Sinclair Reports First Quarter 2008 Results

Sinclair Reports First Quarter 2008 Results

Operating Income Up 23%

BALTIMORE, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBGI), the "Company" or "Sinclair," today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Commenting on the quarter, David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair, stated, "Despite the economic challenges facing many commercial and consumer sectors, we were successful in growing our net broadcast revenues by $12.6 million or 8.5% in the first quarter due to increased spending by the automotive, services and media sectors, having the Super Bowl on our 20 FOX stations which brought in an additional $4.9 million in revenues, and cash payments from multi-channel video program distributors."

Financial Results:

Net broadcast revenues from continuing operations were $160.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, an increase of 8.5% versus the prior year period result of $148.3 million. Operating income was $46.2 million in the three-month period as compared to $37.6 million in the prior year period, an increase of 23.0%. The Company had net income available to common shareholders of $16.4 million in the three-month period versus a net loss to common shareholders of $2.4 million in the prior year period. The Company reported diluted earnings per common share of $0.19 for the three-month period versus a diluted loss per common share of $0.03 in the prior year period.

Operating Statistics and Income Statement Highlights:

-- Political revenues were $3.2 million in the first quarter 2008 versus
$0.6 million in the first quarter 2007. Revenues associated with the
Super Bowl, which aired on the Company's 20 FOX stations, were $5.0
million, as compared to $0.1 million in the first quarter 2007 when the
Super Bowl aired on the Company's two CBS stations.

-- Local advertising revenues were up 6.1% in the quarter and national
advertising revenues increased 6.4% versus the first quarter 2007.
Excluding political revenues, local advertising revenues were up 4.9%
and national advertising revenues were up 3.0%. Advertising spending
by the automotive, media and services categories were up while retail
and paid programming were down. Automotive, which represented
approximately 20% of time sales was up 2.6% in the quarter. Local
revenues represented 66.7% of advertising revenues.

-- Time sales on our FOX, CBS and NBC stations were up 15.4%, 24.6% and
8.3% in the quarter, respectively. Stations affiliated with ABC,
MyNetworkTV and CW were down 3.3%, 0.7% and 1.6%, respectively.
Excluding political revenues, our ABC, MyNetworkTV and CW stations were
down 7.0%, 1.4%, and 2.0%, respectively. Our FOX, CBS and NBC stations
were up 13.1%, 23.5%, and 8.6%, respectively.

-- On February 1, 2008, the Company purchased the non-licensed assets of
KFXA-TV (FOX 28) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for $17.1 million and obtained
the right to purchase the licensed assets, pending FCC approval, for
$1.9 million. The Company's CBS affiliate in Cedar Rapids, KGAN-TV
(CBS 2) provides sales and other non-programming related services to
KFXA-TV pursuant to a joint sales agreement.

-- During the first quarter 2008, the Company made $44.4 million of
investments and loans in various ventures, of which $6.0 million
related to Patriot Capital II, $38.1 million related to various real
estate investments and $0.3 million related to various other
transactions.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights:

-- Debt on the balance sheet, net of $12.6 million in cash, was $1,357.5
million at March 31, 2008 versus net debt of $1,323.4 million at
December 31, 2007.

-- During the first quarter 2008, the Company repurchased in the open
market $15.4 million face value of its 8% senior subordinated notes due
2012, bringing the par amount outstanding to $248.0 million.

-- In March 2008, the Counterparty to $300 million notional amount of
interest rate swaps exercised its option to terminate the swaps. As a
result, the Company was paid $8.0 million in cash at termination.

-- As of March 31, 2008, 53.0 million Class A common shares and 34.5
million Class B common shares were outstanding, for a total of 87.5
million common shares outstanding.

-- Capital expenditures in the first quarter were $5.9 million.

-- Common stock dividends paid in cash in the first quarter were $15.1
million.

-- Program contract payments for continuing operations were $20.9 million
in the first quarter.

Forward-Looking Statements:

The matters discussed in this press release, particularly those in the section labeled "Outlook," include forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, future operating results. When used in this press release, the words "outlook," "intends to," "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "achieves," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results in the future could differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including and in addition to the assumptions identified in this release, the impact of changes in national and regional economies, successful execution of outsourcing agreements, pricing and demand fluctuations in local and national advertising, volatility in programming costs, the market acceptance of new programming, the CW Television Network and MyNetworkTV programming, our news share strategy, our local sales initiatives, the execution of retransmission consent agreements and the other risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurances that the assumptions and other factors referred to in this release will occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Outlook:

In accordance with Regulation FD, Sinclair is providing public dissemination through this press release of its expectations for certain of its second quarter 2008 and full year 2008 financial performance. The Company assumes no obligation to update its expectations, except as required by law. All matters discussed in the "Outlook" section are forward-looking and, as such, persons relying on this information should refer to the "Forward-Looking Statements" section above.

All assumptions and historical periods have been adjusted to exclude WGGB-TV, which was sold November 1, 2007, and which was accounted for under discontinued operations accounting. KGAN-TV and KFXA-TV are consolidated in February and March 2008 and in the forward-looking assumptions. Previously, KGAN-TV had been accounted for under a Joint Sales Agreement.

"All of our affiliate groups are currently pacing higher as compared to this time last year, with the exception of our ABC stations which lost momentum as a result of the writers strike that ended in February," commented David Amy, EVP and CFO. "However, we are confident that the stations' performance will improve as ABC adds the network programs back to the line-up. Meanwhile, our FOX stations continue to over-perform on the strength of our local news and network prime-time. With our expectation of core revenue growth in the second quarter, we remain cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the year but have some concern given the market's recessionary fears and the impact of potential higher inflation on consumer spending. We continue to be upbeat, however, about full year political advertising of which we expect record levels of spending."

-- The Company expects second quarter 2008 station net broadcast revenues
from continuing operations, before barter, to be approximately $165.0
to $167.0 million as compared to second quarter 2007 station net
broadcast revenues, before barter, of $159.2 million, a 3.6% to 4.9%
increase. This assumes $3.7 million in political revenues versus $1.1
million received in the second quarter last year.

-- The Company expects barter revenue and barter expense each to be
approximately $15.7 million in the second quarter.

-- The Company expects continuing operations station production expenses
and station selling, general and administrative expenses (together,
"television expenses"), before barter expense, in the quarter to be
approximately $74.9 million, a 3.6% increase from second quarter 2007
television expenses of $72.3 million. On a full year basis, television
expenses are expected to be approximately $302.5 million, or up 4.8%,
as compared to 2007 television expenses of $288.7 million. The 2008
television expense forecast includes $0.4 million of stock-based
compensation expense for the quarter and $1.6 million for the year, as
compared to the 2007 actuals of $0.4 and $1.5 million for the quarter
and year, respectively.

-- The Company expects program contract amortization expense to be
approximately $21.2 million in the quarter and $84.8 million for the
year, as compared to the 2007 actuals of $23.0 million and $96.4
million for the quarter and year, respectively.

-- The Company expects program contract payments to be approximately $20.7
million in the quarter and $81.2 million for the year, as compared to
the 2007 actuals of $20.2 million and $77.7 million for the quarter and
year, respectively.

-- The Company expects corporate overhead, including stock-based
compensation expense, to be approximately $7.8 million in the quarter
and $27.5 million for the year, as compared to the 2007 actuals of $7.4
million and $24.3 million for the quarter and year, respectively. The
2008 corporate overhead forecast includes $1.0 million of stock-based
compensation expense for the quarter and $1.8 million for the year, as
compared to the 2007 actuals of $1.5 million and $2.2 million for the
quarter and year, respectively.

-- The Company expects other operating division revenues less other
operating division expenses to be approximately $1.9 million in the
second quarter, assuming current equity interests.

-- The Company expects depreciation on property and equipment to be
approximately $11.5 million in the quarter and $45.1 million for the
year, assuming the capital expenditure assumptions below, and as
compared to the 2007 actuals of $11.5 million and $43.1 million for the
quarter and year, respectively.

-- The Company expects amortization of acquired intangibles to be
approximately $4.6 million in the quarter and $19.2 million for the
year, as compared to the 2007 actuals of $4.2 million and $17.6 million
for the quarter and year, respectively.

-- The Company expects net interest expense to be approximately $19.6
million in the quarter and $78.8 million for the year, assuming no
changes in the current interest rate yield curve, changes in debt
levels based on the assumptions discussed in this "Outlook" section,
and the termination of the $300.0 million of interest rate derivatives.
This is compared to the 2007 actuals of $24.2 million and $93.6 million
for the quarter and year, respectively.

-- The Company expects the second quarter effective tax rate for
continuing operations to be approximately 40.7%, including a current
tax provision from continuing operations of approximately $3.3 million
in the quarter based on the assumptions discussed in this "Outlook"
section. For the year, the effective tax rate on continuing operations
is expected to be approximately 40.5%, including a current tax
provision of $14.6 million.

-- The Company expects dividends paid on the Class A and Class B common
shares to be approximately $17.5 million in the second quarter and
$67.6 million for the year, assuming current shares outstanding and an
$0.80 per share annual dividend rate. This is compared to total
dividends paid in 2007 of $49.5 million.

-- The Company expects to spend approximately $13.5 million in capital
expenditures in the quarter and approximately $33.0 million for the
year. Of the full year amount, approximately $6.8 million represents
2007 budgeted projects rolling into 2008.

Sinclair Conference Call:

The senior management of Sinclair will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2008 results on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. ET. After the call, an audio replay will be available at www.sbgi.net under "Investor Information/Earnings Webcast." The press and the public will be welcome on the call in a listen-only mode. The dial-in number is (877) 407- 9205.

About Sinclair:

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies, owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 58 television stations in 35 markets. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 22% of U.S. television households and is affiliated with all major networks. Sinclair owns equity interests in various non-broadcast related companies.

Notes:

"Discontinued Operations" accounting has been adopted in the financial statements for all periods presented in this press release. As such, the results from operations, net of related income taxes, have been reclassified from income from continuing operations and reflected as net income from discontinued operations.

Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year GAAP presentation.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended March 31,
2008 2007
REVENUES:
Station broadcast revenues, net of agency
commissions $160,892 $148,334
Revenues realized from station barter
arrangements 14,638 13,715
Other operating divisions' revenues 11,127 2,887
Total revenues 186,657 164,936

OPERATING EXPENSES:
Station production expenses 38,855 35,547
Station selling, general and administrative
expenses 34,611 33,653
Expenses recognized from station barter
arrangements 13,517 12,430
Amortization of program contract costs and net
realizable value adjustments 19,709 21,316
Other operating divisions' expenses 11,934 3,546
Depreciation of property and equipment 10,553 10,650
Corporate general and administrative expenses 6,721 5,964
Amortization of definite-lived intangible
assets and other assets 4,539 4,244
Total operating expenses 140,439 127,350
Operating income 46,218 37,586

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt
discount and deferred financing costs (20,202) (26,382)
Interest income 181 388
Gain (loss) from sale of assets 38 (12)
Loss from extinguishment of debt (286) (15,681)
Gain from derivative instruments 999 1,057
Income (loss) from equity and cost method
investments 695 (12)
Other income, net 367 222
Total other expense (18,208) (40,420)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
before income taxes 28,010 (2,834)

INCOME TAX (PROVISION) BENEFIT (11,466) 721
Income (loss) from continuing operations 16,544 (2,113)

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of
related income tax provision of $139 and $17,
respectively (131) (276)
NET INCOME (LOSS) $16,413 $(2,389)

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing
operations $0.19 $(0.03)
Earnings per share from discontinued operations $ - $ -
Earnings (loss) per share $0.19 $(0.03)
Weighted average common shares outstanding 87,246 86,140
Weighted average common and common equivalent
shares outstanding 93,958 86,140
Dividends declared per share $0.20 $0.15

Unaudited Consolidated Historical Selected Balance Sheet Data:
(In thousands)

March 31, December 31,
2008 2007

Cash & cash equivalents $12,594 $20,980
Total current assets 207,585 238,616
Total long term assets 2,051,377 1,986,039
Total assets 2,258,962 2,224,655

Current portion of debt 47,851 46,789
Total current liabilities 210,181 225,246
Long term portion of debt 1,322,272 1,297,560
Total long term liabilities 1,776,924 1,743,568
Total liabilities 1,987,105 1,968,814

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries 17,721 3,067

Total stockholders' equity 254,136 252,774
Total liabilities & stockholders' equity $2,258,962 $2,224,655

Unaudited Consolidated Historical Selected Statement of Cash Flows Data:
(In thousands)

Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2008

Net cash flow from operating activities $48,040
Net cash flow used in investing activities (63,381)
Net cash flow from financing activities 6,955

Net decrease in cash & cash equivalents (8,386)
Cash & cash equivalents, beginning of period 20,980
Cash & cash equivalents, end of period $12,594

First Call Analyst: Lucy Rutishauser
FCMN Contact:

Source: Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

CONTACT: David Amy, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, or Lucy Rutishauser,
VP-Corporate Finance & Treasurer, both of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.,
+1-410-568-1500

Web site:

http://www.sbgi.net/

Company News On-Call:

http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110203.html

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