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Table of Contents

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

x   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

       For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003

 

OR

 

¨   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

       For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number 1-14595

 


FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware

 

95-4066193

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York

 

10036

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(212) 852-7111

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 


 

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  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  x  No  ¨

 

As of May 14, 2003, 352,436,375 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 547,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, were outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

 

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              

Page


Part I. Financial Information

    
    

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

    
         

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

  

3

         

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2003 (unaudited) and June 30, 2002 (audited)

  

4

         

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

  

5

         

Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

  

6

    

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

  

20

    

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

  

41

    

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

  

41

Part II. Other Information

    
    

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

  

41

    

Item 2.

  

Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

  

41

    

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

  

41

    

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

  

41

    

Item 5.

  

Other Information

  

41

    

Item 6.

  

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

  

41

    

Signature

  

42

 

2


Table of Contents

 

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in millions except per share amounts)

 

    

For the three months

ended March 31,


    

For the nine months

ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


    

2003


    

2002


 

Revenues

  

$

2,707

 

  

$

2,488

 

  

$

8,201

 

  

$

7,294

 

Expenses:

                                   

Operating

  

 

1,882

 

  

 

1,815

 

  

 

5,764

 

  

 

5,453

 

Selling, general and administrative

  

 

314

 

  

 

312

 

  

 

945

 

  

 

921

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

47

 

  

 

99

 

  

 

139

 

  

 

302

 

Other operating charge

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

909

 

    


  


  


  


Operating income (loss)

  

 

464

 

  

 

262

 

  

 

1,353

 

  

 

(291

)

Other income (expense):

                                   

Interest expense, net

  

 

(25

)

  

 

(54

)

  

 

(120

)

  

 

(192

)

Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates

  

 

(8

)

  

 

(26

)

  

 

(18

)

  

 

(135

)

Minority interest in subsidiaries

  

 

(5

)

  

 

(7

)

  

 

(21

)

  

 

(29

)

Other, net

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

1,585

 

    


  


  


  


Income before provision for income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change

  

 

426

 

  

 

175

 

  

 

1,194

 

  

 

938

 

Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis

  

 

(150

)

  

 

(67

)

  

 

(421

)

  

 

(371

)

    


  


  


  


Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

  

 

276

 

  

 

108

 

  

 

773

 

  

 

567

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(26

)

    


  


  


  


Net income

  

$

276

 

  

$

108

 

  

$

773

 

  

$

541

 

    


  


  


  


Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change

  

$

0.31

 

  

$

0.13

 

  

$

0.88

 

  

$

0.68

 

Basic and diluted cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax, per share

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(0.03

)

    


  


  


  


Basic and diluted earnings per share

  

$

0.31

 

  

$

0.13

 

  

$

0.88

 

  

$

0.65

 

    


  


  


  


Basic and diluted weighted average number of common equivalent shares outstanding

  

 

900

 

  

 

850

 

  

 

875

 

  

 

835

 

    


  


  


  


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

 

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions except share and per share amounts)

 

    

As of March 31, 2003


  

As of June 30, 2002


    

(unaudited)

  

(audited)

Assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

63

  

$

56

Accounts receivable, net

  

 

2,736

  

 

2,577

Filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net

  

 

3,185

  

 

3,062

Investments in equity affiliates

  

 

1,546

  

 

1,424

Property and equipment, net

  

 

1,475

  

 

1,501

Intangible assets, net

  

 

8,663

  

 

8,076

Goodwill, net

  

 

4,813

  

 

5,093

Other assets and investments

  

 

933

  

 

1,087

    

  

Total assets

  

$

23,414

  

$

22,876

    

  

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity:

             

Liabilities:

             

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  

$

1,559

  

$

1,844

Participations, residuals and royalties payable

  

 

1,333

  

 

1,129

Television programming rights payable

  

 

1,510

  

 

1,428

Deferred revenue

  

 

498

  

 

500

Borrowings

  

 

95

  

 

942

Deferred income taxes

  

 

2,060

  

 

1,912

Other liabilities

  

 

660

  

 

735

    

  

    

 

7,715

  

 

8,490

Due to affiliates of News Corporation

  

 

890

  

 

1,413

    

  

Total liabilities

  

 

8,605

  

 

9,903

    

  

Minority interest in subsidiaries (Note 12)

  

 

720

  

 

878

Commitments and contingencies

             

Shareholders’ Equity:

             

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2002

  

 

—  

  

 

—  

Class A Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 1,000,000,000 authorized; 352,436,375 and 302,436,375 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2002, respectively

  

 

4

  

 

3

Class B Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 650,000,000 authorized; 547,500,000 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2002

  

 

6

  

 

6

Additional paid-in capital

  

 

12,780

  

 

11,569

Retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income

  

 

1,299

  

 

517

    

  

Total shareholders’ equity

  

 

14,089

  

 

12,095

    

  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  

$

23,414

  

$

22,876

    

  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

 

4


Table of Contents

 

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in millions)

 

    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 

Operating activities:

                 

Net income

  

$

773

 

  

$

541

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

139

 

  

 

302

 

Amortization of cable distribution investments

  

 

94

 

  

 

84

 

Other operating charge

  

 

—  

 

  

 

909

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

  

 

—  

 

  

 

26

 

Equity (earnings) losses of affiliates and distributions

  

 

23

 

  

 

163

 

Minority interest in subsidiaries

  

 

8

 

  

 

6

 

Other, net

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(1,585

)

Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

                 

Accounts receivable and other assets

  

 

(159

)

  

 

(239

)

Filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net

  

 

(182

)

  

 

(31

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  

 

100

 

  

 

422

 

Participations, residuals and royalties payable and other liabilities

  

 

205

 

  

 

281

 

    


  


Net cash provided by operating activities

  

 

1,001

 

  

 

879

 

    


  


Investing activities:

                 

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

  

 

(424

)

  

 

(346

)

Proceeds from the sale of investments in equity affiliates

  

 

—  

 

  

 

1,491

 

Investments in equity affiliates

  

 

(116

)

  

 

(242

)

Other investments

  

 

(23

)

  

 

(90

)

Purchases of property and equipment

  

 

(114

)

  

 

(55

)

Disposals of property and equipment

  

 

9

 

  

 

—  

 

    


  


Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

  

 

(668

)

  

 

758

 

    


  


Financing activities:

                 

(Repayments) borrowings, net

  

 

(852

)

  

 

(149

)

(Decrease) increase in Minority interest in subsidiaries

  

 

(3

)

  

 

—  

 

(Decrease) increase in Preferred Interests

  

 

(159

)

  

 

1

 

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

  

 

1,211

 

  

 

—  

 

Advances from (repayments to) affiliates of News Corporation, net

  

 

(523

)

  

 

(1,486

)

    


  


Net cash used in financing activities

  

 

(326

)

  

 

(1,634

)

    


  


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

  

 

7

 

  

 

3

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

  

 

56

 

  

 

66

 

    


  


Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

  

$

63

 

  

$

69

 

    


  


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

 

Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the “Company”) is principally engaged in the development, production and worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television broadcasting and cable network programming. The Company is a majority-owned subsidiary of The News Corporation Limited (“News Corporation”), which, as of March 31, 2003, held equity and voting interests in the Company of 80.6% and 97.0%, respectively.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.

 

These interim unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2002.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” Among other things, SFAS No. 148 requires the disclosure in interim reports of compensation expense calculated according to SFAS No. 123 for those awards of stock-based employee compensation that were outstanding and accounted for under the intrinsic value method of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25. (See Note 4)

 

During the nine months ended March 31, 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” In accordance with SFAS No. 142, goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and excess cost over the Company’s share of equity investees’ assets will no longer be amortized, resulting in a reduction of Depreciation and amortization expense and an improvement in Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates. (See Note 5)

 

In November 2001, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force No. (“EITF”) 01-09, “Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products,” which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. This EITF, among other things, codified the issues and examples of EITF 00-25, “Vendor Income Statement Characterization of Consideration Paid to a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products.” EITF 00-25 states that customer incentives, which consist of the amortization of cable distribution investments (capitalized fees paid to a cable or direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) operator to facilitate the launch of a cable network), should be presented as a reduction in revenue in the consolidated condensed statements of operations. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Company’s and the Cable Network Programming segment’s revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Company’s revenues is as follows:

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


    

2003


    

2002


 
    

(in millions)

 

Gross Revenues

  

$

2,738

 

  

$

2,518

 

  

$

8,295

 

  

$

7,378

 

Amortization of cable distribution investments

  

 

(31

)

  

 

(30

)

  

 

(94

)

  

 

(84

)

    


  


  


  


Revenues

  

$

2,707

 

  

$

2,488

 

  

$

8,201

 

  

$

7,294

 

    


  


  


  


 

6


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation – continued

 

Fox Family Worldwide, Inc. (“FFW”), formerly an equity affiliate of the Company until it was sold in October 2001, adopted Statement of Position No. 00-2, “Accounting by Producers or Distributors of Films” on July 1, 2001, at which time it recorded a one-time, non-cash charge of approximately $53 million as a cumulative effect of accounting change. The Company’s share, approximately $26 million, has been accounted for as a cumulative effect of accounting change in the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2002.

 

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2003 presentation.

 

Note 2 – Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive income is as follows:

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


  

2002


    

2003


  

2002


 
    

(in millions)

 

Net income

  

$

276

  

$

108

 

  

$

773

  

$

541

 

Other comprehensive income:

                               

Foreign currency translation adjustments

  

 

7

  

 

(7

)

  

 

9

  

 

(16

)

    

  


  

  


Total comprehensive income

  

$

283

  

$

101

 

  

$

782

  

$

525

 

    

  


  

  


 

Note 3 – Issuance of Common Stock

 

In May 2002, the Company filed a Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows the Company to issue, from time to time, Class A Common Stock and/or debt securities for aggregate proceeds of up to $2.5 billion. In November 2002, the Company sold 50 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for net proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion. The Company used the net proceeds to reduce obligations Due to affiliates of News Corporation. Upon consummation of the offering, News Corporation’s equity and voting interests in the Company decreased from 85.3% and 97.8% to 80.6% and 97.0%, respectively.

 

7


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 4 – Share Option Plan

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148. Among other things, SFAS No. 148 requires the disclosure in interim reports of compensation expense calculated according to SFAS No. 123 for those awards of stock-based employee compensation that were outstanding and accounted for under the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25. (See Note 16) The following table illustrates the effect on Net income and Earnings per share as if the fair value based method under SFAS No. 123 had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period.

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


    

2003


    

2002


 
    

(in millions except per share data)

 

Net income, as reported

  

$

276

 

  

$

108

 

  

$

773

 

  

$

541

 

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

  

 

(12

)

  

 

(8

)

  

 

(35

)

  

 

(22

)

    


  


  


  


Pro forma net income

  

$

264

 

  

$

100

 

  

$

738

 

  

$

519

 

    


  


  


  


Basic and diluted earnings per share:

                                   

As reported

  

$

0.31

 

  

$

0.13

 

  

$

0.88

 

  

$

0.65

 

Pro forma

  

$

0.29

 

  

$

0.12

 

  

$

0.84

 

  

$

0.62

 

 

Note 5 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

Effective July 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 eliminates the requirement to amortize goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and the excess cost over the Company’s share of equity investees’ assets and supersedes APB Opinion No. 17, “Intangible Assets,” and replaces it with requirements to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. Intangible assets that are deemed to have a finite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 required the Company to perform an initial impairment assessment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the date of adoption. This impairment assessment compared the fair value of these intangible assets to their carrying value. As a result of the tests performed, the Company has determined that none of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. In addition, for goodwill and other intangibles acquired in business combinations consummated before July 1, 2001, SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” requires the Company to reclassify to goodwill those intangibles (and their related deferred tax liabilities) that do not meet the criteria in SFAS No. 141 for recognition apart from goodwill and to reclassify to intangibles those amounts reported as goodwill that meet the SFAS No. 141 criteria for separate recognition. Accordingly, the Company has made several reclassifications between goodwill and other intangibles as of the date of the adoption.

 

8


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 5 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets – continued

 

The Company’s intangible assets and related accumulated amortization are as follows:

 

 

    

As of June 30, 2002


    
    

Gross


  

Accumulated Amortization


    

Net


  

Weighted average useful lives


    

(in millions)

    

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

                           

FCC licenses

  

$

8,437

  

$

(1,101

)

  

$

7,336

  

Indefinite-lived

Franchise rights and other

  

 

750

  

 

(14

)

  

 

736

  

Indefinite-lived

    

  


  

    
    

 

9,187

  

 

(1,115

)

  

 

8,072

    
    

  


  

    

Intangible assets subject to amortization

  

 

60

  

 

(56

)

  

 

4

  

4.3 years

    

  


  

    

Total Intangibles

  

$

9,247

  

$

(1,171

)

  

$

8,076

    
    

  


  

    

 

    

As of March 31, 2003


    

Gross


  

Accumulated Amortization


    

Net


    

(in millions)

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

                      

FCC licenses

  

$

9,557

  

$

(1,101

)

  

$

8,456

Franchise rights and other

  

 

228

  

 

(21

)

  

 

207

    

  


  

    

 

9,785

  

 

(1,122

)

  

 

8,663

    

  


  

Intangible assets subject to amortization

  

 

61

  

 

(61

)

  

 

—  

    

  


  

Total Intangibles

  

$

9,846

  

$

(1,183

)

  

$

8,663

    

  


  

 

Aggregate amortization expense for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2003 was $1 million and $5 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2003, substantially all remaining intangible assets were determined to have indefinite lives.

 

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill, by segment, is as follows:

 

      

Filmed Entertainment


  

Television Stations


    

Television Broadcast Network


  

Cable Network Programming


    

Total Goodwill


 
      

(in millions)

 

Balance as of June 30, 2002

    

$

356

  

$

2,246

 

  

$

—  

  

$

2,491

 

  

$

5,093

 

Reclassifications

    

 

124

  

 

(129

)

  

 

—  

  

 

(40

)

  

 

(45

)

Purchase price adjustments (1)

    

 

—  

  

 

(575

)

  

 

—  

  

 

340

 

  

 

(235

)

      

  


  

  


  


Balance as of March 31, 2003

    

$

480

  

$

1,542

 

  

$

—  

  

$

2,791

 

  

$

4,813

 

      

  


  

  


  


(1)   Adjustments primarily relate to the purchase price allocations for the acquisitions of Chris Craft Industries, Inc., Speedvision Network LLC and WPWR-TV.

 

9


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 5 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets – continued

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of reported Income before cumulative effect of accounting change for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2002 to Adjusted income before cumulative effect of accounting change that would have been reported had SFAS No. 142 been adopted as of July 1, 2001.

 

      

For the three months ended

March 31, 2002


      

For the nine months ended

March 31, 2002


 
      

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change


      

Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting

change


      

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change


      

Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting

change


 
      

(in millions, except per share amounts)

 

As reported – historical basis

    

$

108

 

    

$

0.13

 

    

$

567

 

    

$

0.68

 

Add: Goodwill amortization

    

 

19

 

    

 

0.02

 

    

 

56

 

    

 

0.07

 

Add: Intangible amortization

    

 

33

 

    

 

0.04

 

    

 

105

 

    

 

0.13

 

Add: Intangible amortization related to equity investees

    

 

4

 

    

 

0.01

 

    

 

32

 

    

 

0.03

 

Income tax impact of the above adjustments

    

 

(13

)

    

 

(0.02

)

    

 

(48

)

    

 

(0.06

)

      


    


    


    


Adjusted income before cumulative effect of accounting change

    

$

151

 

    

$

0.18

 

    

$

712

 

    

$

0.85

 

      


    


    


    


 

Note 6 – Borrowings

 

In June 2002, the Company and its subsidiary, Fox Sports Networks, LLC, irrevocably called for redemption all of the outstanding 9 3/4% Senior Discount Notes due 2007 and all of the outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2007 (collectively, the “Notes”). The Notes were fully redeemed in August 2002. The Company recorded a pre-tax loss of $42 million on the early redemption of the Notes in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2002, in accordance with SFAS No. 145.

 

The Company has a single-film production financing arrangement for approximately $95 million, which is secured by the film assets and bears interest at approximately 1.9% for fiscal 2003. In April 2003, the Company repaid its single-film production financing arrangement of $95 million.

 

Note 7 – Other Operating Charge

 

The Company has several multi-year sports rights agreements, including a contract with the National Football League (“NFL”) through fiscal year 2006, contracts with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (“NASCAR”) through fiscal year 2013 and a contract with Major League Baseball (“MLB”) through fiscal year 2007. These contracts provide the Company with the broadcast rights to certain national sporting events during their respective terms. The NASCAR contracts contain certain early termination clauses that are exercisable by NASCAR.

 

The Company continually evaluates the recoverability of the rights costs against the revenues directly associated with the program material and related direct expenses over the expected contract lives. At December 31, 2001, the Company recorded an Other operating charge of $909 million. This charge related to a change in accounting estimate on the Company’s national

 

10


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 7 – Other Operating Charge – continued

 

sports rights agreements caused by the downturn in the advertising market, which caused the Company to write off programming costs inventory and to provide for estimated losses on these contracts over their estimated terms. This evaluation considered the severe downturn in sports-related advertising, the lack of any sustained advertising rebound subsequent to September 11th and the industry-wide reduction of projected long-term advertising growth rates, all of which resulted in the Company’s estimate of future directly attributable revenues associated with these contracts being lower than previously anticipated. Because the vast majority of costs incurred under these contracts are fixed, such as the rights costs and production costs, the results of these lower revenue estimates indicated that the Company would generate a loss over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.

 

In accordance with APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes,” the Company has determined that the impact of the charge on Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share, net of tax benefit of $346 million, for the nine months ended March 31, 2002 was $0.67 loss per share.

 

The costs of these sports contracts are charged to expense based on the ratio of each period’s operating profits to estimated total operating profit of the contract. Considering the provision of $909 million for estimated losses and absent a difference between the actual future revenues and costs as compared to the estimated future revenues and costs, no operating profit or loss will be recognized by the Company over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.

 

The profitability of these long-term national sports contracts as discussed above is based on the Company’s best estimates at March 31, 2003, of directly attributable revenues and costs; such estimates may change in the future, and such changes may be significant. Should revenues decline from estimates applied at March 31, 2003, an additional loss will be recorded. Should revenues improve as compared to estimated revenues, then none of the recorded loss will be restored, but the Company will have a positive operating profit, which will be recognized over the estimated remaining contract term.

 

As of March 31, 2003, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s estimates from those employed as of December 31, 2001.

 

Note 8 – Chris-Craft Acquisition

 

On July 31, 2001, News Corporation, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Chris-Craft Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries, BHC Communications, Inc. and United Television, Inc., (collectively, “Chris-Craft”). The consideration for the acquisition was approximately $2 billion in cash and approximately $3 billion in News Corporation American Depositary Receipts representing preferred limited voting ordinary shares (“ADRs”). Simultaneously with the closing of the acquisition, News Corporation transferred $3,432 million of net assets, constituting Chris-Craft’s ten television stations (the “Acquired Stations”) to the Company in exchange for 122,244,272 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and net indebtedness of $48 million (the “Exchange”), thereby increasing News Corporation’s ownership in the Company from 82.76% to 85.25%. The Company assigned the licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) for the Acquired Stations to its indirect subsidiary, Fox Television Stations, Inc., which became the licensee and controls the operations of the Acquired Stations. News Corporation acquired Chris-Craft and transferred to the Company the Acquired Stations in order to strengthen the Company’s existing television station business. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

The Company consolidated the results of operations of the Acquired Stations as of the date of Exchange, July 31, 2001, with the exception of KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City, whose operations were not consolidated as of the Exchange due to regulatory requirements which precluded the Company from controlling the station and required its disposal (see description of Clear Channel swap below). For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, “Exchanges of Ownership Interests between Entities under Common Control,” the Company recognized the assets and liabilities of Chris-Craft based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation merger and issued equity to News Corporation at that value.

 

In October 2001, the Company exchanged KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City and KMOL-TV in San Antonio with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. for WFTC-TV in Minneapolis (the “Clear Channel swap”). In addition, in November 2001, the Company exchanged KBHK-TV in San Francisco with Viacom Inc. for WDCA-TV in Washington, DC and KTXH-TV in

 

11


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 8 – Chris-Craft Acquisition – continued

 

Houston (the “Viacom swap”). In June 2002, the Company exchanged KPTV-TV in Portland for Meredith Corporation’s WOFL-TV in Orlando and WOGX-TV in Ocala (the “Meredith swap”, and together with the Viacom and Clear Channel swaps, the “Station Swaps”). All of the stations exchanged in the Station Swaps were Acquired Stations. No gain or loss was recognized by the Company as a result of the Station Swaps.

 

The purchase price was allocated to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The allocation to acquired intangible assets included both goodwill and FCC licenses, which are deemed to have indefinite lives, and therefore are not subject to amortization in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. The goodwill and intangibles were assigned to the Television Stations segment, the majority of which are not deductible for tax purposes. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” the Company has recorded deferred taxes for the basis difference related to FCC licenses and other acquired assets and liabilities.

 

Note 9 – Other Acquisitions and Dispositions

 

In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Speedvision Network, LLC, the Company acquired an additional 53.44% of Speedvision Network, LLC, now Speed Channel, Inc. (“Speed Channel”), for approximately $401 million, increasing the Company’s ownership in Speed Channel to approximately 85.46%. As a result, the Company consolidated the results of Speed Channel beginning in July 2001. In October 2001, the Company acquired the remaining 14.54% minority interest in Speed Channel for approximately $111 million bringing the Company’s ownership to 100%. These transactions have been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Outdoor Life Network, LLC (“Outdoor Life”), the Company acquired 50.23% of Outdoor Life for approximately $309 million. This acquisition resulted in the Company owning approximately 83.18% of Outdoor Life. In October 2001, a shareholder of Outdoor Life acquired the Company’s ownership interest in Outdoor Life for approximately $512 million in cash. During the period from July 2001 until the closing of the sale of Outdoor Life in October 2001, the ownership interest in Outdoor Life was held for sale and control of Outdoor Life was deemed temporary. Therefore, in accordance with SFAS No. 94, “Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries,” and EITF 87-11, “Allocation of Purchase Price to Assets to be Sold,” the results of Outdoor Life were not consolidated in the Company’s statement of operations for this period. Upon the closing of the sale of the Company’s ownership interest in Outdoor Life, the Company recognized a gain of $147 million, which was reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2002.

 

In October 2001, the Company, Haim Saban and the other stockholders of FFW, sold FFW to The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”) for total consideration of approximately $5.2 billion (including the assumption of certain debt) of which approximately $1.6 billion was in consideration of the Company’s interest in FFW, which was rebranded ABC Family. As a result of this transaction, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $1.4 billion, which was reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2002. The proceeds from this transaction were used to reduce obligations Due to affiliates of News Corporation. In addition, the Company sublicensed certain post-season Major League Baseball (“MLB”) games through the 2006 MLB season to Disney for aggregate consideration of approximately $675 million, payable over the entire period of the sublicense.

 

In December 2001, News Corporation acquired from Liberty Media Corporation its 50% interest in International Sports Programming LLC (“Fox Sports International”), in exchange for 3,673,183 ADRs valued at $115 million. Under the terms of the transaction, the Company purchased News Corporation’s acquired interest in Fox Sports International, which increased the Company’s ownership interest from 50% to 100%, in exchange for the issuance of 3,632,269 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. As a result of this transaction, News Corporation’s equity ownership interest in the Company increased from 85.25% to 85.32%. For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, the Company recognized the assets and liabilities of Fox Sports International based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation acquisition and issued 3,632,269 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to News Corporation at that value. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

12


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FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 9 – Other Acquisitions and Dispositions – continued

 

In January 2002, the Company acquired an additional 23.3% voting interest in the Sunshine Network (“Sunshine”) for approximately $23.3 million. This resulted in the acquisition of a controlling financial interest in Sunshine and increased the Company’s ownership percentage in Sunshine to approximately 83.3%. In February 2002, the Company acquired an additional approximate 0.4% interest in Sunshine, increasing the Company’s ownership interest to approximately 83.7%. In October 2002, the Company acquired News Corporation’s 9.8% equity interest in Sunshine for consideration of approximately $3 million. For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, the Company recognized the carrying basis of Sunshine based upon its acquired basis from News Corporation. This acquisition increased the Company’s ownership interest in Sunshine to 93.7% with the remaining minority interest held by third parties. Since the Company obtained a controlling financial interest upon acquisition in January 2002, Sunshine has been consolidated into the Cable Network Programming segment of the Company. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

In August 2002, the Company acquired WPWR-TV in the Chicago designated market area (DMA) from Newsweb Corporation for $425 million. In connection with the preliminary allocation of the purchase price, during the nine months ended March 31, 2003, goodwill and deferred taxes were reduced to reflect the difference between the book and tax bases of the net assets acquired. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

Note 10 – Segment Information

 

The Company manages and reports its activities in four business segments: Filmed Entertainment, which principally consists of the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media primarily in the United States, Canada and Europe, and the production of original television programming in the United States and Canada; Television Stations, which principally consists of the operation of broadcast television stations in the United States; Television Broadcast Network, which principally consists of the broadcasting of network programming in the United States; and Cable Network Programming, which principally consists of the production and licensing of programming distributed through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators in the United States and professional sports team ownership in the United States.

 

The Company’s reportable operating segments have been determined in accordance with the Company’s internal management structure, which is organized based on operating activities. The Company evaluates performance based upon several factors, of which the primary financial measure is segment operating income.

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


  

For the nine months ended March 31,


    

2003


  

2002


  

2003


  

2002


    

(in millions)

Revenues:

                           

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

1,171

  

$

1,065

  

$

3,392

  

$

3,121

Television Stations

  

 

463

  

 

435

  

 

1,570

  

 

1,357

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

558

  

 

553

  

 

1,731

  

 

1,595

Cable Network Programming

  

 

515

  

 

435

  

 

1,508

  

 

1,221

    

  

  

  

Total revenues

  

$

2,707

  

$

2,488

  

$

8,201

  

$

7,294

    

  

  

  

 

13


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 10 – Segment Information – continued

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


    

2003


    

2002


 
    

(in millions)

 

Operating income (loss):

                                   

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

205

 

  

$

164

 

  

$

570

 

  

$

408

 

Television Stations

  

 

162

 

  

 

125

 

  

 

676

 

  

 

409

 

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

33

 

  

 

(50

)

  

 

(129

)

  

 

(223

)

Cable Network Programming

  

 

64

 

  

 

23

 

  

 

236

 

  

 

24

 

Other operating charge

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(909

)

    


  


  


  


Total operating income (loss)

  

 

464

 

  

 

262

 

  

 

1,353

 

  

 

(291

)

    


  


  


  


Interest expense, net

  

 

(25

)

  

 

(54

)

  

 

(120

)

  

 

(192

)

Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates

  

 

(8

)

  

 

(26

)

  

 

(18

)

  

 

(135

)

Minority interest in subsidiaries

  

 

(5

)

  

 

(7

)

  

 

(21

)

  

 

(29

)

Other, net

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

  

 

1,585

 

    


  


  


  


Income before provision for income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change

  

$

426

 

  

$

175

 

  

$

1,194

 

  

$

938

 

    


  


  


  


 

Intersegment revenues generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $170 million and $212 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, have been eliminated within the Filmed Entertainment segment. Intersegment revenues generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $475 million and $581 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, have been eliminated within the Filmed Entertainment segment. Intersegment operating income generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $6 million and $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, has been recorded within the Filmed Entertainment segment. Intersegment operating income generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $14 million and $60 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, has been eliminated within the Filmed Entertainment segment.

 

Other operating charge, Interest expense, net, Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, Minority interest in subsidiaries, Other, net and Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis are not allocated to segments, as they are not under the control of segment management. There is no material reliance on any single customer. Revenues from any individual foreign country were not material in the periods presented.

 

    

As of March 31, 2003


  

As of June 30, 2002


    

(in millions)

Total assets:

             

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

4,523

  

$

4,454

Television Stations

  

 

11,386

  

 

10,945

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

1,065

  

 

828

Cable Network Programming

  

 

4,894

  

 

5,225

Investments in equity affiliates

  

 

1,546

  

 

1,424

    

  

Total assets

  

$

23,414

  

$

22,876

    

  

 

14


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 11 – Filmed Entertainment and Television Programming Costs, net

 

Filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net consisted of the following as of:

 

      

March 31, 2003


  

June 30, 2002


      

(in millions)

Filmed entertainment costs:

               

Films:

               

Released

    

$

647

  

$

728

Completed, not released

    

 

60

  

 

80

In production

    

 

508

  

 

366

In development or preproduction

    

 

44

  

 

49

      

  

      

 

1,259

  

 

1,223

      

  

Television productions:

               

Released

    

 

499

  

 

500

In production

    

 

117

  

 

94

In development or preproduction

    

 

—  

  

 

7

      

  

      

 

616

  

 

601

      

  

Total filmed entertainment costs, less accumulated amortization

    

 

1,875

  

 

1,824

Television programming costs, less accumulated amortization

    

 

1,310

  

 

1,238

      

  

Total filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net

    

$

3,185

  

$

3,062

      

  

 

Note 12 – Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

 

In March 2001, the Company entered into a series of film rights agreements whereby a controlled consolidated subsidiary of the Company, Cornwall Venture LLC (“NM2”), that holds certain library film rights, funds the production or acquisition costs of all eligible films, as defined, to be produced or acquired by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (“TCF”), a subsidiary of the Company, between 2001 and 2005 (these film rights agreements, as amended, are collectively referred to as the “New Millennium II Agreement”). NM2 is a separate legal entity from the Company and TCF and has separate assets and liabilities. NM2 issued a preferred limited liability membership interest (“Preferred Interest”) to a third party to fund the film financing, which is presented on the consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Interest has no fixed redemption rights but is entitled to an allocation of the gross receipts to be derived by NM2 from the distribution of each eligible film. Such allocation to the extent available based on the gross receipts from the distribution of the eligible films consists of (i) a return on the Preferred Interest (the “Preferred Payments”), based on certain reference rates (generally based on commercial paper rates or LIBOR) prevailing on the respective dates of determination, and (ii) a redemption of the Preferred Interest, based on a contractually determined amortization schedule. The Preferred Interest has a preference in the event of a liquidation of NM2 equal to the unredeemed portion of the investment plus any accrued and unpaid Preferred Payments.

 

The net change in Preferred Interests outstanding was a reduction of $159 million and an increase of $1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These amounts were comprised of issuances by the Company of additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $324 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $483 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2003. During the nine months ended March 31, 2002, the Company issued additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $466 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $465 million.

 

As of March 31, 2003, there was approximately $691 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the unaudited consolidated condensed balance sheet as Minority interest in subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2002, there was approximately $850 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the audited consolidated condensed balance sheet as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Payments are recorded as an expense in Minority interest in subsidiaries on the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

A Ratings Trigger Event for the New Millennium II Agreement would occur if News Corporation’s debt rating:

 

15


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 12 – Minority Interest in Subsidiaries – continued

 

(i) (a) falls below BB+ and below Ba1, or (b) falls below BB, or (c) falls below Ba2, or (d) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, neither News Corporation nor the Company shall, within ten business days after the occurrence of such event, have provided credit enhancement so that the resulting New Millennium II Agreement is rated at least BB+ and Ba1, or

 

(ii) (a) falls below BBB- and Baa3, or (b) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, more than $25 million in capital payments redeemable at that time from film gross receipts remain unredeemed for at least one quarter.

 

If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then (a) no new films will be transferred, (b) rights against certain film assets may be enforced, and (c) the Preferred Interest may become redeemable.

 

Through March 31, 2003, no Ratings Trigger Event had occurred. If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then $425 million (or approximately 62% of the outstanding balance as of March 31, 2003) may be payable immediately. The balance of the redemption would be payable to the extent of future gross receipts from films that had been transferred to NM2.

 

Note 13 – Guarantees

 

The Company, News Corporation and certain of News Corporation’s other subsidiaries are guarantors of various debt obligations of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries. The principal amount of indebtedness outstanding under such debt instruments as of March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2002 was approximately $9.6 billion and $8.7 billion, respectively. The debt instruments limit the ability of guarantors, including the Company, to subject their properties to liens, and certain of the debt instruments impose limitations on the ability of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company, to incur indebtedness in certain circumstances. Such debt instruments mature at various times between 2004 and 2096, with a weighted average maturity of over 20 years.

 

In the case of any event of default under such debt obligations, the Company will be directly liable to the creditors or debtholders. News Corporation has agreed to indemnify the Company from and against any obligations it may incur by reason of its guarantees of such debt obligations. As of March 31, 2003, News Corporation was in compliance with all of its debt covenants and had satisfied all financial ratios and tests and expects to remain in compliance and satisfy all such ratios and tests.

 

The Company guarantees sports rights agreements of an equity affiliate. This guarantee extends through fiscal 2019. The Company guarantees 70% of the sports rights agreements and has a maximum liability of $1,050 million. The Company would be liable under this guarantee in the event of default of their equity affiliate.

 

Note 14 – Contingencies

 

Regional Programming Partners

 

In December 1997, Rainbow Media Sports Holdings, Inc. (“Rainbow”) (a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (“Cablevision”)) and Fox Sports Net, Inc. (“Fox Sports Net”) (a subsidiary of the Company) formed Regional Programming Partners (“RPP”) to hold various programming interests in connection with the operation of certain regional sports networks (“RSNs”) (the “Rainbow Transaction”). Rainbow contributed various interests in RSNs, the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Complex, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Rangers National Hockey League franchise, and the New York Knickerbockers National Basketball Association franchise, to RPP in exchange for a 60% partnership interest in RPP, and Fox Sports Net contributed $850 million in cash for a 40% partnership interest in RPP.

 

Pursuant to the RPP partnership agreement, upon certain actions being taken by Fox Sports Net, Rainbow has the right to purchase all of Fox Sports Net’s interests in RPP. The buyout price will be the greater of (i) (a) $2.125 billion, increased by capital contributions and decreased by capital distributions, times Fox Sports Net’s interest in RPP plus (b) an 8% rate of return on the amount in (a) or (ii) the fair market value of Fox Sports Net’s interest in RPP. Consideration will be, at Rainbow’s option, in the form of cash or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%.

 

16


Table of Contents

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 14 – Contingencies – continued

 

In addition, for 30 days following December 18, 2005 (the “Put Date”) and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, so long as RPP has not commenced an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its securities, Fox Sports Net has the right to cause Rainbow to, at Rainbow’s option, either (i) purchase all of its interests in RPP or (ii) consummate an IPO of RPP’s securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Fox Sports Net’s interest in RPP and the consideration will be, at Rainbow’s option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated companies of Rainbow or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investment in RPP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration received from Rainbow. Fox Sports Net did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for the 30 days following December 18, 2002.

 

In connection with the Rainbow Transaction, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Sports Partners (“NSP”) in which each of Rainbow and Fox Sports Net were issued a 50% partnership interest to operate Fox Sports Net (“FSN”), a national sports programming service that provides its affiliated RSNs with 24 hour per day national sports programming. In addition, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Advertising Partners (“NAP”), in which each of Fox Sports Net and Rainbow were issued a 50% partnership interest, to act as the national advertising sales representative for the Fox Sports Net-owned RSNs and the RPP-owned and managed RSNs. Independent of the arrangements discussed above relating to RPP, for 30 days following the Put Date and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, or any subsequent Put Date so long as NSP and NAP have not commenced an IPO of its securities, Rainbow has the right to cause Fox Sports Net to, at Fox Sports Nets’ option, either (i) purchase all of Rainbow’s interests in NSP and NAP, or (ii) consummate an IPO of NSP’s and NAP’s securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Rainbow’s interest in NSP and NAP and the consideration will be, at Fox Sports Net’s option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated entities of Fox Sports Net or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investments in NAP and NSP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration paid to Rainbow. Rainbow did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for 30 days following December 18, 2002.

 

In January 2003, Fox Sports Net exercised its right to put its 50% direct ownership interests in SportsChannel Chicago Associates and SportsChannel Pacific Associates (collectively the “SportsChannels”) to RPP in connection with the Rainbow Transaction. In March 2003, RPP and Fox Sports Net agreed on a $150 million purchase price for the interest in the SportsChannels, payable in the form of a three-year promissory note of RPP, bearing interest at prime plus 1% and secured by the interests being purchased. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 following receipt of customary regulatory approval. Following the closing of this sale, the SportsChannels will be held 100% by RPP and indirectly 40% by Fox Sports Net and 60% by Rainbow, and each will remain a Fox Sports Net affiliate.

 

NFL

 

Under the Company’s eight-year contract with the NFL that expires in 2006, the contract provided the NFL with the option to renegotiate the programming rights to broadcast certain football games at the end of the 2002 football season. This option was not exercised and expired in February 2003.

 

Note 15 – Other, net

 

For the nine months ended March 31, 2002, Other, net consisted of $1,439 million and $147 million in gains related to the sale of the Company’s investments in FFW and Outdoor Life, respectively.

 

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FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 16 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosure requirements of a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also requires a guarantor to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing certain guarantees. FIN 45 also incorporates, without change, the guidance in FIN 34, “Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,” which it supersedes. The incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45 are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions are applicable to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The accounting followed by a guarantor on prior guarantees may not be changed to conform to the guidance of FIN 45. The Company has adopted the incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 45 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS No. 148 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The Company continues to account for stock-based employee compensation under the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51”. FIN 46 requires an investor to consolidate a variable interest entity if it is determined that the investor is a primary beneficiary of that entity, subject to the criteria set forth in FIN 46. Assets, liabilities, and non controlling interests of newly consolidated variable interest entities will be initially measured at fair value. After initial measurement, the consolidated variable interest entity will be accounted for under the guidance provided by Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements.” FIN 46 is effective for variable interest entities created or entered into after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired before February 1, 2003, FIN 46 applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 46 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.

 

Note 17 – Subsequent Events

 

In April 2003, News Corporation, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Hughes Electronics Corporation (“Hughes”) reached an agreement in which News Corporation would acquire 34% of Hughes. News Corporation will acquire GM’s approximate 19.9% interest in Hughes for $3.8 billion, of which $768 million of the consideration may be paid in News Corporation ADRs. News Corporation will acquire through a merger an additional 14.1% of Hughes for approximately $2.8 billion that is payable, at News Corporation’s option, in cash or News Corporation ADRs. Simultaneously with the closing of this transaction, News Corporation will transfer its 34% ownership interest in Hughes to the Company in exchange for promissory notes representing $4.5 billion and approximately 74.2 million shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, thereby increasing News Corporation’s ownership interest in the Company from 80.6% to approximately 82.0%. News Corporation’s voting percentage will remain at 97.0%. The closing of this transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including approval by GM’s shareholders, a tax ruling and regulatory approvals.

 

In April 2003, a punitive derivative and shareholder class action (Norman Levin et al. v. K. Rupert Murdoch et al., 03 CV 2929) was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and the Company’s board members, alleging among other things that in approving the above-described transaction, they breached their fiduciary duties to the Company’s public shareholders. The action seeks monetary and unspecified equitable relief.

 

In April 2003, six punitive shareholder class actions were filed in state courts in Delaware (four actions) and California (two actions) against GM and certain of its board members, alleging that in approving the above-described transaction, the

 

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FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 17 – Subsequent Events – continued

 

defendants breached their fiduciary duties to public holders of GM’s class H shares. Hughes and its board members are defendants in certain of these actions and also are alleged to have breached fiduciary duties to the same shareholders. News Corporation is a defendant in two of the Delaware actions and is alleged to have aided and abetted the other defendants’ purported breaches of fiduciary duties. The actions seek monetary and injunctive relief, including enjoining consummation of the transaction. News Corporation believes it is entitled to indemnification by GM under the agreements related to the transaction.

 

Neither News Corporation, the Company nor the Company’s board members have been served. If and when served, they intend to vigorously defend these actions.

 

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This document contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The words “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “believe” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this document and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the “Company”), its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things, trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The readers of this document are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Those risks and uncertainties are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (SEC file no. 333-85978) as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2002, as well as the information set forth below. The Company does not ordinarily make projections of its future operating results and undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This section should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company and related notes set forth elsewhere herein.

 

The Company manages and reports its businesses in four segments: Filmed Entertainment, which principally consists of the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media primarily in the United States, Canada and Europe, and the production of original television programming in the United States and Canada; Television Stations, which principally consists of the operation of broadcast television stations in the United States; Television Broadcast Network, which principally consists of the broadcasting of network programming in the United States; and Cable Network Programming, which principally consists of the production and licensing of programming distributed through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) operators in the United States and professional sports team ownership in the United States.

 

Sources of Revenue

 

Filmed Entertainment. The Filmed Entertainment segment derives revenue from theatrical distribution, home video and DVD sales and distribution through pay-per-view, pay television services and broadcast television. The revenues and operating results of the Filmed Entertainment segment are significantly affected by the timing of the Company’s theatrical, home video and DVD releases, the number of its original and returning television series that are aired by television networks and the number of its television series in off-network syndication. Theatrical release dates are determined by several factors, including timing of vacation and holiday periods and competition in the marketplace. Each motion picture is a separate and distinct product, and its financial success depends upon many factors, including public acceptance.

 

Television Stations and Television Broadcast Network. The two reportable television segments derive their revenues principally from the sale of advertising time. Generally, advertising time is sold to national advertisers by the Fox Broadcasting Company (“FOX”) and to national “spot” and local advertisers by the Company’s group of 35 owned and operated full power television broadcast stations (“O&Os”) in their respective markets. The sale of advertising time is affected by viewer demographics, program ratings and general market conditions. Adverse changes in the general market conditions for advertising may affect revenues.

 

Cable Network Programming. The Cable Network Programming segment derives revenues from monthly affiliate fees based on the number of subscribers, net of the amortization of cable distribution investments, as well as from the sale of advertising time. Monthly affiliate fees are dependent on maintenance of carriage arrangements with cable television systems and DBS operators. The sale of advertising time is affected by viewer demographics, program ratings and general market conditions. Adverse changes in general market conditions for advertising may affect revenues.

 

In November 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Emerging Issues Task Force No. (“EITF”) 01-09, “Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products,” which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. This EITF, among other things, codified the issues and examples of EITF 00-25, “Vendor Income Statement Characterization of Consideration Paid to a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products.” EITF 00-25 states that customer incentives, which consist of the amortization of cable distribution investments (capitalized fees paid to a

 

20


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cable or DBS operator to facilitate the launch of a cable network), should be presented as a reduction in revenue in the consolidated condensed statements of operations. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Company’s and the Cable Network Programming segment’s revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Company’s revenues is as follows:

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


    

2003


    

2002


 
    

(in millions)

 

Gross Revenues

  

$

2,738

 

  

$

2,518

 

  

$

8,295

 

  

$

7,378

 

Amortization of cable distribution investments

  

 

(31

)

  

 

(30

)

  

 

(94

)

  

 

(84

)

    


  


  


  


Revenues

  

$

2,707

 

  

$

2,488

 

  

$

8,201

 

  

$

7,294

 

    


  


  


  


 

Components of Expenses

 

Filmed Entertainment. Operating costs incurred by the Filmed Entertainment segment include exploitation costs, primarily prints and advertising; the amortization of capitalized production, overhead and interest costs; and participations and talent residuals. Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, employee benefits, rent and other routine overhead.

 

Television Stations, Television Broadcast Network and Cable Network Programming. Operating expenses of the two reportable television segments and the Cable Network Programming segment include expenses related to acquiring programming and rights to programming. Operating expenses also typically include production and technical expenses related to operating the technical facilities of the broadcaster or cable network. Selling, general and administrative expenses include all promotional expenses related to improving the market visibility and awareness of the broadcaster or cable network and sales commissions paid to the in-house sales force involved in the sale of advertising as well as salaries, employee benefits, rent and other routine overhead.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the depreciation of property and equipment, as well as amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. In fiscal 2002, depreciation and amortization expense also included the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. On July 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” In accordance with SFAS No. 142, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer amortized, resulting in a reduction of Depreciation and amortization expense.

 

Other Operating Charge. The Company has several multi-year sports rights agreements, including a contract with the National Football League (“NFL”) through fiscal year 2006, contracts with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (“NASCAR”) through fiscal year 2013 and a contract with Major League Baseball (“MLB”) through fiscal year 2007. These contracts provide the Company with the broadcast rights to certain national sporting events during their respective terms. The NASCAR contracts contain certain early termination clauses that are exercisable by NASCAR.

 

The Company continually evaluates the recoverability of the rights costs against the revenues directly associated with the program material and related direct expenses over the expected contract lives. At December 31, 2001, the Company recorded an Other operating charge of $909 million. This charge related to a change in accounting estimate on the Company’s national sports rights agreements caused by the downturn in the advertising market, which caused the Company to write off programming costs inventory and to provide for estimated losses on these contracts over their estimated terms. This evaluation considered the severe downturn in sports-related advertising, the lack of any sustained advertising rebound subsequent to September 11th and the industry-wide reduction of projected long-term advertising growth rates, all of which resulted in the Company’s estimate of future directly attributable revenues associated with these contracts being lower than previously anticipated. Because the vast majority of costs incurred under these contracts are fixed, such as the rights costs and production costs, the results of these lower revenue estimates indicated that the Company would generate a loss over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.

 

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In accordance with Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes,” the Company has determined that the impact of the charge on Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share, net of tax benefit of $346 million, for the nine months ended March 31, 2002 was $0.67 loss per share.

 

The costs of these sports contracts are charged to expense based on the ratio of each period’s operating profits to estimated total operating profit of the contract. Considering the provision of $909 million for estimated losses and absent a difference between the actual future revenues and costs as compared to the estimated future revenues and costs, no operating profit or loss will be recognized by the Company over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.

 

The profitability of these long-term national sports contracts as discussed above is based on the Company’s best estimates at March 31, 2003, of directly attributable revenues and costs; such estimates may change in the future, and such changes may be significant. Should revenues decline from estimates applied at March 31, 2003, an additional loss will be recorded. Should revenues improve as compared to estimated revenues, then none of the recorded loss will be restored, but the Company will have a positive operating profit, which will be recognized over the estimated remaining contract term.

 

As of March 31, 2003, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s estimates from those employed as of December 31, 2001.

 

Use of Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization

 

Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and the amortization of cable distribution investments, eliminates the variable effect across all business segments of non-cash depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the depreciation of property and equipment, as well as amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. In fiscal 2002, depreciation and amortization expense also included the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Amortization of cable distribution investments represents a reduction against revenues over the term of a carriage arrangement and as such it is excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. Since, Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is a non-GAAP measure it should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flow and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization does not reflect cash available to fund requirements, and the items excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, such as depreciation and amortization, are significant components in assessing the Company’s financial performance.

 

Management believes that Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of the Company’s business segments. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization provides management, investors and equity analysts a measure to analyze operating performance of each business segment and enterprise value against historical and competitors’ data, although historical results, including Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors including customer tastes and preferences).

 

The following comparative discussion of the results of operations of the Company includes, among other factors, an analysis of changes in business segment Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Results of Operations – Three months ended March 31, 2003 versus Three months ended March 31, 2002.

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s operating results, by segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2003 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2002.

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


    

Change


    

% Change


 
    

(in millions, except % change)

 

Revenues (1):

      

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

1,171

 

  

$

1,065

 

  

$

106

 

  

10

%

Television Stations

  

 

463

 

  

 

435

 

  

 

28

 

  

6

%

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

558

 

  

 

553

 

  

 

5

 

  

1

%

Cable Network Programming

  

 

515

 

  

 

435

 

  

 

80

 

  

18

%

    


  


  


  

Total revenues

  

$

2,707

 

  

$

2,488

 

  

$

219

 

  

9

%

    


  


  


  

Operating income (loss):

                                 

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

205

 

  

$

164

 

  

$

41

 

  

25

%

Television Stations

  

 

162

 

  

 

125

 

  

 

37

 

  

30

%

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

33

 

  

 

(50

)

  

 

83

 

  

166

%

Cable Network Programming

  

 

64

 

  

 

23

 

  

 

41

 

  

178

%

    


  


  


  

Total operating income (loss)

  

 

464

 

  

 

262

 

  

 

202

 

  

77

%

    


  


  


  

Interest expense, net

  

 

(25

)

  

 

(54

)

  

 

29

 

  

54

%

Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates

  

 

(8

)

  

 

(26

)

  

 

18

 

  

69

%

Minority interest in subsidiaries

  

 

(5

)

  

 

(7

)

  

 

2

 

  

29

%

    


  


  


  

Income before provision for income tax expense

  

 

426

 

  

 

175

 

  

 

251

 

  

143

%

Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis

  

 

(150

)

  

 

(67

)

  

 

(83

)

  

(124

)%

    


  


  


  

Net income

  

$

276

 

  

$

108

 

  

$

168

 

  

156

%

    


  


  


  

Other data:

                                 

Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (2):

                                 

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

220

 

  

$

180

 

  

$

40

 

  

22

%

Television Stations

  

 

179

 

  

 

173

 

  

 

6

 

  

3

%

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

37

 

  

 

(45

)

  

 

82

 

  

182

%

Cable Network Programming

  

 

106

 

  

 

83

 

  

 

23

 

  

28

%

    


  


  


  

Total Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization

  

$

542

 

  

$

391

 

  

$

151

 

  

39

%

    


  


  


  

 

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Table of Contents

 

FOOTNOTE:

 

  (1)   In January 2002, the Company adopted EITF 01-09, “Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products,” which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Company’s and the Cable Network Programming segment’s revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Company’s revenues is as follows:

 

    

For the three months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 
    

(in millions)

 

Gross Revenues

  

$

2,738

 

  

$

2,518

 

Amortization of cable distribution investments

  

 

(31

)

  

 

(30

)

    


  


Revenues

  

$

2,707

 

  

$

2,488

 

    


  


 

  (2)   Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and the amortization of cable distribution investments, eliminates the variable effect across all business segments of non-cash depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. Amortization of cable distribution investments represents a reduction against revenues over the term of a carriage arrangement and as such it is excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. Since, Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is a non-GAAP measure it should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flow and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and presented in the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this filing. The following is a reconciliation of Operating income (loss) to Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization by segment:

 

      

For the three months ended March 31, 2003


      

Operating income (loss)


    

Depreciation and amortization


    

Amortization of cable distribution investments


    

Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization


      

(in millions)

Filmed Entertainment

    

$

205

    

$

15

    

$

—  

    

$

220

Television Stations

    

 

162

    

 

17

    

 

—  

    

 

179

Television Broadcast Network

    

 

33

    

 

4

    

 

—  

    

 

37

Cable Network Programming

    

 

64

    

 

11

    

 

31

    

 

106

      

    

    

    

Total

    

$

464

    

$

47

    

$

31

    

$

542

      

    

    

    

 

      

For the three months ended March 31, 2002


 
      

Operating income (loss)


      

Depreciation and amortization


    

Amortization of cable distribution investments


    

Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization


 
      

(in millions)

 

Filmed Entertainment

    

$

164

 

    

$

16

    

$

—  

    

$

180

 

Television Stations

    

 

125

 

    

 

48

    

 

—  

    

 

173

 

Television Broadcast Network

    

 

(50

)

    

 

5

    

 

—  

    

 

(45

)

Cable Network Programming

    

 

23

 

    

 

30

    

 

30

    

 

83

 

      


    

    

    


Total

    

$

262

 

    

$

99

    

$

30

    

$

391

 

      


    

    

    


 

24


Table of Contents

 

Overview. For the third quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company’s revenues increased $219 million from $2,488 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2002 to $2,707 million. This 9% increase was due to revenue increases primarily at the Filmed Entertainment and Cable Network Programming segments. Operating expenses increased approximately 4% for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 due to increased home entertainment marketing costs at the Filmed Entertainment segment. Selling, general and administrative expenses were flat as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased approximately 53% due to the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 142 resulting in the elimination of amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, which impacted primarily the Television Stations and Cable Network Programming segments. For the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company’s Operating income increased to $464 million from $262 million for the corresponding period of the prior year. This 77% improvement was primarily due to increased results at the Filmed Entertainment, Television Broadcast Network and Cable Network Programming segments. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization improved 39% from $391 million for the three months ended March 31, 2002 to $542 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 primarily due to the Filmed Entertainment and Television Broadcast Network segments.

 

Effective July 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 eliminates the requirement to amortize goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and the excess cost over the Company’s share of equity investees’ assets and supersedes APB Opinion No. 17, “Intangible Assets,” and replaces it with requirements to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. Intangible assets that are deemed to have a finite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 required the Company to perform an initial impairment assessment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the date of adoption. This impairment assessment compared the fair value of these intangible assets to their carrying value. As a result of the tests performed, the Company has determined that none of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Depreciation and amortization expense, Operating income (loss), Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, Income before cumulative effect of accounting change and Earnings (loss) per share before cumulative effect of accounting change would have been $47 million, $314 million, $(22) million, $151 million, and $0.18 per share, respectively.

 

Equity losses of affiliates of $8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 improved $18 million from losses of $26 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement was primarily related to improved earnings at Regional Programming Partners (“RPP”) and the National Geographic Channel-Domestic. Also contributing to this improvement was decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

 

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2003 was $276 million ($0.31 per share), an increase of $168 million from $108 million ($0.13 per share) for the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement is due to the increased results noted above for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.

 

Filmed Entertainment. For the third quarter of fiscal 2003, the Filmed Entertainment segment’s revenues increased from $1,065 million to $1,171 million, or 10% compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to increased worldwide home entertainment revenues, most notably from the strong performance of Ice Age and also from various other new releases, including Minority Report, Brown Sugar and One Hour Photo, and library product. Also during the third quarter, the Company released several successful theatrical releases, including Daredevil and Just Married. Prior year results included the highly successful worldwide theatrical release of Ice Age, strong worldwide home entertainment performances of Moulin Rouge and Planet of the Apes and the domestic home entertainment performance of Kiss of the Dragon. For the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Filmed Entertainment segment reported Operating income of $205 million from $164 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased to $220 million as compared to $180 million for the corresponding period for prior year. These increases were primarily due to the revenue increases noted above, most notably from the worldwide home entertainment revenues of Ice Age, and improved margins on DVD product due to increased volume, which were partially offset by increased home entertainment marketing costs. At Twentieth Century Fox Television (“TCFTV”), contributions increased due to increased worldwide home entertainment revenues for 24, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Simpsons, reduced participations and lower series production costs, which were partially offset by decreased network revenues due to fewer returning series and lower domestic syndication revenues due to decreased revenues from NYPD Blue, partially offset by the initial syndication of Dharma and Greg.

 

Television Stations. On July 31, 2001, the Company acquired the television broadcasting business of Chris-Craft (as defined below), consisting of ten television stations and subsequently exchanged four former Chris-Craft stations with Viacom, Inc.,

 

25


Table of Contents

 

Clear Channel Communications, Inc. and Meredith Corporation for five other television stations (after giving effect to these transactions the acquired television stations are referred to as the “Acquired Stations”). In addition, in August 2002, the Company acquired WPWR in the Chicago designated market area (“DMA”) from Newsweb Corporation. These acquisitions increased the number of the Company’s O&Os to 35 full power stations, including nine duopolies.

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Television Stations segment’s revenues increased to $463 million from $435 million in the corresponding quarter of the prior year. This $28 million, or 6% increase, primarily resulted from the acquisition of WPWR and a 1.7 percentage point increase in market share from the corresponding period in the prior year. These revenue increases were achieved despite the absence of the telecast of the Super Bowl on FOX this year and substantial pre-emptions from war coverage. Advertising revenues in the 26 markets of the O&O’s are estimated to be at the same levels as the prior year. The flat market growth is primarily due to the non-recurring Winter Olympics in the prior quarter which was offset by the pre-emption of advertising due to the war coverage. The Company’s O&Os generated an estimated market share of 24.4% this quarter, primarily due to the impact of the Acquired Stations, the newly acquired WPWR, non-recurring Winter Olympics and the success of the FOX prime time schedule. For the third quarter of fiscal year 2003, the Television Stations segment generated Operating income of $162 million, which was $37 million, or 30% higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2002. This increase was due to the revenue increases noted above and reduced expenses from the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 142, partially offset by higher fringe benefits expense, higher promotional expense during the February sweeps and the newly acquired WPWR. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization improved $6 million to $179 million from $173 million.

 

Television Broadcast Network. For the quarter ended March 31, 2003, the Television Broadcast Network segment’s revenues increased $5 million to $558 million from $553 million in the prior year. This increase was due to increases in prime time advertising revenue related to higher ratings due to Joe Millionaire and American Idol 2 and higher sports advertising revenues due to additional NASCAR races, including the DAYTONA 500. This increase was partially offset by the non-recurring telecast of the Super Bowl on FOX in the prior year. Operating income for the Television Broadcast Network segment increased $83 million from a loss of $50 million to income of $33 million and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $82 million to income of $37 million from a loss of $45 million from the corresponding period of the preceding year. These operating improvements are due to lower programming rights costs due to the non-recurring telecast of the Super Bowl on FOX in the prior year, partially offset by increases in advertising expenses for midseason replacements.

 

Cable Network Programming. Total revenues for the Cable Network Programming segment increased by $80 million or approximately 18% from $435 million to $515 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. This increase was the result of increased advertising revenues across all channels and increases in affiliate revenues. Fox News Channel’s (“Fox News”), the FX Network’s (“FX”), and the consolidated regional sports networks’ (“RSNs”) revenues increased 28%, 17%, and 13%, respectively, from the corresponding period in the prior year.

 

At Fox News, advertising revenues increased 47% from the third quarter of fiscal 2002 as a result of ratings and increased pricing, partially offset by pre-emptions from war coverage. Affiliate revenues also increased by 7% attributed to an increase in subscribers, partially offset by a 2% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments. As of March 31, 2003, Fox News reached 82 million Nielsen households, a 3% increase over the corresponding period of the prior year.

 

At FX, advertising revenues increased 29% over the corresponding period of the prior year as a result of higher pricing and sell-out. FX affiliate revenues increased 8% from the corresponding period of the prior year, reflecting an increase in average subscribers partially offset by a 17% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments. As of March 31, 2003, FX reached over 79 million Nielsen households, an increase of 5% over the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

 

At the RSNs, affiliate revenues increased 16% primarily from an increase in DTH subscribers. Advertising revenues increased 13% due to the telecast of more National Hockey League (“NHL”) and college games as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year and higher pricing per game for National Basketball Association (“NBA”) and NHL telecasts resulting from an improved sports advertising market, partially offset by the telecast of fewer NBA games.

 

The Cable Network Programming segment reported Operating income of $64 million, an increase of $41 million from $23 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. These improvements were driven by the revenue increases noted above, increased results at Speed Channel and lower amortization expense due to the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2002. Partially offsetting these improvements were higher expenses for breaking news and programming enhancements at Fox

 

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Table of Contents

 

News, increased programming costs at FX and Speed Channel, and higher average rights fees for professional events at the RSNs. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $23 million to $106 million from $83 million from the corresponding period of the prior year.

 

Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net decreased $29 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2003 from $54 million to $25 million due to decreased interest expense from the redemption of the Notes (as defined below in Liquidity and Capital Resources) and decreased interest expense from reduced amounts Due to affiliates of News Corporation.

 

Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates. Equity losses of affiliates of $8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 improved $18 million from losses of $26 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement was primarily related to improved earnings at Regional Programming Partners (“RPP”) and the National Geographic Channel-Domestic. Also contributing to this improvement was decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

 

    

Ownership

  

For the three months ended

March 31,


Affiliate:


  

Percentage


  

2003


      

2002


    

Change


                  

(in millions)

      

Regional Programming Partners

  

40%

  

$

(1

)

    

$

(9

)

  

$

8

National Geographic Channel – Domestic

  

66.7%

  

 

(4

)

    

 

(6

)

  

 

2

Other

  

Various

  

 

(3

)

    

 

(11

)

  

 

8

         


    


  

Total equity earnings (losses) of affiliates

       

$

(8

)

    

$

(26

)

  

$

18

         


    


  

 

The Company’s share of Regional Programming Partners (“RPP”) losses was $1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, as compared to $9 million in losses in the corresponding period in the prior year. This improvement is primarily due to improved results at Madison Square Garden and the Rainbow RSNs as well as cost savings at the Metro Channels. Also contributing to the improvement was lower amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142.

 

The Company’s share of National Geographic Channel-Domestic’s losses was $4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, as compared to $6 million in losses in the corresponding period in the prior year. Affiliate and advertising revenues increased due to significant growth in distribution. Partially offsetting the increase in revenues was higher programming amortization supporting an increased investment in quality programming. As of March 31, 2003, National Geographic Channel—Domestic reached over 42 million Nielsen households, a 69% increase over the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

 

Minority interest in subsidiaries. Minority interest in subsidiaries decreased $2 million to $5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 due to a decrease in the average amounts of Preferred Interests outstanding and the corresponding decrease in Preferred Payments.

 

Income tax on a stand-alone basis. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2003 is 35.2% as compared to the prior period effective tax rate of 38.3%. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of the prior year was affected by the amortization of non-deductible goodwill, which increased the effective tax rate above statutory rate levels.

 

27


Table of Contents

 

Results of Operations – Nine months ended March 31, 2003 versus Nine months ended March 31, 2002.

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s operating results, by segment, for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 as compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2002.

 

    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


    

Change


    

% Change


 
    

(in millions, except % change)

 

Revenues (1):

                                 

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

3,392

 

  

$

3,121

 

  

$

271

 

  

9

 %

Television Stations

  

 

1,570

 

  

 

1,357

 

  

 

213

 

  

16

 %

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

1,731

 

  

 

1,595

 

  

 

136

 

  

9

 %

Cable Network Programming

  

 

1,508

 

  

 

1,221

 

  

 

287

 

  

24

 %

    


  


  


  

Total revenues

  

$

8,201

 

  

$

7,294

 

  

$

907

 

  

12

 %

    


  


  


  

Operating income (loss):

                                 

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

570

 

  

$

408

 

  

$

162

 

  

40

 %

Television Stations

  

 

676

 

  

 

409

 

  

 

267

 

  

65

 %

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

(129

)

  

 

(223

)

  

 

94

 

  

42

 %

Cable Network Programming

  

 

236

 

  

 

24

 

  

 

212

 

  

883

 %

Other operating charge

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(909

)

  

 

909

 

  

100

 %

    


  


  


  

Total operating income (loss)

  

 

1,353

 

  

 

(291

)

  

 

1,644

 

  

565

 %

    


  


  


  

Interest expense, net

  

 

(120

)

  

 

(192

)

  

 

72

 

  

38

 %

Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates

  

 

(18

)

  

 

(135

)

  

 

117

 

  

87

 %

Minority interest in subsidiaries

  

 

(21

)

  

 

(29

)

  

 

8

 

  

28

 %

Other, net

  

 

—  

 

  

 

1,585

 

  

 

(1,585

)

  

(100

)%

    


  


  


  

Income before provision for income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change

  

 

1,194

 

  

 

938

 

  

 

256

 

  

27

 %

Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis

  

 

(421

)

  

 

(371

)

  

 

(50

)

  

(13

)%

    


  


  


  

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

  

 

773

 

  

 

567

 

  

 

206

 

  

36

 %

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(26

)

  

 

26

 

  

100

 %

    


  


  


  

Net income

  

$

773

 

  

$

541

 

  

$

232

 

  

43

 %

    


  


  


  

Other data:

                                 

Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (2):

                                 

Filmed Entertainment

  

$

612

 

  

$

452

 

  

$

160

 

  

35

 %

Television Stations

  

 

723

 

  

 

561

 

  

 

162

 

  

29

 %

Television Broadcast Network

  

 

(115

)

  

 

(208

)

  

 

93

 

  

45

 %

Cable Network Programming

  

 

366

 

  

 

199

 

  

 

167

 

  

84

 %

Other operating charge

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(909

)

  

 

909

 

  

100

 %

    


  


  


  

Total Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization

  

$

1,586

 

  

$

95

 

  

$

1,491

 

  

**

 

    


  


  


  

** not meaningful

 

28


Table of Contents

 

FOOTNOTE:

  (1)   In January 2002, the Company adopted EITF 01-09, “Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products,” which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Company’s and the Cable Network Programming segment’s revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Company’s revenues is as follows:

 

    

For the nine months ended March 31,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 
    

(in millions)

 

Gross Revenues

  

$

8,295

 

  

$

7,378

 

Amortization of cable distribution investments

  

 

(94

)

  

 

(84

)

    


  


Revenues

  

$

8,201

 

  

$

7,294

 

    


  


 

  (2)   Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and the amortization of cable distribution investments, eliminates the variable effect across all business segments of non-cash depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. Amortization of cable distribution investments represents a reduction against revenues over the term of a carriage arrangement and as such it is excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. Since, Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is a non-GAAP measure it should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flow and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and presented in the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this filing. The following is a reconciliation of Operating income (loss) to Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization by segment:

 

      

For the nine months ended March 31, 2003


 
      

Operating income (loss)


      

Depreciation and amortization


    

Amortization of cable distribution investments


    

Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization


 
      

(in millions)

 

Filmed Entertainment

    

$

570

 

    

$

42

    

$

—  

    

$

612

 

Television Stations

    

 

676

 

    

 

47

    

 

—  

    

 

723

 

Television Broadcast Network

    

 

(129

)

    

 

14

    

 

—  

    

 

(115

)

Cable Network Programming

    

 

236

 

    

 

36

    

 

94

    

 

366

 

      


    

    

    


Total

    

$

1,353

 

    

$

139

    

$

94

    

$

1,586

 

      


    

    

    


 

      

For the nine months ended March 31, 2002


 
      

Operating income (loss)


      

Depreciation and amortization


    

Amortization of cable distribution investments


    

Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization


 
      

(in millions)

 

Filmed Entertainment

    

$

408

 

    

$

44

    

$

—  

    

$

452

 

Television Stations

    

 

409

 

    

 

152

    

 

—  

    

 

561

 

Television Broadcast Network

    

 

(223

)

    

 

15

    

 

—  

    

 

(208

)

Cable Network Programming

    

 

24

 

    

 

91

    

 

84

    

 

199

 

Other operating charge

    

 

(909

)

    

 

—  

    

 

—  

    

 

(909

)

      


    

    

    


Total

    

$

(291

)

    

$

302

    

$

84

    

$

95

 

      


    

    

    


 

29


Table of Contents

 

Overview. For the nine months ended March 31, 2003, the Company’s revenues increased $907 million from $7,294 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2002 to $8,201 million. This 12% increase was due to revenue increases at the Filmed Entertainment and Cable Network Programming segments. Operating expenses increased approximately 6% for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 due to increased home entertainment marketing costs at the Filmed Entertainment segment and increased programming and production costs at the Cable Network Programming segment. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately 3% as compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2002. Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased approximately 54% due to the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 142 resulting in the elimination of amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, which impacted primarily the Television Stations and Cable Network Programming segments. For the nine months ended March 31, 2003, Operating income and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $1,644 million to $1,353 million and $1,491 million to $1,586 million, respectively, from the corresponding period of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to the Other operating charge during the nine months ended March 31, 2002 for the write down of the Company’s national sports contracts without a comparative charge in the current year. In addition, increased results at the Television Stations and Cable Network Programming segments contributed to the increases in Operating income and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization.

 

Effective July 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 eliminates the requirement to amortize goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and the excess cost over the Company’s share of equity investees’ assets and supersedes APB Opinion No. 17 and replaces it with requirements to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. Intangible assets that are deemed to have a finite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 required the Company to perform an initial impairment assessment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the date of adoption. This impairment assessment compared the fair value of these intangible assets to their carrying value. As a result of the tests performed, the Company has determined that none of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Depreciation and amortization expense, Operating income (loss), Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, Income before cumulative effect of accounting change and Earnings (loss) per share before cumulative effect of accounting change would have been $141 million, $(130) million, $(103) million, $712 million, and $0.85 per share, respectively.

 

Equity losses of affiliates of $18 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 improved $117 million from losses of $135 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement was primarily related to improved earnings at RPP and the National Geographic Channel – Domestic as well as the absence of losses from FFW since its sale in October 2001. Also contributing to this improvement was decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $32 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001.

 

Net income for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 was $773 million ($0.88 per share), an improvement of $232 million from $541 million ($0.65 per share) for the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement is due to the increased results noted above for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year, partially offset by the non-recurring gains recognized on the sales of FFW and Outdoor Life Network in the prior year.

 

Filmed Entertainment. For the nine months ended March 31, 2003, the Filmed Entertainment segment’s revenues increased from $3,121 million to $3,392 million, or 9% compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to increased worldwide home entertainment revenues, most notably from the strong worldwide performance of Ice Age, the domestic performances of Like Mike and Shallow Hal, and worldwide performance of library product. Also during the current year, the Company released several successful theatrical releases, including the worldwide theatrical launch of Daredevil and the international theatrical and home entertainment performances of Minority Report and Road to Perdition. Prior year results included the strong worldwide theatrical and home entertainment performances of Planet of the Apes and Dr. Dolittle 2, worldwide theatrical performance of Ice Age and the international theatrical and worldwide home entertainment performance of Moulin Rouge. For the nine months ended March 31, 2003, the Filmed Entertainment segment reported Operating income of $570 million increased from $408 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased to $612 million as compared to $452 million for the corresponding period of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to the revenue increases noted above, most notably from the worldwide home entertainment revenues of Ice Age, and improved margins on DVD product due to increased volume, which were partially offset by increased home entertainment marketing costs. At TCFTV, for the nine months ended March 31, 2003, contributions increased due to increased worldwide home entertainment revenues for 24, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Simpsons and domestic syndication revenues for The X-Files, reduced participations and lower series production costs, which were partially offset by decreased network revenues due to fewer returning series.

 

30


Table of Contents

 

Television Stations. On July 31, 2001, the Company acquired the television broadcasting business of Chris-Craft (as defined below), consisting of ten television stations and subsequently exchanged four former Chris-Craft stations with Viacom, Inc., Clear Channel Communications, Inc. and Meredith Corporation for five other television stations (after giving effect to these transactions the acquired television stations are referred to as the “Acquired Stations”). In addition, in August 2002, the Company acquired WPWR in the Chicago designated market area (“DMA”) from Newsweb Corporation. These acquisitions increased the number of the Company’s O&Os to 35 full power stations, including nine duopolies.

 

For the nine months ended March 31, 2003, the Television Stations segment’s revenues increased to $1,570 million from $1,357 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. This $213 million, or 16% increase primarily resulted from higher market advertising revenues, the impact of the Acquired Stations and the newly acquired WPWR, partially offset by the impact of pre-emptions from war coverage. Advertising revenues in the 26 markets of the Company’s O&O’s continued to improve versus the prior year, up an estimated 12%. This increase is primarily due to the market rebounding to pre-September 11, 2001 conditions and heavy political spending. Automotive, movies, telecommunications and political spending are all stronger than the prior year. The revenue increases noted above contributed to the Company’s O&Os estimated market share of 24.3% for the nine month period, up 1.5 percentage points from the prior year. These share gains were partially offset by heavy political spending this year, poor performance of FOX prime time schedule in the first half of fiscal year 2003 and the loss of the New York Yankee broadcasts in the New York market. For the nine months ended March 31, 2003, the Television Stations segment generated Operating income of $676 million, which was $267 million, or 65% higher than the prior year. This increase is due to the revenue increases noted above and lower local program production costs as a result of non-renewal of New York Yankee baseball game broadcasts. This increase was partially offset by a full year of the Acquired Stations’ operating expenses in the current year, higher fringe benefits expense, higher outside promotional expense to promote the FOX prime time schedule and operating expenses of the newly acquired WPWR. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $162 million to $723 million from $561 million.

 

Television Broadcast Network. For the nine months ended March 31, 2003, the Television Broadcast Network segment’s revenues increased $136 million to $1,731 million from $1,595 million in the prior year. This 9% increase is due to pricing increases and higher ratings for prime time programming, most notably from American Idol and Joe Millionaire, higher ratings for the NFL, pricing increases and additional commercial air time sold for both MLB and NFL and additional NASCAR races, including the DAYTONA 500. These increases are partially offset by the non-recurring telecast of the Super Bowl on FOX in the prior year. Operating losses for the Television Broadcast Network segment improved $94 million to a loss of $129 million and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization improved $93 million to a loss of $115 million compared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. These operating improvements are driven by the revenue increase noted above and lower programming rights costs due to the non-recurring telecast of the Super Bowl on FOX in the prior year. These improvements are partially offset by higher prime time license fees for returning series and series cancellations, higher programming costs related to the national sports contracts, and increases in advertising expenses for prime time series.

 

Cable Network Programming. Total revenues for the Cable Network Programming segment increased by $287 million or approximately 24% from $1,221 million to $1,508 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003. This increase reflects improved results across all of the Cable Network Programming channels. Also contributing to this increase was the full nine months consolidation of Sunshine and Fox Sports International. Fox News’, FX’s, and the RSNs’ revenues increased 49%, 19%, and 17%, respectively, from the corresponding period in the prior year.

 

At Fox News, advertising revenues increased 95% from the corresponding period of the prior year due to improved ratings and increased pricing. Affiliate revenue increased by 13%, attributed to an increase in subscribers versus the corresponding period of the prior year, partially offset by a 7% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments. As of March 31, 2003, Fox News reached 82 million Nielsen households, a 3% increase over the corresponding period of the prior year.

 

At FX, advertising revenues increased 37% over the corresponding period of the prior year as a result of higher pricing, sell-out and ratings. FX affiliate revenues increased 9% from the first nine months of fiscal 2002, reflecting an increase in average subscribers, partially offset by an 18% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments. As of March 31, 2003, FX reached over 79 million Nielsen households.

 

At the RSNs, affiliate revenues increased 20% primarily from an increase in DTH subscribers and the consolidation of Sunshine for the full nine months. Advertising revenues increased 16% primarily due to the telecast of more MLB, NHL and college games and the higher pricing per game for MLB, NBA and NHL telecasts resulting from an improved sports advertising market, partially offset by a reduced number of NBA games.

 

31


Table of Contents

 

The Cable Network Programming segment reported Operating income of $236 million, an increase of $212 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. These improvements were primarily driven by the revenue increases noted above, lower amortization expense due to the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2002 and the consolidation of Sunshine for the full nine months. Partially offsetting these improvements were higher expenses for programming enhancements and consumer marketing at Fox News, higher programming costs at FX and Speed Channel, higher average rights fees for professional events at the RSNs and the consolidation of expenses from Fox Sports International for the full nine months. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $167 million to $366 million from $199 million from the corresponding period of the prior year.

 

Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net decreased $72 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 from $192 million to $120 million due to the decreased interest expense relating to the redemption of the Notes (as defined below in Liquidity and Capital Resources) and decreased interest expense from reduced amounts Due to affiliates of News Corporation.

 

Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates. Equity losses of affiliates of $18 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 improved $117 million from losses of $135 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement was primarily related to improved earnings at RPP and the National Geographic Channel – Domestic as well as the absence of losses from FFW since its sale in October 2001. Also contributing to this improvement was decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $32 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001.

 

    

Ownership Percentage


  

For the nine months ended

March 31,


Affiliate:


     

2003


    

2002


    

Change


                

(in millions)

      

Fox Family Worldwide (a)

  

49.5%

  

$

—  

 

  

$

(51

)

  

$

51

Fox Sports International (b)

  

50%

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(9

)

  

 

9

Regional Programming Partners

  

40%

  

 

14

 

  

 

(25

)

  

 

39

National Geographic Channel—Domestic

  

66.7%

  

 

(17

)

  

 

(32

)

  

 

15

Other

  

Various

  

 

(15

)

  

 

(18

)

  

 

3

         


  


  

Total equity earnings (losses) of affiliates

       

$

(18

)

  

$

(135

)

  

$

117

         


  


  

 

(a)   The Company sold its interests in FFW in October 2001.
(b)   Subsequent to the aquistion of the remaining 50% interest on December 3, 2001, the results of Fox Sports International have been consolidated in the Cable Network Programming segment.

 

The Company’s share of RPP’s income was $14 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003, as compared to losses of $25 million in the corresponding period in the prior year. This improvement is primarily due to the prior year charges from Madison Square Garden associated with the termination of two professional player contracts, significant cost savings at the Metro Channels and lower amortization of intangible assets resulting from RPP’s implementation of SFAS No. 142 effective January 1, 2002. Partially offsetting the improvement is a player compensation charge in the current period and lower earnings from the professional teams.

 

The Company’s share of National Geographic Channel-Domestic’s losses was $17 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003, as compared to $32 million in losses in the corresponding period in the prior year. Affiliate and advertising revenues for the channel increased due to significant growth in distribution. Partially offsetting the increase in revenues was higher programming amortization supporting an increased investment in quality programming. As of March 31, 2003, National Geographic Channel – Domestic reached over 42 million Nielsen households.

 

Minority interest in subsidiaries. Minority interest in subsidiaries decreased $8 million to $21 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 due to a decrease in the average amount of Preferred Interests outstanding and the corresponding decrease in Preferred Payments.

 

Other, net. Other, net was $1,585 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2002, including the gains recognized on the sales of FFW in the amount of $1,439 million and Outdoor Life Network in the amount of $147 million (See Liquidity and Capital Resources – FFW and Outdoor Life).

 

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Income tax on a stand-alone basis. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 is 35.3% as compared to the prior period effective tax rate of 39.6%. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of the prior year was affected by the amortization of non-deductible goodwill, which increased the effective tax rate above statutory rate levels.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s principal sources of cash flow are internally generated funds, various film financing alternatives and borrowings from The News Corporation Limited (“News Corporation”) and its subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2003, News Corporation had consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $4.8 billion, excluding the cash of the Company, and an unused Revolving Credit Agreement of $1.7 billion. We believe that cash flow from operations and the funds available from News Corporation will be adequate for the Company to conduct its operations. The Company’s internally generated funds are highly dependent upon the state of the advertising market and public acceptance of film products. Any significant decline in the advertising market or the performance of its films could adversely impact its cash flows from operations.

 

The principal uses of cash flow that affect the Company’s liquidity position include the following: investments in the production and distribution of new feature films and television programs, the acquisition of and payments under programming rights for entertainment programming and sporting events, operational expenditures, interest and income tax payments.

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities during the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 were $1,001 million and $879 million, respectively. This increase resulted from higher net income (adjusted for non-cash items) during the current period, partially offset by additional working capital funding requirements for inventories. The inventory increase reflects higher payments made under the NASCAR and MLB contracts, which resulted in higher net inventory.

 

Net cash flows used by investing activities were $668 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2003 as compared to net cash provided of $758 million in the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. The current year included cash used for the acquisition of WPWR, as well as funding of the investments in the National Geographic Channels, National Sports Partners and Regency Television and cable distribution investments for Fox News, FX and Speed Channel.

 

Net cash flows used by financing activities during the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 were $326 million and $1,634 million, respectively. The increase in cash used by financing activities is primarily attributable to the redemption of the Notes (defined below) as well as higher Repayments to affiliates of News Corporation, net used to fund operating and investing activities. Partially offsetting these uses of cash were proceeds from the Company’s issuance of Class A Common Stock (see below).

 

Under a tax sharing agreement between the Company and News Corporation (“Tax Sharing Agreement”), the Company is included in the consolidated tax return of News Corporation. Amounts due in accordance with the Tax Sharing Agreement, which are included in Due to affiliates of News Corporation, were $177 million and $267 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The difference between the two periods primarily relates to the gain on the sale of the Company’s interest in FFW for the corresponding period on the prior year.

 

In June 2002, the Company and its subsidiary, Fox Sports Networks, LLC, irrevocably called for redemption all of the outstanding 9 3/4% Senior Discount Notes due 2007 and all of the outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2007 (collectively, the “Notes”). The Notes were fully redeemed in August 2002.

 

The Company has a single-film production financing arrangement for approximately $95 million, which was secured by the film assets and bears interest at approximately 1.9% for fiscal 2003. In April 2003, the Company repaid its single-film production financing arrangement of $95 million.

 

In May 2002, the Company filed a Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows the Company to issue, from time to time, Class A Common Stock and/or debt securities for aggregate proceeds of up to $2.5 billion. In November 2002, the Company sold 50 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for net proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion. The Company used the net proceeds to reduce obligations due to affiliates of News Corporation. Upon consummation of the offering, News Corporation’s equity and voting interests in the Company decreased from 85.3% and 97.8% to 80.6% and 97.0%, respectively.

 

Guarantees

 

The Company, News Corporation and certain of News Corporation’s other subsidiaries are guarantors of various debt obligations of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries. The principal amount of indebtedness outstanding under such debt instruments as of March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2002 was approximately $9.6 billion and $8.7 billion, respectively. The

 

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debt instruments limit the ability of guarantors, including the Company, to subject their properties to liens, and certain of the debt instruments impose limitations on the ability of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company, to incur indebtedness in certain circumstances. Such debt instruments mature at various times between 2004 and 2096, with a weighted average maturity of over 20 years.

 

In the case of any event of default under such debt obligations, the Company will be directly liable to the creditors or debtholders. News Corporation has agreed to indemnify the Company from and against any obligations it may incur by reason of its guarantees of such debt obligations. As of March 31, 2003, News Corporation was in compliance with all of its debt covenants and had satisfied all financial ratios and tests and expects to remain in compliance and satisfy all such ratios and tests.

 

The Company guarantees sports rights agreements of an equity affiliate. This guarantee extends through fiscal 2019. The Company guarantees 70% of the sports rights agreements and has a maximum liability of $1,050 million. The Company would be liable under this guarantee in the event of default of their equity affiliate.

 

Ratings of News Corporation Public Debt

 

As of March 31, 2003, News Corporation’s debt ratings from Moody’s (Ba1 for subordinated notes and Baa3 for senior unsecured notes) and Standard & Poors (BBB-) for the debt guaranteed by the Company and others were within the investment grade scale.

 

New Millennium II

 

In March 2001, the Company entered into a series of film rights agreements whereby a controlled consolidated subsidiary of the Company, Cornwall Venture LLC (“NM2”), that holds certain library film rights, funds the production or acquisition costs of all eligible films, as defined, to be produced or acquired by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (“TCF”), a subsidiary of the Company, between 2001 and 2005 (these film rights agreements, as amended, are collectively referred to as the “New Millennium II Agreement”). NM2 is a separate legal entity from the Company and TCF and has separate assets and liabilities. NM2 issued a preferred limited liability membership interest (“Preferred Interest”) to a third party to fund the film financing, which is presented on the consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Interest has no fixed redemption rights but is entitled to an allocation of the gross receipts to be derived by NM2 from the distribution of each eligible film. Such allocation to the extent available based on the gross receipts from the distribution of the eligible films consists of (i) a return on the Preferred Interest (the “Preferred Payments”), based on certain reference rates (generally based on commercial paper rates or LIBOR) prevailing on the respective dates of determination, and (ii) a redemption of the Preferred Interest, based on a contractually determined amortization schedule. The Preferred Interest has a preference in the event of a liquidation of NM2 equal to the unredeemed portion of the investment plus any accrued and unpaid Preferred Payments.

 

The net change in Preferred Interests outstanding was a reduction of $159 million and an increase of $1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These amounts were comprised of issuances by the Company of additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $324 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $483 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2003. During the nine months ended March 31, 2002, the Company issued additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $466 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $465 million.

 

As of March 31, 2003, there was approximately $691 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the unaudited consolidated condensed balance sheet as Minority interest in subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2002, there was approximately $850 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the audited consolidated condensed balance sheet as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Payments are recorded as an expense in Minority interest in subsidiaries on the consolidated condensed statements of operations.

 

A Ratings Trigger Event for the New Millennium II Agreement would occur if News Corporation’s debt rating:

 

(i) (a) falls below BB+ and below Ba1, or (b) falls below BB, or (c) falls below Ba2, or (d) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, neither News Corporation nor the Company shall, within ten business days after the occurrence of such event, have provided credit enhancement so that the resulting New Millennium II Agreement is rated at least BB+ and Ba1, or

 

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(ii) (a) falls below BBB- and Baa3, or (b) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, more than $25 million in capital payments redeemable at that time from film gross receipts remain unredeemed for at least one quarter.

 

If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then (a) no new films will be transferred, (b) rights against certain film assets may be enforced, and (c) the Preferred Interest may become redeemable.

 

Through March 31, 2003, no Ratings Trigger Event had occurred. If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then $425 million (or approximately 62% of the outstanding balance as of March 31, 2003) may be payable immediately. The balance of the redemption would be payable to the extent of future gross receipts from films that had been transferred to NM2.

 

Acquisitions and dispositions

 

Chris-Craft

 

On July 31, 2001, News Corporation, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Chris-Craft Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries, BHC Communications, Inc. and United Television, Inc., (collectively, “Chris-Craft”). The consideration for the acquisition was approximately $2 billion in cash and approximately $3 billion in News Corporation American Depositary Receipts representing preferred limited voting ordinary shares (“ADRs”). Simultaneously with the closing of the acquisition, News Corporation transferred $3,432 million of net assets, constituting Chris-Craft’s ten television stations (the “Acquired Stations”) to the Company in exchange for 122,244,272 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and net indebtedness of $48 million (the “Exchange”), thereby increasing News Corporation’s ownership in the Company from 82.76% to 85.25%. The Company assigned the licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) for the Acquired Stations to its indirect subsidiary, Fox Television Stations, Inc., which became the licensee and controls the operations of the Acquired Stations. News Corporation acquired Chris-Craft and transferred to the Company the Acquired Stations in order to strengthen the Company’s existing television station business. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

The Company consolidated the results of operations of the Acquired Stations as of the date of Exchange, July 31, 2001, with the exception of KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City, whose operations were not consolidated as of the Exchange due to regulatory requirements which precluded the Company from controlling the station and required its disposal (see description of Clear Channel swap below). For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, “Exchanges of Ownership Interests between Entities under Common Control,” the Company recognized the assets and liabilities of Chris-Craft based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation merger and issued equity to News Corporation at that value.

 

In October 2001, the Company exchanged KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City and KMOL-TV in San Antonio with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. for WFTC-TV in Minneapolis (the “Clear Channel swap”). In addition, in November 2001, the Company exchanged KBHK-TV in San Francisco with Viacom Inc. for WDCA-TV in Washington, DC and KTXH-TV in Houston (the “Viacom swap”). In June 2002, the Company exchanged KPTV-TV in Portland for Meredith Corporation’s WOFL-TV in Orlando and WOGX-TV in Ocala (the “Meredith swap”, and together with the Viacom and Clear Channel swaps, the “Station Swaps”). All of the stations exchanged in the Station Swaps were Acquired Stations. No gain or loss was recognized by the Company as a result of the Station Swaps.

 

Speed Channel

 

In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Speedvision Network, LLC, the Company acquired an additional 53.44% of Speedvision Network, LLC, now Speed Channel, Inc. (“Speed Channel”), for approximately $401 million, increasing the Company’s ownership in Speed Channel to approximately 85.46%. As a result, the Company consolidated the results of Speed Channel beginning in July 2001. In October 2001, the Company acquired the remaining 14.54% minority interest in Speed Channel for approximately $111 million bringing the Company’s ownership to 100%. These transactions have been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

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Outdoor Life

 

In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Outdoor Life, the Company acquired 50.23% of Outdoor Life for approximately $309 million. This acquisition resulted in the Company owning approximately 83.18% of Outdoor Life. In October 2001, a shareholder of Outdoor Life acquired the Company’s ownership interest in Outdoor Life for approximately $512 million in cash. During the period from July 2001 until the closing of the sale of Outdoor Life in October 2001, the ownership interest in Outdoor Life was held for sale and control of Outdoor Life was deemed temporary. Therefore, in accordance with SFAS No. 94, “Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries,” and EITF 87-11, “Allocation of Purchase Price to Assets to be Sold,” the results of Outdoor Life were not consolidated in the Company’s statement of operations for this period. Upon the closing of the sale of the Company’s ownership interest in Outdoor Life, the Company recognized a gain of $147 million, which is reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2002.

 

FFW

 

In October 2001, the Company, Haim Saban and the other stockholders of FFW, sold FFW to The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”) for total consideration of approximately $5.2 billion (including the assumption of certain debt) of which approximately $1.6 billion was in consideration of the Company’s interest in FFW, which was rebranded ABC Family. As a result of this transaction, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $1.4 billion, which is reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2002. The proceeds from this transaction were used to reduce obligations Due to affiliates of News Corporation. In addition, the Company sublicensed certain post-season MLB games through the 2006 MLB season to Disney for aggregate consideration of approximately $675 million, payable over the entire period of the sublicense.

 

Fox Sports International

 

In December 2001, News Corporation acquired from Liberty Media Corporation its 50% interest in Fox Sports International, in exchange for 3,673,183 ADRs valued at $115 million. Under the terms of the transaction, the Company purchased News Corporation’s acquired interest in Fox Sports International, which increased the Company’s ownership interest from 50% to 100%, in exchange for the issuance of 3,632,269 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. As a result of this transaction, News Corporation’s equity ownership interest in the Company increased from 85.25% to 85.32%. For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, the Company has recognized the assets and liabilities of Fox Sports International based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation acquisition and issued 3,632,269 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to News Corporation at that value. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

Sunshine

 

In January 2002, the Company acquired an approximate 23.3% interest in Sunshine for approximately $23.3 million. This resulted in the acquisition of a controlling interest in Sunshine and increased the Company’s ownership percentage in Sunshine to approximately 83.3%. In February 2002, the Company acquired an additional approximate 0.4% interest in Sunshine, increasing the Company’s ownership interest to approximately 83.7%. In October 2002, the Company acquired News Corporation’s 9.8% equity interest in Sunshine for consideration of approximately $3 million. For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, the Company recognized the carrying basis of Sunshine based upon its acquired basis from News Corporation. This acquisition increased the Company’s ownership interest in Sunshine to 93.7% with the remaining minority interest held by third parties. Since the Company obtained a controlling financial interest upon acquisition in January 2002, Sunshine has been consolidated into the Cable Network Programming segment of the Company. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

WPWR-TV

 

In August 2002, the Company acquired WPWR-TV in the Chicago DMA from Newsweb Corporation for $425 million. In connection with the preliminary allocation of the purchase price, during the nine months ended March 31, 2003, goodwill and deferred taxes were reduced to reflect the difference between the book and tax bases of the net assets acquired. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.

 

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Contingencies

 

Regional Programming Partners

 

In December 1997, Rainbow Media Sports Holdings, Inc. (“Rainbow”) (a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (“Cablevision”)) and Fox Sports Net, Inc. (“Fox Sports Net”) (a subsidiary of the Company) formed RPP to hold various programming interests in connection with the operation of certain RSNs. Rainbow contributed various interests in RSNs, the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Complex, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Rangers NHL franchise, and the New York Knickerbockers NBA franchise, to RPP in exchange for a 60% partnership interest in RPP, and Fox Sports Net contributed $850 million in cash for a 40% partnership interest in RPP.

 

Pursuant to the RPP partnership agreement, upon certain actions being taken by Fox Sports Net, Rainbow has the right to purchase all of Fox Sports Net’s interests in RPP. The buyout price will be the greater of (i) (a) $2.125 billion, increased by capital contributions and decreased by capital distributions, times Fox Sports Net’s interest in RPP plus (b) an 8% rate of return on the amount in (a) or (ii) the fair market value of Fox Sports Net’s interest in RPP. Consideration will be, at Rainbow’s option, in the form of cash or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%.

 

In addition, for 30 days following December 18, 2005 (the “Put Date”) and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, so long as RPP has not commenced an initial public offering (“IPO”) of its securities, Fox Sports Net has the right to cause Rainbow to, at Rainbow’s option, either (i) purchase all of its interests in RPP or (ii) consummate an IPO of RPP’s securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Fox Sports Net’s interest in RPP and the consideration will be, at Rainbow’s option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated companies of Rainbow or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investment in RPP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration received from Rainbow. Fox Sports Net did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for the 30 days following December 18, 2002.

 

In connection with the Rainbow Transaction, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Sports Partners (“NSP”) in which each of Rainbow and Fox Sports Net were issued a 50% partnership interest to operate Fox Sports Net (“FSN”), a national sports programming service that provides its affiliated RSNs with 24 hour per day national sports programming. In addition, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Advertising Partners (“NAP”), in which each of Fox Sports Net and Rainbow were issued a 50% partnership interest, to act as the national advertising sales representative for the Fox Sports Net-owned RSNs and the RPP-owned and managed RSNs. Independent of the arrangements discussed above relating to RPP, for 30 days following the Put Date and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, or any subsequent Put Date so long as NSP and NAP have not commenced an IPO of its securities, Rainbow has the right to cause Fox Sports Net to, at Fox Sports Nets’ option, either (i) purchase all of Rainbow’s interests in NSP and NAP, or (ii) consummate an IPO of NSP’s and NAP’s securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Rainbow’s interest in NSP and NAP and the consideration will be, at Fox Sports Net’s option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated entities of Fox Sports Net or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investments in NAP and NSP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration paid to Rainbow. Rainbow did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for the 30 days following December 18, 2002.

 

In January 2003, Fox Sports Net exercised its right to put its 50% direct ownership interests in SportsChannel Chicago Associates and SportsChannel Pacific Associates (collectively the “SportsChannels”) to RPP in connection with the Rainbow Transaction. In March 2003, RPP and Fox Sports Net agreed on a $150 million purchase price for the interest in the SportsChannels, payable in the form of a three-year promissory note of RPP, bearing interest at prime plus 1% and secured by the interests being purchased. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 following receipt of customary regulatory approval. Following the closing of this sale, the SportsChannels will be held 100% by RPP and indirectly 40% by Fox Sports Net and 60% by Rainbow, and each will remain a Fox Sports Net affiliate.

 

NFL

 

Under the Group’s eight-year contract with the NFL that expires in 2006, the contract provided the NFL with the option to renegotiate the programming rights to broadcast certain football games at the end of the 2002 football season. This option was not exercised and expired in February 2003.

 

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Subsequent Events

 

In April 2003, News Corporation, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Hughes Electronics Corporation (“Hughes”) reached an agreement in which News Corporation would acquire 34% of Hughes. News Corporation will acquire GM’s approximate 19.9% interest in Hughes for $3.8 billion, of which $768 million of the consideration may be paid in News Corporation ADRs. News Corporation will acquire through a merger an additional 14.1% of Hughes for approximately $2.8 billion that is payable, at News Corporation’s option, in cash or News Corporation ADRs. Simultaneously with the closing of this transaction, News Corporation will transfer its 34% ownership interest in Hughes to the Company in exchange for promissory notes representing $4.5 billion and approximately 74.2 million shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, thereby increasing News Corporation’s ownership interest in the Company from 80.6% to approximately 82%. News Corporation’s voting percentage will remain at 97%. The closing of this transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including approval by GM’s shareholders, a tax ruling and regulatory approvals.

 

In April 2003, a punitive derivative and shareholder class action (Norman Levin et al. v. K. Rupert Murdoch et al., 03 CV 2929) was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and the Company’s board members, alleging among other things that in approving the above-described transaction, they breached their fiduciary duties to the Company’s public shareholders. The action seeks monetary and unspecified equitable relief.

 

In April 2003, six punitive shareholder class actions were filed in state courts in Delaware (four actions) and California (two actions) against GM and certain of its board members, alleging that in approving the above-described transaction, the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to public holders of GM’s class H shares. Hughes and its board members are defendants in certain of these actions and also are alleged to have breached fiduciary duties to the same shareholders. News Corporation is a defendant in two of the Delaware actions and is alleged to have aided and abetted the other defendants’ purported breaches of fiduciary duties. The actions seek monetary and injunctive relief, including enjoining consummation of the transaction. News Corporation believes it is entitled to indemnification by GM under the agreements related to the transaction.

 

None of News Corporation, the Company or the Company’s board members have been served. If and when served, they intend to vigorously defend these actions.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosure requirements of a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also requires a guarantor to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing certain guarantees. FIN 45 also incorporates, without change, the guidance in FIN 34, “Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,” which it supersedes. The incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45 are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions are applicable to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The accounting followed by a guarantor on prior guarantees may not be changed to conform to the guidance of FIN 45. The Company has adopted the incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 45 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS No. 148 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The Company continues to account for stock-based employee compensation under the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51”. FIN 46 requires an investor to consolidate a variable interest entity if it is determined that the investor is a primary beneficiary of

 

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that entity, subject to the criteria set forth in FIN 46. Assets, liabilities, and non controlling interests of newly consolidated variable interest entities will be initially measured at fair value. After initial measurement, the consolidated variable interest entity will be accounted for under the guidance provided by Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements.” FIN 46 is effective for variable interest entities created or entered into after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired before February 1, 2003, FIN 46 applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 46 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company is exposed to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and utilizes derivative instruments in a limited manner to modify its exposure to foreign exchange rate movements. The Company’s policy is to enter into derivative and other financial instruments only to the extent considered necessary to meet its business objectives. The Company does not enter into these transactions for speculative purposes.

 

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk

 

The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts to minimize its limited exposure to exchange rate movements. The foreign exchange contracts have principally been used to hedge the costs of producing films abroad and are principally denominated in the Czech Koruna, the Mexican Pesos, the South African Rand and the Euro. The Company designates forward contracts used to hedge future production costs as cash flow hedges.

 

The effects of these contracts were not material in the quarter.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report and, based on this evaluation, have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the most recent evaluation.

 

Part II. Other Information

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

99.1(a)

  

Certification by K. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

99.1(b)

  

Certification by David F. DeVoe, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

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(b) Reports on Form 8-K

 

The following current report on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during the Company’s third fiscal quarter:

 

  (i)   Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant filed February 14, 2003 relating to the announcement by Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. of the appointment of Peter J. Powers to its Board of Directors

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 14, 2003

     

FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.

           

By:

 

/s/    DAVID F. DEVOE         


               

David F. DeVoe

               

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, K. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the “Company”), certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company;

 

  2.   Based on my knowledge, the quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

  4.   The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the Company and we have:

 

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

  5.   The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors:

 

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Company’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls; and

 

  6.   The Company’s other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: May 14, 2003

 

/s/    K. RUPERT MURDOCH        


K. Rupert Murdoch

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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I, David F. DeVoe, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the “Company”), certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company;

 

  2.   Based on my knowledge, the quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

  4.   The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the Company and we have:

 

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

  5.   The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors:

 

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Company’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls; and

 

  6.   The Company’s other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: May 14, 2003

 

/s/    DAVID F. DEVOE        


David F. DeVoe

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

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