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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2012

or

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number: 333-02302

ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 2700

Arlington, VA 22209

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(703) 647-8700

(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  ¨    No  x (1)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 7, 2013: 20,000 shares.

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CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q, INCLUDING ITEM 2 “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,” CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS AND INVOLVE A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, OUR OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS AND OUR HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE; THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON US BY THE TERMS OF OUR INDEBTEDNESS; THE HIGH DEGREE OF COMPETITION FROM BOTH OVER-THE-AIR BROADCAST STATIONS AND PROGRAMMING ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS CABLE TELEVISION, WIRELESS CABLE, IN-HOME SATELLITE DISTRIBUTION SERVICE, PAY-PER-VIEW SERVICES, INTERNET VIDEO AND HOME VIDEO AND ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES; THE IMPACT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES; CHANGES IN FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (“FCC”) REGULATIONS; FCC LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS; DECREASES IN THE DEMAND FOR ADVERTISING DUE TO WEAKNESS IN THE ECONOMY; AND THE VARIABILITY OF OUR QUARTERLY RESULTS AND OUR SEASONALITY.

ALL WRITTEN OR ORAL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY ARE EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED BY THE FOREGOING CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS. ALSO REFER TO THE RISKS DISCUSSED UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” AND OTHER CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2012. READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH REFLECT MANAGEMENT’S VIEW ONLY AS OF THE DATE HEREOF.

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ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012

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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.

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ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands except share information)

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.

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ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.

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ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

NOTE 1 – The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Allbritton Communications Company (an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Perpetual Corporation (“Perpetual”)) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) have been prepared pursuant to instructions for Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted or condensed where permitted by regulation. In management’s opinion, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments, which were of a normal recurring nature, and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected for the entire fiscal year ending September 30, 2013. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended September 30, 2012, which are contained in the Company’s Form 10-K. Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

NOTE 2 – The carrying amount of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and program rights payable approximate fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments. The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt on a recurring basis. The Company estimated the fair value of its Senior Notes to be approximately $495,000 and $494,000 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012, respectively. This fair value estimate was determined based on quoted market prices provided by investment banking firms who regularly make a market in the Company’s Senior Notes, which is considered to be a Level 2 input. The carrying value of the Company’s senior credit facility approximated fair value at December 31, 2012. This estimate was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, which is considered to be a Level 3 input. There was no amount outstanding under the Company’s senior credit facility as of September 30, 2012.

NOTE 3 – The carrying value of the Company’s indefinite lived intangible assets, consisting of its broadcast licenses, was $11,590 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012. The Company’s other intangible assets, consisting of favorable terms on contracts and leases, had a gross carrying amount of $6,174 and no net carrying value at September 30, 2012 or December 31, 2012 as these intangible assets are fully amortized.

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NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

NOTE 4 – For the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, distributions to owners and related activity consisted of the following:

The average amount of non-interest bearing advances outstanding was $488,750 and $524,834 during the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

NOTE 5 – During the three months ended December 31, 2012, company-owned life insurance policies terminated upon the death of the insured, the Company’s founder and former Chairman. As a result, the Company recognized a $3,993 non-taxable gain, recorded as a component of nonoperating income, in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations, representing the difference between the death benefit and the cash surrender value of the policies. The resulting gain served to reduce the Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2012. Total proceeds of $18,102 from the policies were pending receipt as of December 31, 2012 and are reflected as insurance proceeds receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

(Dollars in thousands)

Overview

As used herein, the terms the “Company,” “our,” “us,” or “we” refer to Allbritton Communications Company and its subsidiaries and “ACC” refers solely to Allbritton Communications Company.

We own ABC network-affiliated television stations serving six geographic markets: WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.; WCFT-TV in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, WJSU-TV in Anniston, Alabama and WBMA-LD, a low power television station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama (we operate WCFT-TV and WJSU-TV in tandem with WBMA-LD serving the viewers of the Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Anniston market as a single programming source); WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas; KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and WSET-TV in Lynchburg, Virginia. We also provide 24-hour per day basic cable television programming to the Washington, D.C. market, through NewsChannel 8, primarily focused on regional and local news for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The operations of NewsChannel 8 are integrated with WJLA.

Our advertising revenues are generally highest in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year, due in part to increases in retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the holiday season and active advertising in the spring. The fluctuation in our operating results is generally related to fluctuations in the revenue cycle. In addition, advertising revenues are generally higher during election years due to spending by political candidates, which is typically heaviest during our first and fourth fiscal quarters.

Results of Operations

Set forth below are selected consolidated financial data for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the percentage change between the periods:

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

Net Operating Revenues

The following table depicts the principal types of operating revenues, net of agency commissions, earned by us for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, and the percentage contribution of each to our total operating revenues, before fees:

Net operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2012 totaled $71,197, an increase of $18,582, or 35.3%, when compared to net operating revenues of $52,615 for the three months ended December 31, 2011. This increase primarily reflects increased demand for political advertising and increased subscriber fees.

Local and national advertising revenues decreased $4,182, or 9.7%, during the three months ended December 31, 2012 versus the comparable period in the prior year. This decrease primarily reflects the displacement of local and national advertisers during the peak political advertising period leading up to the November 2012 general election. Such displacement extended to the key automotive category, which decreased 4% during the three months ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year.

Political advertising revenues increased by $20,144 to $20,940 for the three months ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2011. In the first quarter of Fiscal 2013, political advertising revenues were primarily generated by spending leading up to the heavily contested

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

2012 presidential election, as well as congressional elections and ballot referendums in several of our markets. There was no comparable activity in the first quarter of Fiscal 2012 with the exception of limited local elections.

Subscriber fees increased $2,810, or 48.2%, during the three months ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. This increase in subscriber fees was primarily due to the fact that a significant number of retransmission consent agreements, representing approximately one-half of our subscriber base, were subject to renewal effective January 1, 2012 and were renewed at increased per subscriber rates. This increase was also due to increases in per subscriber rates in accordance with existing agreements. In addition, a number of additional retransmission consent agreements have been renewed at increased per subscriber rates beginning in January 2013. These renewals will further increase subscriber fees in subsequent quarters.

Total Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2012 totaled $33,112, an increase of $479, or 1.5%, compared to total operating expenses of $32,633 for the three months ended December 31, 2011. This increase consisted of an increase in television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, of $1,692, a decrease in depreciation and amortization of $1,239 and an increase in corporate expenses of $26.

Television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased $1,692, or 6.0% to $29,718, for the three months ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in Fiscal 2012. This increase was primarily due to increased employee-related and programming expenses. Programming costs increased primarily due to the ABC network returning one hour of daytime to its affiliates to program. In addition, we incurred higher news costs due to the November 2012 general election and other weather-related coverage, as well as increased variable sales-related costs attributable to the increased revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2012.

Operating Income

For the three months ended December 31, 2012, operating income of $38,085 increased $18,103, or 90.6%, when compared to operating income of $19,982 for the three months ended December 31, 2011. For the three months ended December 31, 2012, the operating margin increased to 53.5% from 38.0% for the comparable period in Fiscal 2012. The increases in operating income and margin during the three months ended December 31, 2012 were the result of the increased net operating revenue as discussed above.

Nonoperating Expenses, Net

Gain on Settlement of Insurance Policies. The $3,993 gain on settlement of insurance policies represents the difference between the death benefit and the cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance policies. These policies terminated during the first quarter of Fiscal 2013 upon the death of the insured, our founder and former Chairman.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2012 totaled $10,592, an increase of $6,737, or 174.8%, as compared to the provision for income taxes of $3,855 for the three

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

months ended December 31, 2011. The increase in the provision for income taxes during the three months ended December 31, 2012 was primarily due to the $22,262, or 215.1%, increase in income before income taxes, partially offset by the effect of the non-taxable gain on the settlement of insurance policies.

Net Income

For the three months ended December 31, 2012, we recorded net income of $22,018 as compared to $6,493 for the three months ended December 31, 2011. The increase of $15,525, or 239.1%, during the three months ended December 31, 2012 was primarily due to increased operating income as discussed above.

Balance Sheet

Significant balance sheet fluctuations from September 30, 2012 to December 31, 2012 consisted primarily of an increase in insurance proceeds receivable and decreases in the cash surrender value of life insurance, accrued interest payable, program rights, and program rights payable. The increase in insurance proceeds receivable and decrease in the cash surrender value of life insurance is due to the settlement of company-owned life insurance policies. The decrease in program rights and program rights payable reflects the annual cycle of the underlying program contracts, which generally begins in September of each year. Accrued interest payable decreased due to making the scheduled semi-annual interest payment on our long-term fixed interest rate debt on November 15, 2012. See also “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2012, our cash and cash equivalents aggregated $2,190 and we had an excess of current assets over current liabilities of $46,525.

Cash Provided by Operations. Our principal source of working capital is cash flow from operations and borrowings under our senior credit facility. As discussed above, our operating results are cyclical in nature primarily as a result of seasonal fluctuations in advertising revenues, which are generally highest in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. Our cash flow from operations is also impacted on a quarterly basis by the timing of cash collections and interest payments on debt. Cash receipts are usually greater during the second and fourth fiscal quarters as the collection of advertising revenue typically lags the period in which such revenue is recorded. Scheduled semi-annual interest payments on our long-term fixed interest rate debt occur during the first and third fiscal quarters. As a result, our cash flows from operating activities as reflected in our consolidated financial statements are generally significantly higher during our second and fourth fiscal quarters, and such quarters comprise a substantial majority of our cash flows from operating activities for the full fiscal year.

As reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows, our net cash from operating activities was $(3,436) and $7,140 for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The $10,576 increase in cash flows from operating activities as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year was primarily the result of higher net income, exclusive of the gain on settlement of insurance policies. In addition, we experienced a smaller increase in accounts receivable, as well as various other differences in the timing of cash receipts and payments in the ordinary course of operations as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

Transactions with Owners. We have periodically made advances in the form of distributions to Perpetual. We made cash advances to Perpetual of $2,000 and $32,900 during the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The advances to Perpetual are non-interest bearing and, as such, do not reflect market rates of interest-bearing loans to unaffiliated third parties.

At present, the primary source of repayment of the net advances is through our ability to pay dividends or make other distributions, and there is no immediate intent for the amounts to be repaid. Accordingly, these advances have been treated as a reduction of stockholder’s investment and are described as “distributions” in our consolidated financial statements.

Under the terms of the agreements relating to our indebtedness, future advances, distributions and dividends to related parties are subject to certain restrictions. We anticipate that, subject to such restrictions, applicable law and payment obligations with respect to our indebtedness, we will make advances, distributions or dividends to related parties in the future.

We were charged under a tax sharing agreement with Perpetual for federal and state income taxes totaling $3,647 and $10,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. We made tax payments to Perpetual of $9,036 during the quarter ended December 31, 2012. No tax payments were made to Perpetual during the quarter ended December 31, 2011.

Stockholder’s deficit amounted to $378,468 at December 31, 2012, an increase of $9,918, or 2.7%, from the September 30, 2012 deficit of $368,550. The increase was due to a net increase in distributions to owners of $31,936, partially offset by net income for the three-month period of $22,018. The net increase in distributions to owners was the result of cash advances and tax payments under the tax sharing agreement, partially offset by tax charges.

Indebtedness. Our total debt increased from $455,000 at September 30, 2012 to $467,000 at December 31, 2012. This debt consisted of $455,000 of 8% senior notes due May 15, 2018 and $12,000 outstanding under our senior credit facility. The increase of $12,000 in total debt from September 30, 2012 to December 31, 2012 was due to net draws under the senior credit facility.

Our $60,000 senior credit facility is secured by the assets and stock of ACC and its subsidiaries and matures April 30, 2015. Interest is payable quarterly at various rates from prime plus 1.50% or from LIBOR plus 2.75% depending on certain financial operating tests.

Under the existing borrowing agreements for each of our senior notes and senior credit facility, we are subject to restrictive covenants that place limitations upon payments of cash distributions, dividends, issuance of capital stock, investment transactions, incurrence of additional obligations and transactions with affiliates. Our senior credit facility contains the most restrictive covenants and limitations of this nature. In addition, under the senior credit facility, we must maintain compliance with certain financial covenants. There are no such financial maintenance covenants under the terms of our senior notes. Compliance with the financial maintenance covenants under our senior credit facility is measured at the end of each quarter, and as of December 31, 2012, we were in compliance with those financial covenants. We are also required to pay a commitment fee ranging from 0.375% to 0.500% per annum

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

based on the amount of any unused portion of the senior credit facility.

Our senior credit facility, under which $12,000 was outstanding at December 31, 2012, has four financial maintenance covenants which are calculated based on the most recent twelve months of activity as of the end of each quarter. These financial maintenance covenants include a minimum interest coverage ratio, maximum total and senior leverage ratios and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The total leverage ratio covenant is currently the most restrictive of the four financial maintenance covenants, and it also serves to limit cash advances to Perpetual. The calculation and the requirements for this ratio as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012 are provided below.

Consolidated EBITDA is a defined term in our senior credit facility and is calculated as required by the terms of our senior credit facility as follows:

Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure which is only presented for purposes of assisting the reader in understanding our compliance with our financial covenants. We have calculated Consolidated EBITDA in accordance with the specific requirements of our senior credit facility, and this calculation may not be consistent with similarly titled measures used by other

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

companies. This measure should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

We believe that based on anticipated results for Fiscal 2013, we will be able to continue to comply with the financial covenants of our senior credit facility.

The indenture for our long-term debt provides that, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any senior notes are outstanding, we, at our expense, will furnish to each holder (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, if we were required to file such forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual financial information only, a report thereon by our certified independent accountants and (ii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if we were required to file such reports. In addition, the indenture also provides that, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, we will file a copy of all such information and reports with the SEC for public availability (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. Although our duty to file such reports with the SEC has been automatically suspended pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 effective October 1, 2010, we will continue to file such reports in accordance with the terms of the indenture.

Other Uses of Cash. We anticipate that capital expenditures for Fiscal 2013 will be in the approximate range of $4,500 to $5,500, and will primarily be for the acquisition of technical equipment and vehicles to support ongoing operations across our stations. We expect that the source of funds for these anticipated capital expenditures will be cash provided by operations and borrowings under the senior credit facility. Capital expenditures during the three months ended December 31, 2012 totaled $1,211.

Based upon our current level of operations, we believe that available cash, together with cash flows generated by operating activities and amounts available both under the senior credit facility and from repayments of distributions to owners, will be adequate to meet our anticipated future requirements for working capital, capital expenditures and scheduled payments of interest on our debt for the next twelve months.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

At December 31, 2012, we had other financial instruments consisting primarily of long-term fixed interest rate debt. Such debt, with future principal payments of $455,000, matures May 15, 2018. At December 31, 2012, the carrying value of such debt was $455,000, the fair value was approximately $494,000 and the interest rate was 8%. The fair market value of long-term fixed interest rate debt is subject to interest rate risk. Generally, the fair market value of fixed interest rate debt will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. We estimate the fair value of our long-term fixed interest rate debt by using quoted market prices. We actively monitor the capital markets in analyzing our capital raising decisions.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company has performed an evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by Exchange Act rule 15d-15(e)) as of December 31, 2012. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We currently and from time to time are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business, including suits based on defamation and employment activity. We are not currently a party to any lawsuit or proceeding which, in our opinion, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 6. Exhibits

a. Exhibits

See Exhibit Index on pages 15-17.

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SIGNATURES

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.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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