Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - LIN TELEVISION CORPform8k.htm
 
 logo  
 For Immediate Release
 
 
Contacts:  Courtney Guertin,
Corporate Communications Manager
401-457-9501
courtney.guertin@linmedia.com
Richard Schmaeling, Chief Financial Officer
401-457-9510
richard.schmaeling@linmedia.com
 
 
 
LIN TV Corp. Announces Second Quarter 2011 Results

PROVIDENCE, RI, July 27, 2011 – LIN TV Corp. (“LIN Media”; NYSE: TVL), a local multimedia company, today reported its second quarter 2011 results.

 
Summary of Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2011
 

 
·  
Net revenues increased by 5% to $104.1 million, compared to $99.5 million for the second quarter of 2010.
 
·  
Digital revenues, which include Internet advertising revenues and retransmission consent fees, increased by 50% to $22.0 million, compared to $14.7 million for the second quarter of 2010.
 
·  
Operating income was $23.5 million, compared to operating income of $25.1 million for the second quarter of 2010, which included a non-recurring gain of $2.1 million related to an exchange of broadcast equipment.
 
·  
Net income per diluted share was $0.02, which includes a non-cash deferred income tax charge of $0.09 per share related to a change in state tax law during the second quarter of 2011, compared to net income per diluted share of $0.07 for the second quarter of 2010.
 
Commenting on second quarter 2011 results, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent L. Sadusky said: “We are pleased to report 5% revenue growth, which was driven by our 50% increase in digital revenues. Our growth in digital is a result of our interactive strategy and ability to secure higher retransmission fees from pay television service providers, which offset the slow economic recovery and auto supply issues.”

Operating Highlights

TV Station Ratings and Revenue
 
·  
The Company was ranked number one or number two for 77% of its ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC news stations in their local markets based on viewership among key demographics1.
 
·  
Core local and national advertising sales combined, which excludes political advertising sales, was flat at $89.1 million, compared to $89.3 million for the second quarter of 2010. Sales in the automotive category, which represented 22% of local and national advertising sales for the three months ended June 30, 2011, decreased by 8% to $19.1 million, compared to $20.8 million for the second quarter of 2010.  The decline in the automotive category was offset in part by recovery in other categories, including restaurants, which increased 11%.
 
1 Nielsen Media Research; Average of LIN Media’s May 2011 ratings based on key demographics: M-F, early morning, early evening, late news. All Nielsen data included in this release represents Nielsen’s estimates, and Nielsen has neither reviewed nor approved the data included in this report.
 
 

 

Digital and Interactive Initiatives
 
·  
The Company entered into a joint venture with CultureMap, LLC and in July 2011 launched a new and unique daily digital magazine in Austin, TX. CultureMap Austin provides 24/7 local coverage of lifestyle and culturally relevant news, information, events and features and is delivered digitally through the web, mobile, tablet and social media platforms.
 
·  
During the second quarter of 2011, the Company delivered 35 million total video impressions and engaged 44 million daily unique visitors on its stations’ web sites. Average time on site during the quarter was more than 21 minutes.
 
·  
According to comScore’s June 2011 report, 87% of the Company’s measured station web sites ranked number one or number two in their local market for unique visitors and 93% ranked number one or number two in their local market for time spent on site, versus the Company’s measured local broadcast competitors. Further, 70% of the Company's measured station web sites ranked number one or number two in their local markets for time spent on site and page views versus all of its measured local media competitors.2
 
·  
Mobile impressions, which include usage of the Company’s mobile web sites and Smartphone and tablet applications, were approximately 93 million impressions during the second quarter of 2011, compared to 52 million during the second quarter of 2010, an increase of 79% year over year.
 
·  
During the second quarter of 2011, the Company delivered nearly 273 million user actions, an increase of 33% over the second quarter of 2010.
 
·  
The Company’s new photo gallery offering accounted for nearly 17 million additional page views in the second quarter of 2011, contributing to the company’s 37% page view growth over the second quarter of 2010.
 
Key Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Items

Total debt outstanding as of June 30, 2011 was $615.3 million, as compared to $623.3 million as of December 31, 2010.  Cash and cash equivalent balances as of June 30, 2011 were $13.6 million, as compared to $11.6 million as of December 31, 2010. During the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the Company paid the remaining principal of $5.6 million on its term loan. There were no amounts outstanding on the Company’s revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010, with $48.7 million available for borrowing under the facility as of June 30, 2011.  Consolidated leverage, as defined in the Company’s credit agreement was 4.3x as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Other components of cash flow for the second quarter of 2011 included cash capital expenditures of $5.4 million and cash payments for programming of $6.9 million.

The Company’s senior secured credit facility matures on November 4, 2011.  The Company is currently engaged in negotiations and anticipates entering into a new credit facility prior to the expiration of its existing facility.  However, there can be no assurance as to the timing or terms on which the Company may complete such a transaction.
 
2 comScore media metrics data; June 2011. The Company’s Columbus & Toledo sites were not measured by comScore.

 
 

 
Business Outlook

The Company provides historical quarterly financial information for its continuing operations on its web site.  Interested parties should go to the Investor Relations section of www.linmedia.com.

The Company expects that third quarter 2011 net revenues will decrease by mid single digits driven largely by a decline of approximately $9 million in net political revenue, compared to net revenues of $103.6 million for the third quarter of 2010.

The Company expects that its direct operating and selling, general and administrative expenses, which includes digital cost of sales and other variable sales related expenses, will increase in the range of 6% to 8% (or $3.6 million to $4.9 million) for the third quarter of 2011, compared to reported expenses of $58.4 million for the third quarter of 2010.

The Company’s current outlook for revenues, expenses and cash flow items for the third quarter of 2011, excluding special items, are anticipated to be in the following ranges:

 
Third Quarter 2011
Net advertising revenues
$71.5 to $74.5 million
Net digital revenues
$21.5 to $22.0 million
Network comp/Barter/Other revenues
$4.0 to $4.5 million
Total net revenues
$97.0 to $101.0 million
Direct operating and selling, general and administrative expenses(1)
$62.0 to $63.3 million
Station non-cash stock-based compensation expense
$0.3 to $0.4 million
Amortization of program rights
$5.3 to $6.0 million
Cash payments for programming
$6.3 to $7.0 million
Corporate expense(1)
$5.4 to $6.0 million
Corporate non-cash stock-based compensation expense
$1.0 to $1.1 million
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles
$7.0 to $7.5 million
Cash capital expenditures
$6.0 to $7.0 million
Cash interest expense
$11.4 to $12.0 million
Principal amortization term loans
$0.0 million
Cash taxes
$0.0 to $0.1 million
Effective tax rate
38% to 40%

─────────
(1) Includes non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

The Company advises that all of the information and factors set forth above are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions (see the “Forward-Looking Statements” heading below), which could individually or collectively cause actual results to differ materially from those projected above.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter results today, July 27, 2011, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.  To participate in the call, please dial 1-800-236-9788 for U.S. callers and 1-913-312-1383 for international callers. The call-in pass code is 4919381. Callers who intend to participate in the call should dial in 10 minutes before the start of the call to ensure access. The conference call will also be webcast simultaneously from the Company’s web site, www.linmedia.com, and can be accessed there through a link on the home page. For those unavailable to participate in the live teleconference, a replay can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of www.linmedia.com or by dialing 1-888-203-1112 and entering the same pass code as above.  The telephone replay will be available through August 10, 2011.
 

 
 

 


Access to Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Supplemental Financial Data

The Company reports and discusses its operating results using financial measures consistent with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and believes this should be the primary basis for evaluating its performance. Non-GAAP financial measures such as Broadcast Cash Flow (“BCF”), Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) and Free Cash Flow (“FCF”) should not be viewed as alternatives or substitutes for GAAP reporting.  However, BCF, Adjusted EBITDA and FCF are common supplemental measures of performance used by investors, lenders, rating agencies and financial analysts.  As a result, these non-GAAP measures can provide certain additional insight about the market value of the Company and its stations; the Company’s ability to fund acquisitions, investments and working capital needs; the Company’s ability to service its debt; the Company’s performance versus other peer companies in its industry; and other operating performance trends for its business.  The Company makes available reconciliations of its operating income (loss), a GAAP reporting measure, to BCF, Adjusted EBITDA and FCF on the Company’s web site.  In addition, the Company provides additional information on its web site, at the same location, regarding historical revenue by source, pro forma income statement information and certain other components of cash flow. Interested parties should go to the Investor Relations section of www.linmedia.com.
 
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
The information discussed in this press release, particularly in the section with the heading Business Outlook, includes forward-looking statements about the Company’s future operating results within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company based these forward-looking statements on its current assumptions, knowledge, estimates and projections about factors that could affect its future operations. Although the Company believes that its assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurances can be given that those assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct.  Statements in this press release that are forward-looking include, but are not limited to, local, national and political advertising growth; changes in digital, network compensation, barter and other revenues; changes in direct operating, selling, general and administrative, barter, amortization of program rights and corporate expenses; and cash programming, cash capital expenditures, cash interest expense and principal amortization, cash tax payments and effective tax rates and distributions from equity investments.  These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause these expectations and assumptions not to occur or to differ materially from those outcomes projected in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, ongoing economic uncertainty; restrictions on the Company’s operations as a result of the Company’s indebtedness; our ability to renegotiate our senior secured credit facility on terms satisfactory to us; global or local events that could disrupt TV broadcasting; softening of the domestic advertising market; further consolidation of national and local advertisers, and the national sales representation market; potential liabilities related to the Company’s guarantee of the debt obligations of its joint venture with NBCUniversal; risks associated with acquisitions, including integration of acquired businesses; changes in TV viewing patterns, ratings and commercial viewing measurement; increases in news and syndicated programming costs, and capital expenditures; changes in television network affiliation agreements and retransmission consent agreements; changes in government regulation; competition; seasonality; effects of complying with accounting standards; potential influence of certain stockholders, including HM Capital Partners LLC and its affiliates, and other risks discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which are available on the Investor Relations section of www.linmedia.com, or at www.sec.gov), which are incorporated in this release by reference. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required to by applicable law.
 

 
 

 


About LIN Media
 
LIN Media, along with its subsidiaries, is a local multimedia company that owns, operates or services 32 network-affiliated broadcast television stations, interactive television station and niche web sites, and mobile platforms in 17 U.S. markets. LIN Media’s online advertising business, RMM, leverages unique technology, new product innovation and customized interactive and mobile advertising solutions to deliver measurable results to local, regional and national clients.
 
LIN TV Corp. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TVL”. Financial information about the company is available at www.linmedia.com.
 
###

– financial tables follow –



 
 

 

LIN TV Corp.
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
(unaudited)
 
                         
                         
   
Three months ended June 30,
   
Six months ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
                         
Net revenues
  $ 104,114     $ 99,460     $ 196,754     $ 191,305  
                                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Direct operating
    33,290       29,823       64,323       59,128  
Selling, general and administrative
    27,439       26,652       54,322       52,076  
Amortization of program rights
    5,547       5,840       11,136       12,046  
Corporate
    7,352       6,694       13,833       11,878  
     General operating expenses
    73,628       69,009       143,614       135,128  
                                 
Depreciation, amortization and other operating charges (benefits):
                         
Depreciation
    6,596       6,948       13,096       14,048  
Amortization of intangible assets
    299       412       572       821  
Restructuring charge
    -       63       -       2,181  
Loss (gain) from asset dispositions
    103       (2,030 )     358       (2,211 )
Operating income
    23,488       25,058       39,114       41,338  
                                 
Other expense:
                               
Interest expense, net
    12,717       13,428       25,649       25,143  
Share of loss in equity investments
    554       94       1,167       94  
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments
    (583 )     3,056       (1,203 )     3,065  
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    50       2,749       192       2,749  
Other (income) expense, net
    (3 )     28       (2 )     (682 )
Total other expense, net
    12,735       19,355       25,803       30,369  
                                 
Income before provision for income taxes
    10,753       5,703       13,311       10,969  
Provision for income taxes
    9,682       2,059       10,654       3,824  
Net income
    1,071       3,644       2,657       7,145  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
    -       -       -       -  
Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp.
  $ 1,071     $ 3,644     $ 2,657     $ 7,145  
                                 
Basic income per common share attributable to LIN TV Corp.:
                         
Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp.
  $ 0.02     $ 0.07     $ 0.05     $ 0.13  
                           
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in calculating basic income per common share
    55,712       53,785       55,346       53,195  
                                 
Diluted income per common share attributable to LIN TV Corp.:
                         
Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp.
  $ 0.02     $ 0.07     $ 0.05     $ 0.13  
                           
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in calculating diluted income per common share
    57,187       55,624       56,865       54,862  
                                 
 
 

 

 LIN TV Corp.
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
(unaudited)
 
             
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(in thousands, except share data)
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 13,633     $ 11,648  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2011 - $2,843; 2010 - $2,233)
    81,256       82,486  
Other current assets
    7,635       5,921  
Total current assets
    102,524       100,055  
Property and equipment, net
    149,479       154,127  
Deferred financing costs
    6,542       7,759  
Goodwill
    117,421       117,259  
Broadcast licenses and other intangible assets, net
    406,700       397,280  
Other assets
    14,866       13,989  
Total assets
  $ 797,532     $ 790,469  
                 
LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 184     $ 9,573  
Accounts payable
    6,141       8,003  
Accrued expenses
    37,361       42,353  
Program obligations
    11,445       9,528  
Total current liabilities
    55,131       69,457  
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
    615,109       613,687  
Deferred income taxes, net
    196,465       185,997  
Program obligations
    7,370       7,240  
Other liabilities
    43,385       45,520  
Total liabilities
    917,460       921,901  
                 
LIN TV Corp. stockholders' deficit:
               
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,
               
Issued: 33,776,662 and 32,509,759 shares as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
         
Outstanding: 32,903,844 and  31,636,941 shares as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively
    307       294  
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized,
               
23,502,059 shares as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, issued and outstanding;
 
convertible into an equal number of shares of Class A or Class C common stock
    235       235  
Class C common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 2 shares as of
               
June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, issued and outstanding;
               
convertible into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock
    -       -  
Treasury stock, 872,818 shares of Class A common stock as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, at cost
    (7,869 )     (7,869 )
Additional paid-in capital
    1,118,436       1,109,814  
Accumulated deficit
    (1,203,310 )     (1,205,967 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (27,727 )     (27,939 )
Total LIN TV Corp. stockholders' deficit:
    (119,928 )     (131,432 )
Noncontrolling interest
    -       -  
Total deficit
    (119,928 )     (131,432 )
Total liabilities and deficit
  $ 797,532     $ 790,469  
                 

 
 

 

LIN TV Corp.
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
(unaudited)
 
             
   
Six months ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(in thousands)
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income
  $ 2,657     $ 7,145  
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    13,096       14,048  
Amortization of intangible assets
    572       821  
Amortization of financing costs and note discounts
    1,951       2,422  
Amortization of program rights
    11,136       12,046  
Program payments
    (13,604 )     (14,128 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    192       2,749  
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments
    (1,203 )     3,065  
Share of loss in equity investments
    1,167       94  
Deferred income taxes, net
    10,606       3,820  
Stock-based compensation
    3,381       2,498  
Loss (gain) from asset dispositions
    358       (2,211 )
Other, net
    212       (186 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable
    1,230       (3,519 )
Other assets
    (1,870 )     1,092  
Accounts payable
    (1,862 )     1,779  
Accrued interest expense
    81       3,710  
Other liabilities and accrued expenses
    (2,207 )     (1,368 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    25,893       33,877  
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Capital expenditures
    (7,997 )     (9,010 )
Change in restricted cash
    -       2,000  
Payments for business combinations
    (5,244 )     -  
Proceeds from the sale of assets
    48       181  
Payments on derivative instruments
    (1,254 )     (805 )
Shortfall loan to joint venture with NBCUniversal
    (1,019 )     (3,875 )
Other investments, net
    (150 )     (1,980 )
Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations
    (15,616 )     (13,489 )
Net cash provided by investing activities, discontinued operations
    -       660  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (15,616 )     (12,829 )
                 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net proceeds on exercises of employee and director stock-based compensation
    481       387  
Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt
    920       213,000  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (9,619 )     (231,899 )
Payment of long-term debt issue costs
    (74 )     (4,732 )
Net cash used in financing activities, continuing operations
    (8,292 )     (23,244 )
Net cash used in financing activities, discontinued operations
    -       (445 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (8,292 )     (23,689 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    1,985       (2,641 )
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
    11,648       11,105  
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
  $ 13,633     $ 8,464