UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ |
Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 or |
☐ |
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from __________ to __________. |
Commission File Number 1-13796
GRAY TELEVISION, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Georgia (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
58-0285030 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
4370 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, GA (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
30319 (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (404) 504-9828
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Class A Common Stock (no par value) Common Stock (no par value) |
New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐
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 definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one).
Large accelerated filer ☐ |
Accelerated filer ☒ |
Non-accelerated filer ☐ (do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller Reporting Company ☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the voting stock (based upon the closing sales prices quoted on the New York Stock Exchange) held by non-affiliates of the registrant (solely for purposes of this calculation, all directors, executive officers and 10% or greater stockholders of the registrant are considered to be “affiliates”) as of June 28, 2013: Class A Common Stock and Common Stock; no par value –$362,715,733.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of February 25, 2014: Class A Common Stock; no par value –5,947,433 shares; Common Stock, no par value –52,532,690 shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed within 120 days of the registrant’s fiscal year end, pursuant to Regulation 14A are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
Gray Television Inc.
INDEX
PART OR ITEM |
DESCRIPTION |
PAGE | |
PART I |
|||
Item 1. |
Business. |
1 |
|
Item 1A. |
Risk Factors. |
18 |
|
Item 1B. |
Unresolved Staff Comments. |
30 |
|
Item 2. |
Properties. |
30 |
|
Item 3. |
Legal Proceedings. |
30 |
|
Item 4. |
Mine Safety Disclosures. |
30 |
|
Executive Officers of the Registrant. |
30 |
||
PART II |
|||
Item 5. |
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. |
32 |
|
Item 6. |
Selected Financial Data. |
35 |
|
Item 7. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
37 |
|
Item 7A. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. |
59 |
|
Item 8. |
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. |
61 |
|
Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. |
109 |
|
Item 9A. |
Controls and Procedures. |
109 |
|
Item 9B. |
Other Information. |
109 |
|
PART III |
|||
Item 10. |
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. |
110 |
|
Item 11. |
Executive Compensation. |
110 |
|
Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. |
110 |
|
Item 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. |
112 |
|
Item 14. |
Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
112 |
|
PART IV |
|||
Item 15. |
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. |
112 |
|
SIGNATURES |
116 |
PART 1
Item 1. Business.
In this annual report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”), unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the words “Gray,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Gray Television, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, as well as Excalibur Broadcasting, LLC (and its consolidated subsidiaries, “Excalibur”), a variable interest entity (that Gray is required to consolidate under generally accepted accounting principles). For more information on this variable interest entity, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The discussion herein of the television (or “TV”) stations that we own and operate does not include our interest in the television and radio stations owned by Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.
Our common stock and our Class A common stock have been listed and traded on The New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbols “GTN” and “GTN.A” since 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Unless otherwise indicated, all station rank, in-market share and television household data herein are derived from reports prepared by Nielsen Media Research Company (“Nielsen”), a national audience measuring service. While we believe this data to be accurate and reliable, we have not independently verified such data.
General
We are a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that owns and operates television stations and digital properties in markets throughout the United States. As of February 1, 2014, we owned and/or operated television stations in 34 television markets broadcasting a total of 110 programming streams, including 24 affiliates of the CBS Network (“CBS”), 14 affiliates of the NBC Network (“NBC”), nine affiliates of the ABC Network (“ABC”) and five affiliates of the FOX Network (“FOX”). We have pending acquisitions of television stations broadcasting a total of 26 programming streams in six additional markets and three of our existing markets in the United States.
Within a market, we broadcast secondary digital channels that are in addition to our primary broadcast channels. Our secondary broadcast channels are generally affiliated with networks different from those affiliated with our primary broadcast channels, and are operated by us to make better use of our broadcast spectrum by providing supplemental and/or alternative programming to our primary channels. Certain of our secondary channels are affiliated with more than one network simultaneously. In addition to affiliations with ABC, CBS and FOX, our secondary channels are affiliated with the following networks: the CW Network or the CW Plus Network (collectively, “CW”), MyNetworkTV (“MyNet.”), the MeTV Network (“MeTV”), This TV Network (“This TV”), Antenna TV (“Ant.”), Live Well Network (“LW”) and Telemundo (“Tel.”). We also broadcast nine local news/weather channels in certain of our existing markets. Our combined TV station group reaches approximately 6.4% of total United States households. Following completion of our announced and pending transactions (described below), we expect to reach approximately 7.3% of total United States households.
Refer to our Markets and Stations table later in this Item 1 and to Note 2 “Acquisitions” of our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 for more information.
Our operating revenues are derived primarily from broadcast and internet advertising, retransmission consent fees and, to a lesser extent, from other sources such as production of commercials, tower rentals, and management fees. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we generated revenue of $346.3 million and $404.8 million, respectively.
Television Industry Background
The Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) grants broadcast licenses to television stations. There have been and are only a limited number of channels available for broadcasting in any one geographic area.
Television station revenue is derived primarily from local, regional and national advertising. Television station revenue is derived to a much lesser extent from retransmission consent fees; studio and tower space rental fees; and commercial production activities. “Advertising” refers primarily to advertisements broadcast by television stations, but it also includes advertisements placed on a television station’s website and sponsorships of television programming and off-line content (such as email messages, mobile applications, and other electronic content distributed by stations). Advertising rates are based upon: (i) the size of a station’s market, (ii) a station’s overall ratings, (iii) a program’s popularity among targeted viewers, (iv) the number of advertisers competing for available time, (v) the demographic makeup of the station’s market, (vi) the availability of alternative advertising media in the market, (vii) the presence of effective sales forces and (viii) the development of projects, features and programs that tie advertiser messages to programming and/or digital content on a station’s website or mobile applications. Advertising rates can also be determined in part by a station’s overall ratings and in-market share, as well as the station’s ratings and market share among particular demographic groups that an advertiser may be targeting. Because broadcast stations rely on advertising revenues, they are sensitive to cyclical changes in the economy. The sizes of advertisers’ budgets, which can be affected by broad economic trends, can affect the broadcast industry in general and the revenues of individual broadcast television stations.
Each commercial television station in the United States is assigned by Nielsen to one of 210 geographic television markets or designated market areas (“DMAs”). These markets are ranked in size according to their number of television households, with the market having the largest number of television households (New York City) ranked first. Each DMA is an exclusive geographic area consisting of all counties (and in some cases, portions of counties) in which the home-market commercial television stations receive the greatest percentage of total viewing hours. Nielsen periodically publishes data on estimated audiences for the television stations in each DMA.
Strategy
Our success is based on the following strategies for growing our revenues and operating cash flows:
Focus on Strategic Growth and Acquisitions
The television broadcasting industry has been characterized recently by a high level of acquisition activity. We believe that there are a number of television stations, and a few station groups, that have similar operating profiles and characteristics, and that share the same commitment to local news coverage, to the communities in which they operate and to creating high quality, locally-driven content, as we do. We intend to selectively pursue opportunities for the acquisition of television stations or station groups, primarily in markets below the Top 50 generally recognized television markets, that fit our strategic and operational objectives, and where we believe that we can improve revenue, efficiencies and cash flow through active management and cost controls. As we consider potential acquisitions, we primarily evaluate potential station audience and revenue shares and the extent to which the target would positively impact our existing station operations.
In furtherance of this, during 2013 we entered into a number of strategic transactions, including:
● |
the October 2013 transactions with News-Press Gazette Company and Excalibur, pursuant to which we acquired the non-license assets for $9.0 million, and Excalibur acquired the license assets for $3.0 million, of KJCT(TV) and associated low power stations (collectively, “KJCT-TV”) in the Grand Junction, Colorado, market. In connection therewith, we entered into a shared services agreement, pursuant to which we provide certain services, including back-office, engineering and sales support, and a lease agreement, pursuant to which we provide studio and office space, to Excalibur. We have also entered into a put and call option agreement with Excalibur, pursuant to which we have the right to purchase, and Excalibur has the right to require us to purchase, the license assets of KJCT-TV upon receipt of FCC approval. In connection with the consummation of Excalibur’s acquisition of KJCT-TV’s license assets, Excalibur incurred approximately $3.0 million of debt, which we have guaranteed; |
● |
the October 2013 acquisition of 99% of the outstanding equity interests of Yellowstone Television, LLC (“Yellowstone”), the owner of four television stations in the Laredo, Texas, Cheyenne, Wyoming – Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Casper, Wyoming markets, for $23.0 million; |
● |
the series of transactions announced in November 2013 pursuant to which we will acquire ownership or operating rights to 12 network-affiliated television stations, excluding satellite stations, in six markets (after giving effect to stations required to be divested) from Hoak Media LLC (“Hoak”). In connection therewith, Excalibur has agreed to acquire three stations in three markets (after giving effect to stations required to be divested) currently owned and/or operated by Hoak. The aggregate purchase price to complete these acquisitions is $335.0 million, subject to a working capital adjustment of up to $10.0 million. In order to comply with regulatory requirements, Gray and Excalibur have entered into agreements to sell certain of the to be acquired television stations, in the Panama City and Grand Junction markets, to third parties for an aggregate purchase price of $37.5 million plus a working capital adjustment; |
● |
the entry into an agreement to acquire WQCW(TV), Portsmouth, Ohio and WOCW-LP, Charleston, West Virginia (collectively, “WQCW-TV”) for $5.0 million. In February 2014, we began a local marketing agreement with respect to WQCW-TV; and |
● |
an agreement entered into in December 2013 to acquire KEVN-TV, a television station serving Rapid City, South Dakota (and its satellite station, KIVV-TV), for $7.8 million. |
Upon receipt of FCC approval in December 2013, we converted our 99% non-voting interest in Yellowstone into a 99% voting interest. The other announced acquisitions remain pending subject to FCC or other regulatory approval. We currently anticipate that the remaining pending acquisitions identified above will be completed in the first half of 2014, although no assurances of the receipt of FCC approvals or the timing thereof, can be provided.
Refer to our Markets and Stations table later in this Item 1 and Note 2 “Acquisitions” of our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 for more information.
Maintain and Grow our Market Leadership Position
As of February 1, 2014, we have the #1 ranking in overall audience in 23 of the 34 markets in which we own stations and we have the #1 ranking in local news audience in 22 of our markets. In addition, we have the #1 and #2 ranking in both overall audience and news audience in 31 of those 34 markets. Upon completion of all pending transactions, we anticipate that we will have the #1 ranking in overall audience in 27 of the 40 markets in which we will own and/or operate stations, and the #1 or #2 ranking in overall audience in 37 of those 40 markets.
We believe there are significant advantages in operating the #1 or #2 television broadcasting stations in a local market. Strong audience and market share allows us to enhance our advertising revenue through price discipline and leadership. We believe a top-rated news platform is critical to capturing incremental sponsorship and political advertising revenue. Our high-quality station group allows us to generate high operating margins, which allows us additional opportunities to reinvest in our business to further strengthen our network and news ratings. Furthermore, we believe operating the top ranked stations in our various markets allows us to attract and retain top talent.
We also believe that our leadership position in the markets in which we operate gives us additional leverage to negotiate retransmission contracts with cable system operators, telephone video distributors, direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) operators, and other multichannel video programming distributors (collectively, “MVPDs”). We also believe our local leadership positions help us in negotiating our network affiliation agreements.
We intend to maintain our market leadership position through continued prudent investment in our news and syndicated programs, as well as continued technological advances and program improvements. We continue to convert our local studios in select markets to be able to provide high definition digital broadcasting (“HD”) to further enhance the visual quality of our local programs, which we believe will drive incremental viewership, and we expect to continue to invest in technological upgrades over the next few years.
Pursue New Media Opportunities
We currently operate web, mobile and desktop applications in all of our markets. We have focused on expanding relevant local content, such as news, weather and sports, on our websites to drive increased traffic to our sites. We have experienced strong growth in internet traffic in the past; for example, page views have grown at approximately a 40.7% compound annual growth rate from 2003 to 2013. We anticipate continued growth in the future, which we believe will result in increased internet revenue.
Our aggregate internet revenue is derived from two sources. The first is advertising or sponsorship opportunities directly on our websites or mobile applications, referred to as “direct internet revenue.” The other source is television advertising time purchased by our clients to directly promote their involvement in our websites or mobile applications, referred to as “internet-related commercial time sales.”
Monetize Digital Spectrum
We currently broadcast 58 secondary channels. We created our secondary channels to better utilize our excess broadcast spectrum. Our secondary channels are affiliated with networks different from those affiliated with our primary channels and are operated by us to make better use of our broadcast spectrum by providing supplemental and/or alternative programming to our primary channels. Certain of our secondary channels are affiliated with more than one network simultaneously.
Our strategy includes expanding upon our digital offerings, and we evaluate potential opportunities from time to time either on our own and/or in partnership with other companies, as such opportunities present themselves. We also evaluate opportunities to use spectrum for future delivery of television broadcasts to handheld and other mobile devices.
Prudent Cost Management
Historically, we have closely managed our costs to maintain and improve our margins. We believe that our market leadership position also gives us additional negotiating leverage to enable us to lower our syndicated programming costs. We have increased the efficiency of our stations by automating video production and back office processes. We believe that we will be able to further benefit from our cost and operational efficiencies as we continue to grow our company.
Cyclicality, Seasonality and Revenue Concentrations
Because broadcast stations like ours rely on advertising revenue, they are sensitive to cyclical changes in the economy. As a result, our non-political advertising revenue was significantly negatively affected during the economic recession in 2007 to 2009, but it has improved along with the general economic environment since 2010. Our political advertising revenue was not as significantly affected by the recession as our non-political advertising revenue.
Broadcast advertising revenue is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters each year. This seasonality results partly from increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the Christmas holiday season. Broadcast advertising revenue is also typically higher in even-numbered years due to spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups during the “on year” of the two-year political advertising cycle. This political advertising spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter.
We consider broadcast advertising revenue to be revenue earned from the sale of advertisements broadcast by our stations. Although no single customer represented more than 5% of our broadcast advertising revenue for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we derived a material portion of our non-political broadcast advertising revenue from advertisers in a limited number of industries, particularly the automotive industry. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, we derived approximately 25%, 18% and 21%, respectively, of our total broadcast advertising revenue from our customers in the automotive industry. Revenue from this industry represented a higher percentage of total revenue in odd-numbered years due to, among other things, the increased availability of advertising time, as a result of such years being the “off year” of the two year political advertising cycle. Our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected if broadcast advertising revenue from the automotive, or certain other industries, such as the medical, restaurant, communications, furniture and appliance industries declines.
Markets and Stations
Gray operates in DMAs ranked between 61 and 208 and seeks to focus its operations on university towns and state capitals. Our markets include 18 university towns, representing enrollment of approximately 500,000 students, and nine state capitals. We believe university towns and state capitals provide significant advantages as they generally offer more favorable advertising demographics, more stable economics and a stronger affinity between local stations and university sports teams.
We have strong, market leading positions in our markets. We believe a key driver for our strong market position is the strength of our local news and information programs. We believe that our market position and our strong local revenue streams have enabled us to maintain more stable revenues in recent challenging economic conditions compared to many of our peers.
We are diversified across our markets and network affiliations. Our largest market by company revenue is Charleston/Huntington, WV, which contributed approximately 7% of our revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. Our top 10 markets by Company revenue contributed 50% of our revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, our CBS-affiliated channels accounted for 45% and 42%, respectively, of our revenue, our NBC-affiliated channels accounted for 35% and 39%, respectively, of our revenue, our ABC-affiliated channels accounted for 14% and 15%, respectively, of our revenue and our FOX-affiliated channels accounted for approximately 2% of our revenue.
The majority of our stations broadcast primary channels that are affiliated with major networks. In addition to the primary channels, the majority of our stations also broadcast secondary digital channels that are affiliated with various networks. The terms of our affiliations with these networks are governed by network affiliation agreements. Each network affiliation agreement provides the affiliated station with the right to broadcast all programs transmitted by the affiliated network. Our network affiliation agreements expire at various dates through December 31, 2018.
The following table provides information about our owned and operated television stations, as well as our pending station acquisitions, as of February 1, 2014.
Stations owned and operated by Gray Television, Inc.:
Primary Broadcast |
Primary Channel | |||||||||||||||||
DMA Rank (a) |
Designated Market Area ("DMA") |
Station Call Letters |
Network Affiliations and Program Service Arrangements (b) |
License Expiration Date (c) |
Station Rank in DMA (d) |
News Rank in DMA (e) |
||||||||||||
61 |
Knoxville, TN |
WVLT |
CBS |
MyNet. |
8/1/2021 |
2 |
2 |
|||||||||||
63 |
Lexington, KY |
WKYT |
CBS |
CW |
News |
8/1/2013 |
(g) |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||
(k) |
Hazard, KY |
WYMT |
CBS |
8/1/2013 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
65 |
Charleston/Huntington, WV |
WSAZ |
NBC |
MyNet. |
This TV |
10/1/2012 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||
67 |
Wichita/Hutchinson, KS |
KAKE |
ABC |
MeTV |
6/1/2014 |
3 |
3 |
|||||||||||
67 |
(Colby, KS) |
KLBY |
(f) |
ABC |
6/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
67 |
(Garden City, KS) |
KUPK |
(f) |
ABC |
6/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
74 |
Omaha, NE |
WOWT |
NBC |
News |
6/1/2014 |
2 |
2 |
|||||||||||
83 |
Madison, WI |
WMTV |
NBC |
News |
Ant. |
12/1/2021 |
2 |
2 |
||||||||||
88 |
Waco/Temple/Bryan, TX |
KWTX |
CBS |
CW |
8/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
88 |
(Bryan, TX) |
KBTX |
(f) |
CBS |
CW |
8/1/2014 |
||||||||||||
89 |
Colorado Springs/Pueblo, CO |
KKTV |
CBS |
MyNet. |
4/1/2014 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||
96 |
South Bend/Elkhart, IN |
WNDU |
NBC |
Ant. |
8/1/2013 |
(g) |
2 |
2 |
||||||||||
99 |
Greenville/New Bern/Washington, NC |
WITN |
NBC |
MyNet. |
MeTV |
12/1/2020 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
105 |
Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, NE |
KOLN |
CBS |
6/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||
105 |
(Grand Island, NE) |
KGIN |
(f) |
CBS |
6/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
105 |
Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, NE |
KSNB |
Me |
MyNet. |
6/1/2014 |
6 |
6 |
|||||||||||
106 |
Tallahassee, FL/Thomasville, GA |
WCTV |
CBS |
MyNet. |
This TV |
4/1/2013 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||
107 |
Reno, NV |
KOLO |
ABC |
LW |
10/1/2014 |
2 |
2 |
|||||||||||
112 |
Augusta, GA/Aiken, SC |
WRDW |
CBS |
MyNet. |
Ant. |
4/1/2021 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
115 |
Lansing, MI |
WILX |
NBC |
News |
10/1/2021 |
2 |
1 |
|||||||||||
128 |
La Crosse/Eau Claire, WI |
WEAU |
NBC |
News |
Ant. |
12/1/2021 |
2 |
1 |
||||||||||
134 |
Topeka, KS |
WIBW |
CBS |
MeTV |
MyNet. |
6/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
135 |
Wausau/Rhinelander, WI |
WSAW |
CBS |
MyNet. |
News |
12/1/2021 |
1 |
2 |
||||||||||
136 |
Rockford, IL |
WIFR |
CBS |
Ant. |
12/1/2021 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
151 |
Albany, GA |
WSWG |
CBS |
MeTV |
MyNet. |
CW |
4/1/2021 |
3 |
4 |
|||||||||
154 |
Panama City, FL |
WJHG |
NBC |
CW |
News |
2/1/2021 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
154 |
Panama City, FL |
WECP |
CBS |
MyNet. |
2/1/2021 |
3 |
(h) |
|||||||||||
161 |
Sherman, TX/Ada, OK |
KXII |
CBS |
MyNet. |
FOX |
8/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
161 |
(Paris, TX) |
KXIP |
(f) |
CBS |
8/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
172 |
Dothan, AL |
WTVY |
CBS |
MeTV |
MyNet. |
CW |
4/1/2013 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
||||||||
172 |
Dothan, AL |
WRGX |
NBC |
4/1/2021 |
4 |
3 |
||||||||||||
178 |
Harrisonburg, VA |
WHSV |
ABC |
MeTV |
MyNet. |
10/1/2012 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||
178 |
Harrisonburg, VA |
WSVF |
FOX |
CBS |
10/1/2020 |
3 |
2 |
|||||||||||
182 |
Bowling Green, KY |
WBKO |
ABC |
FOX |
CW |
8/1/2021 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
183 |
Charlottesville, VA |
WCAV |
CBS |
News |
10/1/2012 |
(g) |
2 |
2 |
||||||||||
183 |
Charlottesville, VA |
WVAW |
ABC |
10/1/2012 |
(g) |
3 |
3 |
|||||||||||
183 |
Charlottesville, VA |
WAHU |
FOX |
MyNet. |
This TV |
10/1/2012 |
(g) |
4 |
4 |
|||||||||
184 |
Laredo, TX |
KGNS |
NBC |
CW |
Tel. |
8/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
185 |
Grand Junction/Montrose, CO |
KKCO |
NBC |
MeTV |
4/1/2014 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||
186 |
Meridian, MS |
WTOK |
ABC |
MyNet. |
CW |
6/1/2013 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
Stations owned and operated by Gray Television, Inc. (continued):
Primary Broadcast |
Primary Channel |
|||||||||||||||||
DMA Rank (a) |
Designated Market Area ("DMA") |
Station Call Letters |
Network Affiliations and Program Service Arrangements (b) |
License Expiration Date (c) |
Station Rank in DMA (d) |
News Rank in DMA (e) |
||||||||||||
194 |
Parkersburg, WV |
WTAP |
NBC |
News |
10/1/2012 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
194 |
Parkersburg, WV |
WIYE |
FOX |
10/1/2020 |
2 |
(h) |
||||||||||||
194 |
Parkersburg, WV |
WOVA |
CBS |
MyNet. |
10/1/2020 |
3 |
2 |
|||||||||||
196 |
Cheyenne, WY/Scottsbluff, NE |
KGWN |
CBS |
CW |
10/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
196 |
(Gering, NE) |
KSTF |
(f) |
CBS |
6/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
196 |
Cheyenne, WY/Scottsbluff, NE |
KCHY |
NBC |
10/1/2014 |
5 |
3 |
||||||||||||
197 |
Casper/Riverton, WY |
KCWY |
NBC |
10/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||
208 |
North Platte, NE |
KNPL |
CBS |
MeTV |
6/1/2014 |
6 |
3 |
Stations operated pursuant to a shared services agreement with Excalibur Broadcasting, LLC:
Primary Broadcast |
Primary Channel |
|||||||||||||||||
DMA Rank (a) |
Designated Market Area ("DMA") |
Station Call Letters |
Network Affiliations and Program Service Arrangements (b) |
License Expiration Date (c) |
Station Rank in DMA (d) |
News Rank in DMA (e) |
||||||||||||
185 |
Grand Junction/Montrose, CO |
KJCT |
ABC |
CW |
4/1/2014 |
3 |
1 |
|||||||||||
185 |
(Montrose, CO) |
KKHD |
Tel. |
4/1/2014 |
Stations pending completion of acquisition by Gray Television, Inc. (i):
Primary Broadcast |
Primary Channel |
|||||||||||||||||
DMA Rank (a) |
Designated Market Area ("DMA") |
Station Call Letters |
Network Affiliations and Program Service Arrangements (b) |
License Expiration Date (c) |
Station Rank in DMA (d) |
News Rank in DMA (e) |
||||||||||||
65 |
Charleston/Huntington, WV |
WQCW |
(j) |
CW |
10/1/2021 |
6 |
(h) |
|||||||||||
111 |
Sioux Falls, SD |
KSFY |
ABC |
CW |
4/1/2014 |
2 |
2 |
|||||||||||
111 |
(Aberdeen, SD) |
KABY |
(f) |
ABC |
4/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
111 |
(Pierre, SD) |
KPRY |
(f) |
ABC |
4/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
116 |
Fargo/Valley City, ND |
KVLY |
NBC |
ME |
4/1/2014 |
2 |
2 |
|||||||||||
137 |
Monroe/El Dorado, LA |
KNOE |
CBS |
CW |
6/1/2013 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
145 |
Minot/Bismarck/Dickinson, ND |
KFYR |
NBC |
ME |
4/1/2014 |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
145 |
(Minot, ND) |
KMOT |
(f) |
NBC |
4/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
145 |
(Williston, ND) |
KUMV |
(f) |
NBC |
4/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
145 |
(Dickinson, ND) |
KQCD |
(f) |
NBC |
4/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
173 |
Rapid City, SD |
KEVN |
FOX |
4/1/2014 |
4 |
2 |
||||||||||||
173 |
(Lead, SD) |
KIVV |
(f) |
FOX |
4/1/2014 |
|||||||||||||
179 |
Alexandria, LA |
KALB |
NBC |
CBS |
6/1/2013 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||
208 |
North Platte, NE |
KNOP |
NBC |
6/1/2006 |
(g) |
1 |
1 |
|||||||||||
208 |
North Platte, NE |
KIIT |
FOX |
6/1/2014 |
4 |
(h) |
Stations anticipated to be operated pursuant to a shared services agreement pending completion of acquisition by Excalibur Broadcasting, LLC (i):
Primary Broadcast |
Primary Channel |
|||||||||||||||||
DMA Rank (a) |
Designated Market Area ("DMA") |
Station Call Letters |
Network Affiliations and Program Service Arrangements (b) |
License Expiration Date (c) |
Station Rank in DMA (d) |
News Rank in DMA (e) |
||||||||||||
105 |
Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, NE |
KHAS |
NBC |
Cozi. |
6/1/2006 |
(g) |
4 |
4 |
||||||||||
116 |
Fargo/Valley City, ND |
KXJB |
CBS |
4/1/2014 |
3 |
3 |
||||||||||||
137 |
Monroe/El Dorado, LA |
KAQY |
ABC |
6/1/2013 |
(g) |
4 |
(h) |
|||||||||||
145 |
Minot/Bismarck/Dickinson, ND |
KNDX |
FOX |
4/1/2006 |
(g) |
4 |
(h) |
|||||||||||
145 |
(Minot, ND) |
KXND |
(f) |
FOX |
4/1/2006 |
(g) |
(a) |
DMA rank for the 2013-2014 television season based on information published by Nielsen. |
(b) |
Indicates network affiliations. All primary channels and a significant majority of our secondary channels broadcast by the stations are affiliated with a network. We also have independent secondary channels broadcasting local news and/or weather. Such channels are identified as “News.” |
(c) |
Indicates expiration dates of broadcast licenses. |
(d) |
Based on Nielsen data for the February, May, July and November 2013 rating periods. |
(e) |
Based on Nielsen data for the February, May, July and November 2013 rating periods for various news programs. |
(f) |
This station is a satellite station under FCC rules and simulcasts the programming of our primary channel in its market. This station may offer some locally originated programming, such as local news. |
(g) |
This station timely filed a license renewal application with the FCC, which remains pending. We anticipate that all pending renewal applications will be granted in due course. |
(h) |
This station does not currently broadcast local news that is specific to its market. |
(i) |
Pending acquisitions are subject to regulatory approval. |
(j) |
As of February 1, 2014, this station is operated by Gray pursuant to a local marketing agreement pending completion of its acquisition by Gray. |
(k) |
The rankings shown for WYMT are based on data for the trading area (an area not defined as a distinct DMA) for the four most recent reporting periods. |
Station Network Affiliations
The “Big Four” major broadcast networks, ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX, dominate broadcast television in terms of the amount of viewership that their original programming attracts. The “Big Three” major broadcast networks of ABC, NBC, and CBS provide their respective network affiliates with a majority of the programming broadcast each day. FOX, CW and MyNetworkTV provide their affiliates with a smaller portion of each day’s programming compared to the Big Three networks. The CW Plus network generally provides programming for the entire broadcast day.
We believe most successful commercial television stations obtain their brand identity from locally produced news programs. Notwithstanding this, however, the affiliation of a station’s channels with one of the Big Four major networks can have a significant impact on the station’s programming, revenues, expenses and operations. A typical network provides an affiliate with network programming in exchange for a substantial majority of the advertising time available for sale during the airing of the network programs. The network then sells this advertising time and retains the revenue. The affiliate sells the remaining advertising time available within the network programming and non-network programming, and the affiliate retains most or all of such revenue from these sales. In seeking to acquire programming to supplement network-supplied programming, which we believe is critical to maximizing affiliate revenue, affiliates compete primarily with other affiliates and independent stations in their markets as well as, in certain cases, various national non-broadcast networks (“cable networks”) that present competitive programming. The Big Four networks charge affiliates cash fees as additional compensation for receiving network programming.
A television station may also acquire programming through barter arrangements. Under a programming barter arrangement, a national program distributor retains a fixed amount of advertising time within the program in exchange for the programming it supplies. The television station may pay a fixed fee for such programming.
We record revenue and expense for trade barter transactions involving the exchange of tangible goods or services with our customers. The revenue is recorded at the time the advertisement is broadcast and the expense is recorded at the time the goods or services are used. The revenue and expense associated with these transactions are based on the fair value of the assets or services received.
We do not account for barter revenue and related barter expense generated from network or syndicated programming as such amounts are not material. Furthermore, any such barter revenue recognized would then require the recognition of an equal amount of barter expense. The recognition of these amounts would not have a material effect upon net income (loss).
Affiliates of FOX, CW and MyNetworkTV must purchase or produce a greater amount of programming for their non-network time periods, generally resulting in higher programming costs. On the other hand, affiliates of FOX, CW and MyNetworkTV retain a larger portion of their advertising time inventory and the related revenues compared to Big Three affiliates.
Competition
Television stations compete for audiences, certain programming (including news) and advertisers. Cable network programming is a significant competitor of broadcast television programming. However, no single cable network regularly attains audience levels of those of any major broadcast network. Cable networks’ advertising share has increased due to the growth in the number of homes that subscribe to a pay-TV service from MVPDs. Despite increases in cable network viewership, over-the-air broadcasting remains the dominant distribution system for mass-market television advertising. Signal coverage and carriage on MVPD systems also materially affect a television station’s competitive position.
Audience
Stations compete for audience based on broadcast program popularity, which has a direct effect on advertising rates. Networks supply a substantial portion of our affiliated stations’ daily programming. Affiliated stations depend on the performance of the network programs to attract viewers. There can be no assurance that any such current or future programming created by our affiliated networks will achieve or maintain satisfactory viewership levels. Stations program non-network time periods with a combination of locally produced news, public affairs and entertainment programming, including national news or syndicated programs purchased for cash, cash and barter, or barter only.
MVPD systems have significantly altered the competitive landscape for audience in the television industry. Specifically, MVPD systems can increase a broadcasting station’s competition for viewers by bringing into the market both cable networks and distant television station signals not otherwise available to the station’s audience.
Other sources of competition for audiences, programming, and advertisers include internet websites, mobile applications and wireless carriers, direct-to-consumer video distribution systems, and home entertainment systems.
Recent developments by many companies, including internet service providers and internet website operators, are expanding the variety and quality of broadcast and non-broadcast video programming available to consumers via the internet. Internet companies have developed business relationships with companies that have traditionally provided syndicated programming, network television and other content. As a result, additional programming is becoming available through non-traditional methods, which can directly impact the number of TV viewers, and thus indirectly impact station rankings, popularity and revenue possibilities of our stations.
Programming
Competition for non-network programming involves negotiating with national program distributors, or syndicators, that sell first-run and rerun programming packages. Each station competes against the other broadcast stations in its market for exclusive access to off-network reruns (such as The Andy Griffith Show) and first-run programming (such as Jeopardy). Broadcast stations compete also for exclusive news stories and features. While cable networks generally do not compete with local stations for programming, some national cable networks from time to time have acquired programs that would have been offered to, or otherwise might have been broadcast by, local television stations.
Advertising
Advertising revenues comprise the primary source of revenues for our stations. Our stations compete with other television stations for advertising revenues in their respective markets. Our stations also compete for advertising revenue with other media, such as newspapers, radio stations, magazines, outdoor advertising, transit advertising, yellow page directories, direct mail, internet websites, and local cable and other MVPD systems. In the broadcast industry, advertising revenue competition occurs primarily within individual markets.
Federal Regulation of the Television Broadcast Industry
General
Under the Communications Act of 1934 (the “Communications Act”), television broadcast operations such as ours are subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC. Among other things, the Communications Act empowers the FCC to: (i) issue, revoke and modify broadcasting licenses; (ii) regulate stations’ operations and equipment; and (iii) impose penalties for violations of the Communications Act or FCC regulations. The Communications Act prohibits the assignment of a license or the transfer of control of a licensee without prior FCC approval.
License Grant and Renewal
The FCC grants broadcast licenses to television stations for terms of up to eight years. Broadcast licenses are of paramount importance to the operations of our television stations. The Communications Act requires the FCC to renew a licensee’s broadcast license if the FCC finds that: (i) the station has served the public interest, convenience and necessity; (ii) there have been no serious violations of either the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules and regulations; and (iii) there have been no other violations which, taken together, would constitute a pattern of abuse. Historically the FCC has renewed broadcast licenses in substantially all cases. While we are not currently aware of any facts or circumstances that might prevent the renewal of our stations’ licenses at the end of their respective license terms, we cannot provide any assurances that any license will be renewed. Our failure to renew any licenses upon the expiration of any license term could have a material adverse effect on our business. Under the Communications Act, the term of a broadcast license is automatically extended pending the FCC’s processing of a renewal application. For further information regarding the expiration dates of our stations’ current licenses and renewal application status, see the table under the heading “Markets and Stations.”
Media Ownership Restrictions and FCC Proceedings
The FCC’s broadcast ownership rules affect the number, type and location of broadcast and newspaper properties that we may hold or acquire. The rules now in effect limit the common ownership, operation or control of, and “attributable” interests or voting power in: (i) television stations serving the same area; (ii) television stations and daily newspapers serving the same area; and (iii) television stations and radio stations serving the same area. The rules also limit the aggregate national audience reach of television stations that may be under common ownership, operation and control, or in which a single person or entity may hold an official position or have more than a specified interest or percentage of voting power. The FCC’s rules also define the types of positions and interests that are considered attributable for purposes of the ownership limits, and thus also apply to our principals and certain investors.
The FCC is required by statute to review all of its broadcast ownership rules every four years to determine if such rules remain necessary in the public interest. In 2007, the FCC adopted a Report and Order fulfilling the FCC’s obligation to review its media ownership rules every four years. That Order left most of the FCC’s existing ownership restrictions in place, but made modifications to the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership restriction. A number of parties appealed the FCC’s order; those appeals were consolidated in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (“Third Circuit”). In May 2010, while these appeals were still pending, the FCC began a new comprehensive review of its broadcast ownership rules to determine whether the rules remain necessary in the public interest by releasing a Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”). In July 2011, the Third Circuit vacated and remanded the FCC’s 2007 changes to the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, but upheld the FCC’s retention of the remainder of its media ownership rules. In December 2011, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “2011 NPRM”) that addresses issues remanded by the Third Circuit. In addition, the 2011 NPRM requests comments on the FCC’s proposals to leave the local TV ownership rule and local radio ownership rule largely intact; eliminate the radio/television cross-ownership rule; and presumptively permit waivers of the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership ban in the 20 largest television markets. Finally, the 2011 NPRM requests comments on whether local news service agreements and/or shared services agreements should be considered attributable for purposes of applying the media ownership restrictions. The FCC, in an open ownership proceeding from 2004, previously sought comment on its proposal to make joint sales agreements attributable to the station acting as the broker.
Local TV Ownership Rules
The FCC’s 2007 actions generally reinstated the FCC’s pre-2003 local television ownership rules. Under those rules, one entity may own two commercial television stations in a DMA as long as the Grade B contours of the stations do not overlap or, if they do, no more than one of those stations is ranked among the top four stations in the DMA and eight independently owned, full-power stations will remain in the DMA. Waivers of this rule may be available if at least one of the stations in a proposed combination qualifies, pursuant to specific criteria set forth in the FCC’s rules, as failed, failing, or unbuilt. The 2011 NPRM proposes only minor modifications to the existing rule by eliminating the Grade B contour overlap portion of the existing rule. Additionally, the 2011 NPRM requests comments on whether (i) to adopt a waiver standard that would allow certain television combinations in small markets, even between top-four stations, (ii) to consider multicasting in determining local television ownership limits, and (iii) to limit the ability of station owners to form dual network affiliations through multicasting multiple channels of programming within a single digital channel.
Cross-Media Limits
The newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule generally prohibits one entity from owning both a commercial broadcast station and a daily newspaper in the same community. The radio/television cross-ownership rule allows a party to own one or two TV stations and a varying number of radio stations within a single market. The FCC’s 2007 decision left the existing newspaper/broadcast and radio/television cross-ownership restrictions in place, but provided that the FCC would evaluate newly-proposed newspaper/broadcast combinations under a non-exhaustive list of public interest factors and apply positive or negative presumptions in specific circumstances. As noted above, the Third Circuit reversed and remanded the FCC’s 2007 changes to the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, leaving the original prohibition in place. The 2011 NPRM proposes a rule based largely on the FCC’s 2007 decision and seeks comment on its proposal to adopt a newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule that would presumptively permit waivers of the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership restrictions in the top 20 DMAs when the television station is not ranked among the top four television stations in the DMA and at least eight independently owned and operated major media voices remain in the DMA.
National Television Station Ownership Rule
The maximum percentage of U.S. households that a single owner can reach through commonly owned television stations is 39 percent. This limit was specified by Congress in 2004 and is not affected by the December 2007 FCC decision or subsequent appellate action. The FCC applies a 50 percent “discount” for ultra-high frequency (“UHF”) stations. In September 2013, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “2013 NPRM”) seeking comment on its tentative conclusion to eliminate the UHF discount.
Conclusion
The FCC’s media ownership proceedings are on-going and, in many cases, are or will be subject to further judicial and potentially Congressional review. We cannot predict the outcome of any of these current or potential proceedings.
Attribution Rules
Under the FCC’s ownership rules, a direct or indirect purchaser of certain types of our securities could violate FCC regulations if that purchaser owned or acquired an “attributable” interest in other media properties in the same areas as one or more of our stations. Pursuant to FCC rules, the following relationships and interests are generally considered attributable for purposes of broadcast ownership restrictions: (i) all officers and directors of a corporate licensee and its direct or indirect parent(s); (ii) voting stock interests of at least five percent; (iii) voting stock interests of at least 20 percent, if the holder is a passive institutional investor (such as an investment company, as defined in 15 U.S.C. 80a-3, bank, or insurance company); (iv) any equity interest in a limited partnership or limited liability company, unless properly “insulated” from management activities; (v) equity and/or debt interests that in the aggregate exceed 33 percent of a licensee’s total assets, if the interest holder supplies more than 15 percent of the station’s total weekly programming or is a same-market broadcast company or daily newspaper publisher; (vi) time brokerage of a broadcast station by a same-market broadcast company; and (vii) same-market radio joint sales agreements.
Management services agreements and other types of shared services arrangements between same-market stations that do not include attributable time brokerage or joint sales components generally are not deemed attributable under the FCC’s current rules and policies. As noted above, however, the FCC previously requested comment on whether joint sales agreements, local news service agreements and/or shared services agreements should be considered attributable for purposes of applying the media ownership rules. In a December 2013 Memorandum Opinion and Order granting a transfer of control application that included shared services arrangements, the Media Bureau cautioned broadcasters that it must consider the economic effects of, and incentives created by, each transaction on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the transaction serves the public interest, as well as complying with the FCC’s rules and prior decisions. The Department of Justice has taken steps under the antitrust laws to block certain transactions involving joint sales or other services agreements. Further, in ex parte comments filed in February 2014, the Department of Justice recommended that the FCC adopt rules that make joint sales agreements attributable under the FCC’s ownership rules.
To our knowledge, no officer, director or five percent shareholder currently holds an attributable interest in another television station, radio station or daily newspaper that is inconsistent with the FCC’s ownership rules and policies or with our ownership of our stations.
Alien Ownership Restrictions
The Communications Act restricts the ability of foreign entities or individuals to own or hold interests in broadcast licenses. The Communications Act bars the following from holding broadcast licenses: foreign governments, representatives of foreign governments, non-citizens, representatives of non-citizens, and corporations or partnerships organized under the laws of a foreign nation. Foreign individuals or entities, collectively, may directly or indirectly own or vote no more than 20 percent of the capital stock of a licensee or 25 percent of the capital stock of a corporation that directly or indirectly controls a licensee. The 20 percent limit on foreign ownership of a licensee may not be waived. In November 2013, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling clarifying that it would now consider, on a case-by-case basis, proposals for foreign investment in the parent company of a broadcast licensee in excess of 25 percent. Prior to this ruling, the FCC applied a de facto 25 percent cap on such investments.
We serve as a holding company for our subsidiaries, including subsidiaries which hold station licenses. Therefore we may be restricted from having more than one-fourth of our stock owned or voted directly or indirectly by non-citizens, foreign governments, representatives of non-citizens or foreign governments, or foreign corporations.
Programming and Operations
Rules and policies of the FCC and other federal agencies regulate certain programming practices and other areas affecting the business or operations of broadcast stations.
The Children’s Television Act of 1990 limits commercial matter in children’s television programs and requires stations to present educational and informational children’s programming. Broadcasters are effectively required through license renewal processing guidelines to provide at least three hours of children’s educational programming per week on their primary channels and on each secondary channel. In October 2009, the FCC issued a NOI seeking comment on a broad range of issues related to children’s usage of electronic media and the current regulatory landscape that governs the availability of electronic media to children. The NOI remains pending, and we cannot predict what recommendations or further action, if any, will result from it.
Over the past several years, the FCC has increased its enforcement efforts regarding broadcast indecency and profanity and the statutory maximum fine for broadcasting indecent material is currently $325,000 per incident. In June 2012, the Supreme Court decided a challenge to the FCC’s indecency enforcement without resolving the scope of the FCC’s ability to regulate broadcast content. In August 2013, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on whether it should modify its indecency policies. The FCC has not yet issued a decision, and the courts remain free to review the FCC’s current policy or any modifications thereto. The outcomes of these proceedings could affect future FCC policies in this area, and we are unable to predict the outcome of any such judicial proceeding, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
EEO Rules
The FCC’s Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) rules impose job information dissemination, recruitment, documentation and reporting requirements on broadcast station licensees. Broadcasters are subject to random audits to ensure compliance with the EEO rules and may be sanctioned for noncompliance.
MVPD Retransmission of Local Television Signals
Under the Communications Act and FCC regulations, each television station generally has a so-called “must-carry” right to carriage of its primary channels on all MVPD systems serving their market. Each commercial television station may elect between invoking its “must carry” right or invoking a right to prevent an MVPD system from retransmitting the station’s primary channel without its consent (“retransmission consent”). Stations must make this election by October 1 every three years, and stations most recently made such elections by October 1, 2011. Such elections are binding throughout the three-year cycle that commences on the subsequent January 1. The current carriage cycle commenced on January 1, 2012, and ends on December 31, 2014. Our stations have elected retransmission consent and have entered into retransmission consent contracts with virtually all MVPD systems serving their markets.
In March 2011, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “March 2011NPRM”) to consider changes to its rules governing the negotiation of retransmission consent agreements. The FCC concluded that it lacked statutory authority to impose mandatory arbitration or interim carriage obligations in the event of a dispute between broadcasters and pay television operators. The FCC, however, sought comment on whether it should (1) strengthen the existing regulatory provision requiring broadcasters and MVPDs to negotiate retransmission consent agreements in “good faith,” (2) enhance notice obligations to consumers of potential disruptions in service, and/or (3) extend the prohibition on ceasing carriage of a broadcast station’s signal during an audience measurement period to DBS systems. The March 2011NPRM also questioned whether the FCC should eliminate the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity rules. The FCC has not yet issued a decision in this proceeding, and we cannot predict the outcome of any FCC regulatory action in this regard.
In addition, certain online video distributors and other over-the-top video distributors (“OVDs”) have begun to stream broadcast programming over the Internet without the consent of the broadcast station. Broadcasters have aggressively pursued injunctions against the companies offering these services in multiple jurisdictions. Currently, the court decisions on point are divided. In January 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider the appeal filed by the four major networks seeking review of whether the service of one such OVD, Aereo, constitutes an unlicensed public performance under copyright law. The broadcasters filed the petition with the Supreme Court after losing their request for an injunction against Aereo in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In 2010, the FCC’s Media Bureau, in a program access proceeding, tentatively concluded that one OVD had not shown that it was an MVPD for purposes of demonstrating eligibility for the program access rules, and in March 2012, the FCC, recognizing that the classification could also have implications under the retransmission consent requirements, issued a public notice seeking comment on, among other things, the proper interpretation of the term “MVPD” under FCC rules. We cannot predict the outcome of the pending litigation or of the FCC’s interpretive proceedings. However, if the courts determine that consent of the broadcast station or copyright owners is not required and if the FCC determines that an OVD is not an MVPD, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Broadcast Spectrum
On March 16, 2010, the FCC delivered a “National Broadband Plan” to Congress. The National Broadband Plan, inter alia, makes recommendations regarding the use of spectrum currently allocated to television broadcasters, including seeking the voluntary surrender of certain portions of the television broadcast spectrum and repacking the currently allocated spectrum to make portions of that spectrum available for other wireless communications services. If some or all of our television stations are required to change frequencies or reduce the amount of spectrum they use, our stations could incur substantial conversion costs, reduction or loss of over-the-air signal coverage or an inability to provide high definition programming and additional program streams, including mobile video services. Prior to implementation of the proposals contained in the National Broadband Plan, further action by the FCC or Congress or both is necessary.
In February 2012, Congress passed and the President signed legislation that, among other things, grants the FCC authority to conduct auctions of certain spectrum currently used by television broadcasters. These auctions would have two parts. First, the FCC would conduct a reverse auction by which a television broadcaster may volunteer, in return for payment, to relinquish its station’s spectrum by surrendering its license; relinquish part of its spectrum and thereafter share spectrum with another station; or modify a UHF channel license to a VHF channel license. Second, the FCC would conduct a forward auction of the relinquished auction to new users. The FCC must complete the reverse auction and the forward auction by September 30, 2022. To accommodate the spectrum reallocation to new users, the FCC may require that television stations that do not participate in the auction modify their transmission facilities. The legislation authorizes the FCC to reimburse stations for reasonable relocation costs up to a total across all stations of $1.75 billion. In addition, the legislation directs the FCC to use “reasonable efforts” to preserve a station’s coverage area and population served, and it prevents the FCC from requiring that a station involuntarily move from the UHF band to the VHF band or from the high VHF band to the low VHF band.
On April 27, 2012, the FCC issued a Report and Order modifying the FCC’s rules to establish a licensing framework to allow two or more broadcast stations to share a 6Mhz channel. On September 28, 2012, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement an incentive auction of broadcast television spectrum. Comments on the rulemaking proposals were due on January 25, 2013, and reply comments were due on March 12, 2013. We cannot predict the likelihood, timing or outcome of any Congressional or FCC regulatory action with respect to the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, incentive auctions, or repacking of broadcast television spectrum, nor the impact of any such changes upon our business.
The foregoing does not purport to be a complete summary of the Communications Act, other applicable statutes, or the FCC’s rules, regulations or policies. Proposals for additional or revised regulations and requirements are pending before, are being considered by, and may in the future be considered by, Congress and federal regulatory agencies from time to time. We cannot predict the effect of any existing or proposed federal legislation, regulations or policies on our business. Also, several of the foregoing matters are now, or may become, the subject of litigation, and we cannot predict the outcome of any such litigation or the effect on our business.
Employees
As of December 31, 2013, we had 2,093 full-time employees and 155 part-time employees, of which 44 full-time and 2 part-time employees at one station were represented by a union. We consider our relations with our employees to be good.
Corporate Information
Gray Television, Inc. is a Georgia corporation, incorporated in 1897, initially to publish the Albany Herald in Albany, Georgia. We entered the broadcast industry in 1953. Our executive offices are located at 4370 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30319, and our telephone number at that location is (404) 504-9828. Our website address is http://www.gray.tv. We make the following reports filed or furnished, as applicable, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) available, free of charge, on our website under the heading “SEC Filings” as soon as practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC: our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to any of the foregoing. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference or part of this or any other report we file with or furnish to the SEC.
We have adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to all of our directors, executive officers and employees. The Code is available on our website under the heading “Corporate Governance.” If any waivers of the Code are granted, the waivers will be disclosed in an SEC filing on Form 8-K.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In addition to the other information contained and referred to in this report, you should consider carefully the following factors when evaluating our business. Any of these risks, or the occurrence of any of the events described in these risk factors, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, other risks or uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently do not deem material could arise, any of which could also materially adversely affect us. This report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the occurrence of one or more of the following risk factors.
We have substantial debt and have the ability to incur significant additional debt. The principal and interest payment obligations on such debt may restrict our future operations and impair our ability to meet our long-term debt obligations.
At December 31, 2013, we had approximately $842.9 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding indebtedness (excluding intercompany indebtedness). We have the ability to incur significant additional debt, including secured debt, under our senior credit facility (the “2012 Senior Credit Facility”). In addition, the terms of the indenture governing our outstanding 7½% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) (as supplemented, the “indenture”) also permit us to incur additional indebtedness, subject to our ability to meet certain borrowing conditions.
Our substantial debt may have important consequences. For instance, it could:
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require us to dedicate a substantial portion of any cash flow from operations to the payment of interest and principal due under our debt, which would reduce funds available for other business purposes, including capital expenditures and acquisitions; |
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place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to some of our competitors that may have less debt and better access to capital resources; |
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limit our ability to obtain additional financing required to fund acquisitions, working capital and capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes; and |
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make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations. |
Our ability to service our significant financial obligations depends on our ability to generate significant cash flow. This is partially subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate cash flow from operations, that future borrowings will be available to us under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility or any other credit facilities, or that we will be able to complete any necessary financings, in amounts sufficient to enable us to fund our operations or pay our debts and other obligations, or to fund other liquidity needs. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our obligations, we may need to refinance or restructure our debt, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek to raise additional capital. Additional debt or equity financing may not be available in sufficient amounts, at times or on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Specifically, volatility in the capital markets may also impact our ability to obtain additional financing, or to refinance our existing debt, on terms or at times favorable to us. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to service our debt or other obligations, which could result in us being in default thereon, in which circumstances our lenders could cease making loans to us, and lenders or other holders of our debt could accelerate and declare due all outstanding obligations due under the respective agreements, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
The agreements governing our various debt obligations impose restrictions on our operations and limit our ability to undertake certain corporate actions.
The agreements governing our various debt obligations, including the indenture and the agreements governing the 2012 Senior Credit Facility, include covenants imposing significant restrictions on our operations. These restrictions may affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities as they arise. These covenants place restrictions on our ability to, among other things:
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incur additional debt, subject to certain limitations; |
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declare or pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions to stockholders; |
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make investments or acquisitions; |
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create liens or use assets as security in other transactions; |
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issue guarantees; |
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merge or consolidate, or sell, transfer, lease or dispose of substantially all of our assets; |
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amend our articles of incorporation or bylaws; |
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engage in transactions with affiliates; and |
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purchase, sell or transfer certain assets. |
Any of these restrictions and limitations could make it more difficult for us to execute our business strategy.
The indenture and the 2012 Senior Credit Facility also require us to comply with a number of financial ratios and covenants; our failure to do so would result in a default thereunder, which would have a material adverse effect on us.
We are also required to comply with a number of financial covenants under the indenture and the 2012 Senior Credit Facility. Our ability to comply with these requirements may be affected by events affecting our business, but beyond our control, including prevailing general economic, financial and industry conditions. These covenants could have an adverse effect on us by limiting our ability to take advantage of financing, merger and acquisition or other corporate opportunities. The breach of any of these covenants or restrictions could result in a default under the indenture or the 2012 Senior Credit Facility.
Upon a default under any of our debt agreements, the lenders or debt holders thereunder could have the right to declare all amounts outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable, which could, in turn, trigger defaults under other debt obligations and could result in the termination of commitments of the lenders to make further extensions of credit under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility. If we were unable to repay our secured debt to our lenders, or were otherwise in default under any provision governing our outstanding secured debt obligations, our secured lenders could proceed against us and the subsidiary guarantors and against the collateral securing that debt. Any default resulting in an acceleration of outstanding indebtedness, a termination of commitments under our financing arrangements or lenders proceeding against the collateral securing such indebtedness would likely result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our annual debt service obligations to increase significantly.
Borrowings under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) were to exceed certain levels, our debt service obligations on our variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income and cash available to service our obligations would decrease.
The success of our business is dependent upon advertising revenues, which are seasonal and cyclical, and will also fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Our main source of revenue is the sale of advertising time and space. Our ability to sell advertising time and space depends on, among other things:
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economic conditions in the areas where our stations are located and in the nation as a whole; |
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the popularity of the programming offered by our television stations; |
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changes in the population demographics in the areas where our stations are located; |
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local and national advertising price fluctuations, which can be affected by the availability of programming, the popularity of programming, and the relative supply of and demand for commercial advertising; |
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our competitors’ activities, including increased competition from other advertising-based mediums, particularly cable networks, MVPDs and the internet; |
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the duration and extent of any network preemption of regularly scheduled programming for any reason; |
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decisions by advertisers to withdraw or delay planned advertising expenditures for any reason; |
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labor disputes or other disruptions at major national advertisers, programming providers or networks; and |
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other factors beyond our control. |
Our results are also subject to seasonal and cyclical fluctuations that we expect to continue. Seasonal fluctuations typically result in higher revenue and broadcast operating income in the second and fourth quarters than in the first and third quarters of each year. This seasonality is primarily attributable to (i) advertisers’ increased expenditures in the spring and in anticipation of holiday season spending and (ii) an increase in television viewership during this period. In addition, we typically experience fluctuations in our revenue and broadcast operating income between even and odd numbered years. In years in which there are impending elections for various state and national offices, which primarily occur in even numbered years, political advertising revenue tends to increase, often significantly, and particularly during presidential election years. Also, our NBC network affiliated stations typically experience increased viewership and revenue during coverage of Olympic Games, which also occur in even numbered years. As a result of the seasonality and cyclicality of our revenue and broadcast operating income, and the historically significant increase in our revenue and broadcast operating income during even-numbered years, potential investors are cautioned that it has been, and is expected to remain, difficult to engage in period-over-period comparisons of our revenue and results of operations.
Continued uncertain financial and economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Financial and economic conditions continue to be uncertain over the longer term and the continuation or worsening of such conditions could reduce consumer confidence and have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and/or financial condition. If consumer confidence were to decline, this decline could negatively affect our advertising customers’ businesses and their advertising budgets. In addition, continued volatile economic conditions could have a negative impact on our industry or the industries of our customers who advertise on our stations, resulting in reduced advertising sales. Furthermore, it may be possible that actions taken by any governmental or regulatory body for the purpose of stabilizing the economy or financial markets will not achieve their intended effect. In addition to any negative direct consequences to our business or results of operations arising from these financial and economic developments, some of these actions may adversely affect financial institutions, capital providers, advertisers or other consumers on whom we rely, including for access to future capital or financing arrangements necessary to support our business. Our inability to obtain financing in amounts and at times necessary could make it more difficult or impossible to meet our obligations or otherwise take actions in our best interests.
Our dependence upon a limited number of advertising categories could adversely affect our business.
We consider broadcast advertising revenue to be revenue earned from the sale of advertisements broadcast by our stations. Although no single customer represented more than 5% of our broadcast advertising revenue for the years ended December 31, 2013 or 2012, we derived a material portion of our non-political broadcast advertising revenue from advertisers in a limited number of industries, particularly the automotive industry. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we derived approximately 25% and 18%, respectively, of our total broadcast advertising revenue from our advertisers in the automotive industry. Our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected if broadcast advertising revenue from the automotive, or certain other industries, such as the medical, restaurant, communications, or furniture and appliances, industries, declined.
We consider political broadcast advertising revenue to be revenue earned from the sale to political candidates, political parties and special interest groups of advertisements broadcast by our stations. In even numbered years, we derive a material portion of our broadcast advertising revenue from political broadcast advertisers. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we derived approximately 1% and 21%, respectively, of our total revenue from political broadcast advertisers. If political broadcast advertising revenue declined, especially in an even numbered year, our results of operations and financial condition could also be materially adversely affected.
If we are unable to complete the Hoak Acquisition, we could be liable to Hoak for breach of contract, and our stock price could suffer.
On November 20, 2013, the Company entered into a series of transactions pursuant to which Gray and Excalibur will acquire ownership or operating rights to 15 network-affiliated television stations, including satellite stations, in seven markets (after giving effect to stations required to be divested due to regulatory requirements) from Hoak Media LLC and Parker Broadcasting, Inc. (the “Hoak Acquisition”). Consummation of the Hoak Acquisition is subject to various customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval from the FCC. The Hoak Acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2014, although no assurances can be provided that we will be able to consummate the Hoak Acquisition on the expected timeline, or at all. If the Hoak Acquisition is not completed, we could be liable to Hoak for breach of contract, and the market price of our stock may decline to the extent that the current market price reflects a market assumption that the Hoak Acquisition will be completed. In addition, we have incurred and will incur substantial transaction costs and expenses in connection with the Hoak Acquisition. These costs are primarily associated with the fees of attorneys, accountants and our financial advisors. Further, we have diverted significant management resources in an effort to complete the Hoak Acquisition. If the Hoak Acquisition is not completed, we will have incurred significant costs, including the diversion of management resources, for which we will have received little or no benefit. Additionally, if the Hoak Acquisition is not completed, we may experience negative reactions from the financial markets and our advertisers, stockholders and employees. Each of these factors may also adversely affect the trading price of our stock and our financial results and operations.
If we are unable to finance the Hoak Acquisition, we may not be able to complete the acquisition.
We expect to fund the purchase price to complete the Hoak Acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and funds from one or more external financing sources, which could include senior credit facility financing or proceeds from the issuance of other debt or equity securities. We currently have no commitments from any financing source relating to the financing of the Hoak Acquisition. In the event we are unable to obtain financing on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, or at all, we may not be able to complete the Hoak Acquisition. In such event, Hoak could pursue an action against us to compel us to complete the acquisition or for damages, either of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, if we fund the Hoak Acquisition through the issuance of new equity securities, these newly issued shares could substantially dilute the ownership interests of outstanding stockholders.
We could incur substantial additional long-term indebtedness in connection with the Hoak Acquisition, which would increase the risks we now face with our current indebtedness.
We may finance the Hoak Acquisition with senior credit facility borrowing or the issuance of other debt. As a result, we may have long-term indebtedness that will be substantially greater than our long-term indebtedness prior to the Hoak Acquisition. This additional indebtedness would increase the related risks we now face with our current indebtedness described above.
We may not realize the expected benefits of the Hoak Acquisition because of integration difficulties and other challenges.
The success of the Hoak Acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated synergies and cost savings from integrating Hoak’s business with our existing business. The integration process may be complex, costly and time-consuming. The difficulties of integrating the operation of Hoak’s business could include, among others:
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failure to implement our business plan for the combined business; |
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unanticipated issues in integrating information, communications and other systems; |
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unanticipated changes in applicable laws and regulations, including FCC rules; |
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the impact on our internal controls and compliance with the regulatory requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and |
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other unanticipated issues, expenses and liabilities. |
We may not accomplish the integration of Hoak’s business smoothly, successfully or within the anticipated costs or time frame. The diversion of the attention of management from our current operations to the integration effort and any difficulties encountered in combining operations could prevent us from realizing the full benefits anticipated to result from the Hoak Acquisition and could adversely affect our business.
We seek to selectively evaluate growth opportunities through strategic acquisitions, and there are significant risks associated with an acquisition strategy.
We intend to continue to evaluate opportunities for growth through selective acquisitions of television stations or station groups. There can be no assurances that we will be able to identify any suitable acquisition candidates, and we cannot predict whether we will be successful in pursuing or completing any acquisitions, or what the consequences of not completing any acquisitions would be. Consummation of any proposed acquisition at any time may also be subject to various conditions such as compliance with FCC rules and policies. Consummation of acquisitions may also be subject to antitrust regulatory requirements.
An acquisition strategy involves numerous other risks, which may include risks associated with:
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identifying suitable acquisition candidates and negotiating definitive purchase agreements on satisfactory terms; |
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integrating operations and systems and managing a large and geographically diverse group of stations; |
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obtaining financing to complete acquisitions, which financing may not be available to us at times, in amounts, or at rates acceptable to us, if at all, and potentially the related risks associated with increased debt; |
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diverting our management’s attention from other business concerns; |
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potentially losing key employees at acquired stations; and |
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potential changes in the regulatory approval process that may make it materially more expensive, or materially delay our ability, to consummate any proposed acquisitions. |
Our failure to identify acquisition candidates, or to complete or integrate any acquired business, or to obtain the expected benefits therefrom, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are a holding company with no independent assets or operations and we depend on our subsidiaries for cash.
We are a holding company with no independent assets or operations, other than our investments in our subsidiaries. Because we are a holding company, we are dependent upon the payment of dividends, distributions, loans or advances to us by our subsidiaries to fund our obligations. These payments could be or become subject to dividend or other restrictions under applicable laws in the jurisdictions in which our subsidiaries operate. Payments by our subsidiaries are also contingent upon the subsidiaries’ earnings. If we are unable to obtain sufficient funds from our subsidiaries to fund our obligations, our financial condition and ability to meet our obligations may be adversely affected.
We must purchase television programming in advance of knowing whether a particular show will be popular enough for us to recoup our costs.
One of our most significant costs is for the purchase of television programming. If a particular program is not sufficiently popular among audiences in relation to the cost we pay for such program, we may not be able to sell enough related advertising time for us to recoup the costs we pay to broadcast the program. We also must usually purchase programming several years in advance, and we may have to commit to purchase more than one year’s worth of programming, resulting in the incurrence of significant costs in advance of our receipt of any related revenue. We may also replace programs that are performing poorly before we have recaptured any significant portion of the costs we incurred in obtaining such programming or fully expensed the costs for financial reporting purposes. Any of these factors could reduce our revenues, result in the incurrence of impairment charges or otherwise cause our costs to escalate relative to revenues.
We are highly dependent upon our network affiliations, and we may lose a large amount of television programming if a network (i) terminates its affiliation with us, (ii) significantly changes the economic terms and conditions of any future affiliation agreements with us or (iii) significantly changes the type, quality or quantity of programming provided to us under an affiliation agreement.
Our business depends in large part on the success of our network affiliations. Each of our stations is affiliated with at least one major network pursuant to affiliation agreements. Each affiliation agreement provides the affiliated station with the right to broadcast all programs transmitted by the affiliated network during the term of the related agreement. Our affiliation agreements generally expire at various dates through December 31, 2018.
If we cannot enter into affiliation agreements to replace any expiring agreements, we would no longer be able to carry the affiliated network’s programming. This loss of programming would require us to seek to obtain replacement programming. Such replacement programming may involve higher costs and may not be as attractive to our target audiences, thereby reducing our ability to generate advertising revenue. Furthermore, our concentration of CBS and/or NBC affiliates makes us particularly sensitive to adverse changes in our business relationship with, and the general success of, CBS and/or NBC.
We can give no assurance that any future affiliation agreements will have economic terms or conditions equivalent to or more advantageous to us than our current agreements. If in the future a network or networks imposed more adverse economic terms upon us, such event or events could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
In addition, if we are unable to renew or replace any existing affiliation agreements, we may be unable to satisfy certain obligations under our existing or any future retransmission consent agreements with MVPDs and/or secure payment of retransmission consent fees under such agreements. Furthermore, if in the future a network limited or removed our ability to retransmit network programming to MVPDs, we may be unable to satisfy certain obligations or criteria for fees under any existing or any future retransmission consent agreements. In either case, such an event could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We are also dependent upon our retransmission consent agreements with MVPDs, and we cannot predict the outcome of potential regulatory changes to the retransmission consent regime.
We are also dependent, in significant part, on our retransmission consent agreements. Our current retransmission consent agreements are set to expire at various times through December 2017. No assurances can be provided that we will be able to renegotiate all of such agreements on favorable terms, on a timely basis, or at all. The failure to renegotiate such agreements could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our ability to successfully negotiate future retransmission consent agreements may be hindered by potential legislative or regulatory charges to the framework under which these agreements are negotiated. For example, in March 2011, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “2011 NPRM”) to consider changes to its rules governing the negotiation of retransmission consent agreements. The FCC concluded that it lacked statutory authority to impose mandatory arbitration or interim carriage obligations in the event of a dispute between broadcasters and pay television operators. The FCC, however, sought comment on whether it should (1) strengthen the existing regulatory provision requiring broadcasters and MVPDs to negotiate retransmission consent in “good faith,” (2) enhance notice obligations to consumers of potential disruptions in service, and/or (3) extend the prohibition on ceasing carriage of a broadcast station’s signal during an audience measurement period to DBS systems. The 2011 NPRM also questioned whether the FCC should eliminate the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity rules. The FCC has not yet issued a decision in this proceeding, and we cannot predict the outcome of any FCC regulatory action in this regard.
In addition, certain online video distributors and other OVDs have begun to stream broadcast programming over the Internet without the consent of the broadcast station. In one case relating to that issue, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction enjoining an OVD from streaming broadcast programming because the court concluded that the OVD was unlikely to demonstrate that it was eligible for the statutory copyright license that provides cable operators with the requisite copyrights to retransmit broadcast programming, and in August 2012, the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision. In another case, a preliminary injunction against an entity providing access to broadcast programming over the Internet was denied. In that case, the federal district court for the Southern District of New York concluded that the operator was likely to prevail in demonstrating that the leasing of antennas and other equipment that enables a consumer to access broadcast programming over the Internet is not a copyright violation. That ruling has been sustained by the Second Circuit and the case has been returned to the district court for trial. In a case against another entity presenting similar facts, the federal district court for the Central District of California, rejecting the rationale of the New York district court, enjoined operations, finding that the transmissions were copyright infringements. That decision has been appealed to the Ninth Circuit. In September 2013, a district court in Washington D.C. reached a similar decision as the California district court in a separate lawsuit against the same OVD, finding that broadcast networks have a protectable copyright that appears to be violated by the internet distribution. That court imposed a nationwide injunction (exempting the Second Circuit) against that OVD. In October 2013, broadcasters in Salt Lake City, Utah, filed suit against the same OVD challenging the legality of the OVD’s service. Also in October 2013, the district court in Massachusetts denied another broadcaster’s request for an injunction against the OVD. On October 11, 2013, the four major networks filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking review of the Second Circuit’s decision upholding the denial of their request for an injunction against that OVD. In January 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider this appeal. In 2010, the FCC’s Media
Bureau, in a program access proceeding, tentatively concluded that one OVD had not shown that it was an MVPD for purposes of demonstrating eligibility for the program access rules, and in March 2012, the FCC, recognizing that the classification could also have implications under the retransmission consent requirements, issued a public notice seeking comment on, among other things, the proper interpretation of the term “MVPD” under FCC rules. We cannot predict the outcome of the pending litigation or of the FCC’s interpretive proceedings. However, if the courts determine that consent of the broadcast station or copyright owners is not required and if the FCC determines that an OVD is not an MVPD, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We operate in a highly competitive environment. Competition occurs on multiple levels (for audiences, programming and advertisers) and is based on a variety of factors. If we are not able to successfully compete in all relevant aspects, our revenues will be materially adversely affected.
Television stations compete for audiences, certain programming (including news) and advertisers. Signal coverage and carriage on MVPD systems also materially affect a television station’s competitive position. With respect to audiences, stations compete primarily based on broadcast program popularity. We cannot provide any assurances as to the acceptability by audiences of any of the programs we broadcast. Further, because we compete with other broadcast stations for certain programming, we cannot provide any assurances that we will be able to obtain any desired programming at costs that we believe are reasonable. Cable-network programming combined with increased access to cable and satellite TV, has become a significant competitor for broadcast television programming viewers. Cable networks’ viewership and advertising share have increased due to the growth in MVPD penetration (the percentage of television households that are connected to a MVPD system) and increased investments in programming by cable networks. Further increases in the advertising share of cable networks could materially adversely affect the advertising revenue of our television stations.
In addition, technological innovation and the resulting proliferation of programming alternatives, such as internet websites, mobile apps and wireless carriers, direct-to-consumer video distribution systems, and home entertainment systems have further fractionalized television viewing audiences and resulted in additional challenges to revenue generation.
Our inability or failure to broadcast popular programs, or otherwise maintain viewership for any reason, including as a result of increases in programming alternatives, could result in a lack of advertisers, or a reduction in the amount advertisers are willing to pay us to advertise, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our pension plan obligations are currently underfunded, and, if certain factors worsen, we may have to make significant cash payments to some or all of these plans, which could reduce the cash available for our business.
We have underfunded obligations under our defined benefit pension plans. The funded status of our pension plans is dependent upon many factors, including returns on invested assets, the level of certain market interest rates and the discount rate used to determine pension obligations. Unfavorable returns on the plan assets or unfavorable changes in applicable laws or regulations may materially change the timing and amount of required plan funding, which could reduce the cash available for our business. In addition, a decrease in the already historically low discount rate used to determine pension obligations could result in an increase in the valuation of pension obligations, which could affect the reported funding status of our pension plans and future contributions, as well as the periodic pension cost in subsequent fiscal years.
We do not currently pay cash dividends on either class of our common stock. To the extent a potential investor ascribes value to a dividend paying stock, the value of our stock may be correspondingly reduced.
Our Board of Directors has not declared a cash or stock dividend on our common stock or Class A common stock since 2008. The timing and amount of any future dividend is at the discretion of our board of directors, and they may be subject to limitations or restrictions in the 2012 Senior Credit Facility and other financing agreements we may be, or become, party to. We can provide no assurance when or if any future dividends will be declared on either class of common stock.
As a result, if and to the extent an investor ascribes value to a dividend-paying stock, the value of our common stock and Class A common stock may be correspondingly reduced.
We may be unable to maintain or increase our internet advertising revenue, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
We generate a portion of our advertising revenue from the sale of advertisements on our internet sites. Our ability to maintain or increase this advertising revenue is largely dependent upon the number of users actively visiting our internet sites. We believe we must increase user engagement with our internet sites in order to increase our advertising revenue. Because internet advertising techniques are evolving, if our technology and advertisement serving techniques do not evolve to meet the changing needs of advertisers, our advertising revenue could also decline. Changes in our business model, advertising inventory or initiatives could also cause a decrease in our internet advertising revenue.
We do not have long-term agreements with most of our internet advertisers. Any termination, change or decrease in our relationships with our largest advertising clients could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and profitability. If we do not maintain or increase our advertising revenue, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
If we are unable to protect our domain names, our reputation and brands could be adversely affected.
We currently hold various domain name registrations relating to our brands. The registration and maintenance of domain names generally are regulated by governmental agencies and their designees. Governing bodies may establish additional top-level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars or modify the requirements for holding domain names. As a result, we may be unable to register or maintain relevant domain names. In addition, we may be unable, without significant cost or at all, to prevent third parties from registering domain names that are similar to, infringe upon or otherwise decrease the value of, our trademarks and other proprietary rights. Failure to protect our domain names could adversely affect our reputation and brands, and make it more difficult for users to find our websites and our services.
Any potential hostilities or terrorist attacks, or similar events leading to broadcast interruptions, may affect our revenues and results of operations.
If the United States engages in additional foreign hostilities or existing hostilities escalate, or if the United States experiences a terrorist attack or experiences any similar event resulting in interruptions to regularly scheduled broadcasting, we may lose advertising revenue and/or incur increased expenses. Lost revenue and increased expenses may be due to pre-emption, delay or cancellation of advertising campaigns, and increased costs of covering such events. We cannot predict the (i) extent or duration of any future disruption to our programming schedule, (ii) amount of advertising revenue that would be lost or delayed or (iii) amount by which our broadcasting expenses would increase as a result. Any such loss of revenue and increased expenses could negatively affect our future results of operations.
We have, in the past, incurred impairment charges on our goodwill and/or broadcast licenses, and any such future charges may have a material effect on the value of our total assets.
As of December 31, 2013, the book value of our broadcast licenses was $839.0 million and the book value of our goodwill was $184.4 million, in comparison to total assets of $1.3 billion. Not less than annually, and more frequently if necessary, we are required to evaluate our goodwill and broadcast licenses to determine if the estimated fair value of these intangible assets is less than book value. If the estimated fair value of these intangible assets is less than book value, we will be required to record a non-cash expense to write-down the book value of the intangible asset to the estimated fair value. We cannot make any assurances that any required impairment charges will not have a material adverse effect on our total assets.
Federal broadcasting industry regulations limit our operating flexibility.
The FCC regulates all television broadcasters, including us. We must obtain FCC approval whenever we (i) apply for a new license, (ii) seek to renew, modify or assign a license, (iii) purchase a broadcast station and/or (iv) transfer the control of one of our subsidiaries that holds a license. Our FCC licenses are critical to our operations, and we cannot operate without them. We cannot be certain that the FCC will renew these licenses in the future or approve new acquisitions, mergers, divestitures or other business activities. Our failure to renew any licenses upon the expiration of any license term could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Federal legislation and FCC rules have changed significantly in recent years and may continue to change. These changes may limit our ability to conduct our business in ways that we believe would be advantageous and may affect our operating results.
The FCC can sanction us for programming broadcast on our stations that it finds to be indecent.
Over the past several years, the FCC has increased its enforcement efforts regarding broadcast indecency and profanity and the statutory maximum fine for broadcasting indecent material is currently $325,000 per incident. In June 2012, the Supreme Court decided a challenge to the FCC’s indecency enforcement without resolving the scope of the FCC’s ability to regulate broadcast content. The FCC has not yet issued any further decisions concerning its indecency enforcement authority, and the courts remain free to review the FCC’s current policy or any modifications thereto. The outcomes of these proceedings could affect future FCC policies in this area, and we are unable to predict the outcome of any such judicial proceeding, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The FCC’s duopoly restrictions limit our ability to own and operate multiple television stations in the same market.
The FCC’s ownership rules generally prohibit us from owning or having “attributable interests” in television stations located in the same markets in which our stations are licensed. Accordingly, those rules constrain our ability to expand in our present markets through additional station acquisitions.
The FCC’s National Television Station Ownership Rule limits the maximum number of households we can reach.
Under the FCC’s National Television Station Ownership Rule, a single television station owner may not reach more than 39 percent of U.S. households through commonly owned television stations. This rule may constrain our ability to expand through additional station acquisitions.
The FCC’s National Broadband Plan could result in the reallocation of broadcast spectrum for wireless broadband or other non-broadcast use, which could materially impair our ability to provide competitive services.
In 2010, the FCC delivered to Congress a “National Broadband Plan.” The National Broadband Plan, among other things, makes recommendations regarding the use of spectrum currently allocated to television broadcasters, including seeking the voluntary surrender of certain portions of the television broadcast spectrum and repacking the currently allocated spectrum to make portions of that spectrum available for other wireless communications services. If some or all of our television stations are required to change frequencies or reduce the amount of spectrum they use, our stations could incur substantial conversion costs, reduction or loss of over-the-air signal coverage or an inability to provide high definition programming and additional program streams, including mobile video services.
In late February 2012, Congress passed and the President signed legislation that, among other things, grants the FCC authority to conduct auctions of certain spectrum currently used by television broadcasters. These auctions would have two parts. First, the FCC would conduct a reverse auction by which a television broadcaster may volunteer, in return for payment, to relinquish its station’s spectrum by surrendering its license; relinquish part of its spectrum and thereafter share spectrum with another station; or modify a UHF channel license to a VHF channel license. Second, the FCC would conduct a forward auction of the relinquished auction to new users. The FCC must complete the reverse auction and the forward auction by September 30, 2022. To accommodate the spectrum reallocation to new users, the FCC may require that television stations that do not participate in the auction modify their transmission facilities. The legislation authorizes the FCC to reimburse stations for reasonable relocation costs up to a total across all stations of $1.75 billion. In addition, the legislation directs the FCC to use “reasonable efforts” to preserve a station’s coverage area and population served, and it prevents the FCC from requiring that a station involuntarily move from the UHF band to the VHF band or from the high VHF band to the low VHF band.
On April 27, 2012, the FCC issued a Report and Order modifying the FCC’s rules to establish a licensing framework to allow two or more broadcast stations to share a 6Mhz channel. On September 28, 2012, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to implement an incentive auction of broadcast television spectrum. We cannot predict the likelihood, timing or outcome of any Congressional or FCC regulatory action with respect to the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, incentive auctions, or repacking of broadcast television spectrum, nor the impact of any such changes upon our business.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
Our principal executive offices are located at 4370 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319. Our administrative offices are located at 126 North Washington St., Third Floor, Albany, Georgia, 31701. Our shared services offices are located at 1801 Halstead Blvd., Tallahassee, Florida, 32309. See “Business – Markets and Stations” elsewhere in this Annual Report for a complete listing of our television stations and their locations.
The types of properties required to support television stations include offices, studios, transmitter sites and antenna sites. A station’s studios are generally housed within its offices in each respective market. The transmitter sites and antenna sites are generally located in elevated areas to provide optimal signal strength and coverage. We own or lease land, offices, studios, transmitters and antennas in each of our markets necessary to support our operations in that market area. In some market areas, we also own or lease multiple properties, such as towers and/or signal repeaters (translators), to optimize our broadcast capabilities. To the extent that our properties are leased and those leases contain expiration dates, we believe that those leases can be renewed, or that alternative facilities can be leased or acquired, on terms that are comparable, in all material respects, to our existing properties.
We generally believe all of our owned and leased properties are in good condition, and suitable for the conduct of our present business.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are, from time to time, subject to legal proceedings and claims in the normal course of our business. Based on our current knowledge, we do not believe that any known legal proceedings or claims are likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Executive Officers of the Registrant.
Set forth below is certain information with respect to our executive officers as of February 25, 2014:
Hilton H. Howell, Jr., age 51, has been our Chief Executive Officer since August 2008 and has also served as our President since June 2013 and Vice-Chairman since September 2002. Before that, he had been our Executive Vice President since September 2000. He has served as one of our directors since 1993. He is a member of the Executive Committee of our Board. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic American Corporation, an insurance holding company, since 1995, and as Chairman of that company since February 24, 2009. He has been Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Delta Life Insurance Company and Delta Fire and Casualty Insurance Company since 1991. He has served as Vice Chairman of Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company since 1992 and Vice Chairman of Georgia Casualty & Surety Company from 1992 through 2008. He served as Chairman of the Board of Southern Community Newspapers, Inc. (then known as Triple Crown Media) (“SCN”), from December 2005 until December 2009. Mr. Howell also serves as a director of Atlantic American Corporation and its subsidiaries American Southern Insurance Company, American Safety Insurance Company and Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company, as well as Delta Life Insurance Company and Delta Fire and Casualty Insurance Company. He is the son-in-law of Mrs. Harriett J. Robinson and the husband of Mrs. Robin R. Howell, both members of our Board of Directors.
James C. Ryan, age 53, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 1998 and Senior Vice President since September 2002. Before that, he had been our Vice President since October 1998.
Kevin P. Latek, age 43, has served as our Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, since July 2013. Before that, he had been our Vice President for Law and Development and Secretary since March 2012. In the preceding nearly 15 years, Mr. Latek represented television and radio broadcasters as well as financial institutions in FCC regulatory and transactional matters with the law firm of Dow Lohnes, PLLC, in Washington, DC. Mr. Latek received a B.S.B.A. from Georgetown University School of Business Administration (summa cum laude) in 1992 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996. He is a member of the CBS Affiliates Board, the American Bar Association and the Federal Communications Bar Association.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our common stock, no par value, and our Class A common stock, no par value, have been listed and traded on the NYSE since September 24, 1996 and June 30, 1995, respectively.
The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of the common stock and the Class A common stock for the periods indicated, as reported by the NYSE.
Common Stock |
Class A Common Stock |
|||||||||||||||
High |
Low |
High |
Low |
|||||||||||||
2013: |
||||||||||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 4.98 | $ | 2.25 | $ | 4.52 | $ | 1.82 | ||||||||
Second Quarter |
7.49 | 4.37 | 7.45 | 4.06 | ||||||||||||
Third Quarter |
9.46 | 6.01 | 9.06 | 6.04 | ||||||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
15.17 | 6.88 | 13.09 | 6.14 | ||||||||||||
2012: |
||||||||||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 2.39 | $ | 1.54 | $ | 2.03 | $ | 1.33 | ||||||||
Second Quarter |
1.99 | 1.34 | 1.99 | 1.14 | ||||||||||||
Third Quarter |
2.34 | 1.45 | 2.00 | 1.29 | ||||||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
2.50 | 1.70 | 2.35 | 1.54 |
As of February 12, 2014, we had 52,532,690 outstanding shares of common stock held by approximately 5,369 stockholders and 5,947,433 outstanding shares of Class A common stock held by approximately 395 stockholders. The number of stockholders consists of stockholders of record and individual participants in security position listings as furnished to us pursuant to Rule 17Ad-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).
Our articles of incorporation provide that each share of common stock is entitled to one vote, and each share of Class A common stock is entitled to 10 votes, on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders. Our articles of incorporation require that our common stock and our Class A common stock receive dividends on a pari passu basis.
We have not paid dividends on either class of our common stock since October 15, 2008. The 2012 Senior Credit Facility contains covenants that restrict our ability to pay cash dividends on our capital stock.
In addition, the declaration and payment of any dividends on our common stock or Class A common stock are subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors. Any future payments of dividends will depend on our earnings and financial position and such other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant. See Note 2 “Long-term Debt” of our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein for a further discussion of restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.
Stock Performance Graph
The following stock performance graphs and related disclosures do not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate them by reference therein.
The following graphs compare the cumulative total return of the common stock and the Class A common stock from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2013, as compared to the stock market total return indexes for (i) The New York Stock Exchange Market Index and (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Industry Index based upon the Television Broadcasting Stations Index.
The graphs assume the investment of $100 in each of our common stock and the Class A common stock, respectively, the New York Stock Exchange Market Index and the NYSE Television Broadcasting Stations Index on December 31, 2008. Any dividends are assumed to have been reinvested as paid.
As of |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company/Index/Market |
12/31/2008 |
12/31/2009 |
12/31/2010 |
12/31/2011 |
12/31/2012 |
12/31/2013 |
||||||||||||||||||
Gray Television Common Stock |
$ | 100 | $ | 375 | $ | 468 | $ | 405 | $ | 550 | $ | 3,720 | ||||||||||||
NYSE Market Index |
$ | 100 | $ | 128 | $ | 146 | $ | 140 | $ | 162 | $ | 205 | ||||||||||||
TV Broadcasting Stations Index |
$ | 100 | $ | 151 | $ | 188 | $ | 204 | $ | 281 | $ | 467 |
As of |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company/Index/Market |
12/31/2008 |
12/31/2009 |
12/31/2010 |
12/31/2011 |
12/31/2012 |
12/31/2013 |
||||||||||||||||||
Gray Television Class A Stock |
$ | 100 | $ | 259 | $ | 305 | $ | 233 | $ | 300 | $ | 2,226 | ||||||||||||
NYSE Market Index |
$ | 100 | $ | 128 | $ | 146 | $ | 140 | $ | 162 | $ | 205 | ||||||||||||
TV Broadcasting Stations Index |
$ | 100 | $ | 151 | $ | 188 | $ | 204 | $ | 281 | $ | 467 |
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
Certain selected historical consolidated financial data is set forth below. This information with respect to the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere herein.
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except net income (loss) per share data) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Statements of Operations Data (1): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue (less agency commissions) |
$ | 346,298 | $ | 404,831 | $ | 307,131 | $ | 346,058 | $ | 270,374 | ||||||||||
Operating income |
83,880 | 153,441 | 75,348 | 106,960 | 43,079 | |||||||||||||||
Loss from early extinguishment of debt (2) |
- | (46,683 | ) | - | (349 | ) | (8,352 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
18,288 | 28,129 | 9,035 | 23,163 | (23,047 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders |
18,288 | 24,034 | 1,795 | 8,581 | (40,166 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders per common share: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
0.32 | 0.42 | 0.03 | 0.16 | (0.83 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Diluted |
0.32 | 0.42 | 0.03 | 0.16 | (0.83 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash dividends declared per common share |
- | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 1,334,424 | $ | 1,249,788 | $ | 1,233,980 | $ | 1,242,293 | $ | 1,245,739 | ||||||||||
Long-term debt (including current portion) |
842,874 | 832,867 | 832,233 | 826,704 | 791,809 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term accrued facility fee (3) |
- | - | - | - | 18,307 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemable preferred stock (4) |
- | - | 24,841 | 37,181 | 93,386 | |||||||||||||||
Total stockholders’ equity |
174,010 | 143,935 | 122,953 | 129,407 | 93,620 |
(1) |
Our operating results fluctuate significantly between years, in accordance with, among other things, increased political advertising expenditures in even-numbered years. |
(2) |
In 2012, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt related to: (i) the amendment and restatement of our senior credit facility; and (ii) the redemption of our outstanding 10½% senior secured second lien notes due 2015. In 2010 and 2009, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt related to amendments to our then-outstanding senior credit facility (the “2007 Senior Credit Facility”). |
(3) |
On March 31, 2009, in connection with an amendment to the 2007 Senior Credit Facility, we began to incur an annual facility fee thereunder equal to 3% of the outstanding balance under that credit facility. Effective on April 29, 2010, the accrued facility fee was reduced to 0.75%. Effective April 21, 2011, the facility fee was reduced to 0%. In 2009, we deferred payment of the facility fee as permitted under the 2007 Senior Credit Facility. In 2010, we paid the accumulated deferred facility fee in full and from that time and until April 21, 2011, we paid the facility fee as incurred. |
(4) |
In 2010, we repurchased approximately $60.7 million in face amount of Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock, and paid $14.9 million in accrued dividends thereon, in exchange for $50.0 million in cash and 8.5 million shares of common stock. In 2011, we repurchased approximately $13.4 million in face amount of Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock, and paid $6.6 million in accrued dividends thereto. In 2012, we repurchased the remaining approximately $25.9 million in face amount of Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock, and paid $16.7 million in accrued dividends related thereto. Prior to the redemption of all the shares of Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock, $8.4 million of original issue discount, transaction fees and expenses were being accreted over a seven-year period ending June 30, 2015. |
Amounts exclude unamortized original issuance costs, including original issue discount and accrued and unpaid dividends. Such costs and dividends aggregated $14.8 million, $16.2 million and $25.5 million as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Executive Overview
Introduction
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Gray Television, Inc. and its consoldiated subsidiaries (except as the context othewise provides, “Gray,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein. Gray’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations includes the accounts of Excalibur Broadcasting, LLC (collectively with its subsidiaries, “Excalibur”), a variable interest entity that Gray is required to consolidate under generally accepted accounting principles. Included in Gray’s results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 is net revenue of $0.4 million of Excalibur. For additional information about Excalibur, including the assets and liabilities thereof included in Gray’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013, see Note 1 “Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the accompanying notes to our audited consolidated financial statements.
Overview
We are a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that owns and operates television stations and digital properties in markets throughout the United States. As of February 1, 2014, we owned and/or operated television stations in 34 television markets broadcasting a total of 110 programming streams, including 24 affiliates of the CBS Network (“CBS”), 14 affiliates of the NBC Network (“NBC”), nine affiliates of the ABC Network (“ABC”) and five affiliates of the FOX Network (“FOX”). We have pending acquisitions of television stations broadcasting a total of 26 programming streams in six additional markets and three of our existing markets in the United States.
Within a market, we broadcast secondary digital channels that are in addition to our primary broadcast channels. Our secondary broadcast channels are generally affiliated with networks different from those affiliated with our primary broadcast channels, and are operated by us to make better use of our broadcast spectrum by providing supplemental and/or alternative programming to our primary channels. Certain of our secondary channels are affiliated with more than one network simultaneously. In addition to affiliations with ABC, CBS and FOX, our secondary channels are affiliated with the following networks: the CW Network or the CW Plus Network (collectively, “CW”), MyNetworkTV (“MyNet.”), the MeTV Network (“MeTV”), This TV Network (“This TV”), Antenna TV (“Ant.”), Live Well Network (“LW”) and Telemudo (“Tel.”). We also broadcast nine local news/weather channels in certain of our existing markets. Our combined TV station group reaches approximately 6.4% of total United States households. Following completion of our announced and pending transactions (described below), we expect to reach approximately 7.3% of total United States households.
Refer to our Markets and Stations table in Item 1 and to Note 2 “Acquisitions” of our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 for more information.
As of February 1, 2014, we have the #1 ranking in overall audience in 23 of the 34 markets in which we own stations and we have the #1 ranking in local news audience in 22 of our markets. In addition, we have the #1 and #2 ranking in both overall audience and news audience in 31 of those 34 markets. Upon completion of all pending transactions, we anticipate that we will have the #1 ranking in overall audience in 27 of the 40 markets in which we will own and/or operate stations, and the #1 or #2 ranking in overall audience in 37 of those 40 markets.
Our operating revenues are derived primarily from broadcast and internet advertising and retransmission consent fees and, to a lesser extent, from other sources such as production of commercials, tower rentals and management fees.
Broadcast advertising is sold for placement either preceding or following a television station’s network programming and within local and syndicated programming. Broadcast advertising is sold in time increments and is priced primarily on the basis of a program’s popularity among the specific audience an advertiser desires to reach, as measured by Nielsen. In addition, broadcast advertising rates are affected by the number of advertisers competing for the available time, the size and demographic makeup of the market served by the station and the availability of alternative advertising media in the market area. Broadcast advertising rates are generally the highest during the most desirable viewing hours, with corresponding reductions during other hours. The ratings of a local station affiliated with a major network can be affected by ratings of network programming.
We also sell internet advertising on our stations’ websites. These advertisements may be sold as banner advertisements, pre-roll advertisements or video and other types of advertisements or sponsorships.
Most advertising contracts are short-term, and generally run only for a few weeks. Approximately 60% of the net revenues of our television stations for the year ended December 31, 2013 were generated from local advertising (including political advertising revenues), which is sold primarily by a station’s sales staff directly to local accounts, and the remainder was represented primarily by national advertising, which is sold by a station’s national advertising sales representative. The stations generally pay commissions to advertising agencies on local, regional and national advertising and the stations also pay commissions to the national sales representative on national advertising, including certain political advertising.
Broadcast advertising revenue is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters each year. This seasonality results partly from increases in advertising in the spring and in the period leading up to and including the holiday season. Broadcast advertising revenue is also generally higher in even-numbered years, due to spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups during the “on year” of the two-year political advertising cycle. This political spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter of such years.
Our primary broadcasting operating expenses are employee compensation, related benefits and programming costs. In addition, the broadcasting operations incur overhead expenses, such as maintenance, supplies, insurance, rent and utilities. A large portion of the operating expenses of our broadcasting operations is fixed.
Although our total revenue for 2013 decreased from 2012, this decrease was expected due primarily to a substantial decrease in the number of national, state and local elections in the “off year” of the two-year political advertising cycle and therefore political advertising revenue. Our retransmission consent revenue increased in 2013 compared to 2012 due to improved terms of our retransmission consent contracts. Our 2013 local and internet advertising revenue increased over 2012 amounts due primarily to an improvement in the economy in 2013 as compared to 2012. Our local and national advertising revenue also benefited from an improving economy, as well as increased advertising revenue earned during the Super Bowl. However, local and national advertising revenue did not have the benefit of any Olympic Games in 2013, as compared to 2012. In addition, in 2013 we recorded certain incentive consulting revenue under a consulting agreement that expired on December 31, 2012 as a result of our receipt in 2013 of the final incentive compensation under that agreement.
Automotive advertisers have traditionally accounted for a significant portion of our revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we derived approximately 25% and 18%, respectively, of our total broadcast advertising revenue from customers in the automotive industry. Such amounts represented a higher percentage of total revenue in odd-numbered years due to, among other things, the increased availability of advertising time and lower overall revenue, as a result of such years being the “off year” of the two year political advertising cycle.
In addition to general economic challenges in recent years, our revenue has come under pressure from the internet as a competitor for advertising spending. We continue to enhance and market our internet websites in an effort to generate additional revenue. Our aggregate internet revenue is derived from two sources. The first is advertising or sponsorship opportunities directly on our websites, referred to as “direct internet revenue.” The other source is television advertising time purchased by our clients to directly promote their involvement in our websites, referred to as “internet-related commercial time sales.” We believe increased page views will result in increased internet revenue.
We continue to monitor our operating expenses and reduce them where possible. Our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013 increased over 2012 amounts primarily due to increases in salaries, transaction expenses, non-cash compensation, severance, healthcare expense, pension expense and payroll taxes offset, in part, by a decrease in third party sales representation expenses resulting from decreased political advertising revenue.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, we completed the offer and sale of an additional $375.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7 ½% Senior Notes due 2020, and used those proceeds to repay a portion of the principal outstanding under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility.
Please see our “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections below for further discussion of our operating results and refinancing activities.
Revenue Highlights
Set forth below are the principal types of revenue, less agency commissions, earned by us for the periods indicated and the percentage contribution of each to our total revenue (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 |
2012 |
2011 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount |
Percent of Total |
Amount |
Percent of Total |
Amount |
Percent of Total |
|||||||||||||||||||
Revenue: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Local |
$ | 203,061 | 58.6 | % | $ | 191,330 | 47.3 | % | $ | 187,029 | 60.9 | % | ||||||||||||
National |
58,298 | 16.8 | % | 56,779 | 14.0 | % | 56,335 | 18.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
Internet |
25,427 | 7.3 | % | 25,000 | 6.2 | % | 20,081 | 6.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Political |
4,598 | 1.3 | % | 85,973 | 21.2 | % | 13,491 | 4.4 | % | |||||||||||||||
Retransmission consent |
39,750 | 11.5 | % | 33,774 | 8.3 | % | 20,227 | 6.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
Other |
8,021 | 2.3 | % | 9,530 | 2.4 | % | 7,768 | 2.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Consulting |
7,143 | 2.2 | % | 2,445 | 0.6 | % | 2,200 | 0.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 346,298 | 100.0 | % | $ | 404,831 | 100.0 | % | $ | 307,131 | 100.0 | % |
Risk Factors
The broadcast television industry is reliant primarily on advertising revenue and faces significant competition. For a discussion of certain other presently known, significant factors that may affect our business, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2013 (“2013”) Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012 (“2012”)
Revenue
Total revenue decreased $58.5 million, or 14%, to $346.3 million for 2013 compared to 2012. Local advertising revenue increased approximately $11.7 million, or 6%, to $203.1 million. National advertising revenue increased approximately $1.5 million, or 3%, to $58.3 million. Local and national advertising revenue for 2013 was positively influenced by the broadcast of the 2013 Super Bowl on our 20 CBS channels, earning us approximately $1.1 million, an increase of approximately $0.3 million compared to the broadcast of the 2012 Super Bowl on our 10 NBC channels that earned us approximately $0.8 million. Local and national advertising revenue in 2012 included benefits from advertising during the Olympic Games that did not occur in 2013. Our local and national advertising revenue benefited significantly from increased sales to our customers in the automotive and legal industries. Retransmission consent revenue increased $6.0 million, or 18%, to $39.8 million in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily due to increased rates. Political advertising revenue decreased $81.4 million, or 95%, to $4.6 million, reflecting decreased advertising from political candidates and special interest groups during the “off year” of the two-year political advertising cycle. Other revenue decreased $1.5 million, or 16%, to $8.0 million in 2013 compared to 2012 due primarily to the receipt of certain copyright royalty payments in 2012.
During 2013 we recognized a one-time payment of $7.1 million as incentive consulting revenue associated with a now-expired consulting agreement for services rendered prior to the expiration thereof. We do not expect to recognize any further revenue from this agreement.
In 2013, our five largest nonpolitical advertising customer categories on a combined local and national basis, by customer type, demonstrated the following changes in revenue compared to 2012: automotive increased 8%; medical decreased 1%; restaurant decreased less than 1%; communications increased 3%; and furniture and appliances increased 3%.
Broadcast expenses
Broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss (gain) on disposal of assets) increased $5.1 million, or 2%, to $217.4 million for 2013 compared to 2012 due primarily to an increase in compensation expense of $5.7 million offset, in part, by a decrease in non-compensation expense of $0.6 million.
Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in salaries, healthcare expense, pension expense and payroll taxes, offset in part by a decrease in incentive compensation. Salary expense, including related payroll taxes, increased primarily due to routine increases in base compensation. Health care expense increased due to increased claims activity. Pension expense increased primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate used to calculate pension expense. Incentive compensation decreased as our stations’ operating income decreased due primarily to the decrease in political advertising in 2013.
Non-compensation expense decreased primarily due to decreases in national sales commissions, legal expense and repairs and maintenance expense offset, in part, by increased programming costs, software license fees, data circuit fees and bad debt expense. National sales commission expense decreased primarily due to decreased political advertising revenue. We pay a percentage of certain national advertising revenue to third parties as a commission. As this revenue increases or decreases so does our national sales commission expense. Legal fees decreased due to lower levels of litigation at certain of our stations. Programming costs increased primarily due to an increase in affiliation fees charged by certain networks. Consulting fees increased due to increased use of consultants as well as increased market research. Software license fees and data circuit expenses increased primarily due to additional products offered for the internet and mobile devices. Bad debt expense has decreased as the quality of our accounts receivable balance improved.
Corporate and administrative expenses
Corporate and administrative expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss (gain) on disposal of assets) increased $3.9 million, or 24%, to $19.8 million for 2013 compared to 2012. The increase was due primarily to increases in compensation expense of $2.2 million and non-compensation expense of $1.7 million. Compensation expense increased primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation expense and severance expense resulting from the resignation of a former employee in 2013. Compensation also increased due to routine increases in salaries and increases in bonuses and incentive compensation. We recorded non-cash stock-based compensation expense during 2013 and 2012 of $2.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Non-compensation expense increased primarily due to the incurrence of transaction expenses of approximately $1.0 million in 2013 related to completed and pending acquisitions.
Depreciation
Depreciation of property and equipment totaled $24.1 million and $23.1 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively. Depreciation expense increased in 2013 compared to 2012 due to purchases of property and equipment at our existing stations and additional property and equipment at acquired stations.
(Loss) gain on disposal of assets
Loss on disposal of assets was $0.8 million during 2013 as compared to a gain of $0.0 million during 2012. The increase in the loss was due primarily to the termination of a capital lease and the retirement of a building. We did not have similar events in 2012.
Interest expense
Interest expense decreased $7.0 million, or 12%, to $52.4 million for 2013 compared to 2012. Interest expense decreased due to a decrease in our average interest rate offset, in part, by an increase in our average principal outstanding. In 2012, we issued $300.0 million of our 2020 Notes, amended the 2012 Senior Credit Facility, repurchased all outstanding 10½% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2015 (the “2015 Notes”) and repurchased the outstanding shares of our Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock. In 2013, we issued $375.0 million of additional 2020 Notes and used the proceeds to repay a portion of the 2012 Senior Credit Facility balance. As a result of these transactions, the average interest rates on our total debt balances were 6.0% and 6.7% for 2013 and 2012, respectively. The average principal balance of indebtedness for the duration of each period was $835.7 million and $833.1 million for 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Loss from early extinguishment of debt
In 2012, we amended the 2012 Senior Credit Facility and repurchased our then-outstanding 2015 Notes. As a result, we incurred costs of approximately $48.5 million, including tender offer premiums, bank fees and legal fees. In connection with these transactions, we reported a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $46.7 million for 2012. We did not incur any losses from early extinguishment of debt in 2013.
Income tax expense
Our effective income tax rate increased to 41.8% for 2013 from 40.6% for 2012. Our effective income tax rates differed from the statutory rate due to the following items:
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2013 |
2012 |
|||||||
Statutory federal income tax rate |
35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | ||||
Current year permanent items |
2.1 | % | 1.7 | % | ||||
State and local taxes, net of federal taxes |
4.6 | % | 8.9 | % | ||||
Change in valuation allowance |
(1.3 | )% | (3.1 | )% | ||||
Reserve for uncertain tax positions |
(0.4 | )% | (2.1 | )% | ||||
Other items, net |
1.8 | % | 0.2 | % | ||||
Effective income tax rate |
41.8 | % | 40.6 | % |
Preferred stock dividends
In 2012, we repurchased all then-outstanding shares of our Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock. As a result, preferred stock dividends decreased $4.1 million, or 100%, to $0.0 million in 2013 compared to 2012.
Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011 (“2011”)
Revenue
Total revenue increased $97.7 million, or 32%, to $404.8 million for 2012 compared to 2011 reflecting increased revenue from all sources. Political advertising revenue increased $72.5 million, or 537%, to $86.0 million reflecting increased advertising from political candidates and special interest groups during the “on year” of the two-year political advertising cycle. Our political advertising revenue also increased due to additional advertising related to a special election to recall the Governor of Wisconsin, a state in which we have three television stations. Retransmission consent revenue increased $13.5 million, or 67%, to $33.8 million due to the improved terms of our retransmission contracts in 2012 compared to 2011. A significant portion of our retransmission consent contracts expired in 2011 and we were able to renew substantially all of these contracts on terms more favorable to Gray, which resulted in increased revenue in 2012 compared to 2011.
Local advertising revenue, excluding political advertising revenue, increased $4.3 million, or 2%, to $191.3 million. National advertising revenue, excluding political advertising revenue, increased $0.4 million, or 1%, to $56.8 million. Internet advertising revenue increased $4.9 million, or 24%, to $25.0 million. Revenue increased due to increased spending by advertisers in a gradually improving economic environment and our broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics. During 2012, we earned approximately $4.0 million of revenue from local and national advertisers and $1.1 million of revenue from political advertisers during the broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics on our then ten primary NBC stations. There were no Olympic games during 2011. In addition, local and national advertising revenue was positively influenced by the broadcast of the 2012 Super Bowl on our then ten primary NBC channels, earning us approximately $0.8 million, an increase of approximately $0.6 million compared to the broadcast of the 2011 Super Bowl on our then one primary FOX-affiliated channel and then four secondary digital FOX-affiliated channels, which earned us approximately $0.2 million. Our five largest nonpolitical advertising categories on a combined local and national basis by customer type for 2012 demonstrated the following changes in revenue during 2012 compared to 2011: automotive increased 16%; medical increased 7%; restaurant decreased 4%; communications increased 2%; and furniture and appliances increased 8%. While our internet advertising revenue has also benefited from an improved economy, we continue to focus on and invest resources into our internet sales efforts, which have also resulted in increased internet revenue.
Other revenue increased $1.8 million, or 23%, to $9.5 million in 2012 compared to 2011 due primarily to the receipt of certain copyright royalty payments. If any similar copyright royalty payments are received in future periods, they are likely to recur in lower amounts.
We continued to earn consulting revenue from our agreement with Young. Our consulting revenue from this agreement, which expired on December 31, 2012, included a fixed base component and an incentive component that was based upon Young’s actual results. We recorded base consulting revenue of $2.2 million for each of 2012 and 2011. Pursuant to the terms of the consulting agreement, we recorded incentive consulting revenue of $0.2 million and $0.0 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively. In accordance with GAAP, the $0.2 million of incentive consulting revenue recorded in 2012 related to 2011. As of the date hereof, we could not estimate the amount, if any, of incentive consulting revenue earned during 2012 under our contract with Young. Also in accordance with GAAP, if any incentive revenue relating to 2012 is received in the future, we will record it as incentive revenue in the period received.
Broadcast expenses
Broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets) increased $18.1 million, or 9%, to $212.3 million for 2012 compared to 2011 due primarily to increases of $10.4 million and $7.7 million in non-compensation expense and compensation expense, respectively. Non-compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in national sales commissions of $4.8 million and programming costs of $3.5 million. National sales commission expense increased primarily due to increased political advertising revenue. We pay a percentage of certain national advertising revenue to third parties as a commission. As this revenue increases or decreases so does our national sales commission expense. Programming costs increased primarily due to an increase of $5.5 million for affiliation fees charged by certain networks offset in part by a decrease of $2.4 million under our syndicated film contracts. Compensation expense increased primarily due to an increase of $2.4 million in pension expense, an increase of $2.4 million in salary expense, an increase of $1.9 million in incentive compensation expense and an increase of $0.8 million in health care expense. Pension expense increased primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate used to calculate pension expense. Salary expense increased due to routine increases in base compensation. Incentive compensation increased as our stations’ operating income increased. Health care expense increased due to increased claims activity.
Corporate and administrative expenses
Corporate and administrative expenses (before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets) increased $1.8 million, or 12%, to $15.9 million during 2012 as compared to 2011. The increase was due primarily to an increase in compensation expense of $1.6 million. Compensation expense increased primarily due to an increase of $0.7 million in non-cash stock-based compensation, an increase of $0.3 million in pension expense, an increase of $0.4 million in salary expense and an increase of $0.2 million in incentive compensation expense. We recorded non-cash stock-based compensation expense during 2012 and 2011 of $0.9 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense increased due to the grant and vesting of additional equity incentive awards during 2012. Pension expense increased primarily due to a decrease in the discount rate used to calculate pension expense. Salary expense increased due to routine increases in base compensation. Incentive compensation increased as our operating income increased.
Depreciation
Depreciation of property and equipment totaled $23.1 million and $26.2 million for 2012 and 2011, respectively. Depreciation expense decreased in 2012 compared to 2011 due to reduced capital expenditures in recent years compared to that of prior years. As a result, more assets acquired in prior years have become fully depreciated than were purchased in recent years.
Gain on disposal of assets
Gain on disposal of assets decreased $2.9 million, or 99%, to $0.0 million during 2012 as compared to 2011. On March 22, 2011, our primary broadcast tower for WEAU-TV, our station that serves the La Crosse – Eau Claire, Wisconsin market, collapsed during inclement weather. Our loss of property due to the tower collapse was covered by insurance. We recorded a gain on disposal on the old tower of $0.8 million and $3.0 million during 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decrease in the gain recorded on the disposal of the WEAU-TV tower was partially offset by increases in losses recorded upon the disposal of certain equipment during 2012 and 2011.
Interest expense
Interest expense decreased $2.3 million, or 4%, to $59.4 million for 2012 compared to 2011. Interest expense decreased due to a decrease in our average interest rate, offset in part by an increase in our average principal outstanding. The average interest rates on our total debt balances were 6.7% and 7.0% for 2012 and 2011, respectively. The average principal balance of indebtedness for the duration of each period was $833.1 million and $832.5 million for 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Loss from early extinguishment of debt
We incurred costs of approximately $48.5 million, including tender offer premiums, bank fees and legal fees in 2011 to amend our 2012 Senior Credit Facility and to repurchase our outstanding 2015 Notes. In connection with these transactions, we reported a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $46.7 million for 2012.
Income tax expense
Our effective income tax rate increased to 40.6% for 2012 from 33.4% for 2011. Our effective income tax rates differed from the statutory rate due to the following items:
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2012 |
2011 |
|||||||
Statutory federal income tax rate |
35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | ||||
Current year permanent items |
1.7 | % | 1.7 | % | ||||
State and local taxes, net of federal taxes |
8.9 | % | 5.2 | % | ||||
Change in valuation allowance |
(3.1 | )% | (1.9 | )% | ||||
Reserve for uncertain tax positions |
(2.1 | )% | (6.7 | )% | ||||
Other items, net |
0.2 | % | 0.1 | % | ||||
Effective income tax rate |
40.6 | % | 33.4 | % |
Preferred stock dividends
Preferred stock dividends decreased $3.1 million, or 43%, to $4.1 million in 2012 compared to the prior year due to fewer shares being outstanding in 2012. We repurchased 259.21 shares and 133.86 shares of our Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock in 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had 0.00 shares and 259.21 shares of Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock outstanding, respectively. The Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock dividend rate was 17.0% per annum for 2012 and 2011.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
The following tables present data that we believe is helpful in evaluating our liquidity and capital resources (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
2013 |
2012 |
|||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 60,239 | $ | 89,372 | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(60,527 | ) | (23,306 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
2,699 | (60,189 | ) | |||||
Net increase in cash |
$ | 2,411 | $ | 5,877 |
December 31, |
||||||||
2013 |
2012 |
|||||||
Cash |
$ | 13,478 | $ | 11,067 | ||||
Long-term debt including current portion |
$ | 842,874 | $ | 832,867 | ||||
Borrowing availability under our 2012 Senior Credit Facility |
$ | 30,000 | $ | 40,000 |
2012 Senior Credit Facility
Gray’s 2012 Senior Credit Facility consists of a $40.0 million revolving credit facility (the “2012 Revolving Credit Facility”) and a term loan facility (the “2012 Term Loan”) having an original commitment amount of $555.0 million. Excluding accrued interest, the amount outstanding under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $159.0 million and $535.0 million, respectively, consisting solely of term loan balances. The interest rate on the outstanding balance under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility was 4.8% as of both December 31, 2013 and 2012. Also as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $3.9 million and $4.6 million, respectively, related to the 2012 Senior Credit Facility.
Borrowings under the 2012 Revolving Credit Facility and the 2012 Term Loan bear interest, at our option, based on the Base Rate (as defined below) or the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), in each case plus an applicable margin based on a first lien leverage ratio test as set forth in the 2012 Senior Credit Facility (the “First Lien Ratio Test”). The applicable margin for Base Rate Loans is 1.00% – 1.50% for the 2012 Revolving Credit Facility and 2.50% - 2.75% for the 2012 Term Loan and the applicable margin for LIBOR loans is 2.00% - 2.50% for the 2012 Revolving Credit Facility and 3.50% - 3.75% for the 2012 Term Loan, each subject to a LIBOR floor of 1.0%. Base Rate is defined as the greatest of (i) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (ii) the overnight federal funds rate plus 0.50% and (iii) one-month LIBOR plus 1.0%. We are required to pay a commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the 2012 Revolving Credit Facility, which rate may range from 0.375% to 0.50% on an annual basis, based on the First Lien Ratio Test. In addition, the 2012 Term Loan also requires us to make quarterly principal repayments equal to 0.25% of the outstanding principal amount of the 2012 Term Loan, which payments began December 31, 2012. However, due to our having made certain additional principal repayments in 2013 and 2012, we are not required to make a principal payment on the 2012 Senior Credit Facility until the year ending December 31, 2019.
As of December 31, 2013, we had a $10.0 million letter of credit outstanding under the 2012 Revolving Credit Facility, which reduced our borrowing availability thereunder to $30.0 million as of that date.
The 2012 Revolving Credit Facility matures on October 12, 2017 and the 2012 Term Loan matures on October 12, 2019.
Our obligations under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our and our consolidated subsidiaries' assets, including real estate. In addition, substantially all of our subsidiaries are joint and several guarantors of, and our ownership interests in those subsidiaries are pledged to collateralize, our obligations under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility. Excalibur is not a guarantor of, and its assets are not pledged to secure our obligations under, the 2012 Senior Credit Facility. The 2012 Senior Credit Facility contains affirmative and restrictive covenants that we must comply with, including (a) limitations on additional indebtedness, (b) limitations on liens, (c) limitations on the sale of assets, (d) limitations on guarantees, (e) limitations on investments and acquisitions, (f) limitations on the payment of dividends and share repurchases, (g) limitations on mergers, and (h) maintenance of a total leverage ratio not to exceed certain maximum limits, as well as other customary covenants for credit facilities of this type.
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we were in compliance with all covenants required under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility.
2020 Notes
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had $675.0 million and $300.0 million, respectively, of our 2020 Notes outstanding. As of December 31, 2013, the coupon interest rate and the yield on the 2020 Notes were 7.5% and 7.3%, respectively. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $13.2 million and $7.1 million, related to our 2020 Notes.
On October 18, 2013, we issued $375.0 million of 2020 Notes (the "Additional Notes"). The Additional Notes are an additional issuance of, and rank equally and form a single series with, the 2020 Notes that were issued on October 9, 2012 (the “Original Notes”). The Additional Notes have the same terms as the Original Notes, including being senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The Additional Notes were issued at a price of 102.125%, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $383.0 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest from and including October 1, 2013. The Company used the net proceeds therefrom to repay $376.0 million outstanding under the 2012 Term Loan.
We may redeem some or all of the 2020 Notes at any time after October 1, 2015 at specified redemption prices. We may also redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes using the proceeds from certain equity offerings completed before October 1, 2015. In addition, we may redeem some or all of the 2020 Notes at any time prior to October 1, 2015 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a make whole premium, and accrued and unpaid interest. If we sell certain of our assets or experience specific kinds of changes of control, we must offer to repurchase the 2020 Notes.
The 2020 Notes mature on October 1, 2020. Interest on the 2020 Notes is payable semiannually, on April 1 and October 1 of each year. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we were in compliance with all covenants required under the 2020 Notes.
The 2020 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several, senior unsecured basis, by substantially all of our subsidiaries. Excalibur is not a guarantor of the 2020 Notes.
Excalibur Loan
Excalibur is party to a $3.0 million loan agreement entered into with a third party on July 31, 2013 (the “Excalibur Loan”). Proceeds from the Excalibur Loan were used by it to purchase the license assets of certain stations. As of December 31, 2013, $3.0 million was outstanding under the Excalibur Loan at an interest rate of 4.75%. As of December 31, 2013, the Excalibur Loan had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $0.2 million.
The Excalibur Loan matures on October 12, 2017.
We have jointly and severally guaranteed Excalibur’s obligations under the Excalibur Loan, including the payment of all unpaid principal and interest thereon.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, interest expense relating to the Excalibur Loan was approximately $30,000.
Other
For further information concerning the 2012 Senior Credit Facility, the 2020 Notes and the Excalibur Loan, see Note 3 “Long-term Debt” to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. For estimates of future principal and interest payments under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility and the 2020 Notes, see “Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations as of December 31, 2013” included elsewhere in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Income Taxes
We file a consolidated federal income tax return and such state or local tax returns as are required. Although we may earn taxable operating income in future years, as of December 31, 2013, we anticipate that through the use of our available loss carryforwards we will not pay significant amounts of federal income taxes in the next several years. However, we estimate that we will pay state income taxes in certain states over the next several years.
Liquidity
As of December 31, 2013, required debt principal repayments over the next twelve months consisted primarily of $0.2 million due under the Excalibur Loan. As of December 31, 2013, we estimate that we will make approximately $58.4 million in debt interest payments and $25.0 million in capital expenditures during the twelve months immediately following December 31, 2013. Depending upon timing of the completion of our pending acquisitions, capital expenditures may increase to up to $30.0 million in 2014. We also estimate as of December 31, 2013, that we will be required to pay approximately $318.0 million to complete currently pending acquisitions. As of the date hereof, we have advanced $4.5 million of the purchase price to the seller of WQCW-TV, including the $500,000 previously held in escrow. Although our cash flows from operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, we anticipate that our cash on hand, future cash expected to be generated from operations, borrowings from time to time under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility as may be in place at the appropriate time) and, potentially, external equity or debt financing, will be sufficient to fund these debt service obligations, estimated capital expenditures and acquisition-related obligations. Any potential equity or debt financing would depend upon, among other things, the costs and availability of such financing at the appropriate time. We also presently believe that our future cash expected to be generated from operations and borrowing availability under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility) will be sufficient to fund our future capital expenditures and long-term debt service obligations until at least October 12, 2019, which is the maturity date of the 2012 Term Loan.
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating, Investing and Financing Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $29.1 million to $60.2 million in 2013 compared to net cash provided of $89.4 million in 2012. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities was due primarily to several factors, including a decrease in revenue of $58.5 million and a decrease of $7.8 million due to changes in certain current asset and current liability balances, partially offset by an increase in pension expense net of contributions.
Net cash used in investing activities increased $37.2 million to $60.5 million for 2013 compared to $23.3 million for 2012 due primarily to an increase in cash used to acquire television businesses and licenses.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $2.7 million in 2013 compared to net cash used in financing activities of $60.2 million in 2012. This change of $62.9 million was due primarily to our refinancing activities. During 2013, we borrowed $9.9 million more in long-term debt than we repaid, which was largely offset by our payment of $7.5 million in costs primarily associated with the issuance of the Additional Notes. During 2012, we paid $25.9 million to repurchase our Series D Perpetual Preferred Stock and paid $16.7 million in related dividends. Also during 2012, we paid $17.0 million in costs associated with the issuance of our 2020 Notes and the entry into our 2012 Senior Credit Facility.
Retirement Plans
We have three defined benefit pension plans. Two of these plans were assumed by us as a result of our acquisitions in prior years and are frozen plans. Our active defined benefit pension plan, which we consider to be our primary pension plan, covers substantially all our full-time employees. Retirement benefits under such plan are based on years of service and the employees’ highest average compensation for five consecutive years during the last ten years of employment. Our funding policy is consistent with the funding requirements of existing federal laws and regulations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
A discount rate is selected annually to measure the present value of the benefit obligations. In determining the selection of a discount rate, we estimated the timing and amounts of expected future benefit payments and applied a yield curve developed to reflect yields available on high-quality bonds. The yield curve is based on an externally published index specifically designed to meet the criteria of GAAP. The discount rate selected for determining benefit obligations as of December 31, 2013 was 4.97% which reflects the results of this yield curve analysis. The discount rate used for determining benefit obligations as of December 31, 2012 was 4.31%. Our assumptions regarding expected return on plan assets reflects asset allocations, the investment strategy and the views of investment managers, as well as historical experience. We use an assumed rate of return of 7.00% for our assets invested in our active pension plan. In 2013 and 2012, actual asset returns for this plan, calculated on a mean market value, increased in value 17.1% and 9.6%, respectively. Other significant assumptions relate to inflation, salary growth, retirement and mortality rates. Our inflation assumption is based on an evaluation of external market indicators. The salary growth assumptions reflect our long-term actual experience, the near-term outlook and assumed inflation. Compensation increases over the most recent five-year period have been in line with assumptions. Retirement and mortality rates are based on actual plan experience.
During 2013 and 2012, we contributed an aggregate amount of $4.7 million and $9.4 million, respectively, to our pension plans and we anticipate making an aggregate contribution of approximately $6.1 million to such plans in 2014. The use of significantly different assumptions, or if actual experienced results differ significantly from those assumed, could result in our funding obligations being materially different.
See Note 9 “Retirement Plans” of our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein for further information concerning the retirement plans.
Capital Expenditures
In 2011, our primary broadcast tower for WEAU-TV, our station that serves the La Crosse – Eau Claire, Wisconsin market, collapsed during inclement weather. Our loss of property due to the tower collapse was covered by insurance, subject to a deductible of $50,000. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we received insurance proceeds of $0.8 million for the collapsed tower, recorded a gain on disposals of assets of $0.8 million for the collapsed tower and recorded capital expenditures of $0.4 million for construction of the new tower. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we received insurance proceeds of $3.2 million for the collapsed tower, recorded a gain on disposals of assets of $3.0 million for the collapsed tower and recorded capital expenditures of $3.9 million for construction of the new tower. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we received an additional $450,000 of proceeds from business interruption insurance, which was recorded as a reduction of broadcast expense. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we did not receive any proceeds from business interruption insurance.
Capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $24.1 million and $24.5 million, respectively. We expect that our capital expenditures will be approximately $25.0 million in the year ending December 31, 2014. Depending upon the timing of the completion of our pending acquisitions, capital expenditures may increase to up to $30.0 million in 2014. We expect to fund future capital expenditures with cash from operations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Operating Commitments
We have various operating lease commitments for equipment, land and office space. We also have commitments for various syndicated television programs.
We have two types of syndicated television program contracts: first run programs and off network reruns. The first run programs are programs such as Jeopardy and the off network programs are programs such as The Andy Griffith Show. A difference between the two types of syndicated television programming is that the first run programs have not been produced at the time the contract to air such programming is signed and the off network programs have already been produced. For all syndicated television contracts we record an asset and corresponding liability for payments to be made for the entire “off network” contract period and for only the current year of the “first run” contract period. Only an estimate of the payments anticipated to be made in the year following the balance sheet date of the “first run” contracts are recorded on the current balance sheet, because the programs for the later years of the contract period have not been produced and delivered.
Sports Marketing Agreement
On October 12, 2004, the University of Kentucky (“UK”) awarded a sports marketing agreement jointly to us and IMG Worldwide, Inc. (“IMG”) (the “UK Agreement”). The UK Agreement expires April 15, 2015.
The UK Agreement provides that we will share in profits in excess of certain amounts specified by the agreement, if any, but not losses. The agreement also provides that we will separately retain all local broadcast advertising revenue and pay all local broadcast expenses for activities under the agreement. Under the agreement, IMG agreed to make all license fee payments to UK. However, if IMG is unable to pay the license fee to UK, we will then be required to pay the unpaid portion of the license fee to UK. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate license fee to be paid by IMG to UK over the remaining term of the agreement is approximately $13.3 million. If we make advances on behalf of IMG, IMG is required to reimburse us for the amount paid within 60 days after the close of each contract year, which ends on June 30th. IMG has also agreed to pay interest on any advance at a rate equal to the prime rate. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we did not advance any amounts to UK on behalf of IMG under this agreement. As of December 31, 2013, we do not consider the risk of non-performance by IMG to be high.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations as of December 31, 2013
The following table aggregates our material expected contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
Payment due by period |
||||||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations |
Total |
Less than 1 Year 2014 |
1-3 Years 2015-2016 |
3-5 Years 2017-2018 |
More than 5 Years 2019 and after |
|||||||||||||||
Contractual obligations recorded on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2013: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt obligations (1) |
$ | 837,048 | $ | 224 | $ | 424 | $ | 2,400 | $ | 834,000 | ||||||||||
Accrued interest (2) |
12,703 | 12,703 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Programming obligations currently accrued (3) |
11,227 | 9,707 | 1,520 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition-related liabilities(4) |
9,739 | 9,739 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Purchase obligations currently accrued (5) |
464 | 464 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2013: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash interest on long-term debt obligations (6) |
409,082 | 45,649 | 116,667 | 116,427 | 130,339 | |||||||||||||||
Operating lease obligations (7) |
7,868 | 1,679 | 2,133 | 1,340 | 2,716 | |||||||||||||||
Purchase obligations not currently accrued (8) |
592 | 592 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Programming obligations not currently accrued (9) |
20,540 | 3,344 | 14,658 | 1,959 | 579 | |||||||||||||||
Obligation to UK (10) |
13,300 | 8,800 | 4,500 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Acquisition commitment (11) |
317,950 | 317,950 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,640,513 | $ | 410,851 | $ | 139,902 | $ | 122,126 | $ | 967,634 |
(1) |
“Long-term debt obligations” represent principal payment obligations under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility, the 2020 Notes and the Excalibur Loan. These amounts are recorded as liabilities as of the current balance sheet date net of the unamortized original issue premium on the 2020 Notes in the amount of $5.8 million. As of December 31, 2013, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility was 4.8%. As of December 31, 2013, the coupon interest rate and the yield on the 2020 Notes were 7.5% and 7.3%, respectively. |
(2) |
“Accrued interest” includes interest on long-term debt obligations accrued as of the balance sheet date. |
(3) |
“Programming obligations currently accrued” represents obligations for syndicated television programming whose license period has begun and the product is available. These amounts are recorded as liabilities as of the current balance sheet date. |
(4) |
“Acquisition related liabilities” represents amounts due to sellers upon the exercise of a put and call option agreement. On November 1, 2013, we completed the acquisition of 99% of the outstanding equity interests in Yellowstone. In connection therewith, we entered into a put and call option agreement with the owner of Yellowstone, under which we can, at any time beginning October 2, 2014 and ending November 16, 2014, exercise an option to purchase the remaining 1% of the equity of Yellowstone for $10.0 million. If we do not exercise this option, the owner of Yellowstone’s remaining equity interest can, at any time beginning December 15, 2014 and ending December 15, 2015, exercise a right to require us to purchase these interests for an amount equal to the trailing twelve-month gross revenue (excluding political advertising revenue) as calculated as of the last day of the month prior to the delivery of notice by the owner of the exercise of its right to sell. No assurances can be provided that either Gray or the counterparty to this agreement will exercise its respective rights thereunder, and that any amount will be required to be paid. |
(5) |
“Purchase obligations currently accrued” generally represent payment obligations for equipment. It is our policy to accrue for these obligations when the equipment is received and the vendor has completed the work required by the purchase agreement. These amounts are recorded as liabilities as of the current balance sheet date because we had received the related equipment. |
(6) |
“Cash interest on long-term debt obligations” consists of estimated interest expense on long-term debt excluding interest expense accrued as of December 31, 2013 described in (2) above. The estimate is based upon debt balances as of December 31, 2013 and required future principal repayments under those obligations. As of December 31, 2013, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility was 4.8%. As of December 31, 2013, the coupon interest rate and the yield on the 2020 Notes were 7.5% and 7.3%, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the Excalibur Loan was 4.8%. We used an assumed interest rate of 4.8% for amounts outstanding under each of our 2012 Senior Credit Facility and the Excalibur Loan to estimate cash interest on long-term debt obligations thereunder. Our 2012 Senior Credit Facility, our 2020 Notes and the Excalibur Loan will mature on October 12, 2019, October 1, 2020 and October 12, 2017, respectively. This estimate of cash interest on long-term debt obligations also assumes that the principal obligations underlying these interest estimates will not be replaced by other long-term obligations prior to or upon their maturity. |
(7) |
“Operating lease obligations” represent payment obligations under non-cancelable lease agreements classified as operating leases. These amounts are not recorded as liabilities as of the current balance sheet date. |
(8) |
“Purchase obligations not currently accrued” generally represent payment obligations for equipment. It is our policy to accrue for these obligations when the equipment is received and the vendor has completed the work required by the purchase agreement. These amounts are not recorded as liabilities as of the current balance sheet date because we had not yet received the related equipment. |
(9) |
“Programming obligations not currently accrued” represent obligations for syndicated television programming whose license period has not yet begun or the product is not yet available. These amounts are not recorded as liabilities as of the current balance sheet date. |
(10) |
“Obligation to UK” represents total obligations, excluding any potential revenues, under the UK Agreement. These amounts are not recorded as liabilities as of the current balance sheet date. |
See “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” immediately preceding this table for additional information concerning this obligation.
(11) |
“Acquisition commitments” represents amounts due to sellers upon completing pending acquisitions of television stations, net of all amounts receivable in connection with required station divestitures arising from such acquisitions. For additional information concerning the components of this obligation, see Note 2 “Acquisitions,” of the accompanying notes to our audited consolidated financial statements. These amounts are not recorded as a liability as of the current balance sheet date. |
Estimates of the amount, timing and future funding obligations under our pension plans include assumptions concerning, among other things, actual and projected market performance of plan assets, investment yields, statutory requirements and demographic data for pension plan participants. Pension plan funding estimates are therefore not included in the table above because the timing and amounts of funding obligations for all future periods cannot be reasonably determined. We expect to contribute approximately $6.1 million in total to our active pension plan and the acquired pension plans during 2014.
Inflation
The impact of inflation on operations has not been significant to date. However, there can be no assurance that a high rate of inflation in the future would not have an adverse effect on operating results, particularly since amounts outstanding under the 2012 Senior Credit Facility incur interest at a variable rate.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make judgments and estimations that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those reported amounts. We consider our accounting policies relating to intangible assets and income taxes to be critical policies that require judgments or estimations in their application where variances in those judgments or estimations could make a significant difference to future reported results. Our policies concerning intangible assets and income taxes are disclosed below.
Annual Impairment Testing of Broadcast Licenses and Goodwill
We have determined that our broadcast licenses are indefinite-lived intangible assets in accordance with the accounting guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets, which require such assets to be to be tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more often when certain triggering events occur. For goodwill, we have elected to bypass the qualitative assessment provisions and to perform the prescribed testing steps for goodwill on an annual basis. Neither of these asset types is amortized.
Our annual impairment testing of broadcast licenses and goodwill for each individual television station requires an estimation of the fair value of each broadcast license and the fair value of the entire television station which we consider a reporting unit. Such estimations generally rely on analyses of public and private comparative sales data as well as discounted cash flow analyses that inherently require multiple assumptions relating to the future prospects of each individual television station including, but not limited to: (i) expected long-term market growth characteristics, (ii) estimations regarding a station’s future expected viewing audience, (iii) station revenue shares within a market, (iv) future expected operating expenses, (v) costs of capital and (vi) appropriate discount rates. We believe that the assumptions we utilize in analyzing potential impairment of broadcast licenses and/or goodwill for each of our television stations are reasonable individually and in the aggregate. However, these assumptions are highly subjective and changes in any one assumption, or a combination of assumptions, could produce significant differences in the calculated outcomes.
To estimate the fair value of our reporting units, we utilize a discounted cash flow model supported by a market multiple approach. We believe that a discounted cash flow analysis is the most appropriate methodology to test the recorded value of long-term assets with a demonstrated long-lived / enduring franchise value. We believe the results of the discounted cash flow and market multiple approaches provide reasonable estimates of the fair value of our reporting units because these approaches are based on our actual results and reasonable estimates of future performance, and also take into consideration a number of other factors deemed relevant by us, including but not limited to, expected future market revenue growth, market revenue shares and operating profit margins. We have consistently used these approaches in determining the fair value of our goodwill. We also consider a market multiple approach utilizing market multiples to corroborate our discounted cash flow analysis. We believe that this methodology is consistent with the approach that any strategic market participant would utilize if they were to value one of our television stations.
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the recorded value of our broadcast licenses was $839.0 million and $819.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the recorded value of our goodwill was $184.4 million and $170.5 million, respectively. We did not record an impairment expense related to our broadcast licenses or goodwill during 2013, 2012 or 2011.
Prior to January 1, 2002, acquired broadcast licenses were valued at the date of acquisition using a residual method. The recorded value of these broadcast licenses as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $341.0 million. Broadcast licenses acquired after December 31, 2001, were valued at the date of acquisition using an income method that assumes an initial hypothetical start-up operation. This change in methodology was due to a change in accounting requirements. The book value of these broadcast licenses as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $498.0 million and $478.2 million, respectively. Regardless of whether we initially recorded the value of our broadcast licenses using the residual or the income method, for purposes of testing for potential impairment we use the income method to estimate the fair value of our broadcast licenses.
We test for impairment of broadcast licenses and goodwill on an annual basis on the last day of each fiscal year. However, we will test for impairment during any reporting period if certain triggering events occur. The two most recent impairment testing dates were December 31, 2013 and 2012. A summary of the significant assumptions used in our impairment analyses of broadcast licenses and goodwill as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 is presented below. Following the summary of assumptions is a sensitivity analysis of those assumptions as of December 31, 2013. Our reporting units, allocations of our broadcast licenses and goodwill and our methodologies were consistent as of both testing dates.
Summary
As of December 31, |
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2013 |
2012 |
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(dollars in thousands) |
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Pre-tax impairment charge: |
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Broadcast licenses |
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Goodwill |
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Significant assumptions: |
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Forecast period (years) |
10 | 10 | ||||||
Increase or (decrease) in market advertising revenue for projection year 1 compared to latest historical period (1) |
4.1% to 25.2 | % | (30.0)% to 0.0 | % | ||||
Positive or (negative) advertising revenue compound growth rate for forecast period |
1.6% to 3.3 | % | 1.0% to 2.3 | % | ||||
Operating cash flow margin: |
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Broadcast licenses |
8.3% to 50.0 | % | 8.3% to 50.0 | % | ||||
Goodwill |
6.8% to 57.3 | % | 10.8% to 56.2 | % | ||||
Discount rate: |
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Broadcast licenses |
9.50 | % | 9.00 | % | ||||
Goodwill |
10.50 | % | 10.50 | % |
(1) |
Depending on whether the first year of the respective projection period is an even- or odd-numbered year, assumptions relating to market advertising growth rates will vary significantly reflecting the significant cyclical impact of political advertising revenue in even-numbered years. The analysis for 2013 generally anticipated an increase in revenue for 2014. |
When estimating the fair value of our broadcast licenses and goodwill, we make assumptions regarding revenue growth rates, operating cash flow margins and discount rates. These assumptions require substantial judgment, and actual rates and margins may differ materially. Although we did not record an impairment charge for the year ended December 31, 2013, we may have recorded such an adjustment if we had changed certain assumptions. The following table contains a sensitivity analysis of these assumptions and a hypothetical non-cash impairment charge that would have resulted if our advertising revenue growth rate and our operating cash flow margin had been revised lower or if our discount rate had been revised higher. We also disclose a hypothetical impairment charge assuming a 5% and 10% decrease in the fair value of our broadcast licenses and enterprise values.
Hypothetical Impairment Charge As of December 31, 2013 |
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Broadcast Licenses |
Goodwill |
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(in thousands) |
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Hypothetical change: |
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A 100 basis point decrease in advertising revenue growth rate throughout the forecast period |
$ | 4,238 | $ | - | ||||
A 100 basis point decrease in operating cash flow margin throughout the forecast period |
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
A 100 basis point increase in the applicable discount rate |
$ | 6,090 | $ | - | ||||
A 5% reduction in the fair value of broadcast licenses and enterprise values |
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
A 10% reduction in the fair value of broadcast licenses and enterprise values |
$ | - | $ | - |
These hypothetical non-cash impairment charges would not have any direct impact on our liquidity, debt covenant compliance or future results of operations. Our historical operating results may not be indicative of our future operating results. Our future ten-year discounted cash flow analysis, which fundamentally supports our estimated fair values as of December 31, 2013, reflected certain assumptions relating to the expected impact of the current general economic environment.
The discount rates used in our impairment analysis were based upon the after-tax rate of return determined using a weighted-average cost of capital calculation for media companies. In calculating the discount rates, we considered estimates of the long-term mean market return, industry beta, corporate borrowing rate, average industry debt to capital ratio, average industry equity capital ratio, risk free rate and the tax rate. We believe using a discount rate based on a weighted-average cost of capital calculation for media companies is appropriate because it would be reflective of rates active participants in the media industry would utilize in valuing broadcast licenses and/or broadcast enterprises.
Valuation of Network Affiliation Agreements
We believe that the value of a television station is derived primarily from the attributes of its broadcast license rather than its network affiliation agreement. These attributes have a significant impact on the audience for network programming in a local television market compared to the national viewing patterns of the same network programming.
Certain other broadcasting companies have valued their stations on the basis that it is the network affiliation and not the other attributes of the station, including its broadcast license, which contributes to the operational performance of that station. As a result, we believe that these broadcasting companies allocate a significant portion of the purchase price for any station that they may acquire to the network affiliation relationship and include in their network affiliation valuation amounts related to attributes which we believe are more appropriately reflected in the value of the broadcast license or goodwill.
The methodology we used to value these stations was based on our evaluation of the broadcast licenses acquired and the characteristics of the markets in which they operated. Given our assumptions and the specific attributes of the stations we acquired from 2002 through December 31, 2013, we ascribed no incremental value to the incumbent network affiliation relationship in each market beyond the cost of negotiating a new agreement with another network and the value of any terms of the affiliation agreement that were more favorable or unfavorable than those generally prevailing in the market.
Some broadcast companies may use methods to value acquired network affiliations different than those that we use. These different methods may result in significant variances in the amount of purchase price allocated to these assets among broadcast companies.
If we were to assign higher values to all of our network affiliations and less value to our broadcast licenses or goodwill and if it is further assumed that such higher values of the network affiliations are definite-lived intangible assets, this reallocation of value might have a significant impact on our operating results. There is diversity of practice within the industry, and some broadcast companies have considered such network affiliation intangible assets to have a life ranging from 15 to 40 years depending on the specific assumptions utilized by those broadcast companies.
The following table reflects the hypothetical impact of the reassignment of value from broadcast licenses to network affiliations for our historical acquisitions (the first acquisition being in 1994) and the resulting increase in amortization expense assuming a hypothetical 15-year amortization period as of our most recent impairment testing date of December 31, 2013 (in thousands, except per share data):
As |
Percentage of Total Value Reassigned to Network Affiliation Agreements |
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Reported |
50% |
25% |
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Balance Sheet (As of December 31, 2013): |
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Broadcast licenses |
$ | 838,982 | $ | 273,262 | $ | 556,122 | ||||||
Other intangible assets, net (including network affiliation agreements) |
2,644 | 104,874 | 53,759 | |||||||||
Statement of Operations (For the year ended December 31, 2013): |
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Amortization of intangible assets |
336 | 28,239 | 14,287 | |||||||||
Operating income |
83,880 | 55,977 | 69,929 | |||||||||
Net income |
18,288 | 1,267 | 9,778 |