Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

x

 

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

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010

 

OR

 

o

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

For the transition period from                      to                       .

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-26076

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Maryland

 

52-1494660

(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

10706 Beaver Dam Road

Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

(Address of principal executive office, zip code)

 

(410) 568-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x   No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such file).  Yes o   No o

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer  o

 

Accelerated filer  x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer  o

 

Smaller reporting company  o

 

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

 

Indicate the number of share outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

 

Title of each class

 

Number of shares outstanding as of
April 30, 2010

 

Class A Common Stock

 

48,805,309

 

Class B Common Stock

 

31,497,859

 

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

 

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

3

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

4

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

5

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

5

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

6

 

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7

 

 

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

19

 

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

26

 

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

26

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

28

 

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

28

 

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

28

 

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

28

 

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

28

 

 

ITEM 4. REMOVED AND RESERVED

28

 

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

28

 

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

29

 

 

SIGNATURE

30

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

31

 

2



Table of Contents

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

As of March 31,
2010

 

As of December 31,
2009

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

52,334

 

$

23,224

 

Current portion of restricted cash

 

37,843

 

27,667

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,854 and $2,932, respectively

 

102,762

 

106,792

 

Affiliate receivable

 

56

 

69

 

Current portion of program contract costs

 

35,857

 

43,741

 

Income taxes receivable

 

7,894

 

8,073

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

5,555

 

6,130

 

Deferred barter costs

 

3,280

 

2,825

 

Deferred tax assets

 

7,277

 

7,277

 

Total current assets

 

252,858

 

225,798

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion

 

15,820

 

16,417

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

286,565

 

296,227

 

RESTRICTED CASH, less current portion

 

484

 

37,216

 

GOODWILL

 

660,017

 

660,017

 

BROADCAST LICENSES

 

51,988

 

51,988

 

DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net

 

189,521

 

193,405

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

119,301

 

116,653

 

Total assets

 

$

1,576,554

 

$

1,597,721

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

3,155

 

$

3,746

 

Accrued liabilities

 

67,211

 

60,523

 

Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing

 

51,355

 

40,632

 

Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates

 

3,070

 

2,995

 

Current portion of program contracts payable

 

76,684

 

91,995

 

Deferred barter revenues

 

3,305

 

2,810

 

Total current liabilities

 

204,780

 

202,701

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion

 

1,261,569

 

1,297,964

 

Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion

 

22,105

 

24,717

 

Program contracts payable, less current portion

 

43,804

 

48,448

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

183,950

 

177,219

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

48,113

 

48,894

 

Total liabilities

 

1,764,321

 

1,799,943

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY (DEFICIT):

 

 

 

 

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT):

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 48,787,139 and 47,375,437 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

 

488

 

474

 

Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized, 31,497,859 and 32,453,859 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, convertible into Class A Common Stock

 

315

 

325

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

608,725

 

605,340

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(802,356

)

(813,876

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

(4,141

)

(4,213

)

Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ deficit

 

(196,969

)

(211,950

)

Noncontrolling interests

 

9,202

 

9,728

 

Total deficit

 

(187,767

)

(202,222

)

Total liabilities and equity (deficit)

 

$

1,576,554

 

$

1,597,721

 

 

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

 

3



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

Station broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions

 

$

147,922

 

$

131,305

 

Revenues realized from station barter arrangements

 

14,776

 

11,898

 

Other operating divisions revenues

 

6,930

 

11,535

 

Total revenues

 

169,628

 

154,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

Station production expenses

 

35,918

 

34,943

 

Station selling, general and administrative expenses

 

30,642

 

30,910

 

Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements

 

13,231

 

10,228

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

15,914

 

20,758

 

Other operating divisions expenses

 

6,777

 

12,251

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

9,625

 

11,933

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

6,577

 

6,359

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets

 

4,717

 

5,201

 

Gain on asset exchange

 

 

(1,236

)

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

 

130,098

 

Total operating expenses

 

123,401

 

261,445

 

Operating income (loss)

 

46,227

 

(106,707

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs

 

(28,974

)

(18,374

)

(Loss) gain from extinguishment of debt

 

(289

)

18,986

 

Income (loss) from equity and cost method investments

 

543

 

(445

)

Other income, net

 

639

 

701

 

Total other (expense) income

 

(28,081

)

868

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

 

18,146

 

(105,839

)

INCOME TAX (PROVISION) BENEFIT

 

(7,086

)

18,800

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

11,060

 

(87,039

)

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, includes income tax provision of $66 and $108, respectively

 

(66

)

(108

)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

10,994

 

(87,147

)

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

526

 

1,492

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP

 

$

11,520

 

$

(85,655

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations

 

$

0.14

 

$

(1.06

)

Earnings (loss) per share

 

$

0.14

 

$

(1.06

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

79,957

 

80,815

 

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

 

79,957

 

80,815

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

11,586

 

$

(85,547

)

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(66

)

(108

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

11,520

 

$

(85,655

)

 

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

 

4



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair Broadcast Group Shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A
Common
Stock

 

Class B
Common
Stock

 

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

 

Accumulated
Deficit

 

Other
Comprehensive
Loss

 

Noncontrolling
Interests

 

Total Equity
(Deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, December 31, 2009

 

$

474

 

$

325

 

$

605,340

 

$

(813,876

)

$

(4,213

)

$

9,728

 

$

(202,222

)

Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans

 

4

 

 

3,385

 

 

 

 

3,389

 

Class B Common Stock converted into Class A Common Stock

 

10

 

(10

)

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of net periodic pension benefit costs

 

 

 

 

 

72

 

 

72

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

11,520

 

 

(526

)

10,994

 

BALANCE, March 31, 2010

 

$

488

 

$

315

 

$

608,725

 

$

(802,356

)

$

(4,141

)

$

9,202

 

$

(187,767

)

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

10,994

 

$

(87,147

)

Amortization of net periodic pension benefit costs

 

72

 

53

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

11,066

 

(87,094

)

Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

526

 

1,492

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

11,592

 

$

(85,602

)

 

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

 

5



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

10,994

 

$

(87,147

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of debt discount, net of debt premium

 

1,307

 

2,861

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

9,691

 

12,054

 

Recognition of deferred revenue

 

(3,867

)

(7,176

)

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

 

130,098

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets

 

4,717

 

5,201

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

15,914

 

20,758

 

Stock-based compensation

 

2,321

 

289

 

Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, non-cash portion

 

289

 

(18,986

)

Deferred tax provision (benefit) related to operations

 

6,682

 

(18,664

)

Change in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in accounts receivable, net

 

5,392

 

16,926

 

Decrease (increase) in income taxes receivable

 

179

 

(34

)

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

672

 

722

 

Increase in other assets

 

(841

)

(356

)

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

10,845

 

(8,275

)

Decrease in other long-term liabilities

 

(169

)

(769

)

Dividends and distributions from equity and cost method investees

 

21

 

286

 

Payments on program contracts payable

 

(27,399

)

(23,656

)

Other, net

 

(798

)

(360

)

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

35,950

 

23,772

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

(1,759

)

(2,832

)

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

(1,199

)

(3,221

)

Decrease in restricted cash

 

26,556

 

 

Dividends and distributions from equity and cost method investees

 

41

 

1,197

 

Investments in equity and cost method investees

 

(2,972

)

(4,696

)

Proceeds from the sale of assets

 

 

28

 

Loans to affiliates

 

(33

)

(41

)

Proceeds from loans to affiliates

 

46

 

42

 

Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities

 

20,680

 

(9,523

)

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

4,845

 

89,084

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(30,427

)

(88,580

)

Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests

 

 

(2,000

)

Repurchase of Class A Common Stock

 

 

(1,454

)

Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

 

(16,038

)

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

(1,221

)

(17

)

Noncontrolling interests contributions

 

 

226

 

Repayments of notes and capital leases to affiliates

 

(717

)

(708

)

Net cash flows used in financing activities

 

(27,520

)

(19,487

)

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

29,110

 

(5,238

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 

23,224

 

16,470

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

 

$

52,334

 

$

11,232

 

 

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

 

6


 


Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.              SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) for which we are the primary beneficiary.  Noncontrolling interests represent a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities.  All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Interim Financial Statements

 

The consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, such financial statements have been presented on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below.

 

As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally included with audited consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC.  The consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued amended guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities (VIEs).  The intent of this guidance is to improve financial reporting by enterprises involved with VIEs and to provide more relevant and reliable information to users of financial statements.  The new guidance will require a number of new disclosures and companies are required to perform ongoing reassessments of whether they are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes.  This guidance is effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter.

 

In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE.  We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary.  The assets of the consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE.  All the liabilities including debt held by our VIEs are non-recourse to us.  However, certain VIE debt contains cross-default provisions under our senior secured credit facility (Bank Credit Agreement).  See Note 4, Related Person Transactions for more information.

 

We have a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA) to provide programming, sales and managerial services to Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham), the license owner for six television stations.  We pay an LMA fee to Cunningham and also reimburse all operating expenses.  We also have an acquisition agreement in which we have a purchase option to buy the license assets of the television stations.  Our applications to acquire the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses are pending approval.  We have determined that the license assets are VIEs and that based on the terms of the agreements, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the sales and managerial services we provide and we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to Cunningham.  See Note 4, Related Person Transactions for more information on our arrangements with Cunningham.

 

We have outsourcing agreements with license owners, which we provide certain non-programming related sales, operational and administrative services.  We pay a fee to the license owner based on a percentage of broadcast cash flow and we reimburse all operating expenses.  We also have a purchase option to buy the license assets.  Our applications to acquire these FCC licenses are pending FCC approval.  For the same reasons noted above regarding the LMA, we have determined that the license assets are VIEs and we are the primary beneficiary.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

As of the dates indicated, the carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of March 31,
2010

 

As of December  31, 2009

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

4,444

 

$

4,127

 

Income taxes receivable

 

30

 

33

 

Current portion of program contract costs

 

420

 

430

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

176

 

129

 

Deferred tax assets

 

27

 

27

 

Total current asset

 

5,097

 

4,746

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion

 

586

 

649

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

8,043

 

8,239

 

GOODWILL

 

6,357

 

6,357

 

BROADCAST LICENSES

 

4,320

 

4,320

 

DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net

 

7,309

 

7,393

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

225

 

213

 

Total assets

 

$

31,937

 

$

31,917

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

7

 

$

37

 

Accrued liabilities

 

544

 

774

 

Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing

 

11,043

 

11,039

 

Current portion of program contracts payable

 

572

 

576

 

Total current liabilities

 

12,166

 

12,426

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion

 

21,778

 

24,540

 

Program contracts payable, less current portion

 

350

 

444

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

218

 

218

 

Total liabilities

 

$

34,512

 

$

37,628

 

 

The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs related to our LMA and outsourcing agreements and have been aggregated as they all relate to our broadcast business and the risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

 

Under the previously applicable accounting guidance for consolidation, we had determined that we had a variable interest in four real estate ventures and that we were the primary beneficiary of those VIEs and should consolidate the assets and liabilities of those entities.  However, under the new accounting guidance for consolidation which is effective January 1, 2010, we no longer consider one of these investments to be a VIE since the investment does not meet the VIE criteria under the new accounting guidance.  We still consolidate the assets and liabilities of this entity pursuant to other accounting guidance based on voting-interests.  Under the new accounting guidance for consolidation, we no longer consider ourselves the primary beneficiary of the other three real estate ventures since as the manager of the venture, the other partner holds the power to direct activities that significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and can participate in returns that would be considered significant to the VIE.   The effect of this change is not material to our consolidated financial statements.

 

We have investments in other real estate ventures and investment companies which are considered VIEs.  However, we do not participate in the management of these entities including the day-to-day operating decisions or other decisions which allow us to control the entity, and therefore, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE.  We account for these entities using the equity or cost method of accounting.

 

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The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2010

 

As of December  31, 2009

 

 

 

Carrying
amount

 

Maximum
exposure

 

Carrying
amount

 

Maximum
exposure

 

Investments in real estate ventures

 

$

8,742

 

$

8,742

 

$

8,796

 

$

8,796

 

Investments in investment companies

 

24,087

 

38,887

 

21,108

 

37,908

 

Total

 

$

32,829

 

$

47,629

 

$

29,904

 

$

46,704

 

 

The carrying amounts above are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.  We recorded income (loss) of $0.9 million and ($0.6) million in the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to these investments in income (loss) from equity and cost method investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments plus any unfunded commitments.  As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, these outstanding commitments totaled $14.8 million and $16.8 million, respectively.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2009, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task Force’s amended guidance on accounting for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables.  The amended guidance allows the use of an estimated selling price for the undelivered units of accounting in transactions in which vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) or third-party evidence (TPE) does not exist.  The amended guidance no longer allows the use of the residual method when allocating arrangement consideration between the delivered and undelivered units of accounting if VSOE and TPE of selling price does not exist for all units of accounting.  Entities are required to estimate the selling price of the deliverables, when VSOE and TPE are not available, and then allocate the consideration based on the relative selling prices of the deliverables.  This guidance also requires additional disclosures including the amount of revenue recognized each reporting period and the amount of deferred revenue as of the end of each reporting period under this guidance.  This guidance is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2010 and should be applied on a prospective basis.  We have not determined the impact that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2010, the FASB amended the guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures to add two new disclosure provisions to the current fair value disclosure guidance, including (1) details of transfers in and out of level 1 and level 2 measurements, and (2) gross presentation of activity within the level 3 roll forward.  The guidance also amends two existing fair value disclosure requirements so that entities are required to disclose (1) the valuation techniques and inputs used to develop fair value measurements for assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on both a recurring basis and nonrecurring basis in periods subsequent to initial recognition and (2) fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities.  A class is defined as a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the statement of financial position.  The guidance is for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the changes to the level 3 roll forward which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010.  We have added the required disclosures under this guidance to our consolidated financial statements beginning with the first quarter of 2010.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and in the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Restricted Cash and Debt Redemptions

 

During the first quarter of 2010, we completed tender offers to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding 3.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the 3.0% Notes) and 4.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 (the 4.875% Notes) at 100% of the face value of such notes.  We used $26.6 million of restricted cash to pay for such redemptions.  We redeemed approximately $12.3 million and $14.3 million of the 3.0% and 4.875% Notes, respectively.  As of March 31, 2010, we held $37.8 million in a restricted cash collateral account to be used for the redemption of the remaining $15.4 million aggregate principal amount of 3.0% Notes and $22.7 million aggregate principal amount of 4.875% Notes.  Any unused funds with respect to each series of notes held in the cash collateral account will be released to us and used for general corporate purposes after the expiration of the put options in May 2010 for the 3.0% Notes and in January 2011 for the 4.875% Notes.  All of the restricted cash classified as current as of March 31, 2010 relates to the May 2010 and January 2011 put options.  Additionally, under the terms of certain lease agreements, we are required to hold $0.5 million of restricted cash related to the removal of analog equipment from some of our leased towers.

 

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Stock-Based Compensation

 

On March 12, 2010, 300,000 stock-settled appreciation rights (SARs) were granted to David Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to the 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan.  The SARs have a 10-year term and are fully vested upon grant.  The SARs had a grant date fair value of $1.6 million.  We valued the SARs using the Black-Scholes model and the following assumptions:

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

3.847%

Expected life

 

10 years

Expected volatility

 

110.38%

Annual dividend yield

 

0.0%

 

We recorded compensation expense of $1.6 million related to this grant in the first quarter 2010.  This expense reduces our consolidated income, but has no effect on our consolidated cash flows.

 

Income Taxes

 

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes.  The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2010, is based on the estimated effective tax rate applicable for the full year after taking into account discrete tax items and the effects of the noncontrolling interests.

 

Reclassifications

 

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

 

2.              COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

 

Litigation

 

We are party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business.  Actions currently pending are in various preliminary stages and no judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions.  After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that the outcome of our pending and threatened matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

Network Affiliation Agreements

 

Our ABC network affiliation agreements were scheduled to expire December 31, 2009.  We extended these affiliation agreements until March 31, 2010, while we continued negotiations.  On March 25, 2010, we agreed to terms on a renewal of the ABC network affiliation agreements, expiring August 31, 2015.  Pursuant to the terms we are required to pay an annual license fee to ABC for network programming.

 

Our FOX affiliation agreements require us to receive FOX’s consent prior to entering into retransmission consent agreements that include content provided by FOX.  FOX has recently begun conditioning its consent on its affiliates agreeing to pay FOX compensation related to such retransmission consent agreements.  Sinclair, and other FOX affiliates, are currently negotiating with FOX on this issue.  As of March 31, 2010, the net book value of our FOX network affiliation assets was $32.4 million.

 

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3.              EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

 

The following table reconciles income (loss) (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in our computations of earnings (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Income (Loss) (Numerator)

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

11,060

 

$

(87,039

)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations

 

526

 

1,492

 

Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations available to common shareholders

 

11,586

 

(85,547

)

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(66

)

(108

)

Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) available to common shareholders

 

$

11,520

 

$

(85,655

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares (Denominator)

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

79,957

 

80,815

 

Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

 

79,957

 

80,815

 

 

Potentially dilutive securities representing 8.9 million and 28.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per common share for these periods because their effect would have been antidilutive.  The net income (loss) per share amounts are the same for Class A and Class B Common Stock because the holders of each class are legally entitled to equal per share distributions whether through dividends or in liquidation.

 

4.              RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

 

David, Frederick, Duncan and Robert Smith (collectively, the controlling shareholders) are brothers and hold substantially all of the Class B Common Stock and some of our Class A Common Stock.  Since the end of our last fiscal year, we engaged in the following transactions with them and/or entities in which they have substantial interests.

 

Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation.  Concurrently with our initial public offering, we acquired options from trusts established by Carolyn C. Smith, a parent of our controlling shareholders, for the benefit of her grandchildren that will grant us the right to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations, 100% of the capital stock of Cunningham.  Cunningham is the owner-operator and FCC licensee of: WNUV-TV in Baltimore, Maryland; WRGT-TV in Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV in Charleston, West Virginia; WTAT-TV in Charleston, South Carolina; WMYA-TV in Anderson, South Carolina; and WTTE-TV in Columbus, Ohio.

 

We made payments to Cunningham under the LMA agreements of $4.5 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, Cunningham’s stations provided us with approximately $22.0 million of total revenue.  The financial statements for Cunningham are included in our consolidated financial statements for all periods presented.  Our Bank Credit Agreement contains certain cross-default provisions with certain material third-party licensees.  As of March 31, 2010, Cunningham was the sole material third-party licensee.

 

Related Person Leases.  Certain assets used by us and our operating subsidiaries are leased from Cunningham Communications, Inc., Keyser Investment Group, Gerstell Development Limited Partnership and Beaver Dam, LLC (entities owned by some or all of the controlling shareholders).  Lease payments made to these entities were $1.2 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

Bay TV.  In January 1999, we entered into a LMA with Bay Television, Inc. (Bay TV), which owns the television station WTTA-TV in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida market.  Our controlling shareholders own a substantial portion of the equity of Bay TV.  Payments made to Bay TV were $0.4 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 respectively.  We received $0.1 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 from Bay TV for certain equipment leases.

 

Atlantic Automotive Corporation.  We sold advertising time to and purchased vehicles and related vehicle services from Atlantic Automotive Corporation (Atlantic Automotive), a holding company which owns automobile dealerships and an automobile leasing

 

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company.  David Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, has a controlling interest in, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Atlantic Automotive.  Our stations in Baltimore, Maryland and Norfolk, Virginia received payments for advertising time totaling less than $0.1 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.  We paid $0.1 million for vehicles and related vehicle services from Atlantic Automotive during each of the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

Thomas & Libowitz P.A.  Basil A. Thomas, a member of our Board of Directors, is the father of a partner and founder of Thomas & Libowitz, P.A., a law firm providing legal services to us on an ongoing basis.  We paid fees of $0.2 million to Thomas & Libowitz during each of the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

5.              SEGMENT DATA:

 

We measure segment performance based on operating income (loss).  Our broadcast segment includes stations in 35 markets located predominately in the eastern, mid-western and southern United States.  Our other operating divisions segment primarily earned revenues from sign design and fabrication; regional security alarm operating and bulk acquisitions; and real estate ventures.  All of our other operating divisions are located within the United States.  Corporate costs primarily include our costs to operate as a public company and to operate our corporate headquarters location.  Corporate is not a reportable segment.  We had $163.1 million and $114.6 million of intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, operating divisions segment and corporate as of March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  We had $4.7 million and $3.0 million in intercompany interest expense related to intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other operating divisions segment and corporate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  All other intercompany transactions are immaterial.

 

Financial information for our operating segments are included in the following tables for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands).

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010

 

Broadcast

 

Other
Operating
Divisions

 

Corporate

 

Consolidated

 

Revenue

 

$

162,698

 

$

6,930

 

$

 

$

169,628

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

8,890

 

303

 

432

 

9,625

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets

 

4,055

 

662

 

 

4,717

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

15,914

 

 

 

15,914

 

General and administrative overhead expenses

 

5,880

 

211

 

486

 

6,577

 

Operating income (loss)

 

48,238

 

(1,089

)

(922

)

46,227

 

Interest expense

 

 

544

 

28,430

 

28,974

 

Income from equity and cost method investments

 

 

543

 

 

543

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2009

 

Broadcast

 

Other
Operating
Divisions

 

Corporate

 

Consolidated

 

Revenue

 

$

143,203

 

$

11,535

 

$

 

$

154,738

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

11,218

 

237

 

478

 

11,933

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets

 

4,770

 

431

 

 

5,201

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

20,758

 

 

 

20,758

 

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

130,098

 

 

 

130,098

 

General and administrative overhead expenses

 

1,952

 

314

 

4,093

 

6,359

 

Operating loss

 

(100,315

)

(1,753

)

(4,639

)

(106,707

)

Interest expense

 

 

289

 

18,085

 

18,374

 

Loss from equity and cost method investments

 

 

(445

)

 

(445

)

 

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6.              FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

 

Accounting guidance provides for valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost).  A fair value hierarchy using three broad levels prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The following is a brief description of those three levels:

 

·                  Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

·                  Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

 

·                  Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

 

The carrying value and fair value of our notes, debentures, program contracts payable and non-cancelable commitments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair Value

 

8.0% Senior Subordinated Notes, due 2012

 

$

225,395

 

$

222,978

 

$

225,488

 

$

220,731

 

6.0% Convertible Debentures, due 2012

 

123,421

 

127,080

 

122,482

 

111,991

 

4.875% Convertible Senior Notes, due 2018

 

22,685

 

22,118

 

37,016

 

36,091

 

3.0% Convertible Senior Notes, due 2027

 

15,352

 

15,057

 

27,383

 

27,044

 

9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes, due 2017

 

486,806

 

525,000

 

486,519

 

518,125

 

Bank Credit Agreement, Term Loan B

 

323,783

 

351,625

 

323,551

 

314,306

 

Cunningham Bank Credit Facility

 

30,158

 

30,653

 

32,900

 

32,900

 

Active program contracts payable

 

120,488

 

105,139

 

140,443

 

124,951

 

Future program liabilities (a)

 

79,973

 

63,665

 

70,038

 

56,202

 

Total fair value

 

$

1,428,061

 

$

1,463,315

 

$

1,465,820

 

$

1,442,341

 

 


(a)          Future program liabilities reflect a license agreement for program material that is not yet available for its first showing or telecast and is, therefore, not recorded as an asset or liability on our balance sheet.

 

Our notes and debentures payable are fair valued using Level 1 hierarchy inputs described above.  Our Term Loan B and Cunningham’s bank credit facility are fair valued using Level 2 hierarchy inputs described above.

 

Our estimates of active program contracts payable and future program liabilities were based on discounted cash flows using Level 3 inputs described above.  The discount rate represents an estimate of a market participants return and risk applicable to program contracts.

 

7.              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

 

Sinclair Television Group, Inc. (STG), a wholly-owned subsidiary and the television operating subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (SBG), is the primary obligor under the Bank Credit Agreement, as amended, the 9.25% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes, due 2017 (the 9.25% Notes) and the 8.0% Senior Subordinated Notes, due 2012 (the 8.0% Notes).  Our Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, the 6.0% Debentures, the 4.875% Notes and the 3.0% Notes remain obligations or securities of SBG and are not obligations or securities of STG.  As of March 31, 2010, our consolidated total debt of $1,338.1 million included $1,090.6 million of debt related to STG and its subsidiaries of which SBG guaranteed $810.6 million.

 

SBG, KDSM, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBG, and STG’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (guarantor subsidiaries), have fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of STG’s obligations.  Those guarantees are joint and several.  There are certain contractual restrictions on the ability of SBG, STG or KDSM, LLC to obtain funds from their subsidiaries in the form of dividends or loans.

 

The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows of SBG, STG, KDSM, LLC and the guarantor subsidiaries, the direct and indirect non-guarantor subsidiaries of SBG and the eliminations necessary to arrive at our information on a consolidated basis.  These statements are presented in accordance with the disclosure requirements under SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-10.

 

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Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2010

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

 

$

38,308

 

$

376

 

$

13,650

 

$

 

$

52,334

 

Restricted cash — current

 

 

37,843

 

 

 

 

37,843

 

Accounts and other receivables

 

62

 

221

 

107,375

 

3,430

 

(376

)

110,712

 

Other current assets

 

20

 

2,285

 

47,528

 

2,422

 

(286

)

51,969

 

Total current assets

 

82

 

78,657

 

155,279

 

19,502

 

(662

)

252,858

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

11,165

 

1,996

 

184,102

 

96,307

 

(7,005

)

286,565

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

671,017

 

 

 

(671,017

)

 

Restricted cash — long-term

 

 

 

484

 

 

 

484

 

Other long-term assets

 

76,485

 

290,008

 

25,700

 

89,644

 

(346,716

)

135,121

 

Total other long-term assets

 

76,485

 

961,025

 

26,184

 

89,644

 

(1,017,733

)

135,605

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangible assets

 

 

 

837,776

 

57,683

 

6,067

 

901,526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

87,732

 

$

1,041,678

 

$

1,203,341

 

$

263,136

 

$

(1,019,333

)

$

1,576,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

2,046

 

$

26,016

 

$

35,404

 

$

7,366

 

$

(466

)

$

70,366

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

39,142

 

 

2,617

 

12,647

 

19

 

54,425

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

 

79,417

 

572

 

 

79,989

 

Total current liabilities

 

41,188

 

26,016

 

117,438

 

20,585

 

(447

)

204,780

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

134,746

 

1,037,679

 

50,259

 

266,624

 

(205,634

)

1,283,674

 

Dividends in excess of investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

73,326

 

 

 

 

(73,326

)

 

Other liabilities

 

35,441

 

1,981

 

365,429

 

39,471

 

(166,455

)

275,867

 

Total liabilities

 

284,701

 

1,065,676

 

533,126

 

326,680

 

(445,862

)

1,764,321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

803

 

 

10

 

282

 

(292

)

803

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

608,725

 

251,450

 

621,833

 

74,655

 

(947,938

)

608,725

 

Accumulated (deficit) earnings

 

(802,356

)

(272,909

)

50,404

 

(136,163

)

358,668

 

(802,356

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(4,141

)

(2,539

)

(2,032

)

(2,318

)

6,889

 

(4,141

)

Total Sinclair Broadcast Group (deficit) equity

 

(196,969

)

(23,998

)

670,215

 

(63,544

)

(582,673

)

(196,969

)

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

9,202

 

9,202

 

Total liabilities and equity (deficit)

 

$

87,732

 

$

1,041,678

 

$

1,203,341

 

$

263,136

 

$

(1,019,333

)

$

1,576,554

 

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2009

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

 

$

10,364

 

$

217

 

$

12,643

 

$

 

$

23,224

 

Restricted cash current

 

 

27,667

 

 

 

 

27,667

 

Accounts and other receivables

 

232

 

6,014

 

110,733

 

4,045

 

(6,090

)

114,934

 

Other current assets

 

639

 

2,558

 

54,546

 

2,513

 

(283

)

59,973

 

Total current assets

 

871

 

46,603

 

165,496

 

19,201

 

(6,373

)

225,798

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

11,597

 

2,135

 

194,139

 

95,437

 

(7,081

)

296,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

691,578

 

 

 

(691,578

)

 

Restricted cash — long term

 

 

36,732

 

484

 

 

 

37,216

 

Other long-term assets

 

69,876

 

273,806

 

26,271

 

58,342

 

(295,225

)

133,070

 

Total other long-term assets

 

69,876

 

1,002,116

 

26,755

 

58,342

 

(986,803

)

170,286

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangible assets

 

 

 

838,998

 

57,512

 

8,900

 

905,410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

82,344

 

$

1,050,854

 

$

1,225,388

 

$

230,492

 

$

(991,357

)

$

1,597,721

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

2,887

 

$

20,742

 

$

32,200

 

$

19,373

 

$

(10,933

)

$

64,269

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

28,448

 

 

2,530

 

12,646

 

3

 

43,627

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

 

94,229

 

576

 

 

94,805

 

Total current liabilities

 

31,335

 

20,742

 

128,959

 

32,595

 

(10,930

)

202,701

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

171,120

 

1,037,467

 

53,192

 

253,138

 

(192,236

)

1,322,681

 

Dividends in excess of investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

59,402

 

 

 

 

(59,402

)

 

Other liabilities

 

32,437

 

1,979

 

352,567

 

37,147

 

(149,569

)

274,561

 

Total liabilities

 

294,294

 

1,060,188

 

534,718

 

322,880

 

(412,137

)

1,799,943

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

799

 

 

10

 

282

 

(292

)

799

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

605,340

 

279,664

 

670,863

 

41,824

 

(992,351

)

605,340

 

Accumulated (deficit) earnings

 

(813,876

)

(286,414

)

21,904

 

(131,677

)

396,187

 

(813,876

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(4,213

)

(2,584

)

(2,107

)

(2,817

)

7,508

 

(4,213

)

Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ (deficit) equity

 

(211,950

)

(9,334

)

690,670

 

(92,388

)

(588,948

)

(211,950

)

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

9,728

 

9,728

 

Total liabilities and equity (deficit)

 

$

82,344

 

$

1,050,854

 

$

1,225,388

 

$

230,492

 

$

(991,357

)

$

1,597,721

 

 

15



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

 

$

 

$

 

$

163,002

 

$

9,519

 

$

(2,893

)

$

169,628

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program and production

 

 

292

 

38,036

 

82

 

(2,492

)

35,918

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

490

 

5,865

 

30,222

 

834

 

(192

)

37,219

 

Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses

 

431

 

79

 

41,517

 

8,231

 

6

 

50,264

 

Total operating expenses

 

921

 

6,236

 

109,775

 

9,147

 

(2,678

)

123,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

 

(921

)

(6,236

)

53,227

 

372

 

(215

)

46,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries

 

14,039

 

27,380

 

 

 

(41,419

)

 

Interest expense

 

(4,024

)

(23,125

)

(1,380

)

(5,344

)

4,899

 

(28,974

)

Other income (expense)

 

1,083

 

5,426

 

(5,152

)

(442

)

(22

)

893

 

Total other income (expense)

 

11,098

 

9,681

 

(6,532

)

(5,786

)

(36,542

)

(28,081

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

1,343

 

8,969

 

(18,325

)

927

 

 

(7,086

)

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(66

)

 

 

(66

)

Net income (loss)

 

11,520

 

12,414

 

28,304

 

(4,487

)

(36,757

)

10,994

 

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

526

 

526

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

11,520

 

$

12,414

 

$

28,304

 

$

(4,487

)

$

(36,231

)

$

11,520

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

 

$

 

$

 

$

143,494

 

$

13,664

 

$

(2,420

)

$

154,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program and production

 

 

173

 

36,778

 

64

 

(2,072

)

34,943

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

4,172

 

1,998

 

29,817

 

1,368

 

(86

)

37,269

 

Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses

 

479

 

88

 

181,016

 

17,922

 

(10,272

)

189,233

 

Total operating expenses

 

4,651

 

2,259

 

247,611

 

19,354

 

(12,430

)

261,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating loss

 

(4,651

)

(2,259

)

(104,117

)

(5,690

)

10,010

 

(106,707

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries

 

(88,811

)

(89,787

)

 

 

178,598

 

 

Interest expense

 

(10,155

)

(6,176

)

(1,603

)

(3,964

)

3,524

 

(18,374

)

Other income (expense)

 

19,815

 

8,257

 

(5,250

)

(265

)

(3,315

)

19,242

 

Total other income (expense)

 

(79,151

)

(87,706

)

(6,853

)

(4,229

)

178,807

 

868

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (provision) benefit

 

(1,745

)

1,167

 

21,703

 

(2,325

)

 

18,800

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(108

)

 

 

 

 

(108

)

Net loss

 

(85,655

)

(88,798

)

(89,267

)

(12,244

)

188,817

 

(87,147

)

Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

1,492

 

1,492

 

Net (loss) income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

(85,655

)

$

(88,798

)

$

(89,267

)

$

(12,244

)

$

190,309

 

$

(85,655

)

 

16



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

$

(3,810

)

$

(15,583

)

$

55,655

 

$

(4,449

)

$

4,137

 

$

35,950

 

CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

 

(34

)

(766

)

(959

)

 

(1,759

)

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

 

 

 

(1,199

)

 

(1,199

)

Distributions from investments

 

 

 

 

41

 

 

41

 

Investment in equity and cost method investees

 

(2,000

)

 

 

(972

)

 

(2,972

)

Change in restricted cash

 

 

26,556

 

 

 

 

26,556

 

Loans to affiliates

 

(33

)

 

 

 

 

(33

)

Proceeds from loans to affiliates

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

46

 

Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities

 

(1,987

)

26,522

 

(766

)

(3,089

)

 

20,680

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

 

 

 

4,845

 

 

4,845

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(25,570

)

 

(70

)

(4,787

)

 

(30,427

)

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

 

(1,221

)

 

 

 

(1,221

)

Repayment of notes and capital leases to affiliates

 

(182

)

 

(535

)

 

 

(717

)

Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables

 

31,549

 

18,226

 

(54,125

)

8,487

 

(4,137

)

 

Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities

 

5,797

 

17,005

 

(54,730

)

8,545

 

(4,137

)

(27,520

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

 

27,944

 

159

 

1,007

 

 

29,110

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 

 

10,364

 

217

 

12,643

 

 

23,224

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

 

$

 

$

38,308

 

$

376

 

$

13,650

 

$

 

$

52,334

 

 

17



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

$

(10,796

)

$

(3,719

)

$

41,118

 

$

(2,098

)

$

(733

)

$

23,772

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

 

(318

)

(700

)

(1,814

)

 

(2,832

)

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

 

 

 

(3,221

)

 

(3,221

)

Distributions from investments

 

 

 

 

1,197

 

 

1,197

 

Investments in equity and cost method investees

 

(1,128

)

 

 

(3,568

)

 

(4,696

)

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

28

 

Loans to affiliates

 

(41

)

 

 

 

 

(41

)

Proceeds from loans to affiliates

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

42

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

 

(1,127

)

(318

)

(672

)

(7,406

)

 

(9,523

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

 

81,500

 

 

7,584

 

 

89,084

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(30,505

)

(52,227

)

(99

)

(5,749

)

 

(88,580

)

Purchase of noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

(2,000

)

 

(2,000

)

Repurchase of Class A Common Stock

 

(1,454

)

 

 

 

 

(1,454

)

Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

(16,193

)

 

 

 

155

 

(16,038

)

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

 

 

 

(17

)

 

(17

)

Contributions from noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

226

 

 

226

 

Repayments of notes and capital leases to affiliates

 

(157

)

 

(551

)

 

 

(708

)

Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables

 

60,232

 

(31,367

)

(39,288

)

9,845

 

578

 

 

Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities

 

11,923

 

(2,094

)

(39,938

)

9,889

 

733

 

(19,487

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

 

(6,131

)

508

 

385

 

 

(5,238

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 

 

9,649

 

227

 

6,594

 

 

16,470

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

 

$

 

$

3,518

 

$

735

 

$

6,979

 

$

 

$

11,232

 

 

18



Table of Contents

 

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

 

This report includes or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, including, among other things, the following risks:

 

General risks

 

·                  the impact of changes in national and regional economies and credit and capital markets;

·                  consumer confidence;

·                  the activities of our competitors;

·                  terrorist acts of violence or war and other geopolitical events;

 

Industry risks

 

·                  the business conditions of our advertisers particularly in the automotive and service industries;

·                  competition with other broadcast television stations, radio stations, multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and internet and broadband content providers serving in the same markets;

·                  availability and cost of programming and the continued viability of networks and syndicators that provide us with programming content;

·                  the effects of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan and the potential reclamation of some of our broadcasting spectrum;

·                  the effects of governmental regulation of broadcasting or changes in those regulations and court actions interpreting those regulations, including ownership regulations, indecency regulations, retransmission regulations and political or other advertising restrictions and regulations;

·                  labor disputes and legislation and other union activity;

·                  the broadcasting community’s ability to develop a viable mobile digital broadcast television (mobile DTV) strategy and platform and the consumers appetite for mobile television;

·                  the operation of low power devices in the broadcast spectrum, which could interfere with our broadcast signals;

·                  the effects of new ratings system technologies, including “people meters”, and the ability of such technologies to be a reliable standard that can be used by advertisers;

 

Risks specific to us

 

·                  the effectiveness of our management;

·                  our ability to attract and maintain local and national advertising;

·                  our ability to successfully renegotiate retransmission consent agreements;

·                  our ability to maintain our FCC licenses;

·                  our ability to maintain our affiliation agreements with our networks and at renewal, to successfully negotiate these agreements with favorable terms;

·                  the impact of reverse network compensation payments made by us to networks pursuant to our affiliation agreements requiring compensation for network programming and the resulting negative effect on our operating results;

·                  the popularity of syndicated programming we purchase and network programming that we air;

·                  the strength of ratings for our local news broadcasts including our news sharing arrangements;

·                  changes in the makeup of the population in the areas where our stations are located;

·                  successful execution of our multi-channel broadcasting initiatives strategy including mobile DTV; and

·                  the results of prior year tax audits by taxing authorities.

 

19



Table of Contents

 

Other matters set forth in this report and our other reports filed with the SEC, including the Risk Factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 may also cause actual results in the future to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  However, additional factors and risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also cause actual results in the future to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed in this report might not occur.

 

The following table sets forth certain operating data for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA

(in thousands, except for per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Statement of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

Net broadcast revenues (a)

 

$

147,922

 

$

131,305

 

Revenues realized from station barter arrangements

 

14,776

 

11,898

 

Other operating divisions revenues

 

6,930

 

11,535

 

Total revenues

 

169,628

 

154,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station production expenses

 

35,918

 

34,943

 

Station selling, general and administrative expenses

 

30,642

 

30,910

 

Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements

 

13,231

 

10,228

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

15,914

 

20,758

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses (b)

 

14,342

 

17,134

 

Other operating divisions expenses

 

6,777

 

12,251

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

6,577

 

6,359

 

Gain on asset exchange

 

 

(1,236

)

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

 

130,098

 

Operating income (loss)

 

46,227

 

(106,707

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs

 

(28,974

)

(18,374

)

(Loss) gain from extinguishment of debt

 

(289

)

18,986

 

Income (loss) from equity and cost method investees

 

543

 

(445

)

Other income, net

 

639

 

701

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

 

18,146

 

(105,839

)

Income tax (provision) benefit

 

(7,086

)

18,800

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

11,060

 

(87,039

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(66

)

(108

)

Net income (loss)

 

10,994

 

(87,147

)

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

526

 

1,492

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

11,520

 

$

(85,655

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share Attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group:

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations

 

$

0.14

 

$

(1.06

)

Earnings (loss) per share

 

$

0.14

 

$

(1.06

)

 

20



Table of Contents

 

 

 

March 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

52,334

 

$

23,224

 

Total assets

 

$

1,576,554

 

$

1,597,721

 

Total debt (c)

 

$

1,338,099

 

$

1,366,308

 

Total equity (deficit)

 

$

(187,767

)

$

(202,222

)

 


(a)          Net broadcast revenues is defined as broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions.

 

(b)         Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangible broadcasting assets and other assets.

 

(c)          Total debt is defined as notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, including the current and long-term portions.

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides qualitative and quantitative information about our financial performance and condition and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to those statements.  This discussion consists of the following sections:

 

Executive Overview — financial events since December 31, 2009;

 

Results of Operations — an analysis of our revenues and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, including comparisons between quarters and expectations for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources — a discussion of our primary sources of liquidity, an analysis of our cash flows from or used in operating activities, investing activities and financing activities and an update of our debt repurchases during the quarter.

 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

 

First Quarter 2010 Events

·                  In January, we entered into a one-year retransmission consent agreement with Mediacom for continued carriage of the signals of 22 stations owned and/or operated by us in 15 markets;

·                  In February, we purchased at par approximately $12.3 million and $14.3 million of the 3.0% and 4.875% Notes, respectively, pursuant to tender offers;

·                  In February, we entered into an agreement for carriage of THECOOLTV, a music video provider on certain of our stations’ secondary digital signal;

·                  In February, we entered into a network affiliation agreement effective September 1, 2010 with The CW for KMYS-TV in San Antonio, Texas, expiring August 31, 2011.  KMYS-TV will switch from MyNetworkTV to The CW on the effective date;

·                  In March, we entered into a renewal of nine ABC network affiliation agreements which represents all of our ABC affiliates, effective January 1, 2010 and expiring August 31, 2015; and

·                  Excluding political, local revenues have increased 13.9% and national revenues have increased 5.2% in the first quarter 2010 versus the first quarter 2009 as advertising levels in the automotive sector and retransmission revenues have gained momentum.  Station production, selling and general and administrative expenses combined increased only 1.1% over the same period as we have continued to implement cost control initiatives.

 

Other Events

·                  On April 30, 2010, we prepaid $25.0 million of the Bank Credit Agreement, Term Loan B.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

In general, this discussion is related to the results of our continuing operations, except for discussions regarding our cash flows, which also include the results of our discontinued operations.  Unless otherwise indicated, references in this discussion and analysis to the first quarter of 2010 and 2009 refer to the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Additionally, any references to the second, third or fourth quarter are to the three months ended June 30, September 30 and December 31, respectively, for the year being discussed.

 

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BROADCAST SEGMENT

 

Broadcast Revenue

 

The following table presents our revenues from continuing operations, net of agency commissions, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in millions):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Percent Change

 

Local revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-political

 

$

112.2

 

$

98.5

 

13.9

%

Political

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

 

(a)

Total local

 

112.4

 

98.6

 

14.0

%

National revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-political

 

34.2

 

32.5

 

5.2

%

Political

 

1.3

 

0.2

 

 

(a)

Total national

 

35.5

 

32.7

 

8.6

%

Total net broadcast revenues

 

$

147.9

 

$

131.3

 

12.6

%

 


(a)                        Political revenue is not comparable from year to year due to cyclicality of elections.  See Political Revenues below for more information.

 

Net broadcast revenues.  Our top ten revenue categories when comparing the first quarter 2010 to the same period in 2009, showed increases in advertising revenues generated from the automotive, services, schools, food-grocery/other, home products and medical sectors.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the telecommunications and paid programming sectors.  Automotive, which typically is our largest category, represented 17.4% of the quarter’s net time sales and was up 35.6% in the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.

 

The following table presents our time sales revenue from continuing operations, net of agency commissions, by network affiliates for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (dollars in millions):

 

 

 

# of

 

Percent of Net Time Sales for the
Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

Stations

 

2010

 

2009

 

Percent Change

 

FOX

 

20

 

47.6

%

46.4

%

9.5

%

ABC

 

9

 

19.1

%

17.8

%

14.4

%

MyNetworkTV

 

17

 

17.9

%

19.5

%

(1.9

)%

The CW

 

9

 

12.1

%

13.2

%

(2.0

)%

CBS

 

2

 

2.6

%

2.3

%

21.8

%

NBC

 

1

 

0.6

%

0.7

%

(14.0

)%

Digital

 

5

 

0.1

%

0.1

%

107.6

%

Total

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Political Revenues.  Political revenues increased by $1.2 million to $1.5 million for the first quarter 2010 when compared to the same period in 2009.  Political revenues are typically lower in non-election years such as 2009.

 

Local Revenues.  Excluding political revenues, our local broadcast revenues, which include local times sales, retransmission revenues and other local revenues, were up $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 when compared to 2009.  The increase is due to an increase in advertising in the automotive sector and an increase in retransmission revenues from MVPDs.

 

National Revenues.  Our national broadcast revenues, excluding political revenues, include national time sales and other national revenues.  Over the past few years, national revenues have trended downward, however, our first quarter 2010 results were up $1.7 million compared to same period in 2009. This was primarily due to the amplified decline in 2009 from the effects of the recent recession and a rebounding economy in 2010 along with assistance from an improved automotive sector.

 

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Broadcast Expenses

 

The following table presents our significant expense categories in our broadcast segment for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in millions):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Percent Change
(Increase/(Decrease))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station production expenses

 

$

35.9

 

$

34.9

 

2.9

%

Station selling, general and administrative expenses

 

$

30.6

 

$

30.9

 

(1.0

)%

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

$

15.9

 

$

20.8

 

(23.6

)%

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

$

5.9

 

$

2.0

 

195.0

%

Gain on asset exchange

 

$

 

$

(1.2

)

(100.0

)%

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

$

 

$

130.1

 

(100.0

)%

 

Station production expenses.  Station production expenses increased during the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to an increase in fees pursuant to network affiliation agreements and increased maintenance costs to remove analog equipment.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in electric expenses due to the digital signal conversion in June 2009 and cessation of analog transmission.

 

Station selling, general and administrative expenses.  Station selling, general and administrative expenses decreased during the first quarter 2010 compared to same period in 2009, primarily due to decreases in bad debt expense from improved collection efforts, decreased tower rental expense resulting from analog equipment removals and lease terminations and decreased compensation expense.  These decreases were partially offset by increases related to national sales representative and local commissions costs due to an increase in sales.

 

We expect second quarter 2010 station production and station selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding barter, to trend higher than our first quarter 2010 results.

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments.  The amortization of program contract costs decreased during the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.  Over the past few years we have purchased barter and short-term program contracts which are less expensive and result in lower contract cost amortization.  We expect program contract amortization to trend higher in second quarter 2010 compared to first quarter 2010.

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses.  See explanation under Corporate and Unallocated Expenses.

 

Gain on asset exchange.  During the first quarter 2009, we recognized a non-cash gain of $1.2 million from the exchange of equipment under agreements with Sprint Nextel Corporation and in association with the FCC’s decision to allow Sprint Nextel Corporation to utilize our vacated analog spectrum in exchange for the new digital equipment.  We have received all applicable equipment pursuant to the agreement in 2009.

 

Impairment of goodwill, broadcast licenses and other assets.  Due to the severity of the economic downturn and the decrease of our market capitalization, we tested our goodwill and broadcast licenses for impairment during the first quarter of 2009.  During the first quarter of 2009, we recorded an impairment of $69.5 million and $60.6 million related to our goodwill and broadcast licenses, respectively.  The economy has since improved and, therefore, no impairment was recorded in the first quarter 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

 

OTHER OPERATING DIVISIONS SEGMENT

 

The following table presents our other operating divisions segment revenue and expenses related to G1440 Holdings, Inc. (G1440), an information technology staffing, consulting and software development company, Acrodyne Communications, Inc. (Acrodyne), a manufacturer of television transmissions systems, Triangle Sign & Service, LLC. (Triangle), a sign designer and fabricator, Alarm Funding Associates, LLC. (Alarm Funding), a regional security alarm operating and bulk acquisition company, and real estate ventures for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in millions):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Percent Change
(Increase/(Decrease))

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G1440

 

$

 

$

1.7

 

(100.0

)%

Acrodyne

 

$

 

$

1.7

 

(100.0

)%

Triangle

 

$

3.4

 

$

6.0

 

(43.3

)%

Alarm Funding

 

$

2.2

 

$

1.2

 

83.3

%

Real Estate Ventures

 

$

1.3

 

$

0.9

 

44.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses: (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G1440

 

$

 

$

1.8

 

(100.0

)%

Acrodyne

 

$

 

$

1.8

 

(100.0

)%

Triangle

 

$

4.3

 

$

6.1

 

(29.5

)%

Alarm Funding

 

$

1.8

 

$

1.1

 

63.6

%

Real Estate Ventures

 

$

2.0

 

$

2.2

 

(9.1

)%

 


(a)                             Comprises total expenses of the entity including other operating divisions expenses, depreciation and amortization and applicable other income (expense) items such as interest expense.

 

G1440 was sold in fourth quarter 2009 and Acrodyne closed its business September 30, 2009.

 

The decreases in Triangle’s results are primarily due to a decline in order volume driven by the economic downturn particularly in the retail sector.  The increases in Alarm Funding’s results are primarily due to the acquisition of new alarm monitoring contracts and the expansion of sales efforts.

 

Income (Loss) from Equity and Cost Method Investments.  Results of our equity and cost method investments in private investment funds and real estate ventures are included in income (loss) from equity and cost method investments in our consolidated statements of operations.  During the period ended March 31, 2010, we recorded income of $1.0 million related to certain private investment funds and a loss of $0.5 million related to our real estate ventures.  During the period ended March 31, 2009, we recorded a loss of $0.4 million related to our real estate ventures.

 

CORPORATE AND UNALLOCATED EXPENSES

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Percent Change
(Increase/(Decrease))

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

$

0.5

 

$

4.1

 

(87.8

)%

Interest expense

 

$

28.4

 

$

18.1

 

56.9

%

(Loss) gain from extinguishment of debt

 

$

(0.3

)

$

19.0

 

(101.6

)%

Income tax (provision) benefit

 

$

(7.1

)

$

18.8

 

(137.8

)%

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses.  In conjunction with our recent debt restructuring activities, we re-examined our corporate overhead cost allocation methodologies and made applicable changes to the way we allocate costs resulting in greater overhead absorption by our broadcast segment.  Therefore, rather than examining these costs on a segment basis, we will examine the cost variance on an overall basis excluding only corporate general and admisistrative costs from our other operating divisions segment which are included in the expenses discussed in the other operating divisions segment section.  Total corporate general and administrative expenses increased $0.3 million in first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. This is primarily due to an increase in stock based compensation from the issuance of stock-settled appreciation rights in the first quarter 2010 partially offset by a reduction in health and other insurance costs.

 

We expect corporate general and administrative expenses to increase in the second quarter 2010 compared to first quarter 2010.

 

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Interest expense.  Interest expense has increased primarily due to the debt refinancings in fourth quarter 2009.  As part of a comprehensive debt refinancing, we issued new 9.25% Notes and amended and restated our Bank Credit Agreement both of which accrue interest at higher rates then the debt replaced.  We expect interest expense to decrease in second quarter 2010 compared to first quarter 2010.

 

(Loss) gain from extinguishment of debt.   During first quarter 2010, through tender offers, we redeemed $14.3 million and $12.3 million of our 4.875% and 3.0% Notes, respectively, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively.  In first quarter 2009, we repurchased, in the open market, $50.7 million of our 3.0% Notes and $1.0 million of our 6.0% Debentures, resulting in a gain of $18.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively from extinguishment of debt.

 

Income tax (provision) benefit.  The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 including the effects of the noncontrolling interests was a provision of 38.0% as compared to a benefit of 18.0% during the same period in 2009.  Due to our pre-tax income in 2010 compared to our pre-tax loss in 2009, we incurred a tax provision in 2010 versus a tax benefit in 2009.  The difference in the absolute value of the tax rate between 2010 and 2009 is primarily because impairments of certain indefinite-lived intangible assets recorded in 2009 were not deductible for income tax purposes.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

As of March 31, 2010, we had $52.3 million in cash and cash equivalent balances and working capital of approximately $48.1 million.  Cash generated by our operations and availability under the Revolving Credit Facility are used as our primary source of liquidity.  As of March 31, 2010, we had $135.9 million of borrowing capacity available on our Revolving Credit Facility.  We anticipate that cash flow from our operations and borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility will be sufficient to satisfy our debt service obligations, capital expenditure requirements, working capital needs and certain committed strategic investments.

 

On January 26, 2010, we commenced tender offers to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding 3.0% and 4.875% Notes at 100% of the face value of such notes.  The tender offers expired February 23, 2010 and approximately $12.3 million and $14.3 million principal amount of the 3.0% and 4.875% Notes, respectively, were tendered and purchased.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

The following table sets forth our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in millions):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

$

36.0

 

$

23.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows (used in) from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

$

(1.7

)

$

(2.8

)

Decrease in restricted cash

 

26.6

 

 

Dividends and distributions from cost method investees

 

 

1.2

 

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

(1.2

)

(3.2

)

Investments in equity and cost method investees

 

(3.0

)

(4.7

)

Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities

 

$

20.7

 

$

(9.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows (used in) from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

$

4.8

 

$

89.1

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(30.4

)

(88.6

)

Repurchase of Class A Common Stock

 

 

(1.5

)

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

(1.2

)

 

Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

 

(16.0

)

Purchase of subsidiary share from noncontrolling interests

 

 

(2.0

)

Noncontrolling interests contributions

 

 

0.2

 

Other

 

(0.7

)

(0.7

)

Net cash flows used in financing activities

 

$

(27.5

)

$

(19.5

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash flows from operating activities increased during the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.  During 2010, we received more in cash receipts from customers, net of cash payments to vendors, however, we paid more in interest and program payments.

 

We expect program payments to decrease in the second quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2010.

 

Investing Activities

 

With the exception of restricted cash, net cash flows used in investing activities decreased during the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 as we made less equity and cost method investments, capital expenditures and alarm monitoring contract purchases.  Our capital expenditures and alarm monitoring contract purchases were down from 2009 primarily due to timing changes of scheduled activities and market conditions, respectively.  We limited our equity and cost method investment activity to committed investments.  We decreased our investment in restricted cash to pay for the tender offers of the 3.0% and 4.875% Notes.

 

For second quarter 2010, we anticipate incurring more capital expenditures than incurred in the first quarter.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash flows used in financing activities increased in the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.  Due to cash use restrictions in our Bank Credit Agreement, during the first quarter of 2010 we built a cash balance and did not use our Revolving Credit Facility.  We purchased $26.6 million of our 3.0% and 4.875% Notes pursuant to tender offers and we ceased paying our cash dividend after the first quarter of 2009.  In addition, in first quarter 2010 we made payments for deferred financing costs that were primarily related to the 2009 fourth quarter debt refinancing.

 

Seasonality/Cyclicality

 

Our operating results are usually subject to seasonal fluctuations.  Usually, the second and fourth quarter operating results are higher than the first and third quarters because advertising expenditures are increased in anticipation of certain seasonal and holiday spending by consumers.

 

Our operating results are usually subject to fluctuations from political advertising.  In even years, political spending is usually significantly higher than in odd years due to advertising expenditures preceding local and national elections.  Additionally, every four years, political spending is elevated further due to advertising expenditures preceding the presidential election.

 

CONTRACTUAL CASH OBLIGATIONS

 

As mentioned above, we purchased $26.6 million of our 3.0% and 4.875% Notes pursuant to tender offers during first quarter 2010.  As of March 31, 2010, the face amount outstanding of the 3.0% and 4.875% Notes was $15.4 million and $22.7 million, respectively.

 

There were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business to our contractual cash obligations disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There have been no material changes from the quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2010.

 

The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be

 

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disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

The term “internal control over financial reporting,” as defined in Rules 13a-15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, means a process designed by, or under the supervision of our Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, 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 (GAAP) and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

·                  pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of our assets;

·                  provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that our receipts and expenditures are being made in accordance with authorizations of management or our Board of Directors; and

·                  provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements.

 

Assessment of Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2010, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during or subsequent to the quarter ended March 31, 2010, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

 

Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.  Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.  These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.  Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management’s override of the control.  The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are a party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business.  Actions currently pending are in various preliminary stages and no judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions.  After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that the outcome of our pending and threatened matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

 

The following section represents an update to the Risk Factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

We may not be able to renegotiate retransmission consent agreements upon expiration at terms comparable to or more favorable than our current agreements and networks with which we are affiliated may attempt to require us to share revenue from retransmission consent agreements with them.

 

As certain retransmission consent agreements expire, we may not be able to renegotiate such agreements at terms comparable to or more favorable than our current agreements.  This may cause revenues and/or revenue growth from our retransmission consent agreements to decrease under the renegotiated terms despite the fact that our current retransmission consent agreements include automatic annual fee escalators.  In addition, certain of our networks with which we are affiliated may attempt to require us to share revenue from retransmission consent agreements with them as part of renewing expiring affiliation agreements or pursuant to certain rights contained in existing affiliation agreements.

 

Our affiliation agreements with the FOX television network require us to receive FOX’s consent prior to entering into retransmission consent agreements that include content provided by the FOX network.  FOX has recently begun conditioning its consent on its affiliates agreeing to pay FOX compensation related to such retransmission consent agreements.  We, and other FOX affiliates, are currently negotiating with FOX on this issue.  The results of such negotiations cannot be predicted at this time and we could suffer financially in the form of lower payments from MVPDs and decreased advertising revenue if we are not able to obtain FOX’s consent or as a result of making payments to FOX if the cost of obtaining such consent is too high relative to the fees received from the MVPDs.

 

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.  REMOVED AND RESERVED

 

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Stock Appreciation Right Agreement between Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and David D. Smith dated March 12, 2010.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

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Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the 6th day of May 2010.

 

 

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David R. Bochenek

 

 

David R. Bochenek

 

 

Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

(Authorized Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)

 

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Table of Contents

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Stock Appreciation Right Agreement between Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and David D. Smith dated March 12, 2010.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

31