Company’s financial statements include estimates related to the net realizable value of programming rights, barter revenue recognition, estimates used in accounting for leases and estimates related to the impairment of long-lived assets and FCC licenses. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions it believes are reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in “Note 1. Nature of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (the “Fiscal 2003 Form 10-K”).

     Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. These financial statements, footnotes and discussions should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related footnotes and discussions contained in the Fiscal 2003 Form 10-K, and the definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders to be held May 21, 2004, both of which were filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

     Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the 2004 presentation.

     The Company believes that unless its ratings and revenues improve significantly, its business operations are unlikely to provide sufficient cash flow to support the Company’s debt service and preferred stock dividend requirements. The Company has engaged Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to act as its financial advisors and explore strategic alternatives for the Company. These strategic alternatives may include the sale of all or part of the Company’s assets, finding a strategic partner for the Company who would provide the financial resources to enable the Company to redeem, restructure or refinance the Company’s debt and preferred stock, or finding a third party to acquire the Company through a merger or other business combination or acquisition of the Company’s equity securities. The Company’s ability to pursue strategic alternatives is subject to various limitations and issues which the Company may be unable to control.

2. RESTRUCTURING

     During the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company adopted a plan to consolidate certain of its operations, reduce personnel and modify its programming schedule in order to significantly reduce the Company’s cash operating expenditures. In connection with this plan, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of approximately $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2002, consisting of $2.2 million in termination benefits for 95 employees and $0.4 million for costs associated with exiting leased properties and consolidating certain operations. Through March 31, 2004, the Company has paid $2.1 million in termination benefits to 94 employees and paid $0.5 million of lease termination and other costs. The Company has accounted for these costs pursuant to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (“SFAS 146”), which the Company early adopted in the fourth quarter of 2002. SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred as opposed to when there is a commitment to a restructuring plan as set forth under EITF 94-3 “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and other costs to Exit an Activity”, which has been nullified by SFAS No. 146. As such, the Company will recognize additional restructuring costs as they are incurred.

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     The Company has substantially completed its Joint Sales Agreement (“JSA”) restructuring plan commenced in the fourth quarter of 2000, except for certain contractual lease obligations for closed locations, the majority of which expire in 2004.

     The following summarizes the activity in the Company’s restructuring reserves for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003, respectively (in thousands):

3. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

     The results of operations and gain (loss) on sale of assets held for sale are included in the determination of the Company’s operating income (loss) from its continuing operations in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”) since these assets do not constitute a component of the Company under SFAS 144. The Company generally maintains a geographic presence in the markets where assets have been sold by airing the PAX TV network through cable distribution agreements or the Company’s other owned or operated stations in the designated market areas.

     Assets held for sale consist of the following as of the date indicated (in thousands):

     In September 2003, an agreement the Company entered into in June 2003 to sell the assets of its television station KPXJ, serving the Shreveport, Louisiana market, was terminated. At the same time, the Company entered into an agreement with a new purchaser to sell the assets of its Shreveport television station for a cash purchase price of $10.0 million. The sale closed on May 7, 2004.

     Included in assets held for sale are certain broadcast towers with a carrying value of $2.7 million for which the Company is in the process of transferring title and assigning the leases to the buyer.

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4. SENIOR SECURED NOTES, SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND BANK FINANCING

     Senior secured notes, senior subordinated notes and bank financing consists of the following as of (in thousands):

     On January 12, 2004, the Company completed a private offering of $365 million of senior secured floating rate notes (“Senior Secured Notes”). The Senior Secured Notes bear interest at the rate of LIBOR plus 2.75% per year and will mature on January 10, 2010. The Senior Secured Notes may be redeemed by the Company at any time at specified redemption prices and are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets. In addition, a substantial portion of the Senior Secured Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several senior secured basis, by all of the Company’s subsidiaries. The indenture governing the Senior Secured Notes contains certain covenants which, among other things, restrict the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the payment of dividends, transactions with related parties, certain investments and transfers or sales of certain assets. The proceeds from the offering were used to repay in full the outstanding indebtedness under the Company’s Senior Credit Facility, pre-fund letters of credit supported by the revolving credit portion of the Company’s previously existing Senior Credit Facility and pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transaction. The refinancing resulted in a charge in the first quarter of 2004 in the amount of $6.3 million related to the debt issuance costs associated with the Senior Credit Facility.

     At March 31, 2004, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants and expects that it will continue to be in compliance with its debt covenants in the foreseeable future. If the Company failed to meet any of its debt covenants and the holders of the Company’s debt did not grant a waiver or amend the covenants, the holders would have the right to declare an event of default and seek remedies including acceleration of all outstanding amounts due. Should an event of default be declared under any of the debt securities outstanding, this would cause a cross default to occur under the indentures governing the other series of debt securities, thus giving the trustee under each such indenture the right to accelerate repayments, and would give the holders of each of the Company’s three outstanding series of preferred stock the right to elect two directors per series to the Company’s Board of Directors. There can be no assurance that the Company would be successful in obtaining alternative sources of funding to repay these obligations should these events occur.

5. MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE AND CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

     In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity” (“SFAS 150”). This statement establishes standards for classifying and measuring as liabilities certain financial instruments that embody obligations of the issuer and have characteristics of both liabilities and equity. SFAS No. 150 requires liability classification for mandatorily redeemable equity instruments not convertible into common stock, such as the Company’s 14 1/4% Junior Exchangeable Preferred Stock. SFAS No. 150 was effective immediately with respect to instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and as to all other instruments that exist as of the beginning of the first interim financial reporting period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company adopted SFAS No. 150 effective July 1, 2003. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a deferred asset for the unamortized issuance costs and recorded a liability for the mandatorily redeemable preferred stock balance related to its 14 1/4% Junior Exchangeable Preferred Stock. In addition, the amortization of the issuance costs and the dividends related to the 14 1/4% Junior Exchangeable Preferred Stock are being recorded as interest expense beginning July 1, 2003, whereas these costs were recorded as dividends and accretion on redeemable preferred stock in prior periods. Restatement of prior periods is not permitted upon adoption of SFAS No. 150. The Company’s 9 3/4% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 8% Series B Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock are not affected by the provisions of SFAS No. 150 because of their equity conversion features.

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     The following represents a summary of the changes in the Company’s mandatorily redeemable and convertible preferred stock during the three month period ended March 31, 2004 (in thousands):

     On November 13, 2003, NBC exercised its right to demand that the Company redeem, or arrange for a third party to acquire, all of the shares of the Company’s series B preferred stock held by NBC, at a price equal to the aggregate liquidation preference thereof plus accrued and unpaid dividends, which as of March 31, 2004, totaled $565.8 million. Should the Company fail to effect a redemption within one year after November 13, 2003, NBC will be permitted to transfer, without restriction, any of the Company’s securities acquired by it, its right to acquire Mr. Paxson’s Class B common stock, its contractual rights with respect to the Company’s business, and its other rights under the related transaction agreements. The Company’s ability to effect any redemption is restricted by the terms of the Company’s outstanding debt and preferred stock. Further, the Company does not currently have sufficient funds to pay the redemption price for these securities. In order to comply with NBC’s redemption demand, the Company expects that it would need to repay, refinance or otherwise restructure the majority of its outstanding indebtedness and preferred stock and raise sufficient liquidity to enable it to pay the required redemption price. Alternatively the Company would need to identify a third party willing to purchase those securities at the required redemption price. If the Company is unable to complete a redemption, the Company would be unable to prevent NBC from transferring its interest in the Company to a third party selected by NBC in its discretion, which could have a material adverse effect upon the Company.

     On September 15, 2004, the rate at which dividends accrue on the Company’s Series B preferred stock, all of which is held by NBC, will be adjusted to a market rate, determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm chosen by the Company, at which the Series B preferred stock would trade at its liquidation preference. A material increase in the dividend rate on the Company’s Series B preferred stock resulting from this adjustment could have material adverse consequences for the Company.

6. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

     The Company utilized an interest rate swap to manage the impact of interest rate changes on the Company’s borrowings under its Senior Credit Facility which was refinanced in January 2004. The interest rate swap matured on October 15, 2003 and was not renewed. Under the interest rate swap, the Company agreed with the other party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed notional principal amount. Income or expense under these instruments was recorded on an accrual basis as an adjustment to the yield of the underlying exposures over the periods covered by the contracts. The Company has accounted for the swap as a cash flow hedge pursuant to SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended, with changes in the fair value included as a component of other comprehensive loss. At March 31, 2003, the fair value of the swap was a liability of approximately $2.6 million.

     Other comprehensive income represents the unrealized gain on the Company’s interest rate swap accounted for as a cash flow hedge.

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     The components of comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (in thousands):

7. INCOME TAXES

     The Company has recorded a provision for income taxes based on its estimated annual effective income tax rate. For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets (resulting from tax losses generated during the periods) net of those deferred tax liabilities which are expected to reverse in determinate future periods, as it believes it is more likely than not that it will be unable to utilize its remaining net deferred tax assets.

     The Company structured the disposition of its radio division in 1997 and its acquisition of television stations during the period following this disposition in a manner that the Company believed would qualify these transactions as a “like kind” exchange under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code and would permit the Company to defer recognizing for income tax purposes up to approximately $333 million of gain. The IRS has examined the Company’s 1997 tax return and has issued the Company a “30-day letter” proposing to disallow all of the Company’s gain deferral. The Company filed a protest to this determination with the IRS appeals division, but cannot predict the outcome at this time, and may not prevail. In addition, the “30-day letter” offered the Company an alternative position that, in the event the IRS is unsuccessful in disallowing all of the gain deferral, approximately $62 million of the $333 million gain deferral will be disallowed. The Company filed a protest to this alternative determination as well. The Company may not prevail with respect to this alternative determination. Should the IRS successfully challenge the Company’s position and disallow all or part of its gain deferral, because the Company had net operating losses in the years subsequent to 1997 in excess of the amount of the deferred gain, the Company would not be liable for any tax deficiency, but could be liable for interest on the tax liability for the period prior to the carryback of its net operating losses. The Company has estimated the amount of interest for which it could be held liable to be a maximum of approximately $16.8 million should the IRS succeed in disallowing all of the deferred gain. If the IRS were successful in disallowing only part of the gain under its alternative position, the Company estimates it would be liable for only a nominal amount of interest.

8. PER SHARE DATA

     Basic and diluted loss per common share was computed by dividing net loss less dividends and accretion on redeemable and convertible preferred stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The effect of stock options and warrants is antidilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted loss per share is the same for all periods presented.

     As of March 31, 2004 and 2003, the following securities, which could potentially dilute earnings per share in the future, were not included in the computation of earnings per share, because to do so would have been antidilutive (in thousands):

9. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

     Employee stock options are accounted for using the intrinsic value method. Stock-based compensation to non-employees is accounted for using the fair value method. When options are granted to employees, a non-cash charge representing the difference between the exercise price and the quoted market price of the common stock underlying the vested options on the date of grant is recorded as stock-based compensation expense with the balance deferred and amortized over the remaining vesting period.

     In October 2003, the Company granted 3,598,750 options under the Company’s 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”), to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share to certain employees and directors. The options provided for a one business day exercise period. All holders of the options exercised their options and received shares of Class A common stock that are subject to restrictions on transfer and a risk of forfeiture (restricted stock). The restricted stock issued upon the exercise of the options included 2,278,000 shares which will vest in their entirety at the end of a five year period. Of the remaining shares of restricted stock issued upon the exercise of the options, 1,000,750 shares will vest ratably over a three year period and 320,000 shares will vest ratably over a five year period. The award resulted in non-cash stock-based compensation expense of approximately $18.3 million, which will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. For the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company recognized approximately $1.4 million in stock-based compensation

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expense in connection with these grants. Approximately $4.3 million will be recognized during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2004, and the remaining $11.1 million will be recognized between 2005 and 2008.

     In January 2003, the Company consummated a stock option exchange offer under which the Company issued to holders who tendered their eligible options in the exchange offer new options under the Plan to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A common stock for each two shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of tendered options, at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The terms of the new options provided for a one business day exercise period. All holders who tendered their eligible options in the exchange offer exercised their new options promptly after the issuance of those new options. Approximately 5.5 million options issued under the Company’s stock option plans and 1.8 million additional non-qualified options were tendered in the exchange offer and approximately 2.6 million new shares of Class A common stock were issued upon exercise of the new options, net of approximately 1.0 million shares of Class A common stock withheld, in accordance with the Plan’s provisions, at the holders’ elections to cover withholding taxes and the option exercise price totaling approximately $2.4 million. The stock option exchange resulted in a fixed non-cash stock-based compensation expense of approximately $8.7 million, of which approximately $6.9 million related to vested shares was recognized in the first quarter of 2003, $1.7 million of the remaining compensation expense was recognized in 2003 and $0.1 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2004. The stock-based compensation expense was recognized on a straight-line basis over the one year vesting schedule of the modified award. In addition, the remaining deferred stock compensation expense totaling approximately $2.5 million at December 31, 2002 associated with the tendered options was recognized on a straight-line basis over the one year vesting schedule of the modified award ($0.5 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2003, $1.8 million was recognized in 2003, and $0.2 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2004). As of March 31, 2004, there were 390,341 shares of restricted stock issued upon the exercise of options issued in the January 2003 exchange that had not vested as a result of elections to defer vesting made by the holders.

     Had compensation expense for the Company’s option plans been determined using the fair value method, the Company’s net loss and net loss per share would have been as follows (in thousands except per share data):

     The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model assuming a dividend yield of zero, expected volatility range of 50% to 79%, risk free interest rates of 2.8% to 6.9% and weighted average expected option terms of one day to 7.5 years.

10. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

     Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash operating and financing activities are as follows (in thousands):

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11. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

     In December 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003) “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51” (“FIN 46”). FIN 46 clarifies the application of ARB No. 51 to certain entities in which the equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Application of FIN 46 is required in financial statements of public entities that have interests in variable interest or potential variable interest entities commonly referred to as special-purpose entities for periods ending after December 31, 2003. Application by public entities for all other types of entities is required in financial statements for periods ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have any effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

     In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity” (“SFAS 150”). This statement establishes standards for classifying and measuring as liabilities certain financial instruments that embody obligations of the issuer and have characteristics of both liabilities and equity. SFAS 150 requires liability classification for mandatorily redeemable equity instruments not convertible into common stock, such as the Company’s 14 1/4% Junior Exchangeable Preferred Stock. SFAS 150 was effective immediately with respect to instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and as to all other instruments that exist as of the beginning of the first interim financial reporting period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company adopted SFAS 150 effective July 1, 2003. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a deferred asset for the unamortized issuance costs and recorded a liability for the mandatorily redeemable preferred stock balance related to its 14 1/4% Junior Exchangeable Preferred Stock. In addition, the amortization of the issuance costs and the dividends related to the 14 1/4% Junior Exchangeable Preferred Stock are being recorded as interest expense beginning July 1, 2003 versus the recording of these costs as dividends and accretion on redeemable preferred stock in prior periods. Restatement of prior periods was not permitted upon adoption of SFAS 150. The Company’s 9 3/4% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 8% Series B Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock are not affected by the provisions of SFAS 150 because of their equity conversion features.

12. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Paxson Communications Corporation (the “Parent Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries are joint and several guarantors under the Company’s debt obligations. There are no restrictions on the ability of the guarantor subsidiaries or the Parent Company to issue dividends or transfer assets to any other subsidiary guarantors. The accounts of the Parent Company include network operations, network sales, programming and other corporate departments. The accounts of the wholly owned subsidiaries primarily include the television stations owned and operated by the Company.

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     The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10 “Financial statements of guarantors and issuers of guaranteed securities registered or being registered.” This information is not intended to present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the individual companies or groups of companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)