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EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - URBAN ONE, INC.tv485657_ex32-2.htm
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EX-23.1 - EXHIBIT 23.1 - URBAN ONE, INC.tv485657_ex23-1.htm
EX-21.1 - EXHIBIT 21.1 - URBAN ONE, INC.tv485657_ex21-1.htm

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

þ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
   
OR  
 
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)
   
  For the transition period from                    to

 

Commission File No. 0-25969

 

URBAN ONE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 52-1166660
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

 

1010 Wayne Avenue,

14th Floor

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

(301) 429-3200

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value

Class D Common Stock, $.001 par value

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes ¨  No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Yes ¨  No þ

 

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 þ  No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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 shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ  No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. Yes ¨  No þ

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨            Accelerated filer  þ             Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Smaller reporting company þ            Emerging growth company  ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) 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 þ

 

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock is as follows:

 

Class   Outstanding at March 5, 2018
Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value   1,641,632
Class B Common Stock, $.001 par value   2,861,843
Class C Common Stock, $.001 par value   2,928,906
Class D Common Stock, $.001 par value   41,357,779

   

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the closing price of the Registrant’s Class A and Class D common stock on June 30, 2017, was approximately $63.1 million, thus qualifying the Company for smaller reporting company status. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

URBAN ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Form 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
PART I
     
Item 1. Business 5
Item 1A. Risk Factors 18
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 25
Item 2. Properties 25
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 25
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure 25
   
PART II
   
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 26
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 26
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 27
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk 47
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 47
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 47
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 47
Item 9B. Other Information 47
   
PART III
   
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 48
Item 11. Executive  Compensation 48
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 48
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 48
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 48
   
PART IV
   
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 49
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary 52
   
SIGNATURES 53

 

 2 

 

 

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

Unless otherwise noted, throughout this report, the terms “Urban One,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Urban One, Inc. together with all of its subsidiaries.

 

We use the terms “local marketing agreement” (“LMA”) or time brokerage agreement (“TBA”) in various places in this report. An LMA or a TBA is an agreement under which a Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licensee of a radio station makes available, for a fee, air time on its station to another party.  The other party provides programming to be broadcast during the airtime and collects revenues from advertising it sells for broadcast during that programming. In addition to entering into LMAs or TBAs, we will from, time to time, enter into management or consulting agreements that provide us with the ability, as contractually specified, to assist current owners in the management of radio station assets that we have contracted to purchase, subject to FCC approval. In such arrangements, we generally receive a contractually specified management fee or consulting fee in exchange for the services provided.

 

The term “broadcast and digital operating income” is used throughout this report.  Net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, income taxes, interest expense, interest income, noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries, other (income) expense, corporate selling, general and administrative, expenses, stock-based compensation, impairment of long-lived assets, (gain) loss on retirement of debt and gain on sale-leaseback, is commonly referred to in the radio broadcasting industry as “station operating income.” However, given the diverse nature of our business, station operating income is not truly reflective of our multi-media operation and, therefore, we now use the term broadcast and digital operating income. Broadcast and digital operating income is not a measure of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Nevertheless, broadcast and digital operating income is a significant basis used by our management to evaluate the operating performance of our core operating segments. Broadcast and digital operating income provides helpful information about our results of operations, apart from expenses associated with our fixed and long-lived intangible assets, income taxes, investments, impairment charges, debt financings and retirements, corporate overhead and stock-based compensation. Our measure of broadcast and digital operating income is similar to our historic use of station operating income; however, it reflects our more diverse business, and therefore, may not be similar to “station operating income” or other similarly titled measures as used by other companies. Broadcast and digital operating income does not represent operating loss or cash flow from operating activities, as those terms are defined under GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to those measurements as an indicator of our performance.

 

The term “broadcast and digital operating income margin” is also used throughout this report.    Broadcast and digital operating income margin represents broadcast and digital operating income as a percentage of net revenue. Broadcast and digital operating income margin is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Nevertheless, we believe that broadcast and digital operating income margin is a useful measure of our performance because it provides helpful information about our profitability as a percentage of our net revenue. Broadcast and digital operating margin includes results from all four segments (radio broadcasting, Reach Media, digital and cable television).

 

Unless otherwise indicated:

 

·we obtained total radio industry revenue levels from the Radio Advertising Bureau (the “RAB”);

 

·we obtained audience share and ranking information from Nielsen Audio, Inc. (“Nielsen”); and

 

·we derived historical market statistics and market revenue share percentages from data published by Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., LLP (“Miller Kaplan”), a public accounting firm that specializes in serving the broadcasting industry and BIA/Kelsey (“BIA”), a media and telecommunications advisory services firm.

 

 3 

 

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Our disclosure and analysis in this annual report on Form 10-K concerning our operations, cash flows and financial position, including, in particular, the likelihood of our success in developing and expanding our business, include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements do not relay historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future operations, results and events. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” including any projections of earnings, revenues or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by our use of words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “estimates” and similar expressions.  You can also identify a forward-looking statement in that such statements discuss matters in a way that anticipates operations, results or events that have not already occurred but rather will or may occur in future periods.  We cannot guarantee that we will achieve any forward-looking plans, intentions, results, operations or expectations.  Although these statements are based upon assumptions we consider reasonable, as they contemplate future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or anticipated in the forward-looking statements.  These risks, uncertainties and factors include (in no particular order), but are not limited to:

 

·economic volatility, financial market unpredictability and fluctuations in the United States and other world economies that may affect our business and financial condition, and the business and financial conditions of our advertisers;

 

·our high degree of leverage and potential inability to finance strategic transactions given fluctuations in market conditions;

 

·fluctuations in the local economies of the markets in which we operate (particularly our largest markets, Atlanta; Baltimore; Houston; and Washington, DC) could negatively impact our ability to meet our cash needs and our ability to maintain compliance with our debt covenants;

 

·fluctuations in the demand for advertising across our various media;

 

·risks associated with the implementation and execution of our business diversification strategy;

  

·changes in media audience ratings and measurement technologies and methodologies;

 

·regulation by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) relative to maintaining our broadcasting licenses, enacting media ownership rules and enforcing of indecency rules;

 

·changes in our key personnel and on-air talent;

 

·increases in the costs of our programming, including on-air talent and content acquisitions costs;

 

·financial losses that may be incurred due to impairment charges against our broadcasting licenses, goodwill, and other intangible assets;

 

·increased competition for advertising revenues with other radio stations, broadcast and cable television, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising, direct mail, internet radio, satellite radio, smart phones, tablets, and other wireless media, the internet, social media, and other forms of advertising;

 

·the impact of our acquisitions, dispositions and similar transactions, as well as consolidation in industries in which we and our advertisers operate; and

 

·other factors mentioned in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) including the factors discussed in detail in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” contained in this report.

 

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our views as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

 4 

 

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

Urban One, Inc. (a Delaware corporation originally formed in 1980 and hereinafter referred to as “Urban One”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is an urban-oriented, multi-media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. Our core business is our radio broadcasting franchise which is the largest radio broadcasting operation that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. As of December 31, 2017, we owned and/or operated 56 broadcast stations located in 15 of the most populous African-American markets in the United States. While a core source of our revenue has historically been and remains the sale of local and national advertising for broadcast on our radio stations, our strategy is to operate the premier multi-media entertainment and information content provider targeting African-American and urban consumers. Thus, we have diversified our revenue streams by making acquisitions and investments in other complementary media properties. Our diverse media and entertainment interests include TV One, LLC (“TV One”), an African-American targeted cable television network; our 80.0% ownership interest in Reach Media, Inc. (“Reach Media”) which operates the Tom Joyner Morning Show and our other syndicated programming assets, including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show and the DL Hughley Show; and Interactive One, LLC (“Interactive One”), our wholly owned digital platform serving the African-American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its newly developed Cassius and newly acquired Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands. We also have invested in a minority ownership interest in MGM National Harbor, a gaming resort located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Through our national multi-media operations, we provide advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to the African-American and urban audiences.

 

Recent Developments

 

On August 3, 2017, the Company sold the assets of its Detroit WCHB-AM station for $2.0 million and recognized an immaterial loss on the sale of the station during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Effective May 5, 2017, the Company changed its corporate name from “Radio One, Inc.” to “Urban One, Inc.” to have a name more reflective of our multi-media business operations and strategy.  Our core radio broadcasting franchise continues to operate under the brand “Radio One.”  We also continue to retain our other brands, such as TV One, Reach Media and Interactive One, while developing additional branding reflective of our diverse media operations and targeting our African-American and urban audiences.

 

On April 28, 2017, the Company acquired certain assets constituting the websites and brands Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire from Moguldom Media Group, LLC. The assets were integrated into the Company’s digital segment. The consideration for the assets was a $5 million payment at closing, with further potential earn-out payments of up to $5 million over the next 4 years contingent upon performance. Total cash consideration paid at closing was approximately $5.0 million. The Company’s purchase accounting to reflect the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed consisted of $22,000 to property and equipment, approximately $1.2 million to brand and trade names, $4.6 million to goodwill, $1.4 million to customer relationships and $322,000 to other intangible assets, offset by estimated contingent consideration of approximately $2.2 million and other liabilities of $263,000.

 

On April 20, 2017, the Company announced an agreement for the acquisition of Red Zebra Broadcasting’s WWXT-FM and WXGI-AM stations.  With this acquisition, the Company expanded its Washington, DC market presence and diversified its Richmond market presence. DC’s WMMJ MAJIC 102.3 FM programming is now simulcast on WDCJ 92.7 FM which is expected to grow its listenership.  In Richmond, the Company diversified its all-music cluster with the addition of the sports radio format of WXGI 950 AM and the simulcast the new Richmond ESPN Radio on 1240 AM and 102.7 FM.  The Company completed the acquisition of the stations on June 23, 2017, and total consideration paid was approximately $2.0 million. The Company’s purchase accounting to reflect the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed consisted of approximately $1.6 million to radio broadcasting licenses, $47,000 to goodwill, $206,000 to property and equipment and $114,000 to other intangible assets.

 

On January 30, 2017, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell certain land, towers and equipment to a third party for $25 million. On May 2, 2017, the Company closed on the sale, and began leasing certain of the assets back from the buyer as a part of its normal operations. The Company received proceeds of approximately $25.0 million, resulting in an overall net gain on sale of approximately $22.5 million, of which approximately $14.4 million was recognized immediately during the second quarter, and approximately $8.1 million which was deferred and will be recognized into income over the lease term of ten years.

 

 5 

 

 

Segments

 

As part of our consolidated financial statements, consistent with our financial reporting structure and how the Company currently manages its businesses, we have provided selected financial information on the Company’s four reportable segments: (i) radio broadcasting; (ii) cable television; (iii) Reach Media; and (iv) digital.

 

Our Radio Station Portfolio, Strategy and Markets

 

As noted above, our core business is our radio broadcasting franchise that is the largest radio broadcasting operation that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. We strive to build clusters of radio stations in our markets, with each radio station targeting different demographic segments of the African-American population. This clustering and programming segmentation strategy allows us to achieve greater penetration within the distinct segments of our overall target market. In addition, we have been able to achieve operating efficiencies by consolidating office and studio space where possible to minimize duplicative management positions and reduce overhead expenses. Depending on market conditions, changes in ratings methodologies and economic and demographic shifts, from time to time, we may reprogram some of our stations in underperforming segments of certain markets.

 

As of December 31, 2017, we owned and/or operated 56 broadcast stations located in 15 of the most populous African-American markets in the United States. The following tables set forth further selected information about our portfolio of radio stations as of December 31, 2017.

 

   Urban One   Market Data 
Market  Number of Stations(1)   Entire Audience
Four Book
Average Audience
Share(2)
   Ranking by Size of
African-American
Population Persons
12+(3)
   Estimated Fall 2016
Metro
Population Persons
12+
 
   FM   AM           Total
(millions)
   African-
American
%
 
Atlanta   4    -    13.4    2    4.8    34.4 
Washington, DC   4    2    12.4    4    4.9    26.7 
Houston   3    -    12.6    5    5.8    17.4 
Dallas   2    -    4.6    6    6.0    16.2 
Philadelphia   3    -    7.1    7    4.6    20.6 
Detroit   3    -    86    9    3.8    21.9 
Baltimore   2    2    16.9    11    2.4    29.1 
Charlotte   3    -    11.7    12    2.3    22.9 
St. Louis   2    -    10.4    16    2.3    18.5 
Raleigh-Durham   4    -    18.8    18    1.6    22.4 
Cleveland   2    2    14.6    19    1.8    20.0 
Richmond(4)   4    2    21.0    22    1.0    30.1 
Columbus   4    -    8.8    26    1.7    16.5 
Indianapolis   3    1    14.4    29    1.5    16.3 
Cincinnati   2    1    9.1    34    1.8    12.8 
Total   45    10                     

 

  (1) WDNI-CD (formerly WDNI-LP), the low power television station that we operate in Indianapolis is not included in this table.
  (2) Audience share data are for the 12+ demographic and derived from the Nielsen Survey ending with the Fall 2017 Nielsen Survey.
  (3) Population estimates are from the Nielsen Radio Market Survey Population, Rankings and Information, Fall 2017.
  (4) Richmond is the only market in which we operate using the diary methodology of audience measurement.  

 

 6 

 

 

Market   Market Rank Metro Population 2017   Format   Target Demo
Atlanta   8        
             
WAMJ/WUMJ       Urban AC   25-54
WHTA       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WPZE       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54
             
Baltimore   21        
             
WERQ       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WOLB       News/Talk   35-64
WWIN-FM       Urban AC   25-54
WWIN-AM       Gospel   35-64
             
Charlotte   24        
             
WPZS       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54
WOSF       Urban AC / Old School   25-54
WQNC       Urban Contemporary   18-34
             
Cincinnati   32        
             
WIZF       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WOSL       Urban AC / Old School   25-54
WDBZ       Urban AC / Old School   35-64
             
Cleveland   34        
             
WENZ       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WERE       News/Talk   35-64
WJMO       Contemporary Inspirational   35-64
WZAK       Urban AC   25-54
             
Columbus   36        
             
WCKX       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WXMG       Urban AC   25-54
WBMO       Urban Contemporary   25-54
WJYD       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54

 

 7 

 

 

Dallas   5        
             
KBFB       Urban Contemporary   18-34
KZJM       Urban Contemporary   25-54
             
Detroit   13        
             
WDMK       Urban AC   25-54
WGPR (1)       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WPZR       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54
             
Houston   6        
             
KBXX       Urban Contemporary   18-34
KMJQ       Urban AC   25-54
KROI       Pop/CHR   18-34
             
Indianapolis   39        
             
WTLC-FM       Urban AC   25-54
WHHH       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WNOW       Pop/CHR   18-34
WTLC-AM       Contemporary Inspirational   35-64
             
Philadelphia   9        
             
WPHI       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WPPZ       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54
WRNB       Urban AC   25-54
             
Raleigh   38        
             
WFXC/WFXK       Urban AC   25-54
WQOK       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WNNL       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54

 

 8 

 

 

Richmond (2)   53        
             
WKJS/WKJM       Urban AC   25-54
WCDX       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WPZZ       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54
WXGI-AM/WTPS-AM       Sports   25-54
             
St. Louis   23        
             
WHHL       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WFUN       Urban AC / Old School   25-54
             
Washington DC   7        
             
WKYS       Urban Contemporary   18-34
WMMJ/WDCJ       Urban AC   25-54
WPRS       Contemporary Inspirational   25-54
WOL-AM       News/Talk   35-64
WYCB-AM       Gospel   35-64

 

AC-refers to Adult Contemporary

 

CHR-refers to Contemporary Hit Radio

 

Pop-refers to Popular Music

 

Old School - refers to Old School Hip/Hop

 

(1) Station was operating under a TBA as of December 31, 2017. The TBA expires December 31, 2019.
(2) Richmond is the only market in which we operate using the diary methodology of audience measurement.
(3) WDNI-CD (formerly WDNI-LP), the low power television station that we acquired in Indianapolis in June 2000, is not included in this table.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 40.2% of our net revenue was generated from the sale of advertising in our core radio business, excluding Reach Media. Within our core radio business, four of the 15 markets in which we operate radio stations (Houston, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Baltimore) accounted for approximately 52.4% of our radio station net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Revenue from the operations of Reach Media, along with revenue from both the Houston and Washington, DC markets accounted for approximately 21.7% of our total consolidated net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Revenue from the operations of Reach Media, along with revenue from the four significant contributing radio markets, accounted for approximately 31.4% of our total consolidated net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Adverse events or conditions (economic, including government cutbacks or otherwise) could lead to declines in the contribution of Reach Media or declines in one or more of the four significant contributing radio markets, which could have a material adverse effect on our overall financial performance and results of operations.

 

Radio Advertising Revenue

 

Substantially all net revenue generated from our radio franchise is generated from the sale of local, national and network advertising. Local sales are made by the sales staff located in our markets. National sales are made primarily by Katz Communications, Inc. (“Katz”), a firm specializing in radio advertising sales on the national level. Katz is paid agency commissions on the advertising sold. Approximately 60.1% of our net revenue from our core radio business for the year ended December 31, 2017, was generated from the sale of local advertising and 35.9% from sales to national advertisers, including network/syndication advertising. The balance of net revenue from our radio segment is primarily derived from tower rental income, ticket sales, and revenue related to sponsored events, management fees and other revenue.

 

 9 

 

 

Advertising rates charged by radio stations are based primarily on:

 

·a radio station’s audience share within the demographic groups targeted by the advertisers;

 

·the number of radio stations in the market competing for the same demographic groups; and

 

·the supply and demand for radio advertising time.

 

A radio station’s listenership is measured by the Portable People MeterTM (the “PPMTM”) system or diary ratings surveys, both of which estimate the number of listeners tuned to a radio station and the time they spend listening to that radio station. Ratings are used by advertisers to evaluate whether to advertise on our radio stations, and are used by us to chart audience size, set advertising rates and adjust programming. Advertising rates are generally highest during the morning and afternoon commuting hours.

 

Cable Television, Reach Media and Digital Segments, Strategy and Sources of Revenue and Income

 

We have expanded our operations to include other media forms that are complementary to our core radio business.  In a strategy similar to our radio market segmentation, we have multiple complementary media and online brands.  Each of these brands focuses upon a different segment of African-American consumers.  With our multiple brands, we are able to direct advertisers to specific audiences within the urban communities in which we are located or to bundle the brands for advertising sales purposes when advantageous.

 

TV One, our cable television franchise targeting the African-American and urban communities, derives its revenue principally from advertising and affiliate revenue. Advertising revenue is derived from the sale of television air time to advertisers and is recognized when the advertisements are run. TV One also derives revenue from affiliate fees under the terms of various affiliation agreements based upon a per subscriber fee multiplied by the most recent subscriber counts reported by the applicable affiliate.

 

Reach Media, our syndicated radio unit, primarily derives its revenue from the sale of advertising in connection with its syndicated radio shows, including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell, the Russ Parr Morning Show, and the DL Hughley Show. Mr. Joyner is a leading nationally syndicated radio personality. As of December 31, 2017, the Tom Joyner Morning Show was broadcast on 83 affiliate stations across the United States and is a top-rated morning show in many of the markets in which it is broadcast.  In addition to being broadcast on Urban One stations, our syndicated radio programming also was available on over 274 non-Urban One stations throughout the United States as of December 31, 2017.

 

We have launched websites that simultaneously stream radio station content for each of our radio stations, and we derive revenue from the sale of advertisements on those websites. We generally encourage our web advertisers to run simultaneous radio campaigns and use mentions in our radio airtime to promote our websites. By providing streaming, we have been able to broaden our listener reach, particularly to “office hour” listeners. We believe streaming has had a positive impact on our radio stations’ reach to listeners.  In addition, our station websites link to our other online properties operated by Interactive One acting as traffic sources for these online brands. In April 2017, the Company acquired certain assets constituting the websites and brands Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire from Moguldom Media Group, LLC.  The brands, along with Cassius, a newly developed brand, have been integrated into our digital operations as part of Interactive One, which includes the largest social networking site by members primarily targeted at African-Americans. Interactive One derives revenue from advertising services on non-radio station branded websites, and studio services where Interactive One provides services to other publishers. Advertising services include the sale of banner and sponsorship advertisements.  Advertising revenue is recognized either as impressions (the number of times advertisements appear in viewed pages) are delivered, when “click through” purchases are made, or ratably over the contract period, where applicable. In addition, Interactive One derives revenue from its studio operations which provide third-party clients with digital platforms and expertise.  In the case of the studio operations, revenue is recognized primarily through fixed contractual monthly fees and/or as a share of the third party’s reported revenue.

 

Finally, our MGM National Harbor investment entitles us to an annual cash distribution based on net gaming revenue. Future opportunities could include investments in, or acquisitions of, companies in diverse media businesses, gaming and entertainment, music production and distribution, movie distribution, internet-based services, and distribution of our content through emerging distribution systems such as the Internet, smartphones, cellular phones, tablets, and the home entertainment market.

 

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Competition

 

The media industry is highly competitive and we face intense competition across our core radio franchise and all of our complementary media properties. Our media properties compete for audiences and advertising revenue with other radio stations and with other media such as broadcast and cable television, the Internet, satellite radio, newspapers, magazines, direct mail and outdoor advertising, some of which may be controlled by horizontally-integrated companies. Audience ratings and advertising revenue are subject to change and any adverse change in a market could adversely affect our net revenue in that market. If a competing station converts to a format similar to that of one of our stations, or if one of our competitors strengthens its signal or operations, our stations could suffer a reduction in ratings and advertising revenue. Other media companies which are larger and have more resources may also enter or increase their presence in markets or segments in which we operate. Although we believe our media properties are well positioned to compete, we cannot assure that our properties will maintain or increase their current ratings, market share or advertising revenue.

 

The radio broadcasting industry is subject to rapid technological change, evolving industry standards and the emergence of new media technologies, which may impact our business. We cannot guarantee that we will have the resources to acquire new technologies or to introduce new services that could compete with these new technologies. Several new media technologies are being, or have been, developed including the following:

 

·satellite delivered digital audio radio service with expansive choice, high sound quality, and availability on portable devices and in automobiles;

 

·audio programming by Internet companies, cable television systems, and direct broadcast satellite systems; and

 

·digital audio and video content available for listening and/or viewing on the Internet and/or available for downloading to portable devices.

 

Along with most other public radio companies, we have invested in iBiquity, a developer of digital audio broadcast technology. In connection with the investment, we committed to convert most of our analog broadcast radio stations to in-band, on-channel digital radio broadcasts, which could provide multi-channel, multi-format digital radio services in the same bandwidth currently occupied by traditional AM and FM radio services. However, we cannot assure that these arrangements will be successful or enable us to adapt effectively to these new media technologies.

 

Our digital segment competes for the time and attention of internet users and, thus, advertisers and advertising revenues with a wide range of internet companies such as AmazonTM, NetflixTM, Yahoo!TM, GoogleTM, and MicrosoftTM, with social networking sites such as FacebookTM and with traditional media companies, which are increasingly offering their own digital products and services both organically and through acquisition. The digital space is dynamic and rapidly evolving, and new and popular competitors, such as social networking sites, frequently emerge and/or are fragmented by new and evolving technologies.

 

Federal Antitrust Laws

 

The agencies responsible for enforcing the federal antitrust laws, the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice, may investigate certain acquisitions. We cannot predict the outcome of any specific FTC or Department of Justice investigation. Any decision by the FTC or the Department of Justice to challenge a proposed acquisition could affect our ability to consummate the acquisition or to consummate it on the proposed terms. For an acquisition meeting certain size thresholds, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 requires the parties to file Notification and Report Forms concerning antitrust issues with the FTC and the Department of Justice and to observe specified waiting period requirements before consummating the acquisition.

 

Federal Regulation of Radio Broadcasting

 

The radio broadcasting industry is subject to extensive and changing regulation by the FCC and other federal agencies of ownership, programming, technical operations, employment and other business practices. The FCC regulates radio broadcast stations pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”). The Communications Act permits the operation of radio broadcast stations only in accordance with a license issued by the FCC upon a finding that the grant of a license would serve the public interest, convenience and necessity. Among other things, the FCC:

 

·assigns frequency bands for radio broadcasting;

 

·determines the particular frequencies, locations, operating power, interference standards, and other technical parameters for radio broadcast stations;

 

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·issues, renews, revokes and modifies radio broadcast station licenses;

 

·imposes annual regulatory fees and application processing fees to recover its administrative costs;

 

·establishes technical requirements for certain transmitting equipment to restrict harmful emissions;

 

·adopts and implements regulations and policies that affect the ownership, operation, program content, employment, and business practices of radio broadcast stations; and

 

·has the power to impose penalties, including monetary forfeitures, for violations of its rules and the Communications Act.

  

The Communications Act prohibits the assignment of an FCC license, or the transfer of control of an FCC licensee, without the prior approval of the FCC. In determining whether to grant or renew a radio broadcast license or consent to assignment or transfer of a license, the FCC considers a number of factors, including restrictions on foreign ownership, compliance with FCC media ownership limits and other FCC rules, the character and other qualifications of the licensee (or proposed licensee) and compliance with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. A licensee’s failure to comply with the requirements of the Communications Act or FCC rules and policies may result in the imposition of sanctions, including admonishment, fines, the grant of a license renewal for less than a full eight-year term or with conditions, denial of a license renewal application, the revocation of an FCC license, and/or the denial of FCC consent to acquire additional broadcast properties.

 

Congress, the FCC and, in some cases, other federal agencies and local jurisdictions, are considering or may in the future consider and adopt new laws, regulations and policies that could affect the operation, ownership and profitability of our radio stations, result in the loss of audience share and advertising revenue for our radio broadcast stations or affect our ability to acquire additional radio broadcast stations or finance such acquisitions. Such matters include or may include:

 

·changes to the license authorization and renewal process;

 

·proposals to increase record keeping, including enhanced disclosure of stations’ efforts to serve the public interest;

 

·proposals to impose spectrum use or other fees on FCC licensees;

 

·changes to rules relating to political broadcasting, including proposals to grant free air time to candidates, and other changes regarding political and non-political program content, political advertising rates and sponsorship disclosures;

 

·proposals to restrict or prohibit the advertising of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages;

 

·revised rules and policies regarding the regulation of the broadcast of indecent content;

 

·proposals to increase the actions stations must take to demonstrate service to their local communities;

 

·technical and frequency allocation matters;

 

·changes in broadcast multiple ownership, foreign ownership, cross-ownership and ownership attribution policies;

 

·changes to allow satellite radio operators to insert local content into their programming service;

 

·service and technical rules for digital radio, including possible additional public interest requirements for terrestrial digital audio broadcasters;

 

·legislation that would provide for the payment of sound recording royalties to artists, musicians or record companies whose music is played on terrestrial radio stations; and

 

·changes to tax laws affecting broadcast operations and acquisitions.

 

The FCC also has adopted procedures for the auction of broadcast spectrum in circumstances where two or more parties have filed mutually exclusive applications for authority to construct new stations or certain major changes in existing stations. Such procedures may limit our efforts to modify or expand the broadcast signals of our stations.

 

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We cannot predict what changes, if any, might be adopted or considered in the future, or what impact, if any, the implementation of any particular proposals or changes might have on our business.

 

FCC License Grants and Renewals.  In making licensing determinations, the FCC considers an applicant’s legal, technical, financial and other qualifications. The FCC grants radio broadcast station licenses for specific periods of time and, upon application, may renew them for additional terms. A station may continue to operate beyond the expiration date of its license if a timely filed license renewal application is pending. Under the Communications Act, radio broadcast station licenses may be granted for a maximum term of eight years.

 

Generally, the FCC renews radio broadcast licenses without a hearing upon a finding that:

 

·the radio station has served the public interest, convenience and necessity;

 

·there have been no serious violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or FCC rules and regulations; and

 

·there have been no other violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or FCC rules and regulations which, taken together, indicate a pattern of abuse.

 

After considering these factors and any petitions to deny a license renewal application (which may lead to a hearing), the FCC may grant the license renewal application with or without conditions, including renewal for a term less than the maximum otherwise permitted. Historically, our licenses have been renewed for full eight-year terms without any conditions or sanctions imposed; however, there can be no assurance that the licenses of each of our stations will be renewed for a full term without conditions or sanctions.

 

Types of FCC Broadcast Licenses. The FCC classifies each AM and FM radio station. An AM radio station operates on either a clear channel, regional channel or local channel. A clear channel serves wide areas, particularly at night. A regional channel serves primarily a principal population center and the contiguous rural areas. A local channel serves primarily a community and the suburban and rural areas immediately contiguous to it. Class A, B and C radio stations each operate unlimited time. Class A radio stations render primary and secondary service over an extended area. Class B radio stations render service only over a primary service area. Class C radio stations render service only over a primary service area that may be reduced as a consequence of interference. Class D radio stations operate either during daytime hours only, during limited times only, or unlimited time with low nighttime power.

 

FM class designations depend upon the geographic zone in which the transmitter of the FM radio station is located. The minimum and maximum facilities requirements for an FM radio station are determined by its class. In general, commercial FM radio stations are classified as follows, in order of increasing power and antenna height: Class A, B1, C3, B, C2, C1, C0 and C. The FCC has adopted a rule subjecting Class C FM stations that do not satisfy a certain antenna height requirement to an involuntary downgrade in class to Class C0 under certain circumstances.

   

Urban One’s Licenses. The following table sets forth information with respect to each of our radio stations for which we hold the license as of December 31, 2017. Stations which we do not own as of December 31, 2017, but operate under an LMA, are not reflected on this table. A broadcast station’s market may be different from its community of license. The coverage of an AM radio station is chiefly a function of the power of the radio station’s transmitter, less dissipative power losses and any directional antenna adjustments. For FM radio stations, signal coverage area is chiefly a function of the ERP of the radio station’s antenna and the HAAT of the radio station’s antenna. “ERP” refers to the effective radiated power of an FM radio station. “HAAT” refers to the antenna height above average terrain of an FM radio station.

 

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Market   Station Call Letters   Year of
Acquisition
  FCC
Class
  ERP (FM)
Power
(AM) in
Kilowatts
  Antenna
Height
(AM)
HAAT in
Meters
  Operating
Frequency
  Expiration
Date of FCC
License
Atlanta   WUMJ-FM   1999   C3   8.5   165.0   97.5 MHz   4/1/2020
    WAMJ-FM   1999   C2   33.0   185.0   107.5 MHz   4/1/2020
    WHTA-FM   2002   C2   35.0   177.0   107.9 MHz   4/1/2020
    WPZE-FM   1999   A   3.0   143.0   102.5 MHz   4/1/2020
                             
Washington, DC   WOL-AM   1980   C   0.37   N/A   1450 kHz   10/1/2019
    WMMJ-FM   1987   A   2.9   146.0   102.3 MHz   10/1/2019
    WKYS-FM   1995   B   24.5   215.0   93.9 MHz   10/1/2019
    WPRS-FM   2008   B   20.0   244.0   104.1 MHz   10/1/2019
    WYCB-AM   1998   C   1.0   N/A   1340 kHz   10/1/2019
    WDCJ-FM   2017   A   2.85   145.0   92.7 MHz   10/1/2019
                             
Philadelphia   WPPZ-FM   1997   A   0.27   338.0   103.9 MHz   8/1/2022
    WRNB-FM   2000   B   17.0   263.0   100.3 MHz   8/1/2022
    WPHI-FM   2004   A   0.78   276.0   107.9 MHz   6/1/2022
                             
Houston   KMJQ-FM   2000   C   100.0   524.0   102.1 MHz   8/1/2021
    KBXX-FM   2000   C   95.0   585.0   97.9 MHz   8/1/2021
    KROI-FM   2004   C1   21.36   526   92.1 MHz   8/1/2021
                             
Detroit   WDMK-FM   1998   B   20.0   221.0   105.9 MHz   10/1/2020
    WPZR-FM   1998   B   50.0   152.0   102.7 MHz   10/1/2020
                             
Dallas   KBFB-FM   2000   C   99.0   574   97.9 MHz   8/1/2021
    KZMJ-FM   2001   C   100.0   591.0   94.5 MHz   8/1/2021
                             
Baltimore   WWIN-AM   1992   C   0.5   N/A   1400 kHz   10/1/2019
    WWIN-FM   1992   A   3.0   91.0   95.9 MHz   10/1/2019
    WOLB-AM   1993   D   0.25   N/A   1010 kHz   10/1/2019
    WERQ-FM   1993   B   37.0   173.0   92.3 MHz   10/1/2019
                             
Charlotte   WQNC-FM   2000   C3   10.5   154.0   92.7 MHz   12/1/2019
    WPZS-FM   2004   A   6.0   94.0   100.9 MHz   12/1/2019
    WOSF-FM   2014   C1   51.0   395.0   105.3 MHz   12/1/2019
                             
St. Louis   WFUN-FM   1999   C3   10.5   155.0   95.5 MHz   12/1/2020
    WHHL-FM   2006   C2   50.0   140.0   104.1 MHz   2/1/2021
                             
Cleveland   WJMO-AM   1999   B   5.0   N/A   1300 kHz   10/1/2020
    WENZ-FM   1999   B   16.0   272.0   107.9 MHz   10/1/2020
    WZAK-FM   2000   B   27.5   189.0   93.1 MHz   10/1/2020
    WERE-AM   2000   C   1.0   N/A   1490 kHz   10/1/2020
                             
Raleigh-Durham   WQOK-FM   2000   C2   50.0   146.0   97.5 MHz   12/1/2019
    WFXK-FM   2000   C1   100.0   299.0   104.3 MHz   12/1/2019
    WFXC-FM   2000   C3   8.0   146.0   107.1 MHz   12/1/2019
    WNNL-FM   2000   C3   7.9   176.0   103.9 MHz   12/1/2019
                             
Richmond   WPZZ-FM   1999   C1   100.0   299.0   104.7 MHz   10/1/2019
    WCDX-FM   2001   B1   4.5   235.0   92.1 MHz   10/1/2019
    WKJM-FM   2001   A   6.0   100.0   99.3 MHz   10/1/2019
    WKJS-FM   2001   A   2.3   162.0   105.7 MHz   10/1/2019
    WTPS-AM   2001   C   1.0   N/A   1240 kHz   10/1/2019
    WXGI-AM   2017   D   3.9   N/A   950 kHz   10/1/2019
                             
Columbus   WCKX-FM   2001   A   1.9   126.0   107.5 MHz   10/1/2020
    WBMO-FM   2001   A   6.0   99.0   106.3 MHz   10/1/2020
    WXMG-FM   2016   B   21.0   232.0   95.5 MHz   10/1/2020
    WJYD-FM   2016   A   6.0   100.0   107.1 MHz   10/1/2020

 

Indianapolis   WHHH-FM   2000   A   3.3   87.0   96.3 MHz   8/1/2020
    WTLC-FM   2000   A   6.0   99.0   106.7 MHz   8/1/2020
    WNOW-FM   2000   A   6.0   100.0   100.9 MHz   8/1/2020
    WTLC-AM   2001   B   5.0   N/A   1310 kHz   8/1/2020
                             
Cincinnati   WIZF-FM   2001   A   2.5   155.0   101.1 MHz   8/1/2020
    WDBZ-AM   2007   C   1.0   N/A   1230 kHz   10/1/2020
    WOSL-FM   2006   A   3.1   141.0   100.3 MHz   10/1/2020

 

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To obtain the FCC’s prior consent to assign or transfer control of a broadcast license, an appropriate application must be filed with the FCC. If the assignment or transfer involves a substantial change in ownership or control of the licensee, for example, the transfer or acquisition of more than 50% of the voting stock, the applicant must give public notice and the application is subject to a 30-day period for public comment. During this time, interested parties may file petitions with the FCC to deny the application. Informal objections may be filed at any time until the FCC acts upon the application. If the FCC grants an assignment or transfer application, administrative procedures provide for petitions seeking reconsideration or full FCC review of the grant.  The Communications Act also permits the appeal of a contested grant to a federal court.

 

Under the Communications Act, a broadcast license may not be granted to or held by any persons who are not U.S. citizens or by any entity that has more than 20% of its capital stock owned or voted by non-U.S. citizens or entities or their representatives, by foreign governments or their representatives, or by non-U.S. entities. The Communications Act prohibits more than 25% indirect foreign ownership or control through a parent company of the licensee if the FCC determines the public interest will be served by such prohibition.  The FCC has interpreted this provision of the Communications Act to require an affirmative public interest finding before this 25% limit may be exceeded, and the FCC has made such an affirmative finding only in limited circumstances. Since we serve as a holding company for subsidiaries that serve as licensees for our stations, we are effectively restricted from having more than one-fourth of our stock owned or voted directly or indirectly by non-U.S. citizens or their representatives, foreign governments, representatives of foreign governments, or foreign business entities. The FCC has clarified that it will entertain and authorize, on a case-by-case basis and upon a sufficient public interest showing, proposals to exceed the 25% indirect foreign ownership limit in broadcast licensees. In September 2016, the FCC adopted rules to simplify and streamline the process for requesting authority to exceed the 25% indirect foreign ownership limit and reformed the methodology that publicly traded broadcasters may use to assess their compliance with the foreign ownership restrictions.

 

The FCC applies its media ownership limits to “attributable” interests. The interests of officers, directors and those who directly or indirectly hold five percent or more of the total outstanding voting stock of a corporation that holds a broadcast license (or a corporate parent) are generally deemed attributable interests, as are any limited partnership or limited liability company interests that are not properly “insulated” from management activities. Certain passive investors that hold stock for investment purposes only may hold attributable interests with the ownership of 20% or more of the voting stock of a licensee or parent corporation. An entity with one or more radio stations in a market that enters into a local marketing agreement or a time brokerage agreement with another radio station in the same market obtains an attributable interest in the brokered radio station if the brokering station supplies more than 15% of the brokered radio station’s weekly broadcast hours. Similarly, a radio station licensee’s right under a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) to sell more than 15% per week of the advertising time on another radio station in the same market constitutes an attributable ownership interest in such station for purposes of the FCC’s ownership rules. Debt instruments, non-voting stock, unexercised options and warrants, minority voting interests in corporations having a single majority shareholder, and limited partnership or limited liability company membership interests where the interest holder is not “materially involved” in the media-related activities of the partnership or limited liability company pursuant to FCC-prescribed “insulation” provisions, generally do not subject their holders to attribution unless such interests implicate the FCC’s equity-debt-plus (or “EDP”) rule. Under the EDP rule, a major programming supplier or the holder of an attributable interest in a same-market radio station will have an attributable interest in a station if the supplier or same-market media entity also holds debt or equity, or both, in the station that is greater than 33% of the value of the station’s total debt plus equity.  For purposes of the EDP rule, equity includes all stock, whether voting or nonvoting, and interests held by limited partners or limited liability company members that are “insulated” from material involvement in the company’s media activities. A major programming supplier is any supplier that provides more than 15% of the station’s weekly programming hours.

 

The Communications Act and FCC rules generally restrict ownership, operation or control of, or the common holding of attributable interests in radio broadcast stations above numerical limits serving the same local market.  FCC rules have also historically limited or prohibited ownership, operation or control of, or the common holding of attributable interests in, (1) radio broadcast stations combined with television broadcast stations above certain numerical limits serving the same local market (radio/television cross-ownership), and (2) a radio broadcast station and an English-language daily newspaper serving the same market (newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership).

  

The numerical limits on radio stations that one entity may own in a local market are as follows:

 

  · in a radio market with 45 or more commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to eight commercial radio stations, not more than five of which are in the same service (AM or FM);
  · in a radio market with 30 to 44 commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to seven commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service (AM or FM);
  · in a radio market with 15 to 29 commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to six commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service (AM or FM); and
  · in a radio market with 14 or fewer commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to five commercial radio stations, not more than three of which are in the same service (AM or FM), except that a party may not hold an attributable interest in more than 50% of the radio stations in such market.

 

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To apply these tiers, the FCC currently relies on Nielsen Metro Survey Areas, where they exist. In other areas, the FCC relies on a contour-overlap methodology. The FCC has initiated a rulemaking to determine how to define local radio markets in areas located outside Nielsen Metro Survey Areas. The market definition used by the FCC in applying its ownership rules may not be the same as that used for purposes of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.  In 2003, when the FCC changed its methodology for defining local radio markets, it grandfathered existing combinations of radio stations that would not comply with the modified rules.  These grandfathered combinations may not be sold intact except to certain “eligible entities,” which the FCC defines as entities qualifying as a small business consistent with Small Business Administration standards.

 

The media ownership rules are subject to periodic review by the FCC.  In August 2016, the FCC issued an order concluding its most recent review of its media ownership rules. The August 2016 decision retained the local radio ownership rules, the radio-television cross-ownership rule and the prohibition on newspaper-radio cross-ownership without significant changes. In November 2017, however, the FCC adopted an order reconsidering the August 2016 decision and modifying it in a number of respects.  The November 2017 order on reconsideration did not significantly modify the August 2016 decision with respect to the local radio ownership limits.  It did, however, eliminate the FCC’s previous limits on radio/television cross-ownership and newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership effective February 7, 2018.  The FCC’s November 2017 order on reconsideration is subject to a pending court appeal.

 

The attribution and media ownership rules limit the number of radio stations we may acquire or own in any particular market and may limit the prospective buyers of any stations we want to sell. The FCC’s rules could affect our business in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

  · enforcement of a more narrow market definition based upon Nielsen markets could have an adverse effect on our ability to accumulate stations in a given area or to sell a group of stations in a local market to a single entity;
  · restricting the assignment and transfer of control of radio combinations that exceed the ownership limits as a result of the revised local market definitions could adversely affect our ability to buy or sell a group of stations in a local market from or to a single entity; and
  · in general terms, future changes in the way the FCC defines radio markets or in the numerical station caps could limit our ability to acquire new stations in certain markets, our ability to operate stations pursuant to certain agreements, and our ability to improve the coverage contours of our existing stations.

 

Programming and Operations. The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the “public interest” by presenting programming that responds to community problems, needs and interests and by maintaining records demonstrating its responsiveness. The FCC considers complaints from viewers or listeners about a broadcast station’s programming. In January 2016, the FCC adopted rules requiring that radio stations post and maintain their public inspection files online.  Effective March 1, 2018, all radio stations are required to maintain their public inspection files on a publicly accessible FCC-hosted online database.  Moreover, the FCC has proposed rules designed to increase local programming content and diversity, including renewal application processing guidelines for locally-oriented programming and a requirement that broadcasters establish advisory boards in the communities where they own stations.  While the rules aren’t final, the Company will monitor the progress to determine the impact to the Company, if any. Stations also must follow FCC rules and policies regulating political advertising, obscene or indecent programming, sponsorship identification, contests and lotteries and technical operation, including limits on human exposure to radio frequency radiation.

 

The FCC’s rules prohibit a broadcast licensee, in certain circumstances, from simulcasting more than 25% of its programming on another radio station in the same broadcast service (that is, AM/AM or FM/FM). The simulcasting restriction applies if the licensee owns both radio broadcast stations or owns one and programs the other through a local marketing agreement, and only if the contours of the radio stations overlap in a certain manner.

 

The FCC requires that licensees not discriminate in hiring practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or gender.  It also requires stations with at least five full-time employees to broadly disseminate information about all full-time job openings and undertake outreach initiatives from an FCC list of activities such as participation in job fairs, internships, or scholarship programs. The FCC is considering whether to apply these recruitment requirements to part-time employment positions.  Stations must retain records of their outreach efforts and keep an annual Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) report in their public inspection files and post an electronic version on their websites. Radio stations with more than 10 full-time employees must file certain EEO reports with the FCC midway through their license term.

 

From time to time, complaints may be filed against any of our radio stations alleging violations of these or other rules. In addition, the FCC may conduct audits or inspections to ensure and verify licensee compliance with FCC rules and regulations. Failure to observe these or other rules and regulations can result in the imposition of various sanctions, including fines or conditions, the grant of “short” (less than the maximum eight year) renewal terms or, for particularly egregious violations, the denial of a license renewal application or the revocation of a license.

 

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Employees

 

As of December 31, 2017, we employed 1,058 full-time employees and 408 part-time employees. Our employees are not unionized. 

 

Environmental

 

As the owner, lessee or operator of various real properties and facilities, we are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Historically, compliance with these laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our business. There can be no assurance, however, that compliance with existing or new environmental laws and regulations will not require us to make significant expenditures in the future.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Code of Ethics. We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers (including our principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) and employees and meets the requirements of the SEC and the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules. Our code of ethics can be found on our website, www.urban1.com. We will provide a paper copy of the code of ethics, free of charge, upon request.

 

Audit Committee Charter. Our audit committee has adopted a charter as required by the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules. This committee charter can be found on our website, www.urban1.com. We will provide a paper copy of the audit committee charter, free of charge, upon request.

 

Compensation Committee Charter. Our Board of Directors has adopted a compensation committee charter. We will provide a paper copy of the compensation committee charter, free of charge, upon request.

 

Internet Address and Internet Access to SEC Reports

 

Our internet address is www.urban1.com. You may obtain through our internet website, free of charge, copies of our proxies, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this Form 10-K.

 

You may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, www.sec.gov.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

In an enterprise as large and complex as ours, a wide range of factors could affect our business and financial results. The factors described below are considered to be the most significant, but are not listed in any particular order. There may be other currently unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. The following discussion of risk factors should be read in conjunction with “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K.

 

Risks Related to the Nature and Operations of Our Business

 

The state and condition of the global financial markets and fluctuations in the global and U.S. economies may have an unpredictable impact on our business and financial condition.

 

From time to time, the global equity and credit markets experience high levels of volatility and disruption. At various points in time, the markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices and limited credit capacity for certain companies without regard to those companies’ underlying financial strength. In addition, sluggishness in the global and U.S. economies has produced concern over public and private debt levels, high unemployment/underemployment, a drop in consumer confidence and spending, and continued slowness in the U.S. housing market. These factors have impacted corporate profits and resulted in cutbacks in advertising budgets. In periods of economic or market disruption or volatility, we may experience material, adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and our ability to access capital. For example, market volatility or weakness in employment or consumer spending could continue to adversely impact the overall demand for advertising. Such a result could have a negative effect on our revenues and results of operations. In addition, our ability to access the capital markets may be severely restricted at a time when we would like, or need, to do so, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions. Finally, any rise in interest rates could significantly impact our cash flows and costs of operations given our levels of debt.

 

Any deterioration in the economy could negatively impact our ability to meet our cash needs and our ability to maintain compliance with our debt covenants.

 

If economic conditions change, or other adverse factors outside our control arise, our operations could be negatively impacted, which could prevent us from maintaining compliance with our debt covenants. If it appears that we could not meet our liquidity needs or that noncompliance with debt covenants is likely, we would implement remedial measures, which could include, but not be limited to, operating cost and capital expenditure reductions and deferrals. In addition, we could implement de-leveraging actions, which may include, but not be limited to, other debt repayments, subject to our available liquidity and contractual ability to make such repayments and/or debt refinancings and amendments.

 

Prior to 2016, we have historically incurred net losses which could continue into the future.

 

We have historically reported net losses in our consolidated statements of operations, due mostly in part to recording non-cash impairment charges for write-downs to radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill, interest expenses (both cash and non-cash), and revenue declines caused by weakened advertising demand resulting from the current economic environment. These results have had a negative impact on our financial condition and could be exacerbated in a poor economic climate. If these trends continue in the future, they could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

 

Our revenue is substantially dependent on spending and allocation decisions by advertisers, and seasonality and/or weakening economic conditions may have an impact upon our business.

 

Substantially all of our revenue is derived from sales of advertisements and program sponsorships to local and national advertisers. Any reduction in advertising expenditures or changes in advertisers’ spending priorities and/or allocations across different types of media/platforms or programming could have an adverse effect on the Company’s revenues and results of operations. We do not obtain long-term commitments from our advertisers and advertisers may cancel, reduce, or postpone advertisements without penalty, which could adversely affect our revenue. Seasonal net revenue fluctuations are common in the media industries and are due primarily to fluctuations in advertising expenditures by local and national advertisers. In addition, advertising revenues in even-numbered years tend to benefit from advertising placed by candidates for political offices. The effects of such seasonality (including the weather), combined with the severe structural changes that have occurred in the U.S. economy, make it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the previous results of any specific quarter and may adversely affect operating results.

 

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Advertising expenditures also tend to be cyclical and reflect general economic conditions, both nationally and locally. Because we derive a substantial portion of our revenues from the sale of advertising, a decline or delay in advertising expenditures could reduce our revenues or hinder our ability to increase these revenues. Advertising expenditures by companies in certain sectors of the economy, including the automotive, financial, entertainment, and retail industries, represent a significant portion of our advertising revenues. Structural changes (such as reduced footprints in retail and the movement of retailers online) and business failures in these industries have affected our revenues and continued structural changes or business failures in any of these industries could have significant further impact on our revenues. Any political, economic, social, or technological change resulting in a significant reduction in the advertising spending of these sectors could adversely affect our advertising revenues or our ability to increase such revenues. In addition, because many of the products and services offered by our advertisers are largely discretionary items, weakening economic conditions or changes in consumer spending patterns could reduce the consumption of such products and services and, thus, reduce advertising for such products and services. Changes in advertisers’ spending priorities during economic cycles may also affect our results. Disasters (domestic or external to the United States), acts of terrorism, political uncertainty or hostilities could also lead to a reduction in advertising expenditures as a result of supply or demand issues, uninterrupted news coverage and economic uncertainty.

  

Our success is dependent upon audience acceptance of our content, particularly our television and radio programs, which is difficult to predict.

 

Radio, video, and digital content production and distribution are inherently risky businesses because the revenues derived from the production and distribution of media content or a radio program, and the licensing of rights to the intellectual property associated with the content or program, depend primarily upon their acceptance and perceptions by the public, which can change quickly and are difficult to predict. The commercial success of content or a program also depends upon the quality and acceptance of other competing programs released into the marketplace at or near the same time, the availability of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure time activities, general economic conditions, and other tangible and intangible factors, all of which are difficult to predict. Our failure to obtain or retain rights to popular content on any part of our multi-media platform could adversely affect our revenues.

 

Ratings for broadcast stations and traffic on a particular website are also factors that are weighed when advertisers determine which outlets to use and in determining the advertising rates that the outlet receives. Poor ratings or traffic levels can lead to a reduction in pricing and advertising revenues. For example, if there is an event causing a change of programming at one of our stations, there could be no assurance that any replacement programming would generate the same level of ratings, revenues, or profitability as the previous programming. In addition, changes in ratings methodology and technology could adversely impact our ratings and negatively affect our advertising revenues.

 

Television content production is inherently a risky business because the revenues derived from the production and distribution of a television program and the licensing of rights to the associated intellectual property depends primarily upon the public’s level of acceptance, which is difficult to predict. The commercial success of a television program also depends upon the quality and acceptance of other competing programs in the marketplace at or near the same time, the availability of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure time activities, general economic conditions, and other tangible and intangible factors, all of which are difficult to predict. Rating points are also factors that are weighed when determining the advertising rates that TV One receives. Poor ratings can lead to a reduction in pricing and advertising revenues. Consequently, low public acceptance of TV One’s content may have an adverse effect on TV One’s results of operations. Further, other competitive networks, such as the networks launched by Oprah Winfrey (OWNTM), Sean Combs (REVOLT TVTM), and Magic Johnson (ASPIRETM), could take away from our audience share and ratings and thus have an adverse effect on TV One’s results of operations.

 

Finally, the costs of developing and distributing content and programming most popular with the public may change significantly if new performance royalties (such as those that have been proposed by members of Congress from time to time) are imposed upon radio broadcasters or internet operators and such changes could have a material impact upon our business. In this regard, a new performing rights organization, Global Music Rights (“GMR”), has been formed, but the scope of its repertory is not clear and it is not clear that it licenses compositions that have not already been licensed by the other performing rights organizations. If a significant number of musical composition copyright owners withdraw from the established performing rights organizations, or if new performing rights organizations form to license compositions that are not already licensed, our royalty rates or negotiation costs could increase.

 

A disproportionate share of our radio segment revenue comes from a small number of geographic markets and from Reach Media.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 40.2% of our net revenue was generated from the sale of advertising in our core radio business, excluding Reach Media. Within our core radio business, four of the 15 markets in which we operate radio stations (Houston, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Baltimore) accounted for approximately 52.4% of our radio station net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Revenue from the operations of Reach Media, along with revenue from both the Houston and Washington, DC markets accounted for approximately 21.7% of our total consolidated net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Revenue from the operations of Reach Media, along with revenue from our significant contributing markets, accounted for approximately 31.4% of our total consolidated net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. Adverse events or conditions (economic, including government cutbacks or otherwise) could lead to declines in the contribution of Reach Media or declines in one or more of the significant contributing markets, which could have a material adverse effect on our overall financial performance and results of operations.

 

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We may lose audience share and advertising revenue to our competitors.

 

Our media properties compete for audiences and advertising revenue with other radio stations and station groups and other media such as broadcast television, newspapers, magazines, cable television, satellite television, satellite radio, outdoor advertising, “over the top providers” on the internet and direct mail. Adverse changes in audience ratings, internet traffic, and market shares could have a material adverse effect on our revenue. Larger media companies, with more financial resources than we have may target our core audiences or enter the segments or markets in which we operate, causing competitive pressure. Further, other media and broadcast companies may change their programming format or engage in aggressive promotional campaigns to compete directly with our media properties for our core audiences and advertisers. Competition for our core audiences or in any of our segments or markets could result in lower ratings or traffic and, hence, lower advertising revenue for us, or cause us to increase promotion and other expenses and, consequently, lower our earnings and cash flow. Changes in population, demographics, audience tastes and other factors beyond our control, could also cause changes in audience ratings or market share. Failure by us to respond successfully to these changes could have an adverse effect on our business and financial performance. We cannot assure that we will be able to maintain or increase our current audience ratings and advertising revenue.

  

We must respond to the rapid changes in technology, content offerings, services, and standards across our entire platform in order to remain competitive.

 

Technological standards across our media properties are evolving and new distribution technologies/platforms are emerging at a rapid pace. We cannot assure that we will have the resources to acquire new technologies or to introduce new features, content or services to compete with these new technologies. New media has resulted in fragmentation in the advertising market, and we cannot predict the effect, if any, that additional competition arising from new technologies or content offerings may have across any of our business segments or our financial condition and results of operations, which may be adversely affected if we are not able to adapt successfully to these new media technologies or distribution platforms. The continuing growth and evolution of channels and platforms has increased our challenges in differentiating ourselves from other media platforms. We continually seek to develop and enhance our content offerings and distribution platforms/methodologies. Failure to effectively execute in these efforts, actions by our competitors, or other failures to deliver content effectively could hurt our ability to differentiate ourselves from our competitors and, as a result, have adverse effects across our business.

 

The loss of key personnel, including certain on-air talent, could disrupt the management and operations of our business.

 

Our business depends upon the continued efforts, abilities and expertise of our executive officers and other key employees, including certain on-air personalities. We believe that the combination of skills and experience possessed by our executive officers and other key employees could be difficult to replace, and that the loss of one or more of them could have a material adverse effect on us, including the impairment of our ability to execute our business strategy. In addition, several of our on-air personalities and syndicated radio programs hosts have large loyal audiences in their respective broadcast areas and may be significantly responsible for the ratings of a station. The loss of such on-air personalities or any change in their popularity could impact the ability of the station to sell advertising and our ability to derive revenue from syndicating programs hosted by them. We cannot be assured that these individuals will remain with us or will retain their current audiences or ratings.

  

If our digital segment does not continue to develop and offer compelling and differentiated content, products and services, our advertising revenues could be adversely affected.

 

In order to attract consumers and generate increased activity on our digital properties, we believe that we must offer compelling and differentiated content, products and services. However, acquiring, developing, and offering such content, products and services may require significant costs and time to develop, while consumer tastes may be difficult to predict and are subject to rapid change. If we are unable to provide content, products and services that are sufficiently attractive to our digital users, we may not be able to generate the increases in activity necessary to generate increased advertising revenues. In addition, although we have access to certain content provided by our other businesses, we may be required to make substantial payments to license such content. Many of our content arrangements with third parties are non-exclusive, so competitors may be able to offer similar or identical content. If we are not able to acquire or develop compelling content and do so at reasonable prices, or if other companies offer content that is similar to that provided by our digital segment, we may not be able to attract and increase the engagement of digital consumers on our digital properties.

 

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Continued growth in our digital business also depends on our ability to continue offering a competitive and distinctive range of advertising products and services for advertisers and publishers and our ability to maintain or increase prices for our advertising products and services. Continuing to develop and improve these products and services may require significant time and costs. If we cannot continue to develop and improve our advertising products and services or if prices for our advertising products and services decrease, our digital advertising revenues could be adversely affected.

 

More individuals are using devices other than personal and laptop computers to access and use the internet, and, if we cannot make our products and services available and attractive to consumers via these alternative devices, our internet advertising revenues could be adversely affected.

 

Digital users are increasingly accessing and using the internet through mobile tablets and smartphones. In order for consumers to access and use our products and services via these devices, we must ensure that our products and services are technologically compatible with such devices. If we cannot effectively make our products and services available on these devices, fewer internet consumers may access and use our products and services and our advertising revenue may be negatively affected.

 

Unrelated third parties may claim that we infringe on their rights based on the nature and content of information posted on websites we maintain.

 

We host internet services that enable individuals to exchange information, generate content, comment on our content, and engage in various online activities. The law relating to the liability of providers of these online services for activities of their users is currently unsettled both within the United States and internationally. While we monitor postings to such websites, claims may be brought against us for defamation, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, unlawful activity, tort, including personal injury, fraud, or other theories based on the nature and content of information that may be posted online or generated by our users. Our defense of such actions could be costly and involve significant time and attention of our management and other resources.

  

If we are unable to protect our domain names, our reputation and brands could be adversely affected.

 

We currently hold various domain name registrations relating to our brands, including urban1.com, radio-one.com and interactiveone.com. The registration and maintenance of domain names are generally regulated by governmental agencies and their designees. Governing bodies may establish additional top-level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars, or modify the requirements for holding domain names. As a result, we may be unable to register or maintain relevant domain names. We may be unable, without significant cost or at all, to prevent third parties from registering domain names that are similar to, infringe upon, or otherwise decrease the value of our trademarks and other proprietary rights. Failure to protect our domain names could adversely affect our reputation and brands, and make it more difficult for users to find our websites and our services.

 

Future asset impairment to the carrying values of our FCC licenses and goodwill could adversely impact our results of operations and net worth.

 

As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $614.5 million in broadcast licenses and $262.9 million in goodwill, which totaled $877.4 million, and represented approximately 66.6% of our total assets. Therefore, we believe estimating the fair value of goodwill and radio broadcasting licenses is a critical accounting estimate because of the significance of their carrying values in relation to our total assets. We recorded impairment charges against radio broadcasting licenses of approximately $29.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017.

  

We are required to test our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually, which we have traditionally done in the fourth quarter, or on an interim basis when events or changes in circumstances suggest impairment may have occurred. Impairment is measured as the excess of the carrying value of the goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible asset over its fair value. Impairment may result from deterioration in our performance, changes in anticipated future cash flows, changes in business plans, adverse economic or market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws and regulations, or other factors beyond our control. The amount of any impairment must be expensed as a charge to operations. Fair values of FCC licenses and goodwill have been estimated using the income approach, which involves a 10-year model that incorporates several judgmental assumptions about projected revenue growth, future operating margins, discount rates and terminal values. We also utilize a market-based approach to evaluate our fair value estimates. There are inherent uncertainties related to these assumptions and our judgment in applying them to the impairment analysis.

 

For the second and third quarters of each of 2017 and 2016, the total market revenue growth for certain markets in which we operate was below the estimated total market revenue growth used in our respective prior year annual impairment testing. In each quarter, we deemed that to be an impairment indicator that warranted interim impairment testing of certain markets’ radio broadcasting licenses, which we performed as of each quarter-end date. We recorded an impairment charge of approximately $29.1 million related to our Columbus and Houston radio broadcasting licenses during the year ended December 31, 2017. We recorded an impairment charge of approximately $1.3 million related to our Columbus radio broadcasting licenses during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

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Changes in certain events or circumstances could result in changes to our estimated fair values, and may result in further write-downs to the carrying values of these assets. Additional impairment charges could adversely affect our financial results, financial ratios and could limit our ability to obtain financing in the future.

 

Our business depends on maintaining our licenses with the FCC. We could be prevented from operating a radio station if we fail to maintain its license.

 

Within our primary business, we are required to maintain radio broadcasting licenses issued by the FCC. These licenses are ordinarily issued for a maximum term of eight years and are renewable. Currently, subject to renewal, our radio broadcasting licenses expire beginning in October 2019, and others expire at various times through August 1, 2022. While we anticipate receiving renewals of all of our broadcasting licenses, interested third parties may challenge our renewal applications. In addition, we are subject to extensive and changing regulation by the FCC with respect to such matters as programming, indecency standards, technical operations, employment and business practices. If we or any of our significant stockholders, officers, or directors violate the FCC’s rules and regulations or the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”), or is convicted of a felony or found to have engaged in certain other types of non-FCC related misconduct, the FCC may commence a proceeding to impose fines or other sanctions upon us. Examples of possible sanctions include the imposition of fines, the renewal of one or more of our broadcasting licenses for a term of fewer than eight years or the revocation of our broadcast licenses. If the FCC were to issue an order denying a license renewal application or revoking a license, we would be required to cease operating the radio station covered by the license only after we had exhausted administrative and judicial review without success.

 

Disruptions or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure could interfere with our operations, compromise client information and expose us to liability, possibly causing our business and reputation to suffer.

 

Any internal technology error or failure impacting systems hosted internally or externally, or any large scale external interruption in technology infrastructure we depend on, such as power, telecommunications or the Internet, may disrupt our technology network. Any individual, sustained or repeated failure of technology could impact our customer service and result in increased costs or reduced revenues. Our technology systems and related data also may be vulnerable to a variety of sources of interruption due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers and other security issues. Our technology security initiatives, disaster recovery plans and other measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to prevent a business disruption and its adverse financial consequences to our reputation.

 

In addition, as a part of our ordinary business operations, we may collect and store sensitive data, including personal information of our clients, listeners and employees. The secure operation of the networks and systems on which this type of information is stored, processed and maintained is critical to our business operations and strategy. Any compromise of our technology systems resulting from attacks by hackers or breaches due to employee error or malfeasance could result in the loss, disclosure, misappropriation of or access to clients’, listeners’, employees’ or business partners’ information. Any such loss, disclosure, misappropriation or access could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability or regulatory penalties under laws protecting the privacy of personal information, disruption of our operations and damage to our reputation, any or all of which could adversely affect our business.

 

The FCC’s media ownership rules could restrict our ability to acquire radio stations.

 

The Communications Act and FCC rules and policies limit the number of broadcasting properties that any person or entity may own (directly or by attribution) in any market and require FCC approval for transfers of control and assignments of licenses. The FCC’s media ownership rules remain subject to further agency and court proceedings. In August 2016, the FCC concluded its most recent quadrennial review of its media ownership rules. See the information contained in “Business-Federal Regulation of Radio Broadcasting.”

 

As a result of the FCC media ownership rules, the outside media interests of our officers and directors could limit our ability to acquire stations. The filing of petitions or complaints against Urban One or any FCC licensee from which we are acquiring a station could result in the FCC delaying the grant of, refusing to grant or imposing conditions on its consent to the assignment or transfer of control of licenses. The Communications Act and FCC rules and policies also impose limitations on non-U.S. ownership and voting of our capital stock.

 

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Enforcement by the FCC of its indecency rules against the broadcast industry could adversely affect our business operations.

 

The FCC’s rules prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time and indecent or profane material on broadcast stations between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Broadcasters risk violating the prohibition against broadcasting indecent material because of the vagueness of the FCC’s indecency and profanity definitions, coupled with the spontaneity of live programming. The FCC has in the past vigorously enforced its indecency rules against the broadcasting industry and has threatened to initiate license revocation proceedings against broadcast licensees for “serious” indecency violations. In June 2012, the Supreme Court issued a decision which, while setting aside certain FCC indecency enforcement actions on narrow due process grounds, declined to rule on the constitutionality of the FCC’s indecency policies. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the FCC requested public comment on the appropriate substance and scope of its indecency enforcement policy. It is not possible to predict whether and, if so, how the FCC will revise its indecency enforcement policies or the effect of any such changes on us. The fines for broadcasting indecent material are a maximum of $325,000 per utterance. The determination of whether content is indecent is inherently subjective and, as such, it can be difficult to predict whether particular content could violate indecency standards. The difficulty in predicting whether individual programs, words or phrases may violate the FCC’s indecency rules adds significant uncertainty to our ability to comply with the rules. Violation of the indecency rules could lead to sanctions which may adversely affect our business and results of operations. In addition, third parties could oppose our license renewal applications or applications for consent to acquire broadcast stations on the grounds that we broadcast allegedly indecent programming on our stations. Some policymakers support the extension of the indecency rules that are applicable to over-the-air broadcasters to cover cable programming and/or attempts to increase enforcement of or otherwise expand existing laws and rules. If such an extension, attempt to increase enforcement, or other expansion took place and was found to be constitutional, some of TV One’s content could be subject to additional regulation and might not be able to attract the same subscription and viewership levels.

 

Changes in current federal regulations could adversely affect our business operations.

 

Congress and the FCC have considered, and may in the future consider and adopt, new laws, regulations and policies that could, directly or indirectly, affect the profitability of our broadcast stations. In particular, Congress may consider and adopt a revocation of terrestrial radio’s exemption from paying royalties to performing artists and record companies for use of their recordings (radio already pays a royalty to songwriters, composers and publishers). In addition, commercial radio broadcasters and entities representing artists are negotiating agreements that could result in broadcast stations paying royalties to artists. A requirement to pay additional royalties could have an adverse effect on our business operations and financial performance. Moreover, it is possible that our license fees and negotiating costs associated with obtaining rights to use musical compositions and sound recordings in our programming could sharply increase as a result of private negotiations, one or more regulatory rate-setting processes, or administrative and court decisions. We cannot predict whether such increases will occur.

 

The television and distribution industries in the United States are highly regulated by U.S. federal laws and regulations issued and administered by various federal agencies, including the FCC. The television broadcasting industry is subject to extensive regulation by the FCC under the Communications Act. The U.S. Congress and the FCC currently have under consideration, and may in the future adopt, new laws, regulations, and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could, directly or indirectly, affect the operation of TV One. For example, the FCC has initiated a proceeding to examine and potentially regulate more closely embedded advertising such as product placement and product integration. Enhanced restrictions affecting these means of delivering advertising messages may adversely affect TV One’s advertising revenues. Changes to the media ownership and other FCC rules may affect the competitive landscape in ways that could increase the competition faced by TV One. Proposals have also been advanced from time to time before the U.S. Congress and the FCC to extend the program access rules (currently applicable only to those cable program services which also own or are owned by cable distribution systems) to all cable program services. TV One’s ability to obtain the most favorable terms available for its content could be adversely affected should such an extension be enacted into law. TV One is unable to predict the effect that any such laws, regulations or policies may have on its operations.

 

Changes in U.S. tax laws could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s cash flow, results of operations or financial condition.

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) was signed into law and contains broad and complex changes to U.S. Federal tax laws. The Company has provided for an estimated impact of the Act in the financial statements. The Company’s interpretation of the law changes requires significant judgments to be made, and significant estimates in the calculation of the provision for income taxes. However, additional guidance may be issued by the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Treasury, or other governing body that may significantly differ from the Company’s interpretation of the Act’s changes, which may result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s cash flow, results of operations or financial condition.

 

New or changing federal, state or international privacy legislation or regulation could hinder the growth of our internet business.

 

A variety of federal and state laws govern the collection, use, retention, sharing and security of consumer data that our business uses to operate its services and to deliver certain advertisements to its customers, as well as the technologies used to collect such data. Not only are existing privacy-related laws in these jurisdictions evolving and subject to potentially disparate interpretation by governmental entities, new legislative proposals affecting privacy are now pending at both the federal and state level in the U.S. Changes to the interpretation of existing law or the adoption of new privacy-related requirements could hinder the growth of our business. Also, a failure or perceived failure to comply with such laws or requirements or with our own policies and procedures could result in significant liabilities, including a possible loss of consumer or investor confidence or a loss of customers or advertisers.

 

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The loss of affiliation agreements could materially adversely affect TV One’s results of operations.

 

TV One is dependent upon the maintenance of affiliation agreements with cable and direct broadcast distributors for its revenues, and there can be no assurance that these agreements will be renewed in the future on terms acceptable to such distributors. The loss of one or more of these arrangements could reduce the distribution of TV One’s programming services and reduce revenues from subscriber fees and advertising, as applicable. Further, the loss of favorable packaging, positioning, pricing or other marketing opportunities with any distributor could reduce revenues from subscribers and associated subscriber fees. In addition, consolidation among cable distributors and increased vertical integration of such distributors into the cable or broadcast network business have provided more leverage to these distributors and could adversely affect TV One’s ability to maintain or obtain distribution for its network programming on favorable or commercially reasonable terms, or at all. The results of renewals could have a material adverse effect on TV One’s revenues and results and operations. We cannot assure you that TV One will be able to renew its affiliation agreements on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. The loss of a significant number of these arrangements or the loss of carriage on basic programming tiers could reduce the distribution of our content, which may adversely affect our revenues from subscriber fees and our ability to sell national and local advertising time.

  

Changes in consumer behavior resulting from new technologies and distribution platforms may impact the performance of our businesses.

 

TV One faces emerging competition from other providers of digital media, some of which have greater financial, marketing and other resources than we do. In particular, content offered over the internet has become more prevalent as the speed and quality of broadband networks have improved. Providers such as HuluTM, NetflixTM, AppleTM, AmazonTM and GoogleTM, as well as gaming and other consoles such as Microsoft’s XboxTM, Sony’s PS4TM, Nintendo’s WiiTM, and RokuTM, are aggressively establishing themselves as alternative providers of video services, including online TV services. Most recently, new online distribution services have emerged offering live sports and other content without paying for a tradition cable bundle of channels. These services and the growing availability of online content, coupled with an expanding market for mobile devices and tablets that allow users to view content on an on-demand basis and internet-connected televisions, may impact TV One’s distribution for its services and content. Additionally, devices or services that allow users to view television programs away from traditional cable providers or on a time-shifted basis and technologies that enable users to fast-forward or skip programming, including commercials, such as DVRs and portable digital devices and systems that enable users to store or make portable copies of content, have caused changes in consumer behavior that may affect the attractiveness of our offerings to advertisers and could therefore adversely affect our revenues. If we cannot ensure that our distribution methods and content are responsive to TV One’s target audiences, our business could be adversely affected.

   

Our President and Chief Executive Officer has an interest in TV One that may conflict with your interests.

 

Pursuant to the terms of employment with our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alfred C. Liggins, III, in recognition of Mr. Liggins’ contributions in founding TV One on our behalf, he is eligible to receive an award amount equal to approximately 4% of any proceeds from distributions or other liquidity events in excess of the return of our aggregate investment in TV One (the “Employment Agreement Award”). Our obligation to pay the award was triggered after our recovery of the aggregate amount of our pre-Comcast Buyout capital contribution in TV One, and payment is required only upon actual receipt of distributions of cash or marketable securities or proceeds from a liquidity event in excess of such invested amount. Mr. Liggins’ rights to the Employment Agreement Award (i) cease if he is terminated for cause or he resigns without good reason and (ii) expire at the termination of his employment (but similar rights could be included in the terms of a new employment agreement or arrangement). As a result of this arrangement, the interest of Mr. Liggins’ with respect to TV One may conflict with your interests as holders of our debt or equity securities.

  

Two common stockholders have a majority voting interest in Urban One and have the power to control matters on which our common stockholders may vote, and their interests may conflict with yours.

 

As of December 31, 2017, our Chairperson and her son, our President and CEO, collectively held approximately 96% of the outstanding voting power of our common stock. As a result, our Chairperson and our CEO control our management and policies and decisions involving or impacting upon Urban One, including transactions involving a change of control, such as a sale or merger. The interests of these stockholders may differ from the interests of our other stockholders and our debt holders. In addition, certain covenants in our debt instruments require that our Chairperson and the CEO maintain a specified ownership and voting interest in Urban One, and prohibit other parties’ voting interests from exceeding specified amounts. Our Chairperson and the CEO have agreed to vote their shares together in elections of members to the Board of Directors of Urban One.

 

Further, we are a “controlled company” under rules governing the listing of our securities on the NASDAQ Stock Market because more than 50% of our voting power is held by our Chairperson and the CEO. Therefore, we are not subject to NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules that would otherwise require us to have: (i) a majority of independent directors on the board; (ii) a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors; (iii) a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors; (iv) compensation of our executive officers determined by a majority of the independent directors or a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors; and (v) director nominees selected, or recommended for the board’s selection, either by a majority of the independent directors or a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors. While a majority of our board members are currently independent directors, we do not make any assurances that a majority of our board members will be independent directors at any given time.

 

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

The types of properties required to support each of our radio stations include offices, studios and transmitter/antenna sites. Our other media properties, such as Interactive One, generally only require office space.  We typically lease our studio and office space with lease terms ranging from five to 10 years in length. A station’s studios are generally housed with its offices in business districts. We generally consider our facilities to be suitable and of adequate size for our current and intended purposes. We lease a majority of our main transmitter/antenna sites and associated broadcast towers and, when negotiating a lease for such sites, we try to obtain a lengthy lease term with options to renew. In general, we do not anticipate difficulties in renewing facility or transmitter/antenna site leases, or in leasing additional space or sites, if required.

 

We own substantially all of our equipment, consisting principally of transmitting antennae, transmitters, studio equipment and general office equipment. The towers, antennae and other transmission equipment used by our stations are generally in good condition, although opportunities to upgrade facilities are periodically reviewed. The tangible personal property owned by us and the real property owned or leased by us are subject to security interests under our senior credit facility.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

  

Urban One is involved from time to time in various routine legal and administrative proceedings and threatened legal and administrative proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business. Urban One believes the resolution of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

 

Not applicable.

 

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Part II.

 

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Price Range of Our Class A and Class D Common Stock

 

Our Class A voting common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “UONE.” The following table presents, for the quarters indicated, the high and low daily closing prices per share of our Class A Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ. 

 

   High   Low 
2017          
First Quarter  $3.35   $2.50 
Second Quarter  $3.50   $1.86 
Third Quarter  $2.25   $1.58 
Fourth Quarter  $2.10   $1.40 
           
2016          
First Quarter  $1.64   $1.23 
Second Quarter  $3.13   $1.26 
Third Quarter  $3.43   $2.90 
Fourth Quarter  $3.08   $2.20 

 

Our Class D non-voting common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “UONEK.” The following table presents, for the quarters indicated, the high and low daily closing prices per share of our Class D Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ.

 

   High   Low 
2017          
First Quarter  $3.30   $2.45 
Second Quarter  $3.45   $1.85 
Third Quarter  $2.20   $1.50 
Fourth Quarter  $2.10   $1.45 
           
2016          
First Quarter  $1.64   $1.17 
Second Quarter  $3.24   $1.29 
Third Quarter  $3.48   $2.96 
Fourth Quarter  $3.06   $2.30 

 

Number of Stockholders

 

Based upon a survey of record holders and a review of our stock transfer records, as of February 20, 2018, there were approximately 1,843 holders of Urban One’s Class A Common Stock, two holders of Urban One’s Class B Common Stock, three holders of Urban One’s Class C Common Stock, and approximately 2,106 holders of Urban One’s Class D Common Stock.

 

Dividends

 

Since first selling our common stock publicly in May 1999, we have not declared any cash dividends on any class of our common stock. We intend to retain future earnings for use in our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash or stock dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, any determination to declare and pay dividends will be made by our Board of Directors in light of our earnings, financial position, capital requirements, contractual restrictions contained in our credit facility and the indentures governing our senior subordinated notes, and other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.  (See Note 9 of our consolidated financial statements — Long-Term Debt.)

 

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

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ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following information should be read in conjunction with “Selected Financial Data” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

 

Overview

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017, consolidated net revenue decreased approximately 3.5% compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. We project our 2018 business results will improve and compare favorably to that of 2017, both due to the execution of our strategy and due to it being an election year which should result in increased political revenue. For 2018, our strategy will be to continue to: (i) grow market share; (ii) improve audience share in certain markets and improve revenue conversion of strong and stable audience share in certain other markets; and (iii) grow and diversify our revenue by successfully executing our multimedia strategy.

 

The state of the economy, competition from digital audio players, the internet, cable television and satellite radio, among other new media outlets, audio and video streaming on the internet, and consumers’ increased focus on mobile applications, are some of the reasons our core radio business has seen slow or negative growth over the past few years. In addition to making overall cutbacks, advertisers continue to shift their advertising budgets away from traditional media such as newspapers, broadcast television and radio to these new media outlets. Internet companies have evolved from being large sources of advertising revenue for radio companies to being significant competitors for radio advertising dollars. While these dynamics present significant challenges for companies that are focused solely in the radio industry, through our online properties, which includes our radio websites, Interactive One and other online verticals, as well as our cable television business, we are poised to provide advertisers and creators of content with a multifaceted way to reach African-American consumers.

 

Results of Operations

 

Revenue

 

Within our core radio business, we primarily derive revenue from the sale of advertising time and program sponsorships to local and national advertisers on our radio stations. Advertising revenue is affected primarily by the advertising rates our radio stations are able to charge, as well as the overall demand for radio advertising time in a market. These rates are largely based upon a radio station’s audience share in the demographic groups targeted by advertisers, the number of radio stations in the related market, and the supply of, and demand for, radio advertising time. Advertising rates are generally highest during morning and afternoon commuting hours.

 

Net revenue consists of gross revenue, net of local and national agency and outside sales representative commissions. Agency and outside sales representative commissions are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing.

 

The following chart shows the percentage of consolidated net revenue generated by each reporting segment.

 

   For the Years Ended December 31, 
   2017   2016 
Radio broadcasting segment   40.2%   40.8%
           
Reach Media segment   10.3%   11.5%
           
Digital segment   7.0%   5.7%
           
Cable television segment   42.6%   42.0%
           
Corporate/eliminations   (0.1)%   (0.0)%

 

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The following chart shows the percentages generated from local and national advertising as a subset of net revenue from our core radio business.

 

   For the Years Ended
December 31,
 
   2017   2016 
         
Percentage of core radio business generated from local advertising   60.1%   60.0%
           
Percentage of core radio business generated from national advertising, including network advertising   35.9%   36.1%

 

National and local advertising also includes advertising revenue generated from our digital segment. The balance of net revenue from our radio segment was generated from tower rental income, ticket sales and revenue related to our sponsored events, management fees and other revenue.

 

The following charts show our net revenue (and sources) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

   Year Ended December 31,       % 
   2017   2016   $ Change   Change 
  

 (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

         
Net Revenue:                    
Radio Advertising  $200,417   $210,134   $(9,717)   (4.6)%
Political Advertising   2,052    8,575    (6,523)   (76.1)%
Digital Advertising   30,735    26,143    4,592    17.6%
Cable Television Advertising   79,422    85,640    (6,218)   (7.3)%
Cable Television Affiliate Fees   106,310    105,961    349    0.3%
Event Revenues & Other   21,105    19,766    1,339    6.8%
                     
Net Revenue (as reported)  $440,041   $456,219   $(16,178)   (3.5)%

 

In the broadcasting industry, radio stations and television stations often utilize trade or barter agreements to reduce cash expenses by exchanging advertising time for goods or services. In order to maximize cash revenue for our spot inventory, we closely manage the use of trade and barter agreements.

 

Within our digital segment, including Interactive One, which generates the majority of the Company’s digital revenue, revenue is principally derived from advertising services on non-radio station branded, but Company-owned websites. Advertising services include the sale of banner and sponsorship advertisements. Advertising revenue is recognized either as impressions (the number of times advertisements appear in viewed pages) are delivered, when “click through” purchases are made, or ratably over the contract period, where applicable. In addition, Interactive One derives revenue from its studio operations, in which it provides third-party clients with publishing services including digital platforms and related expertise.  In the case of the studio operations, revenue is recognized primarily through fixed contractual monthly fees and/or as a share of the third party’s reported revenue.

 

TV One generates the Company’s cable television revenue, and derives its revenue principally from advertising and affiliate revenue. Advertising revenue is derived from the sale of television air time to advertisers and is recognized when the advertisements are run. TV One also derives revenue from affiliate fees under the terms of various affiliation agreements based upon a per subscriber fee multiplied by most recent subscriber counts reported by the applicable affiliate.

 

Reach Media primarily derives its revenue from the sale of advertising in connection with its syndicated radio shows, including the Tom Joyner Morning Show and our other syndicated programming assets, including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show and the DL Hughley Show. Reach Media also operates www.BlackAmericaWeb.com, an African-American targeted news and entertainment website.  Additionally, Reach Media operates various other event-related activities. 

 

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Expenses

 

Our significant expenses are: (i) employee salaries and commissions; (ii) programming expenses; (iii) marketing and promotional expenses; (iv) rental of premises for office facilities and studios; (v) rental of transmission tower space; (vi) music license royalty fees; and (vii) content amortization. We strive to control these expenses by centralizing certain functions such as finance, accounting, legal, human resources and management information systems and, in certain markets, the programming management function. We also use our multiple stations, market presence and purchasing power to negotiate favorable rates with certain vendors and national representative selling agencies. In addition to salaries and commissions, major expenses for our internet business include membership traffic acquisition costs, software product design, post-application software development and maintenance, database and server support costs, the help desk function, data center expenses connected with internet service provider (“ISP”) hosting services and other internet content delivery expenses. Major expenses for our cable television business include content acquisition and amortization, sales and marketing.

 

We generally incur marketing and promotional expenses to increase and maintain our audiences. However, because Nielsen reports ratings either monthly or quarterly, depending on the particular market, any changed ratings and the effect on advertising revenue tends to lag behind both the reporting of the ratings and the incurrence of advertising and promotional expenditures.

 

Measurement of Performance

 

We monitor and evaluate the growth and operational performance of our business using net income and the following key metrics:

 

(a)  Net revenue:  The performance of an individual radio station or group of radio stations in a particular market is customarily measured by its ability to generate net revenue. Net revenue consists of gross revenue, net of local and national agency and outside sales representative commissions consistent with industry practice. Net revenue is recognized in the period in which advertisements are broadcast. Net revenue also includes advertising aired in exchange for goods and services, which is recorded at fair value, revenue from sponsored events and other revenue. Net revenue is recognized for our online business as impressions are delivered, as “click throughs” are made or ratably over contract periods, where applicable. Net revenue is recognized for our cable television business as advertisements are run, and during the term of the affiliation agreements at levels appropriate for the most recent subscriber counts reported by the affiliate, net of launch support.

 

(b)  Broadcast and digital operating income:  Net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, income taxes, interest expense, interest income, noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries, other (income) expense, corporate selling, general and administrative, expenses, stock-based compensation, impairment of long-lived assets, (gain) loss on retirement of debt and gain on sale-leaseback, is commonly referred to in the radio broadcasting industry as “station operating income.” However, given the diverse nature of our business, station operating income is not truly reflective of our multi-media operation and, therefore, we now use the term broadcast and digital operating income. Broadcast and digital operating income is not a measure of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Nevertheless, broadcast and digital operating income is a significant measure used by our management to evaluate the operating performance of our core operating segments. Broadcast and digital operating income provides helpful information about our results of operations, apart from expenses associated with our fixed and long-lived intangible assets, income taxes, investments, impairment charges, debt financings and retirements, corporate overhead and stock-based compensation. Our measure of broadcast and digital operating income is similar to industry use of station operating income; however, it reflects our more diverse business and therefore is not completely analogous to “station operating income” or other similarly titled measures as used by other companies. Broadcast and digital operating income does not represent operating loss or cash flow from operating activities, as those terms are defined under GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to those measurements as an indicator of our performance.

 

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(c)  Broadcast and digital operating income margin:  Broadcast and digital operating income margin represents broadcast and digital operating income as a percentage of net revenue. Broadcast and digital operating income margin is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Nevertheless, we believe that broadcast and digital operating income margin is a useful measure of our performance because it provides helpful information about our profitability as a percentage of our net revenue. Broadcast and digital operating margin includes results from all four segments (radio broadcasting, Reach Media, digital and cable television).

 

(d) Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA consists of net (loss) income plus (1) depreciation and amortization, income taxes, interest expense, noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries, impairment of long-lived assets, stock-based compensation, (gain) loss on retirement of debt, gain on sale-leaseback, employment agreement and incentive plan award expenses, severance-related costs, cost method investment income, less (2) other income and interest income. Net income before interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization is commonly referred to in our business as “EBITDA.” Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is often a useful measure of a company’s operating performance and is a significant measure used by our management to evaluate the operating performance of our business because Adjusted EBITDA excludes charges for depreciation, amortization and interest expense that have resulted from our acquisitions and debt financing, our taxes, impairment charges, and gain on retirements of debt. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information about the operating performance of our business, apart from the expenses associated with our fixed assets and long-lived intangible assets, capital structure or the results of our affiliated company. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used as one of the measures for comparing businesses in the broadcasting industry, although our measure of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including, but not limited to the fact that our definition includes the results of all four of our operating segments (radio broadcasting, Reach Media, digital and cable television). Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA do not purport to represent operating income or cash flow from operating activities, as those terms are defined under GAAP, and should not be considered as alternatives to those measurements as an indicator of our performance.

 

Summary of Performance

 

The table below provides a summary of our performance based on the metrics described above:

 

   For the Years Ended December 31, 
   2017   2016 
   (In thousands, except margin data) 
         
Net revenue  $440,041   $456,219 
Broadcast and digital operating income   161,701    174,620 
Broadcast and digital operating income margin   36.7%   38.3%
Adjusted EBITDA   137,098    136,405 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders   111,887    (423)

 

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The reconciliation of net income (loss) to broadcast and digital operating income is as follows:

 

   For the Years Ended December 31, 
   2017   2016 
   (In thousands) 
         
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, as reported  $111,887   $(423)
Add back non-broadcast and digital operating income items included in net income (loss):          
Interest income   (200)   (214)
Interest expense   79,420    81,636 
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes   (123,163)   9,580 
Corporate selling, general and administrative, excluding stock-based compensation   41,171    47,532 
Stock-based compensation   4,647    3,410 
Gain on sale-leaseback   (14,411)    
Loss (gain) on retirement of debt   5,219    (2,646)
Other income, net   (6,608)   (928)
Depreciation and amortization   34,016    34,247 
Noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries   575    1,139 
Impairment of long-lived assets   29,148    1,287 
Broadcast and digital operating income  $161,701   $174,620 

 

The reconciliation of net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA is as follows: 

 

   For the Years Ended December 31, 
   2017   2016 
   (In thousands) 
     
Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation:          
Consolidated net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, as reported  $111,887   $(423)
Interest income   (200)   (214)
Interest expense   79,420    81,636 
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes   (123,163)   9,580 
Depreciation and amortization   34,016    34,247 
EBITDA  $101,960   $124,826 
Stock-based compensation   4,647    3,410 
Gain on sale-leaseback   (14,411)    
Loss (gain) on retirement of debt   5,219    (2,646)
Other income, net   (6,608)   (928)
Noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries   575    1,139 
Impairment of long-lived assets   29,148    1,287 
Employment Agreement Award, incentive plan award expenses and other compensation*   8,858    8,042 
Severance related costs   1,629    856 
Cost method investment income   6,081    419 
Adjusted EBITDA  $137,098   $136,405 

 

*Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year balances to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported consolidated net income or loss or any other statement of operations, balance sheet or cash flow amounts.

 

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RADIO ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table summarizes our historical consolidated results of operations:

 

Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016 (In thousands)

 

  

For the Years Ended 

December 31,

   Increase/(Decrease) 
   2017   2016     
     
Statements of Operations:                    
Net revenue  $440,041   $456,219   $(16,178)   (3.5)%
Operating expenses:                    
Programming and technical, excluding stock-based compensation   130,417    134,000    (3,583)   (2.7)
Selling, general and administrative, excluding stock-based compensation   147,923    147,599    324    0.2 
Corporate selling, general and administrative, excluding stock-based compensation   41,171    47,532    (6,361)   (13.4)
Stock-based compensation   4,647    3,410    1,237    36.3 
Depreciation and amortization   34,016    34,247    (231)   (0.7)
Impairment of long-lived assets   29,148    1,287    27,861    2,164.8 
Total operating expenses   387,322    368,075    19,247    5.2 
Operating income   52,719    88,144    (35,425)   (40.2)
Interest income   200    214    (14)   (6.5)
Interest expense   79,420    81,636    (2,216)   (2.7)
Gain on sale-leaseback   (14,411)       14,411    100.0 
Loss (gain) on retirement of debt   5,219    (2,646)   (7,865)   (297.2)
Other income, net   (6,608)   (928)   5,680    612.1 
(Loss) income before (benefit from) provision for income taxes and noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries   (10,701)   10,296    (20,997)   (203.9)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes   (123,163)   9,580    132,743    1,385.6 
Net income   112,462    716    111,746    15,607.0 
Noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries   575    1,139    (564)   (49.5)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders  $111,887   $(423)  $112,310    26,550.8%

 

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Net revenue

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$440,041   $456,219   $(16,178)   (3.5)%

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized approximately $440.0 million in net revenue compared to approximately $456.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. These amounts are net of agency and outside sales representative commissions. Net revenues from our radio broadcasting segment for the year ended December 31, 2017, decreased 5.1% from the same period in 2016. Based on reports prepared by the independent accounting firm Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., LLP (“Miller Kaplan”), the radio markets we operate in (excluding Richmond and Raleigh, both of which no longer participate in Miller Kaplan) decreased 1.4% in total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, consisting of a decrease of 3.7% in local revenues and a decrease of 2.8% in national revenues, partially offset by an increase of 3.0% in digital revenues. We experienced net revenue declines, most significantly in our Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Raleigh markets. Net revenue for our Reach Media segment decreased 13.0% for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, due primarily to weaker advertising demand. We recognized approximately $187.5 million from our cable television segment for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately $191.8 million of revenue for the same period in 2016, with the decrease due primarily to lower advertising sales. Net revenue from our digital segment increased approximately $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, primarily to an increase in direct revenues and due to performance from our new digital acquisition.

 

Operating expenses

 

Programming and technical, excluding stock-based compensation

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016         
$130,417   $134,000   $(3,583)   (2.7)%

 

Programming and technical expenses include expenses associated with on-air talent and the management and maintenance of the systems, tower facilities, and studios used in the creation, distribution and broadcast of programming content on our radio stations. Programming and technical expenses for the radio segment also include expenses associated with our programming research activities and music royalties. For our digital segment, programming and technical expenses include software product design, post-application software development and maintenance, database and server support costs, the help desk function, data center expenses connected with ISP hosting services and other digital content delivery expenses. For our cable television segment, programming and technical expenses include expenses associated with technical, programming, production, and content management. The decrease in programming and technical expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016 is due primarily to lower expenses in our cable broadcasting segment. This decrease is partially offset by an increase in expenses from both of our digital and radio broadcasting segments. Our cable broadcasting segment generated a decrease of approximately $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, due primarily to lower program content expense driven by reduced amortization for original programing. Our digital segment generated an increase of approximately $3.6 million of programming and technical expenses due to our new digital acquisition and increased investment in video content, primarily related to increased headcount contributing to higher payroll costs. Our radio segment generated approximately $35.6 million of programming and technical expenses compared to approximately $34.1 million for the years ending December 31, 2017 and 2016 respectively. The increase in our radio broadcasting segment is due primarily to increased lease expense due to the sale lease-back transaction as well as an increase in certain music licensing costs.

 

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Selling, general and administrative, excluding stock-based compensation

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$147,923   $147,599   $324    0.2%

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses include expenses associated with our sales departments, offices and facilities and personnel (outside of our corporate headquarters), marketing and promotional expenses, special events and sponsorships and back office expenses. Expenses to secure ratings data for our radio stations and visitors’ data for our websites are also included in selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition, selling, general and administrative expenses for the radio broadcasting segment and digital segment include expenses related to the advertising traffic (scheduling and insertion) functions. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include membership traffic acquisition costs for our online business. There was an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, driven primarily by our digital segment, which was partially offset by lower expenses at our Reach Media segment.

 

Corporate selling, general and administrative, excluding stock-based compensation

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$41,171   $47,532   $(6,361)   (13.4)%

  

Corporate expenses consist of expenses associated with our corporate headquarters and facilities, including personnel as well as other corporate overhead functions. The decrease in corporate selling, general and administrative expenses was due primarily to lower incentive-based payroll costs at our cable television segment and for our corporate staff.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$4,647   $3,410   $1,237    36.3%

 

The increase in stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, is primarily due to grants of stock awards for certain executive officers and other management personnel.

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$34,016   $34,247   $(231)   (0.7)%

 

The decrease in depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2017, was due to the completion of useful lives for certain assets. 

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$29,148   $1,287   $27,861    2,164.8%

 

The impairment of long-lived assets for the year ended December 31, 2017, was related to a non-cash impairment charge recorded to reduce the carrying value of our Columbus and Houston radio broadcasting licenses. The impairment of long-lived assets for the year ended December 31, 2016, was related to a non-cash impairment charge recorded to reduce the carrying value of our Columbus market radio broadcasting licenses.

 

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Interest expense

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$79,420   $81,636   $(2,216)   (2.7)%

 

Interest expense decreased to approximately $79.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately $81.6 million for the same period in 2016, due to lower overall debt balances outstanding. On April 18, 2017, the Company closed on a new senior secured credit facility (the “2017 Credit Facility”). The proceeds from the 2017 Credit Facility were used to prepay in full the Company’s previously existing 2015 credit facility (the “2015 Credit Facility”) and the agreement governing such credit facility was terminated on April 18, 2017.

 

Gain on sale-leaseback

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016         
$(14,411)  $   $14,411    100.0%

 

The gain on sale-leaseback for the year ended December 31, 2017 was due to the Company closing on its sale of certain land, towers, and equipment to a third party. The Company is leasing certain of the assets back from the buyer as part of its normal operations. The Company received proceeds of approximately $25.0 million, resulting in an overall net gain sale of approximately $22.5 million, of which approximately $14.4 million was recognized immediately during the second quarter, and approximately $8.1 million which was deferred and will be recognized into income over the lease term of ten years.

 

Loss (gain) on retirement of debt

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$5,219   $(2,646)  $(7,865)   (297.2)%

  

There was a loss on retirement of debt of approximately $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, due to the retirement of the 2015 Credit Facility during the second quarter of 2017. This amount included a write-off of previously capitalized debt financing costs and original issue discount associated with the 2015 Credit Facility, and costs associated with the financing transactions. This loss was partially offset by a gain on retirement of debt of approximately $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, due to the redemption of approximately $40 million of our 2020 Notes at a discount during the third and fourth quarters. 

 

Other income, net

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$(6,608)  $(928)  $5,680    612.1%

 

Other income, net increased to approximately $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to our investment in MGM. We recognized other income in the amount of approximately $6.1 million and $419,000, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to our MGM investment.

 

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(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$(123,163)  $9,580   $132,743    1,385.6%

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the benefit from income taxes increased to approximately $123.2 million compared to a provision for income taxes of approximately $9.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in the benefit from income taxes was primarily due to the change in the U.S. Federal tax rate from 35% to 21% under tax law reform from the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act (the “Act”) enacted on December 22, 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the income tax benefit consisted of deferred tax benefit of approximately $124.1 million and current provision expense of $978,000. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the income tax provision consisted of deferred tax expense of approximately $9.1 million and current provision expense of $466,000. The Company continued to maintain a full valuation allowance for certain of its net deferred tax assets (“DTAs”). We do not consider deferred tax liabilities (“DTLs”) related to indefinite-lived assets in evaluating the realizability of our DTAs, as the timing of their reversal cannot be determined. The tax provision resulted in an effective tax rate of 1,150.9% and 93.0% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The annual effective tax rate for Urban One for 2017 primarily reflects the impact of the Act and for 2016 primarily reflects the change in DTLs associated with the tax amortization of indefinite-lived intangible assets.

 

Noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries

 

Year Ended December 31,   Increase/(Decrease) 
2017   2016     
$575   $1,139   $(564)   (49.5)%

 

The decrease in noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries was primarily due to lower net income recognized by Reach Media for the year ended December 31, 2017, versus the same period in 2016.

 

Other Data

 

Broadcast and digital operating income

 

Broadcast and digital operating income decreased to approximately $161.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately $174.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of approximately $12.9 million or 7.4%. This decrease was primarily due to lower broadcast and digital operating income from our radio broadcasting, digital and Reach Media segments, partially offset by an increase in broadcast and digital operating income at our cable television segment. The radio broadcasting segment generated approximately $65.5 million of broadcast and digital operating income during the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately $76.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of approximately $10.8 million primarily attributable to lower revenue at our radio markets. Reach Media generated approximately $7.5 million of broadcast and digital operating income for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately $12.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $5.2 million, due primarily to weaker advertising demand. The cable television segment’s increase in broadcast and digital operating income was primarily due to lower programming and technical expenses due to lower program content expense.

 

Broadcast and digital operating income margin

 

Broadcast and digital operating income margin decreased to 36.7% for the year ended December 31, 2017, from 38.3% for 2016. The margin decrease was primarily attributable to lower broadcast and digital operating income as described above.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary source of liquidity is cash provided by operations and, to the extent necessary, other debt or equity financing.

 

See Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements — Long-Term Debt for further information on liquidity and capital resources.

 

As of December 31, 2017, ratios calculated in accordance with the 2017 Credit Facility were as follows:

 

   

As of

December

31, 2017

   

Covenant

Limit

   

Excess

Coverage

 
Interest Coverage                        
Covenant EBITDA / Interest Expense     1.83 x     1.25 x     0.58 x
                         
Senior Secured Leverage                        
Senior Secured Debt / Covenant EBITDA     5.11 x     5.85 x     0.74 x

 

Covenant EBITDA – Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) adjusted for certain other adjustments, as defined in the 2017 Credit Facility                        

 

The following table summarizes the interest rates in effect with respect to our debt as of December 31, 2017:  

 

Type of Debt  Amount Outstanding  

Applicable

Interest

Rate

 
   (In millions)     
         
Senior bank term debt, net of original issue discount (at variable rates)(1)  $339.3    5.70%
9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes, net of original issue discount and issuance costs (fixed rate)   273.7    9.25%
7.375% Senior Secured Notes, net of original issue discount and issuance costs (fixed rate)   345.8    7.375%
Comcast Note due April 2019 (fixed rate)   11.9    10.47%

 

(1)Subject to variable LIBOR plus a spread that is incorporated into the applicable interest rate set forth above.

 

The following table provides a comparison of our statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

   2017   2016 
   (In thousands) 
     
Net cash flows provided by operating activities  $28,307   $48,249 
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities   12,555    (42,164)
Net cash flows used in financing activities   (49,832)   (26,680)

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities were approximately $28.3 million and $48.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Cash flow from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017, decreased from the prior year primarily due to timing of collections of accounts receivable and payments of accrued compensation.

 

Net cash flows provided by investing activities were approximately $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and net cash flows used in investing activities were approximately $42.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Capital expenditures, including digital tower and transmitter upgrades, and deposits for station equipment and purchases were approximately $7.4 million and $5.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company paid approximately $2.0 million to complete the acquisition of our new Richmond and Washington DC stations and during the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company paid approximately $5.0 million towards the acquisition of certain digital assets from Moguldom. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company received proceeds of approximately $2.0 million to complete the sale of its Detroit WCHB-AM station. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company received proceeds of approximately $25.0 million to complete its sale of certain land, towers and equipment as part of a sale-leaseback transaction. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company paid approximately $35.0 million to complete its cost method investment in MGM. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company paid approximately $2.0 million to complete the acquisition of our new Columbus stations.

 

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Net cash flows used in financing activities were approximately $49.8 million and $26.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company repaid approximately $347.4 million and $3.5 million respectively, in outstanding debt. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we borrowed approximately $350.0 million in new 2017 Credit Facility. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, we capitalized approximately $8.9 million and $421,000, respectively, of costs associated with our indebtedness. The amounts capitalized in 2017 relate to our new 2017 Credit Facility and the amounts capitalized in 2016 relate to costs associated with our line of credit arrangement. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, the Company repurchased approximately $38.6 million and $17.2 million of our 2020 Notes. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we repurchased approximately $5.0 million and $3.6 million of our Class D Common Stock, respectively. Reach Media paid approximately $2.0 million in dividends to noncontrolling interest shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Credit Rating Agencies

 

Our corporate credit ratings by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investors Service are speculative-grade and have been downgraded and upgraded at various times during the last several years. Any reductions in our credit ratings could increase our borrowing costs, reduce the availability of financing to us or increase our cost of doing business or otherwise negatively impact our business operations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 1 of our consolidated financial statements — Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for a summary of recent accounting pronouncements.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Our accounting policies are described in Note 1 of our consolidated financial statements – Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We consider the following policies and estimates to be most critical in understanding the judgments involved in preparing our financial statements and the uncertainties that could affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation for stock options and restricted stock grants in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation.” Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost for stock options is estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value as calculated by the Black-Scholes valuation option-pricing model (“BSM”) and is recognized as expense, less estimated forfeitures, ratably over the requisite service period.  The BSM incorporates various highly subjective assumptions including expected stock price volatility, for which historical data is heavily relied upon, expected life of options granted, forfeiture rates and interest rates. If any of the assumptions used in the BSM model change significantly, stock-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that previously recorded. Compensation expense for restricted stock grants is measured based on the fair value on the date of grant less estimated forfeitures. Compensation expense for restricted stock grants is recognized ratably during the vesting period.

 

Goodwill and Radio Broadcasting Licenses

 

Impairment Testing

 

We have made several acquisitions in the past for which a significant portion of the purchase price was allocated to radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill. Goodwill exists whenever the purchase price exceeds the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired in business combinations. As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $614.5 million in broadcast licenses and $262.9 million in goodwill, which totaled $877.4 million, and represented approximately 66.6% of our total assets. Therefore, we believe estimating the fair value of goodwill and radio broadcasting licenses is a critical accounting estimate because of the significance of their carrying values in relation to our total assets. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we recorded impairment charges against radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill, collectively, of approximately $29.1 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Significant impairment charges have been an on-going trend experienced by media companies in general, and are not unique to us.

 

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We test for impairment annually across all reporting units, or when events or changes in circumstances or other conditions suggest impairment may have occurred in any given reporting unit. Our annual impairment testing is performed as of October 1 of each year. Impairment exists when the carrying value of these assets exceeds its respective fair value. When the carrying value exceeds fair value, an impairment amount is charged to operations for the excess.

 

Valuation of Broadcasting Licenses

  

We utilize the services of a third-party valuation firm to assist us in estimating the fair value of our radio broadcasting licenses and reporting units. Fair value is estimated to be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We use the income approach to test for impairment of radio broadcasting licenses. A projection period of 10 years is used, as that is the time horizon in which operators and investors generally expect to recover their investments. When evaluating our radio broadcasting licenses for impairment, the testing is done at the unit of accounting level as determined by ASC 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.” In our case, each unit of accounting is a cluster of radio stations into one of our 15 geographical markets.  Broadcasting license fair values are based on the discounted future cash flows of the applicable unit of accounting assuming an initial hypothetical start-up operation which possesses FCC licenses as the only asset. Over time, it is assumed the operation acquires other tangible assets such as advertising and programming contracts, employment agreements and going concern value, and matures into an average performing operation in a specific radio market. The income approach model incorporates several variables, including, but not limited to: (i) radio market revenue estimates and growth projections; (ii) estimated market share and revenue for the hypothetical participant; (iii) likely media competition within the market; (iv) estimated start-up costs and losses incurred in the early years; (v) estimated profit margins and cash flows based on market size and station type; (vi) anticipated capital expenditures; (vii) estimated future terminal values; (viii) an effective tax rate assumption; and (ix) a discount rate based on the weighted-average cost of capital for the radio broadcast industry. In calculating the discount rate, we considered: (i) the cost of equity, which includes estimates of the risk-free return, the long-term market return, small stock risk premiums and industry beta; (ii) the cost of debt, which includes estimates for corporate borrowing rates and tax rates; and (iii) estimated average percentages of equity and debt in capital structures. 

 

Valuation of Goodwill

 

The impairment testing of goodwill is performed at the reporting unit level. We had 18 reporting units as of our October 2017 annual impairment assessment, consisting of each of the 15 radio markets within the radio division and each of the other three business divisions. In testing for the impairment of goodwill, we primarily rely on the income approach. The approach involves a 10-year model with similar variables as described above for broadcasting licenses, except that the discounted cash flows are based on the Company’s estimated and projected market revenue, market share and operating performance for its reporting units, instead of those for a hypothetical participant. We use a 5-year model for our Reach Media reporting unit. We evaluate all events and circumstances on an interim basis to determine if a two-step process is required. The first step of the process involves estimating the fair value of each reporting unit. If the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, a second step is performed to attribute the fair value of the reporting unit to the individual assets and liabilities of the reporting unit in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill as of the impairment assessment date. Any excess of the carrying value of the goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill is written off as a charge to operations.

  

 As part of our annual testing, when arriving at the estimated fair values for radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill, we also performed an analysis by comparing our overall average implied multiple based on our cash flow projections and fair values to recently completed sales transactions, and by comparing our fair value estimates to the market capitalization of the Company. The results of these comparisons confirmed that the fair value estimates resulting from our annual assessment for 2017 were reasonable.

 

Below are some of the key assumptions used in the income approach model for estimating the broadcasting license and goodwill fair values for the annual impairment testing performed and interim impairment testing performed where an impairment charge was recorded since October 2016.

 

Radio Broadcasting  October 1,   September 30,   June 30,   October 1, 
Licenses  2017   2017 (a)   2017 (a)   2016 
                 
Impairment charge (in millions)  $   $16.4   $12.7   $1.3 
                     
Discount Rate   9.0%   9.0%   9.0%   9.0%
Year 1 Market Revenue Growth Rate Range   (5.0)% – 1.4%   (5.0)% – 2.0%   1.0% – 2.0%   1.0% – 2.4%
Long-term Market Revenue Growth Rate Range (Years 6 – 10)   0.5% – 1.5%   0.5% – 1.5%   0.5% – 1.5%   0.5% – 1.5%
Mature Market Share Range   6.8% – 25.4%   6.9% – 25.8%   6.9% – 15.3%   6.9% – 25.8%
Mature Operating Profit Margin Range   30.9% – 46.9%   31.0% – 47.0 %   31.6% – 47.0 %   30.5% – 51.8 %

 

(a)Reflects changes only to the key assumptions used in the interim testing for certain units of accounting.

 

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Goodwill (Radio Market  October 1,   October 1, 
Reporting Units)  2017 (a)   2016 (a) 
         
Impairment charge (in millions)  $   $ 
           
Discount Rate   9.0%   9.0%
Year 1 Market Revenue Growth Rate Range   (8.4)% – 46.6%   (9.4)% – 29.4%
Long-term Market Revenue Growth Rate Range (Years 6 – 10)   0.5% – 1.5%   0.5% – 1.5%
Mature Market Share Range   8.0% – 18.2%   8.1% – 18.4%
Mature Operating Profit Margin Range   25.1% – 50.1%   26.3% – 53.8%

 

  (a) Reflects the key assumptions for testing only those radio markets with remaining goodwill.

 

Below are some of the key assumptions used in the income approach model for estimating the fair value for Reach Media for the annual assessments performed and interim impairment testing where an impairment charge was recorded since October 2016. When compared to the discount rates used for assessing radio market reporting units, the higher discount rates used in these assessments reflect a premium for a riskier and broader media business, with a heavier concentration and significantly higher amount of programming content assets that are highly dependent on the on-air personality Tom Joyner. As a result of our impairment assessments, the Company concluded that goodwill was not impaired.

 

   October 1,   October 1, 
Reach Media Segment Goodwill  2017   2016 
         
Impairment charge (in millions)  $   $ 
           
Discount Rate   10.5%   10.5%
Year 1 Revenue Growth Rate   (11.3)%   (0.3)%
Long-term Revenue Growth Rate (Year 5)   1.0%   1.0%
Operating Profit Margin Range   13.5% – 15.9%   15.1% – 17.5%

 

Below are some of the key assumptions used in the income approach model for determining the fair value of our digital reporting unit since October 2016. When compared to discount rates for the radio reporting units, the higher discount rate used to value the reporting unit is reflective of discount rates applicable to internet media businesses. The net revenue, cash flow projections and internal projections have been revised for the October 1, 2016 annual testing due to a new, more centralized management of its digital segment. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company changed its reportable segment disclosures to better reflect our operating strategy. The Company concluded no impairment to the carrying value of goodwill had occurred as a result of the annual testing performed in 2017 and 2016.

 

   October 1,   October 1, 
Digital Segment Goodwill  2017   2016 
         
Impairment charge (in millions)  $   $ 
           
Discount Rate   13.0%   12.5%
Year 1 Revenue Growth Rate   24.1%   9.8%
Long-term Revenue Growth Rate (Years 6 – 10)   2.4% – 4.3%   3.0% – 8.4%
Operating Profit Margin Range   (1.5)% – 17.0%   (9.8)% – 20.3%

 

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Below are some of the key assumptions used in the income approach model for determining the fair value of our cable television segment since October 2016. As a result of the testing performed in 2017 and 2016, the Company concluded no impairment to the carrying value of goodwill had occurred.

 

   October 1,   October 1, 
Cable Television Segment Goodwill  2017   2016 
         
Impairment charge (in millions)  $   $ 
           
Discount Rate   11.0%   11.0%
Year 1 Revenue Growth Rate   4.8%   7.4%
Long-term Revenue Growth Rate Range (Years 6 – 10)   2.3% – 2.7%   2.3% – 2.9%
Operating Profit Margin Range   42.2% – 45.9%   40.2% – 44.3%

 

The above four goodwill tables reflect some of the key valuation assumptions used for 12 of our 18 reporting units. The other six remaining reporting units had no goodwill carrying value balances as of December 31, 2017.

 

In arriving at the estimated fair values for radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill, we also performed an analysis by comparing our overall average implied multiple based on our cash flow projections and fair values to recently completed sales transactions, and by comparing our fair value estimates to the market capitalization of the Company. The results of these comparisons confirmed that the fair value estimates resulting from our annual assessment for 2017 were reasonable.

 

Sensitivity Analysis

 

We believe both the estimates and assumptions we utilized when assessing the potential for impairment are individually and in aggregate reasonable; however, our estimates and assumptions are highly judgmental in nature. Further, there are inherent uncertainties related to these estimates and assumptions and our judgment in applying them to the impairment analysis. While we believe we have made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair values, changes in any one estimate, assumption or a combination of estimates and assumptions, or changes in certain events or circumstances (including uncontrollable events and circumstances resulting from continued deterioration in the economy or credit markets) could require us to assess recoverability of broadcasting licenses and goodwill at times other than our annual  October 1 assessments, and could result in changes to our estimated fair values and further write-downs to the carrying values of these assets. Impairment charges are non-cash in nature, and as with current and past impairment charges, any future impairment charges will not impact our cash needs or liquidity or our bank ratio covenant compliance.

  

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We had a total goodwill carrying value of approximately $262.9 million across 12 of our 18 reporting units as of December 31, 2017. The below table indicates the long-term cash flow growth rates assumed in our impairment testing and the long-term cash flow growth/decline rates that would result in additional goodwill impairment. For three of the reporting units, given the significant excess of their fair value over carrying value, any future goodwill impairment is not likely. However, should our estimates and assumptions for assessing the fair values of the remaining reporting units with goodwill worsen to reflect the below or lower cash flow growth/decline rates, additional goodwill impairments may be warranted in the future.

 

Reporting Unit   Long-Term
Cash Flow
Growth Rate
Used
  Long-Term Cash
Flow
Growth/(Decline) Rate
That Would Result in a
Step 2 Test (a)
2   1.5%   Impairment not likely
16   1.5%   Impairment not likely
21   2.5%   Impairment not likely
1   1.5%   1.2%
11   1.0%   (2.0)%
4   1.5%   (2.5)%
12   1.0%   (3.7)%
6   0.5%   (6.1)%
13   1.5%   (8.6)%
10   1.5%   (11.6)%
18   2.5%   (12.1)%
19   1.0%   (18.7)%

 

(a)The long-term cash flow growth/(decline) rate that would result in failing Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test applies only to further goodwill impairment and not to any future license impairment that would result from lowering the long-term cash flow growth rates used.

 

Several of the licenses in our units of accounting have limited or no excess of fair values over their respective carrying values. As set forth in the table below, as of October 1, 2017, we appraised the radio broadcasting licenses at a fair value of approximately $759.0 million, which was in excess of the $614.5 million carrying value by $144.5 million, or 23.5%. After the impairment charges were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2017, the fair values of the licenses exceeded the carrying values of the licenses for all units of accounting. Should our estimates, assumptions, or events or circumstances for any upcoming valuations worsen in the units with no or limited fair value cushion, additional license impairments may be needed in the future.

 

   Radio Broadcasting Licenses 
   As of         
   October 1,
2017
   October 1,
2017
   Excess 
Unit of Accounting (a)  Carrying
Values
(“CV”)
   Fair
Values
(“FV”)
   FV vs. CV   % FV
Over CV
 
   (In thousands)     
Unit of Accounting 2  $3,086   $52,870   $49,784    1,613.2%
Unit of Accounting 7   14,748    16,639    1,891    12.8%
Unit of Accounting 5   16,100    16,333    233    1.4%
Unit of Accounting 4   16,142    19,804    3,662    22.7%
Unit of Accounting 14   20,770    24,054    3,284    15.8%
Unit of Accounting 15   20,736    21,371    635    3.1%
Unit of Accounting 11   21,135    21,690    555    2.6%
Unit of Accounting 6   22,642    25,747    3,105    13.7%
Unit of Accounting 9   32,875    40,926    8,051    24.5%
Unit of Accounting 13   47,846    49,861    2,015    4.2%
Unit of Accounting 12   49,663    51,022    1,359    2.7%
Unit of Accounting 16   54,258    94,897    40,639    74.9%
Unit of Accounting 8   62,015    68,901    6,886    11.1%
Unit of Accounting 1   93,394    108,415    15,021    16.1%
Unit of Accounting 10   139,125    146,464    7,339    5.3%
Total  $614,535   $758,994   $144,459    23.5%

 

(a)The units of accounting are not disclosed on a specific market basis so as to not make publicly available sensitive information that could be competitively harmful to the Company.

  

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The following table presents a sensitivity analysis showing the impact on our impairment testing resulting from: (i) a 100 basis point decrease in industry or reporting unit growth rates; (ii) a 100 basis point decrease in cash flow margins; (iii) a 100 basis point increase in the discount rate; and (iv) both a 5% and 10% reduction in the fair values of broadcasting licenses and reporting units.

 

   Hypothetical Increase in the
Recorded Impairment Charge
For the Year Ended
December 31, 2017
 
   Broadcasting
Licenses
   Goodwill (a) 
   (In millions) 
         
Impairment charge recorded:          
Radio Market Reporting Units  $29.1   $- 
Radio Syndication Reporting Unit   -    - 
Cable Television Reporting Unit   -    - 
Digital Reporting Unit   -    - 
Total Impairment Recorded  $29.1   $- 
           
Hypothetical Change for Radio Market Reporting Units:          
A 100 basis point decrease in radio industry long-term growth rates  $16.1   $3.9 
A 100 basis point decrease in cash flow margin in the projection period  $0.9   $- 
A 100 basis point increase in the applicable discount rate  $35.5   $9.9 
A 5% reduction in the fair value of broadcasting licenses and reporting units  $3.2   $1.3 
A 10% reduction in the fair value of broadcasting licenses and reporting units  $18.5   $7.1 
           
Hypothetical Change for Reach Media Reporting Unit:          
A 100 basis point decrease in long-term growth rates    Not applicable   $- 
A 100 basis point decrease in cash flow margin in the projection period    Not applicable   $- 
A 100 basis point increase in the applicable discount rate    Not applicable   $- 
A 5% reduction in the fair value of the reporting unit    Not applicable   $- 
A 10% reduction in the fair value of the reporting unit    Not applicable   $- 
           
Hypothetical Change for Cable Television Reporting Unit:          
A 100 basis point decrease in long-term growth rates    Not applicable   $- 
A 100 basis point decrease in cash flow margin in the projection period    Not applicable   $- 
A 100 basis point increase in the applicable discount rate    Not applicable   $- 
A 5% reduction in the fair value of the reporting unit    Not applicable   $- 
A 10% reduction in the fair value of the reporting unit    Not applicable   $- 
           
Hypothetical Change for Digital Reporting Unit:          
A 100 basis point decrease in long-term growth rates    Not applicable   $- 
A 100 basis point decrease in cash flow margin in the projection period    Not applicable   $- 
A 100 basis point increase in the applicable discount rate    Not applicable   $- 
A 5% reduction in the fair value of the reporting unit    Not applicable   $- 
A 10% reduction in the fair value of the reporting unit    Not applicable   $- 

 

(a)Could require the Company to perform a Step 2 impairment analysis if these hypothetical changes would result in a failure of the Step 1 goodwill impairment test. Goodwill impairment charge applies only to further goodwill impairment and not to any potential license impairment that could result from changing other assumptions.

 

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Impairment of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill, Radio Broadcasting Licenses and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, radio broadcasting licenses and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be fully recoverable. These events or changes in circumstances may include a significant deterioration of operating results, changes in business plans, or changes in anticipated future cash flows. If an impairment indicator is present, we will evaluate recoverability by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets to future discounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or group of assets. Assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there is identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows generated by other asset groups. If the assets are impaired, the impairment is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the assets determined by estimates of discounted cash flows. The discount rate used in any estimate of discounted cash flows would be the rate required for a similar investment of like risk. The Company reviewed certain intangibles for impairment during 2017 and 2016 and determined no impairment charges were necessary. Any changes in the valuation estimates and assumptions or changes in certain events or circumstances could result in changes to the estimated fair values of these intangible assets and may result in future write-downs to the carrying values.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Within our radio broadcasting and Reach Media segments, we recognize revenue for broadcast advertising when the commercial is broadcast and we report revenue net of agency and outside sales representative commissions in accordance with ASC 605, “Revenue Recognition.”  When applicable, agency and outside sales representative commissions are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing. Generally, advertisers remit the gross billing amount to the agency or outside sales representative, and the agency or outside sales representative remits the gross billing, less their commission, to us.

 

Within our digital segment, including Interactive One, which generates the majority of the Company’s digital revenue, revenue is principally derived from advertising services on non-radio station branded but Company-owned websites. Advertising services include the sale of banner and sponsorship advertisements.  Advertising revenue is recognized either as impressions (the number of times advertisements appear in viewed pages) are delivered, when “click through” purchases are made, or ratably over the contract period, where applicable. In addition, Interactive One derives revenue from its studio operations, in which it provides third-party clients with publishing services including digital platforms and related expertise.  In the case of the studio operations, revenue is recognized primarily through fixed contractual monthly fees and/or as a share of the third party’s reported revenue.

 

TV One derives advertising revenue from the sale of television air time to advertisers and recognizes revenue when the advertisements are run. TV One also derives revenue from affiliate fees under the terms of various affiliation agreements based on a per subscriber fee multiplied by the most recent subscriber counts reported by the applicable affiliate.

 

Contingencies and Litigation

 

We regularly evaluate our exposure relating to any contingencies or litigation and record a liability when available information indicates that a liability is probable and estimable. We also disclose significant matters that are reasonably possible to result in a loss, or are probable but for which an estimate of the liability is not currently available. To the extent actual contingencies and litigation outcomes differ from amounts previously recorded, additional amounts may need to be reflected.

 

Uncertain Tax Positions

 

To address the exposures of uncertain tax positions, we recognize the impact of a tax position in the financial statements if it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained on audit based on the technical merits of the position. As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $5.8 million in unrecognized tax benefits. Future outcomes of our tax positions may be more or less than the currently recorded liability, which could result in recording additional taxes, or reversing some portion of the liability, and recognizing a tax benefit once it is determined the liability is either inadequate or no longer necessary as potential issues get resolved, or as statutes of limitations in various tax jurisdictions close.

 

Realizability of Deferred Tax Assets

 

The Company maintains a full valuation allowance for certain of its deferred tax assets (“DTAs”), primarily attributable to net operating losses (“NOLs”) generated before the Tax and Jobs Act of 2017, as we determined that it is more likely than not that the DTAs will not be realized. The Company reached this determination based on its cumulative loss position and the uncertainty of future taxable income.

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests are interests in subsidiaries that are redeemable outside of the Company’s control either for cash or other assets. These interests are classified as mezzanine equity and measured at the greater of estimated redemption value at the end of each reporting period or the historical cost basis of the noncontrolling interests adjusted for cumulative earnings allocations.  The resulting increases or decreases in the estimated redemption amount are affected by corresponding charges against retained earnings, or in the absence of retained earnings, additional paid-in-capital.

 

 44 

 

 

With the assistance of a third-party valuation firm, the Company assesses the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest in Reach Media as of the end of each reporting period.  The fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, was approximately $10.8 million and $12.4 million, respectively.  The determination of fair value incorporated a number of assumptions and estimates including, but not limited to, forecasted operating results, discount rates and a terminal value.  Different estimates and assumptions may result in a change to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests amount previously recorded.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company accounts for an award called for in the CEO’s employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) as a derivative instrument. According to the Employment Agreement, executed in April 2008, the CEO is eligible to receive an award (the “Employment Agreement Award”) amount equal to approximately 4% of any proceeds from distributions or other liquidity events in excess of the return of the Company’s aggregate investment in TV One. The Company’s obligation to pay the award was triggered after the Company’s recovery of the aggregate amount of our pre-Comcast Buyout capital contribution in TV One, and payment is required only upon actual receipt of distributions of cash or marketable securities or proceeds from a liquidity event with respect to such invested amount. The CEO was fully vested in the award upon execution of the Employment Agreement, and the award lapses if the CEO voluntarily leaves the Company or is terminated for cause.  The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved terms for a new employment agreement with the CEO, including a renewal of the Employment Agreement Award upon similar terms as in the prior Employment Agreement. While a new employment agreement has not been executed as of the date of this report, the CEO is being compensated according to the new terms approved by the Compensation Committee.

 

The Company estimated the fair value of the Employment Agreement Award as of December 31, 2017, at approximately $32.3 million and, accordingly, recorded compensation expense and a liability for that amount. The fair value estimate incorporated a number of assumptions and estimates, including but not limited to TV One’s future financial projections, probability factors and the likelihood of various scenarios that would trigger payment of the award. As the Company will measure changes in the fair value of this award at each reporting period as warranted by certain circumstances, different estimates or assumptions may result in a change to the fair value of the award amount previously recorded.

 

Content Assets

 

TV One has entered into contracts to acquire entertainment programming rights and programs from distributors and producers. The license periods granted in these contracts generally run from one year to ten years. Contract payments are made in installments over terms that are generally shorter than the contract period. Each contract is recorded as an asset and a liability at an amount equal to its gross contractual commitment when the license period begins and the program is available for its first airing. Acquired content is generally amortized on a straight-line method over the term of the license which reflects the estimated usage. For certain content for which the pattern of usage is accelerated, amortization is based upon the actual usage. Amortization of content assets is recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as programming and technical expenses.

 

The Company also has programming for which the Company has engaged third parties to develop and produce, and it owns most or all rights (commissioned programming). In accordance with ASC 926, content amortization expense for each period is recognized based on the revenue forecast model, which approximates the proportion that estimated advertising and affiliate revenues for the current period represent in relation to the estimated remaining total lifetime revenues as of the beginning of the current period.  Management regularly reviews, and revises when necessary, its total revenue estimates, which may result in a change in the rate of amortization and/or a write-down of the asset to fair value.  As a result of this review, the Company made a revision to the estimated remaining forecasted revenues for certain content assets which increased the programming life of content assets resulting in a reduction of amortization expense of approximately $8.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.  There was no significant change in forecasted revenues for programming assets during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Acquired program rights are recorded at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value. Estimated net realizable values are based on the estimated revenues associated with the program materials and related expenses. All produced and licensed content is classified as a long-term asset, except for the portion of the unamortized content balance that will be amortized within one year which is classified as a current asset.

 

Tax incentives that state and local governments offer that are directly measured based on production activities are recorded as reductions in production costs.

 

Capital and Commercial Commitments

 

Indebtedness

   

We have several debt instruments outstanding within our corporate structure. We incurred senior bank debt as part of our 2017 Credit Facility in the amount of $350.0 million that matures on the earlier of (i) April 18, 2023, or (ii) in the event such debt is not repaid or refinanced, 91 days prior to the maturity of either of the Company’s 2022 Notes or the Company’s 2020 Notes. We also have $275.0 million outstanding in our 2020 Notes and we have $350.0 million outstanding in our 2022 Notes. Finally, we also have outstanding our senior unsecured promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $11.9 million under the Comcast Note. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources.

 

Lease obligations

 

We have non-cancelable operating leases for office space, studio space, broadcast towers and transmitter facilities that expire over the next 14 years.

 

Operating Contracts and Agreements

 

We have other operating contracts and agreements including employment contracts, on-air talent contracts, severance obligations, retention bonuses, consulting agreements, equipment rental agreements, programming related agreements, and other general operating agreements that expire over the next eight years.

 

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Royalty Agreements

 

The Company has historically entered into fixed and variable fee music license agreements with performance rights organizations including Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”), the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (“SESAC”) and, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”).   Our BMI license expired December 31, 2016. The expiration was an industry wide issue. The Company has authorized the Radio Music License Committee (the “RMLC”) to negotiate on its behalf with respect to its licenses with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, including the BMI license that expired December 31, 2016. While the RMLC continues to pursue resolution with BMI, the RMLC has advised operators to make payments to BMI as invoiced by BMI anticipating retroactive discount likely to be applied. In July 2017, the RMLC learned that the RMLC-Represented broadcasters were awarded a discount off of the SESAC license rate card. The fee reduction applies for the license period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018 and has retroactive application.  The RMLC negotiated a new 5 year agreement with ASCAP with a license term of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021.  In connection with all performance rights organization agreements, including SESAC, ASCAP and BMI, the Company incurred expenses of approximately $8.8 million and $8.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Finally, in 2016, a new performance rights organization, Global Music Rights (“GMR”) formed, but the scope of its repertory is not clear and it is not clear that it licenses compositions that have not already been licensed by the other performance rights organizations.  To ensure licensing compliance in 2017, we have entered into a temporary license with GMR while the RMLC continues to pursue an agreement for a long term licensing solution.  GMR has agreed to offer all commercial broadcasters, the opportunity to extend their existing interim licenses until September 30, 2018.  GMR will offer these interim license extensions on the same terms as each broadcaster’s existing interim license, except for the new end date.

 

Reach Media Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Shareholders’ Put Rights

 

Beginning on January 1, 2018, the noncontrolling interest shareholders of Reach Media have an annual right to require Reach Media to purchase all or a portion of their shares at the then current fair market value for such shares (the “Put Right”).   Beginning in 2018, this annual right is exercisable for a 30-day period beginning January 1 of each year. The purchase price for such shares may be paid in cash and/or registered Class D common stock of Urban One, at the discretion of Urban One. The noncontrolling interest shareholders of Reach Media did not exercise their Put Right for the 30-day period ending January 30, 2018. Management, at this time, cannot reasonably determine the period when and if, the put right will be exercised by the noncontrolling interest shareholders.

 

Contractual Obligations Schedule

 

The following table represents our scheduled contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017:

 

   Payments Due by Period 
Contractual Obligations  2018   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023 and
Beyond
   Total 
   (In thousands) 
9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes(1)  $25,438   $25,438   $277,826   $   $   $   $328,702 
7.375% Senior Subordinated Notes(1)   25,813    25,813    25,813    25,813    357,529        460,781 
Credit facilities(2)   23,986    24,806    25,266    25,712    25,813    335,754    461,337 
Other operating contracts/agreements(3)   67,251    31,518    24,254    22,112    14,254    62,655    222,044 
Operating lease obligations   11,969    11,141    10,504    9,104    8,271    24,065    75,054 
Comcast Note   1,243    12,086                    13,329 
Total  $155,700   $130,802   $363,663   $82,741   $405,867   $422,474   $1,561,247 

 

(1) Includes interest obligations based on effective interest rates on senior subordinated and secured notes outstanding as of December 31, 2017.  
   
(2) Includes interest obligations based on effective interest rate and projected interest expense on credit facilities outstanding as of December 31, 2017.
   
(3) Includes employment contracts (including the Employment Agreement Award), severance obligations, on-air talent contracts, consulting agreements, equipment rental agreements, programming related agreements, and other general operating agreements. Also includes contracts that TV One has entered into to acquire entertainment programming rights and programs from distributors and producers.  These contracts relate to their content assets as well as prepaid programming related agreements.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

On February 24, 2015, the Company entered into a letter of credit reimbursement and security agreement. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had letters of credit totaling $738,000 under the agreement. Letters of credit issued under the agreement are required to be collateralized with cash.

 

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ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The consolidated financial statements of Urban One required by this item are filed with this report on Pages F-1 to F-40.

 

ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

 

We have carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in our periodic SEC reports. Disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, are controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide a reasonable level of assurance of reaching our desired disclosure controls objective. Our management, including our CEO and CFO, has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in reaching that level of reasonable assurance.

  

(b) Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, our management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on this assessment, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm is engaged to express an opinion on our internal control over financial reporting, as stated in its report which is included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K under the caption “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.”

 

(c) Changes in internal control over financial reporting

 

During the year ended December 31, 2017, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

The information with respect to directors and executive officers required by this Item 10 is incorporated into this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Nominees for Class A Directors,” “Nominees for Other Directors,” “Code of Conduct,” and “Executive Officers” in our proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is expected to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year. 

 

ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated into this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers” in our proxy statement.

 

ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated into this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Principal Stockholders” in our proxy statement. 

 

ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated into this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in our proxy statement.

 

ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated into this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Audit Fees” in our proxy statement.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)(1) Financial Statements

 

The following financial statements required by this item are submitted in a separate section beginning on page F-1 of this report:

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted from this Form 10-K because they are not required, are not applicable, or the required information is included in the financial statements and notes thereto.

 

(a)(2) EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:   The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report, except for Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2, which are furnished, but not filed, with this Annual Report.

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description  
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Urban Inc., dated as of May 4, 2000, as filed with the State of Delaware on May 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Urban One’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2000).  
3.1.1   Certificate of Amendment, dated as of April 25, 2017, of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Urban One, Inc., dated as of April 25, 2017, as filed with the State of Delaware on April 25, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 8, 2017).  
3.2   Amended and Restated By-laws of Urban One, Inc. amended as of August 7, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 8, 2017).  
3.3   Certificate of Conversion of Bell Broadcasting Company into Bell Broadcasting Company LLC (incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 3.13 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 14, 2016).  
3.4   Articles of Organization of Blue Chip Broadcasting Licenses, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.32 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).  
3.5   Operating Agreement of Blue Chip Broadcasting Licenses, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.60 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).  
3.6   Articles of Organization of Blue Chip Broadcasting, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.30 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).  
3.7   Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Blue Chip Broadcasting, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.59 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).  
3.8   Certificate of Formation of Charlotte Broadcasting, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.18 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.9   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Charlotte Broadcasting, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.53 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).

 

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3.10   Certificate of Formation of Distribution One, LLC. (incorporated by reference  to Exhibit 3.15 to  Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.11   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Distribution One, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.16 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.12   Articles of Incorporation of Interactive One, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.19 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.13   Bylaws of Interactive One, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.20 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.14   Certificate of Formation of Interactive One, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.21 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.15   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Interactive One, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.22 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.16   Certificate of Incorporation of New Mableton Broadcasting Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.43 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.17   Bylaws of New Mableton Broadcasting Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.70 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.18   Certificate of Conversion of Radio One Cable Holdings, Inc.to Radio One Cable Holdings, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.19 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.19   Certificate of Conversion of formation of Radio One Cable Holdings, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.20 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.20   Certificate of Formation of Radio One Distribution Holdings, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.27 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.21   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One Cable Holdings, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.20 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.22   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One Distribution Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.28 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 9, 2011).
3.23   Certificate of Formation of Radio One Licenses, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.24   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One Licenses, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.46 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.25   Certificate of Formation of Radio One Media Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.44 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.26   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One Media Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.71 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.27   Certificate of Formation of Radio One of Boston Licenses, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.23 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.28   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One of Boston Licenses, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.56 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.29   Certificate of Formation of Radio One of Charlotte, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.15 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.30   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One of Charlotte, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.51 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.31   Certificate of Formation of Radio One of Detroit, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.32   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One of Detroit, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.48 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.33   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Radio One of Indiana, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.35 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.34   Limited Partnership Agreement of Radio One of Indiana, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.63 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.35   Certificate of Formation of Radio One of Indiana, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.38 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.36   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One of Indiana, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.66 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.37   Certificate of Formation of Radio One of North Carolina, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.20 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.38   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One of North Carolina, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.54 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.39   Certificate of Formation of Radio One of Texas II, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.37 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).

 

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3.40   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One of Texas II, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.65 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.41   Certificate of Formation of Satellite One, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.39 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.42   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Satellite One, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.67 to Urban One’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 5, 2005).
3.43   Certificate of Formation of IO Acquisition Sub, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.46 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.44   Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Formation of BossipMadameNoire, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 8, 2017).
3.45   Limited Liability Company Agreement of BossipMadameNoire, LLC  (formerly IO Acquistion Sub and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.47 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.46   Certificate of Formation of Radio One Urban Network Holdings, LLC  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.48 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.47   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One Urban Network Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.49 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.48   Certificate of Formation of Radio One Entertainment Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.50 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.49   Limited Liability Company Agreement of Radio One Entertainment Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.51 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.50   Certificate of Conversion of Gaffney Broadcasting, LLC  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.52 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.51   Certificate of Incorporation of Reach Media, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.53 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.52   Bylaws of Reach Media, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.54 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
3.53   Certificate of Formation of RO One Solution, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.54 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 14, 2016).
4.1   Indenture, dated as of April 17, 2015, among  Radio One, Inc., the guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, relating to the 7.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 23, 2015). 
4.2   Indenture, dated as of February 10, 2014, among  Radio One, Inc., the guarantors named therein and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, relating to the 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 10, 2014). 
4.3    Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 30, 2014, among Gaffney Broadcasting, Incorporated, a subsidiary of Radio One, Inc., Radio One, Inc., the other Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to Urban One’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2014). 
4.4   Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 13, 2015, among Radio One Urban Network Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, IO Acquisition Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, each a subsidiary of Radio One, Inc., the other Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Urban One’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 17, 2015).
4.5   Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 26, 2015 (this “Supplemental Indenture”), by and between Radio One, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Other Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 1, 2015). 
4.6   Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 17, 2015, among TV One, LLC, Radio One, Inc., the other Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 23, 2015). 
10.1   Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated as of September 28, 2004 among Catherine L. Hughes and Alfred C. Liggins, III (incorporated by reference 4.1 Urban One’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2005).
10.2   Credit Agreement, dated April 18, 2017, by and among Radio One Inc., Various Lenders and Guggenheim Securities Credit Partners, LLC, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 21, 2017).
10.3   Radio One, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Grant Plan (incorporated by reference to Urban One’s Definitive Proxy on Schedule 14A filed November 6, 2009).
10.4   Employment Agreement between Radio One, Inc. and Peter D. Thompson dated October 9, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 4, 2014).

 

 51 

 

 

10.5   Employment Agreement between Radio One, Inc. and Alfred C. Liggins, III dated April 16, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 18, 2008).
10.6   Terms of Employment Agreement between Radio One, Inc. and Alfred C. Liggins, III approved September 30, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Item 5.02 of Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 6, 2014).
10.7   Employment Agreement between Radio One, Inc. and Catherine L. Hughes dated April 16, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 18, 2008).
10.8   Terms of Employment Agreement between Radio One, Inc. and Catherine L. Hughes approved September 30, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Item 5.02 of Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 6, 2014).
10.9   Credit Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2016, among Radio One, Inc., the lenders party thereto from time to time and Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 27, 2016).
10.10   Extension Agreement attaching to and made a part of Employment Agreement by and between Radio One, Inc. and Peter D. Thompson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Urban One’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 27, 2016).
21.1   Subsidiaries of Urban One, Inc.*
23.1   Consent of BDO USA, LLP *
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
101   Financial information from the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, formatted in XBRL.*
     
    *Indicates document filed herewith.

 

ITEM 16.    FORM 10-K SUMMARY

 

None.

 

 52 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on March 16, 2018.

 

 

  URBAN One, Inc.  
       
  By: /s/ Peter D. Thompson  
  Name: Peter D. Thompson  
  Title: Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities indicated on March 16, 2018.

 

By: /s/  Catherine L. Hughes  
     
Name: Catherine L. Hughes  
     
Title: Chairperson, Director and Secretary  
     
By: /s/  Alfred C. Liggins, III  
     
Name: Alfred C. Liggins, III  
     
Title: Chief Executive Officer, President and Director  
     
By: /s/  Terry L. Jones  
     
Name: Terry L. Jones  
     
Title: Director  
     
By: /s/  Brian W. McNeill  
     
Name: Brian W. McNeill  
     
Title: Director  
     
By: /s/  D. Geoffrey Armstrong  
     
Name: D. Geoffrey Armstrong  
     
Title: Director  
     
By: /s/  Ronald E. Blaylock  
     
Name: Ronald E. Blaylock  
     
Title: Director  

 

 53 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Shareholders and Board of Directors

Urban One, Inc.

Silver Spring, Maryland

 

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited Urban One, Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the “Company’s”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets of Urban One, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ (deficit) equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and schedule and our report dated March 16, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. 

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Item 9A, Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

 

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

McLean, Virginia

 

March 16, 2018

 

 F-1 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Shareholders and Board of Directors

Urban One, Inc.

Silver Spring, Maryland

 

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Urban One, Inc. (the Company) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ (deficit) equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and schedule, collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 16, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

 

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.

 

McLean, Virginia

March 16, 2018

 

 F-2 

 

 

URBAN ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   As of December 31, 
   2017   2016 
   (In thousands, except share data) 
ASSETS          
CURRENT ASSETS:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $37,009   $45,812 
Restricted cash   802    969 
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,071 and $6,991, respectively   111,596    104,351 
Prepaid expenses   9,013    7,902 
Current portion of content assets   37,549    35,854 
Other current assets   3,766    4,772 
Total current assets   199,735    199,660 
CONTENT ASSETS, net   74,508    66,822 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net   25,181    24,851 
GOODWILL   262,894    258,284 
RADIO BROADCASTING LICENSES   614,535    643,449 
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net   94,055    116,600 
OTHER ASSETS   45,847    49,120 
Total assets  $1,316,755   $1,358,786 
 LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)          
CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
Accounts payable  $8,127   $7,555 
Accrued interest   15,428    16,691 
Accrued compensation and related benefits   8,648    15,199 
Current portion of content payables   17,891    22,872 
Other current liabilities   27,236    26,647 
Current portion of long-term debt   3,500    3,500 
Total current liabilities   80,830    92,464 
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion, original issue discount and issuance costs   967,166    1,002,736 
CONTENT PAYABLES, net of current portion   21,879    16,135 
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES   44,853    33,434 
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES, net   148,592    272,733 
Total liabilities   1,263,320    1,417,502 
           
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS   10,780    12,410 
           
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT):          
Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares outstanding at December  31, 2017 and 2016        
Common stock — Class A, $.001 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized; 1,641,632 and 1,693,099 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively   2    2 
Common stock — Class B, $.001 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 2,861,843 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016   3    3 
Common stock — Class C, $.001 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 2,928,906 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016   3    3 
Common stock — Class D, $.001 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 41,014,121 and 41,159,474 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively   41    41 
Additional paid-in capital   983,582    981,688 
Accumulated deficit   (940,976)   (1,052,863)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)   42,655    (71,126)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity  $1,316,755   $1,358,786 

 

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

 F-3 

 

 

URBAN ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

  

For the Years Ended December 31,

 
   2017   2016 
   (In thousands, except share data) 
         
NET REVENUE  $440,041   $456,219 
OPERATING EXPENSES:          
Programming and technical   130,417    134,000 
Selling, general and administrative, including stock-based compensation of $802 and $306, respectively   148,725    147,905 
Corporate selling, general and administrative, including stock-based compensation of $3,845 and $3,104, respectively   45,016    50,636 
Depreciation and amortization   34,016    34,247 
Impairment of long-lived assets   29,148    1,287 
Total operating expenses   387,322    368,075 
Operating income   52,719    88,144 
INTEREST INCOME   200    214 
INTEREST EXPENSE   79,420    81,636 
LOSS (GAIN) ON RETIREMENT OF DEBT   5,219    (2,646)
GAIN ON SALE-LEASEBACK   (14,411)    
OTHER INCOME, net   (6,608)   (928)
(Loss) income before (benefit from) provision for income taxes and noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries   (10,701)   10,296 
(BENEFIT FROM) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES   (123,163)   9,580 
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME   112,462    716 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS   575    1,139 
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS  $111,887   $(423)
           
BASIC NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE  TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:          
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders  $2.37   $(0.01)
           
DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE  TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:          
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders  $2.25   $(0.01)
           
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:          
Basic   47,169,682    47,924,609 
Diluted   49,632,884    47,924,609 

 

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

 

 F-4 

 

 

URBAN ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

  

For The Years Ended
December 31,

 
   2017   2016 
  

(In thousands)

 

 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  $112,462   $716 
LESS: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS   575    1,139 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS  $111,887   $(423)

 

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

 

 F-5 

 

 

URBAN ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY

For The Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2017

 

   Convertible
Preferred
Stock
   Common
Stock
Class A
   Common
Stock
Class B
   Common
Stock
Class C
   Common
Stock
Class D
   Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   Accumulated
Deficit
   Total 
(Deficit) Equity
 
   (In thousands, except share data) 
BALANCE, as of December 31, 2015  $   $2   $3   $3   $42   $983,847   $(1,055,721)  $(71,824)
Consolidated net loss                           (423)   (423)
Tax impact of increased ownership of TV One                           3,281    3,281 
Stock-based compensation expense                       3,410        3,410 
Conversion of 410,808 shares of Class A common stock to Class D common stock                                
Repurchase of 1,585,703 shares of Class D common stock                   (1)   (3,583)       (3,584)
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interests to estimated redemption value                       (1,986)       (1,986)
BALANCE, as of December 31, 2016  $   $2   $3   $3   $41   $981,688   $(1,052,863)  $(71,126)
Consolidated net income                           111,887    111,887 
Stock-based compensation expense                   2    4,645        4,647 
Conversion of 51,467 shares of Class A common stock to Class D common stock                                
Repurchase of 2,408,198 shares of Class D common stock                   (2)   (4,956)       (4,958)
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interests to estimated redemption value                       2,205        2,205 
BALANCE, as of December 31, 2017  $   $2   $3   $3   $41   $983,582   $(940,976)  $42,655 

 

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

 

 F-6 

 

 

URBAN ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

    For the Years Ended
December 31,  
 
    2017       2016 
    (In thousands)   
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
           
Consolidated net income   $112,462   $716 
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash from operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   34,016    34,247 
Amortization of debt financing costs   3,611    5,272 
Amortization of content assets   44,219    52,511 
Amortization of launch assets   432    142 
Deferred income taxes   (124,141)   9,114 
Impairment of long-lived assets   29,148    1,287 
Stock-based compensation   4,647    3,410 
Loss (gain) on retirement of debt   5,219    (2,646)
Gain on sale-leaseback   (14,411)    
Effect of change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and disposed of:          
Trade accounts receivable   (7,245)   833 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (1,686)   (1,894)
Other assets   1,068    572 
Accounts payable   572    (909)
Accrued interest   (1,263)   (675)
Accrued compensation and related benefits   (6,551)   2,270 
Other liabilities   2,895    6,238 
Payments for content assets   (52,837)   (61,181)
Payment of launch support   (1,848)   (1,058)
Net cash flows provided by operating activities   28,307    48,249 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Purchases of property and equipment   (7,445)   (5,164)
Cost method investment       (35,000)
Proceeds from sale of radio station   2,000     
Proceeds from sale-leaseback   25,000     
Acquisition of digital assets   (5,000)    
Acquisition of station and broadcasting assets   (2,000)   (2,000)
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities   12,555    (42,164)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Proceeds from 2017 Credit Facility   350,000     
Debt refinancing costs and original issue discount   (8,860)   (421)
Repayment of 2020 Notes   (38,639)   (17,174)
Payment of dividends to noncontrolling interest members of Reach Media       (2,001)
Repayment of 2017 Credit Facility   (2,625)    
Repayment of 2015 Credit Facility   (344,750)   (3,500)
Repurchase of common stock   (4,958)   (3,584)
Net cash flows used in financing activities   (49,832)   (26,680)
DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH   (8,970)   (20,595)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, beginning of year   46,781    67,376 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, end of year  $37,811   $46,781 
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:          
Cash paid for:          
Interest  $77,073   $77,038 
Income taxes, net of refunds  $540   $475 

 

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

 

 F-7 

 

 

URBAN ONE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

1.ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

 

(a)  Organization

 

Urban One, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, (collectively, “Urban One,” the “Company”, “we”, “our” and/or “us”) is an urban-oriented, multi-media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. Our core business is our radio broadcasting franchise which is the largest radio broadcasting operation that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. As of December 31, 2017, we owned and/or operated 56 broadcast stations located in 15 of the most populous African-American markets in the United States. While a core source of our revenue has historically been and remains the sale of local and national advertising for broadcast on our radio stations, our strategy is to operate the premier multi-media entertainment and information content provider targeting African-American and urban consumers. Thus, we have diversified our revenue streams by making acquisitions and investments in other complementary media properties. Our diverse media and entertainment interests include TV One, LLC (“TV One”), an African-American targeted cable television network; our 80.0% ownership interest in Reach Media, Inc. (“Reach Media”) which operates the Tom Joyner Morning Show and our other syndicated programming assets, including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show and the DL Hughley Show; and Interactive One, LLC (“Interactive One”), our wholly owned digital platform serving the African-American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its newly developed Cassius and newly acquired Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands. We also have invested in a minority ownership interest in MGM National Harbor, a gaming resort located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Through our national multi-media operations, we provide advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to the African-American and urban audiences.

 

As part of our consolidated financial statements, consistent with our financial reporting structure and how the Company currently manages its businesses, we have provided selected financial information on the Company’s four reportable segments: (i) radio broadcasting; (ii) Reach Media; (iii) digital; and (iv) cable television. (See Note 15 – Segment Information.)

 

Effective May 5, 2017, the Company changed its corporate name from “Radio One, Inc.” to “Urban One, Inc.” to have a name more reflective of our multi-media business operations and strategy.  Our core radio broadcasting franchise continues to operate under the brand “Radio One.”  We also continue to retain our other brands, such as TV One, Reach Media and Interactive One, while developing additional branding reflective of our diverse media operations and targeting our African-American and urban audiences.

 

(b)  Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and require management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements.  The Company bases these estimates on historical experience, current economic environment or various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  However, continuing economic uncertainty and any disruption in financial markets increase the possibility that actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

(c)  Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Urban One and subsidiaries in which Urban One has a controlling financial interest, which is generally determined when the Company holds a majority voting interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Noncontrolling interests have been recognized where a controlling interest exists, but the Company owns less than 100% of the controlled entity.

 

(d)  Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and money market funds at various commercial banks that have original maturities of 90 days or less. Investments with contractual maturities of 90 days or less from the date of original purchase are classified as cash and cash equivalents. For cash and cash equivalents, cost approximates fair value.

 

 F-8 

 

 

(e)  Trade Accounts Receivable

 

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s estimate of the amount of probable losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable portfolio. The Company determines the allowance based on the aging of the receivables, the impact of economic conditions on the advertisers’ ability to pay and other factors. Inactive delinquent accounts that are past due beyond a certain amount of days are written off and often pursued by other collection efforts. Bankruptcy accounts are immediately written off upon receipt of the bankruptcy notice from the courts.

 

(f) Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Primarily Radio Broadcasting Licenses)

 

In connection with past acquisitions, a significant amount of the purchase price was allocated to radio broadcasting licenses, goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill consists of the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other,” goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but are tested annually for impairment at the reporting unit level and unit of accounting level, respectively. We test for impairment annually, on October 1 of each year, or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances or other conditions suggest impairment may have occurred. Radio broadcasting license impairment exists when the asset carrying values exceed their respective fair values, and the excess is then recorded to operations as an impairment charge. With the assistance of a third-party valuation firm, we test for radio broadcasting license impairment at the unit of accounting level using the income approach, which involves, but is not limited to, judgmental estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth, future operating margins, discount rates and terminal values. In testing for goodwill impairment, we follow a two-step approach, also relying primarily on the income approach that first estimates the fair value of the reporting unit. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we then determine the implied goodwill after allocating the reporting unit’s fair value of assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC 805-10, “Business Combinations.” We then perform a market-based analysis by comparing the average implied multiple arrived at based on our cash flow projections and estimated fair values to multiples for actual recently completed sale transactions and by comparing the total of the estimated fair values of our reporting units to the market capitalization of the Company. Any excess of carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill balance over its respective implied goodwill is written off as a charge to operations.

 

(g)  Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Excluding Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

 

The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived intangible assets, excluding goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, in accordance with ASC 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment.” Long-lived intangible assets, excluding goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be fully recoverable. These events or changes in circumstances may include a significant deterioration in operating results, changes in business plans, or changes in anticipated future cash flows. If an impairment indicator is present, the Company evaluates recoverability by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets to future discounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or group of assets. Assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows generated by other asset groups. If the assets are impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset or group of assets. Fair value is generally determined by estimates of discounted future cash flows. The discount rate used in any estimate of discounted cash flows would be the rate of return for a similar investment of like risk. The Company reviewed these long-lived assets during 2017 and 2016 and concluded that no impairment to the carrying value of these assets was required.  

 

(h)  Financial Instruments

 

Financial instruments as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, consisted of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade accounts receivable, long-term debt and redeemable noncontrolling interests. The carrying amounts approximated fair value for each of these financial instruments as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, except for the Company’s outstanding senior subordinated notes and secured notes. The 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes, which are due in February 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) had a carrying value of approximately $275.0 million and fair value of approximately $257.8 million as of December 31, 2017. The 2020 Notes had a carrying value of approximately $315.0 million and fair value of approximately $283.5 million as of December 31, 2016. The fair values of the 2020 Notes, classified as Level 2 instruments, were determined based on the trading values of these instruments in an inactive market as of the reporting date. The 7.375% Senior Secured Notes that are due in March 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) had a carrying value of approximately $350.0 million and fair value of approximately $348.3 million as of December 31, 2017. The 2022 Notes had a carrying value of approximately $350.0 million and fair value of approximately $344.8 million as of December 31, 2016. The fair values of the 2022 Notes, classified as Level 2 instruments, were determined based on the trading values of these instruments in an inactive market as of the reporting date. The $350.0 million senior secured credit facility (the “2015 Credit Facility) had a carrying value of approximately $344.8 million and fair value of approximately $346.5 million as of December 31, 2016. The fair values of the 2015 Credit Facility, classified as a Level 2 instrument, was determined based on the trading values of this instrument in an inactive market as of the reporting date. On April 18, 2017, the Company closed on a new $350.0 million senior secured credit facility (the “2017 Credit Facility”) which had a carrying value of approximately $347.4 million and fair value of approximately $340.4 million as of December 31, 2017. The fair value of the 2017 Credit Facility, classified as a Level 2 instrument, was determined based on the trading values of this instrument in an inactive market as of the reporting date. The senior unsecured promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $11.9 million (the “Comcast Note”) had a carrying value of approximately $11.9 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. The fair value of the Comcast Note was approximately $11.9 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. The fair value of the Comcast Note, classified as a Level 3 instrument, was determined based on the fair value of a similar instrument as of the reporting date using updated interest rate information derived from changes in interest rates since inception to the reporting date.

 

 F-9 

 

 

(i)  Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company recognizes all derivatives at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet as either an asset or liability. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. (See Note 8 – Derivative Instruments.)

 

(j)  Revenue Recognition

 

Within our radio broadcasting and Reach Media segments, the Company recognizes revenue for broadcast advertising when a commercial is broadcast, and the revenue is reported net of agency and outside sales representative commissions, in accordance with ASC 605, “Revenue Recognition.”  Agency and outside sales representative commissions are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing. Generally, clients remit the gross billing amount to the agency or outside sales representative, and the agency or outside sales representative remits the gross billing, less their commission, to the Company. For our radio broadcasting and Reach Media segments, agency and outside sales representative commissions were approximately $25.2 million and $27.5 million, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Within our digital segment, including Interactive One, which generates the majority of the Company’s digital revenue, revenue is principally derived from advertising services on non-radio station branded but Company-owned websites. Advertising services include the sale of banner and sponsorship advertisements.  Advertising revenue is recognized either as impressions (the number of times advertisements appear in viewed pages) are delivered, when “click through” purchases are made, or ratably over the contract period, where applicable. In addition, Interactive One derives revenue from its studio operations, in which it provides third-party clients with publishing services including digital platforms and related expertise.  In the case of the studio operations, revenue is recognized primarily through fixed contractual monthly fees and/or as a share of the third party’s reported revenue.

 

TV One derives advertising revenue from the sale of television air time to advertisers and recognizes revenue when the advertisements are run. TV One also derives revenue from affiliate fees under the terms of various affiliation agreements based on a per subscriber fee multiplied by the most recent subscriber counts reported by the applicable affiliate. For our cable television segment, agency and outside sales representative commissions were approximately $13.9 million and $15.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

 

(k) Launch Support

 

TV One has entered into certain affiliate agreements requiring various payments by TV One for launch support. Launch support assets are used to initiate carriage under affiliation agreements and are amortized over the term of the respective contracts. Amortization is recorded as a reduction to revenue. TV One paid approximately $1.8 million and $1.1 million of launch support for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. The weighted-average amortization period for launch support was approximately 9.5 years as of December 31, 2017, and approximately 9.4 years as of December 31, 2016. The remaining weighted-average amortization period for launch support is 7.1 years and 8.0 years as of December 31, 2017, and 2016, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, launch support asset amortization of $432,000 and $142,000, respectively, was recorded as a reduction of revenue. Launch assets are included in other intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

The gross value and accumulated amortization of the launch assets is as follows:

 

   As of December 31, 
   2017   2016 
   (In thousands) 
Launch assets  $3,632   $1,784 
Less: Accumulated amortization   (635)   (203)
Launch assets, net  $2,997   $1,581 

 

 F-10 

 

 

Future estimated launch support amortization expense or revenue reduction related to launch assets for years 2018 through 2022 is as follows:

 

   (In thousands) 
2018  $422 
2019  $422 
2020  $422 
2021  $422 
2022  $422 

 

(l)  Barter Transactions

 

For barter transactions, the Company provides broadcast advertising time in exchange for programming content and certain services and accounts for these exchanges in accordance with ASC 605, “Revenue Recognition.” The Company includes the value of such exchanges in both broadcasting net revenue and station operating expenses. The valuation of barter time is based upon the fair value of the network advertising time provided for the programming content and services received. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, barter transaction revenues were approximately $2.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively. Additionally, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, barter transaction costs were reflected in programming and technical expenses of approximately $2.1 million and $1.9 million, respectively, and selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $162,000 and $162,000, respectively.

 

(m)  Network Affiliation Agreements

 

The Company has network affiliation agreements classified as Other Intangible Assets. These agreements are amortized over their useful lives. (See Note 4 — Goodwill, Radio Broadcasting Licenses and Other Intangible Assets.)

 

(n)  Advertising and Promotions

 

The Company expenses advertising and promotional costs as incurred. Total advertising and promotional expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were approximately $22.7 million and $20.9 million, respectively.

 

(o)  Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Under ASC 740, deferred tax assets or liabilities are computed based upon the difference between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted marginal tax rate. The Company has provided a valuation allowance on certain of its net deferred tax assets where it is more likely than not such assets will not be realized. The Company maintains certain deferred tax liabilities that cannot be used to offset deferred tax assets and, therefore, does not consider these attributes in evaluating the realizability of its deferred tax assets. Deferred income tax expense or benefits are based upon the changes in the asset or liability from period to period.

 

(p)  Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation for stock options and restricted stock grants in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation.” Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost for stock options is estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value as calculated by the Black-Scholes valuation option-pricing model (“BSM”) and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period.  The BSM incorporates various highly subjective assumptions including expected stock price volatility, for which historical data is heavily relied upon, expected life of options granted, forfeiture rates and interest rates. Compensation expense for restricted stock grants is measured based on the fair value on the date of grant less estimated forfeitures. Compensation expense for restricted stock grants is recognized ratably during the vesting period. (See Note 11 – Stockholders’ Equity.)

 

(q)  Segment Reporting and Major Customers

 

In accordance with ASC 280, “Segment Reporting,” and given its diversification strategy, the Company has determined it has four reportable segments:  (i) radio broadcasting; (ii) Reach Media; (iii) digital; and (iv) cable television. These four segments operate in the United States and are consistently aligned with the Company’s management of its businesses and its financial reporting structure. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company changed its reportable segment disclosures. Along with the results of Interactive One, all digital components from our reportable segments are a part of a newly formed reportable segment called “Digital”. This new reportable segment better reflects the manner in which we manage our business and better reflects our operational structure. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications occurred among all segments.

 

 F-11 

 

 

The radio broadcasting segment consists of all broadcast results of operations. The Reach Media segment consists of the results of operations for the Tom Joyner Morning Show and related activities and operations of other syndicated shows. The digital segment includes the results of our online business, including the operations of Interactive One, as well as the digital components of our other reportable segments. The cable television segment consists of TV One’s results of operations. Corporate/Eliminations represents financial activity associated with our corporate staff and offices and intercompany activity among the four segments.

 

No single customer accounted for over 10% of our consolidated net revenues during any of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

 

(r)  Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method.

 

The Company’s potentially dilutive securities include stock options and unvested restricted stock. Diluted earnings per share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities except in periods in which there is a net loss, as the inclusion of the potentially dilutive common shares would have an anti-dilutive effect.

 

All stock options and restricted stock awards were excluded from the diluted calculation for the year ended December 31, 2016, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.  The following table summarizes the potential common shares excluded from the diluted calculation.

 

   Year ended
December 31, 2016
 
Stock options   3,700 
Restricted stock awards   1,226 

 

(s) Fair Value Measurements

 

We report our financial and non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis under the provisions of ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

  

The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to price the assets or liabilities. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:

 

  Level 1: Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that can be accessed at the measurement date.

 

  Level 2: Observable inputs other than those included in Level 1 (i.e., quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets).

 

  Level 3: Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.

 

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value instrument.

 

 F-12 

 

 

As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, respectively, the fair values of our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized as follows:

 

   Total   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
   (In thousands) 
As of December 31, 2017                    
Liabilities subject to fair value measurement:                    
Contingent consideration (a)  $1,580           $1,580 
Employment agreement award (b)   32,323            32,323 
Total  $33,903   $   $   $33,903 
                     
Mezzanine equity subject to fair value measurement:                    
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (c)  $10,780   $   $   $10,780