Television Company Belo Corp. (BLC) Reports Results for Second Quarter 2009

Television Company Belo Corp. (BLC) Reports Results for Second Quarter 2009

Company also to restate prior years' financials for non-cash impairment charges

DALLAS, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Belo Corp. (NYSE:BLC), one of the nation's largest pure-play, publicly-traded television companies, today reported net earnings per share of $0.10 in the second quarter of 2009, in line with analysts' estimates, compared to net earnings per share of $0.25 in the second quarter of 2008.

Dunia A. Shive, Belo's president and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The Company's second quarter total revenue decline of 23 percent was very similar to the decline experienced in the first quarter as the soft advertising environment continued, especially in the Company's larger markets. However, we did see an uptick in sales activity in June that has also carried into July.

"Excluding spin-off related charges in the second quarter of 2008 and non-cash pension expense, Belo's previously announced cost-saving measures led to a reduction in combined station and corporate operating costs of 13 percent in the second quarter of 2009."

The Company also announced the restatement of its audited fiscal 2007 and 2008 financial statements and unaudited first quarter 2009 balance sheet due to a misapplication of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" ("FAS 142") under GAAP. These adjustments are non-cash, do not affect Belo's liquidity or debt covenants, and do not impact the Company's future operations. More detailed information on this matter is included below.

Second Quarter in Review
Operating Results

Total revenues decreased 23 percent in the second quarter of 2009 versus the second quarter of 2008. Total spot revenue, including political, was down 28 percent with 27 percent and 29 percent decreases in local and national spot, respectively. Second quarter 2009 revenues were affected by the soft advertising environment, particularly in the automotive category which was down 53 percent compared to the second quarter of 2008. Political revenues in the second quarter of 2009 were $1.8 million lower than the second quarter of 2008.

Advertising revenue associated with Belo's Web sites decreased 5.1 percent to $7.1 million in the second quarter of 2009, representing almost 5 percent of Belo's total revenue. Retransmission revenue totaled $11.4 million in the second quarter of 2009 and represents almost 8 percent of the Company's total revenue. The Company expects to achieve approximately $41 million in full year 2009 retransmission revenue.

Total station expenses decreased 12 percent in the second quarter of 2009 versus the same period last year due primarily to the continued implementation of cost-saving measures.

Station EBITDA in the second quarter of 2009 was down 39 percent versus the prior year. The station EBITDA margin for the second quarter of 2009 was 35 percent compared to 43 percent in the second quarter of 2008.

Corporate

Corporate operating costs were $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $6.6 million in the second quarter of 2008, a decrease of 21 percent due to an insurance reimbursement and cost-saving measures.

Other Items

Belo's depreciation and amortization expense decreased 3.5 percent to $10 million in the second quarter of 2009, down from $10.3 million in the second quarter of 2008.

Interest expense decreased $6.2 million, or 29 percent, in the second quarter of 2009.

Other income, net, decreased $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to the write-off of certain analog equipment following the digital television transition in June.

Income tax expense decreased $10.8 million in the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to lower pre-tax earnings.

Total debt at June 30, 2009 was $1.069 billion, a reduction of $23 million from December 31, 2008. The Company's leverage and interest coverage ratios, as defined in the Company's credit facility, were 5.3 and 3.0 times, respectively, at June 30, 2009. The Company invested $1.7 million in capital expenditures in the second quarter of 2009, down from $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2008.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

A reconciliation of station EBITDA to earnings from operations, a reconciliation of cash operating costs and expenses before spin-off related costs and pension expense to total operating costs and expenses, and a reconciliation of net earnings from continuing operations to pro forma net earnings from continuing operations, are set forth in an exhibit to this release.

Restatement of Prior Period Financial Statements

During the Company's quarterly review of goodwill and other intangible assets under FAS 142, a misapplication of GAAP was detected in how the Company calculates the carrying value of its FCC licenses for purposes of assessing impairments. The Company had been deducting deferred taxes associated with its FCC licenses to arrive at the carrying value for these intangible assets. Under GAAP, the deferred taxes associated with FCC licenses should not have been deducted when calculating the carrying value. As a result, the Company is restating its audited fiscal 2007 and 2008 financial statements and its unaudited first quarter 2009 balance sheet.

The adjustment to 2007 net earnings from continuing operations is a non-cash increase of $12.8 million, or $0.12 per share. The adjustment to 2008 net earnings from continuing operations is a non-cash charge of $126 million, or $1.21 per share. The total of goodwill and intangible assets on the Company's balance sheets will be increased by $7.8 million at December 31, 2007 and reduced by $197 million at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009.

Additional information regarding this matter and the restated fiscal 2007 and 2008 financial statements and first quarter 2009 balance sheet will be provided in an amended Form 10-K for the year ended 2008, an amended Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009, and a current report on Form 8-K, all scheduled for SEC filing on or before August 10, 2009.

Outlook

"Looking at third quarter," Shive said, "visibility is limited due to later booking of spot advertising and uncertainty surrounding the timing of automotive spending from GM and Chrysler. However, the combined local and national spot percentage decline in June was better than May, and July will be better than June. Current pacings indicate that the third quarter combined local and national spot percentage decline will improve from second quarter. Excluding spin-off related charges in 2008, full year 2009 combined station and corporate operating costs are expected to be 12 percent lower than 2008, an improvement from previous guidance."

A conference call to discuss this earnings release and other matters of interest to shareholders and analysts will follow at 1:00 p.m. CDT this afternoon. The conference call will be simultaneously Webcast on the Company's Web site (www.belo.com/invest). Following the conclusion of the Webcast, a replay of the conference call will be archived on Belo's Web site. To access the listen-only conference lines, dial 1-800-230-1059. A replay line will be open from 3:00 p.m. CDT on July 31, 2009 until 11:59 p.m. CDT on August 14, 2009. To access the replay, dial 800-475-6701 or 320-365-3844. The access code for the replay is 106789.

About Belo Corp.

Belo Corp. (BLC) is one of the nation's largest pure-play, publicly-traded television companies, with 2008 annual revenue of $733 million. The Company owns and operates 20 television stations (nine in the top 25 markets) and their associated Web sites. Belo stations, which include affiliations with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and MyNetwork TV, reach more than 14 percent of U.S. television households in 15 highly-attractive markets. Belo stations rank first or second in nearly all of their local markets. Additional information is available at www.belo.com or by contacting Paul Fry, vice president/Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, at 214-977-6835.

Statements in this communication concerning Belo's business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends, capital expenditures, investments, future financings, and other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements.

Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the costs, consequences (including tax consequences) and other effects of the Company's spin-off distribution of its newspaper businesses and related assets to A. H. Belo Corporation and the associated agreements between the Company and A. H. Belo relating to various matters; changes in capital market conditions and prospects, and other factors such as changes in advertising demand, interest rates and programming and production costs; changes in viewership patterns and demography, and actions by Nielsen; changes in the network-affiliate business model for broadcast television; technological changes, including the national transition to digital television in June 2009, and the development of new systems to distribute television and other audio-visual content; changes in the ability to secure, and in the terms of, carriage of Belo programming on cable, satellite, telecommunications and other program distribution methods; development of Internet commerce; industry cycles; changes in pricing or other actions by competitors and suppliers; Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory, tax and legal changes; adoption of new accounting standards or changes in existing accounting standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standard-setting bodies or authorities; the effects of Company acquisitions, dispositions and co-owned ventures; general economic conditions; and significant armed conflict, as well as other risks detailed in Belo's other public disclosures and filings with the SEC including Belo's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Belo Corp.
Consolidated Statements of Operations

Three months ended Six months ended
June 30, June 30,
In thousands, except -------- --------
per share amounts 2009 2008 2009 2008
-------------------- ---- ---- ---- ----
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)

Net Operating
Revenues $144,770 $188,969 $278,306 $363,796

Operating Costs and
Expenses
Station salaries,
wages and
employee benefits 45,536 57,179 98,209 119,328
Station
programming and
other operating costs 49,219 50,154 97,584 104,092
Corporate operating
costs 5,199 6,618 14,148 15,708
Spin-off related
costs - 410 - 4,659
Depreciation 9,967 10,324 20,759 21,208
----- ------ ------ ------
Total operating
costs and expenses 109,921 124,685 230,700 264,995

Earnings from
operations 34,849 64,284 47,606 98,801

Other income and expense
Interest expense (15,332) (21,495) (29,912) (44,239)
Other income
(expense), net (2,805) 804 13,564 1,073
------ --- ------ -----
Total other income
and expense (18,137) (20,691) (16,348) (43,166)

Earnings from continuing
operations before
income taxes 16,712 43,593 31,258 55,635
Income taxes 6,417 17,214 12,052 40,136
----- ------ ------ ------

Net earnings from
continuing operations 10,295 26,379 19,206 15,499

Discontinued operations,
net of tax - - - (4,499)
--- --- --- ------

Net earnings $10,295 $26,379 $19,206 $11,000
======= ======= ======= =======

Net earnings per share
- Basic(1)
Earnings per share from
continuing operations $0.10 $0.25 $0.18 $0.15
Loss per share from
discontinued operations - - - (0.04)
--- --- --- -----
Net earnings per
share - Basic $0.10 $0.25 $0.18 $0.11
===== ===== ===== =====

Net earnings per share
- Diluted(1)
Earnings per share from
continuing operations $0.10 $0.25 $0.18 $0.15
Loss per share from
discontinued operations - - - (0.04)
--- --- --- -----
Net earnings per
share - Diluted $0.10 $0.25 $0.18 $0.11
===== ===== ===== =====

Cash dividends declared
per share $- $- $0.075 $0.075
=== === ====== ======

(1) Effective January 1, 2009, the calculation for net earnings per
share (EPS) changed according to Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles. This retroactive change is reflected in the EPS
amounts shown for 2008.

Belo Corp.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

June 30, December 31,
In thousands 2009 2008
------------- ---- ----
(unaudited) (restated)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and temporary cash investments $4,077 $5,770
Accounts receivable, net 116,540 138,638
Other current assets 20,288 22,276
------ ------
Total current assets 140,905 166,684

Property, plant and equipment, net 193,842 209,988
Intangible assets, net 1,391,416 1,391,416
Other assets 76,614 81,091
------ ------

Total assets $1,802,777 $1,849,179
========== ==========

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable $15,584 $19,385
Accrued expenses 37,063 51,399
Other current liabilities 13,406 39,027
------ ------
Total current liabilities 66,053 109,811

Long-term debt 1,069,436 1,092,765
Deferred income taxes 243,603 234,452
Other liabilities 222,315 225,248
Total shareholders' equity 201,370 186,903
------- -------

Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity $1,802,777 $1,849,179
========== ==========

Belo Corp.
Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliations

Station EBITDA

Three months ended Six months ended
June 30, June 30,
-------- --------
In thousands
(unaudited) 2009 2008 2009 2008
------------ ---- ---- ---- ----

Station EBITDA (1) $50,015 $81,636 $82,513 $140,376
Corporate operating
costs 5,199 6,618 14,148 15,708
Spin-off related costs - 410 - 4,659
Depreciation 9,967 10,324 20,759 21,208
----- ------ ------ ------
Earnings from
operations $34,849 $64,284 $47,606 $98,801
======= ======= ======= =======

Note 1: Belo's management uses Station EBITDA as the primary measure of
profitability to evaluate operating performance and to allocate
capital resources and bonuses to eligible operating company
employees. Station EBITDA represents the Company's earnings from
operations before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation,
amortization, corporate expense and spin-off related operating
costs. Other income (expense), net is not allocated to
television station earnings from operations because it consists
primarily of equity in earnings (losses) from investments in
partnerships and joint ventures and other non-operating income
(expense).

Total Operating Costs and Expenses Before Spin-Off Related Costs and
Pension Expense

In thousands (unaudited)
Three months ended Three months ended
June 30, 2009 June 30, 2008
------------------ ------------------
Station Corporate Combined Station Corporate Combined
------- --------- -------- ------- --------- --------

Cash operating
costs and
expenses before
spin-off
related costs
and pension
expense $95,084 $5,858 $100,942 $107,991 $7,880 $115,871
Depreciation 8,827 1,140 9,967 9,015 1,309 10,324
Spin-off
related costs - - - - 410 410
Pension expense
(credit) (329) (659) (988) (658) (1,262) (1,920)
---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ------

Total
operating
costs and
expenses $103,582 $6,339 $109,921 $116,348 $8,337 $124,685
======== ====== ======== ======== ====== ========

Six months ended Six months ended
June 30, 2009 June 30, 2008
------------------ ------------------
Station Corporate Combined Station Corporate Combined
------- --------- -------- ------- --------- --------

Cash operating
costs and
expenses
before spin-off
related costs
and pension
expense $195,788 $14,141 $209,929 $224,735 $17,729 $242,464
Depreciation 17,870 2,889 20,759 18,613 2,595 21,208
Spin-off
related costs - - - - 4,659 4,659
Pension expense
(credit) 4 8 12 (1,315) (2,021) (3,336)
--- --- --- ------ ------ ------

Total
operating
costs and
expenses $213,662 $17,038 $230,700 $242,033 $22,962 $264,995
======== ======= ======== ======== ======= ========

Belo Corp.
Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliations
(continued)

Pro Forma Net Earnings From Continuing Operations
In thousands (unaudited)
Three months Three months
ended June 30, ended June 30,
2009 2008
--------------- --------------

Earnings EPS Earnings EPS
-------- --- -------- ---

Net earnings from
continuing operations $10,295 $0.10 $26,379 $0.25
Spin-off related operating
and financing costs, net of
tax - 351 $0.00
--- ---
Pro forma net earnings from
continuing operations $10,295 $0.10 $26,730 $0.26
======= =======

Six months Six months
ended June 30, ended June 30,
2009 2008
------------- ---------------

Earnings EPS Earnings EPS
-------- --- -------- ---

Net earnings from
continuing operations $19,206 $0.18 $15,499 $0.15
Spin-off related operating
and financing costs, net of
tax - 3,502 $0.03
Gain from extinguishment of
debt, net of tax (9,131) $(0.09) -
Spin-off related tax charge - 18,235 $0.17
--- ------
Pro forma net earnings from
continuing operations $10,075 $0.10 $37,236 $0.36
======= =======

Source: Belo Corp.

CONTACT: Paul Fry, vice president/Investor Relations & Corporate
Communications of Belo Corp., +1-214-977-6835

Web Site: http://www.belo.com/

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