Gray Reports Operating Results for the Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012

Gray Reports Operating Results for the Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2012





ATLANTA, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Gray Television, Inc. ("Gray," "we," "us" or "our") (NYSE: GTN) today announced results from operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 ("first quarter of 2012") as compared to the three month period ended March 31, 2011 ("first quarter of 2011").

Highlights:

For the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, our revenue, broadcast expense and corporate and administrative expense were as follows:



Three Months Ended March 31,
----------------------------
2012 2011 % Change
---- ---- --------
(in thousands except for percentages)

Revenue (less
agency
commissions) $80,674 $69,742 16 %

Operating expenses
(before
depreciation,
amortization and
loss or gain on
disposal of
assets):
Broadcast expense $50,772 $48,179 5 %

Corporate and
administrative
expense $3,106 $3,038 2 %


We are pleased with our operating results for the first quarter of 2012. Our period over period increase in revenue for the first quarter of 2012 was primarily due to increases in political advertising revenue, setting a new first quarter record, and retransmission consent revenue. In addition, our local and internet advertising revenue also increased.

Our period over period increase in broadcast and corporate and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation, amortization and gain or loss on disposal of assets) increased in the first quarter of 2012 due primarily to increases in compensation, programing costs, other professional services and national sales commissions.

Comments on Results of Operations for the First Quarter of 2012 Compared to the First Quarter of 2011:

Revenue.

Total revenue increased $10.9 million, or 16%, to $80.7 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011 primarily due to increased retransmission consent revenue and political, local and internet advertising revenue. A significant portion of our retransmission consent contracts expired on December 31, 2011 and we were able to renew substantially all of these contracts under terms more favorable to Gray, which resulted in increased revenue in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. Political advertising revenue increased due to increased advertising from political candidates and special interest groups in the "on year" of the two year election cycle. Our local advertising revenue continued to increase primarily due to an improving economy. While our internet advertising revenue has also benefited from an improving economy, we continue to focus on and invest resources into our internet sales efforts which have also resulted in increased internet revenue. In addition, local and national net advertising revenue was positively influenced by the broadcast of the 2012 Super Bowl on our 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 one primary FOX-affiliated channel and four secondary digital FOX-affiliated channels, which earned us approximately $0.2 million. We continued to earn consulting revenue under our agreement with Young Broadcasting, Inc.

The principal components of our revenue for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011 were as follows:

Local advertising revenue increased $2.1 million, or 5%, to $45.9 million.

National advertising revenue remained consistent at $13.0 million.

Internet advertising revenue increased $1.4 million, or 34%, to $5.7 million.

Political advertising revenue increased $3.6 million, or 259%, to $5.0 million setting a new first quarter record.

Retransmission advertising revenue increased $3.4 million, or 68%, to $8.5 million.

Other revenue increased $0.1 million, or 5%, to $1.9 million.

Consulting revenue from our agreement with Young Broadcasting, Inc. was $0.8 million.

Our five largest local and national advertising categories on a combined local and national basis by customer type, excluding political advertising, demonstrated the following changes during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011: automotive increased 8%; medical increased 15%; restaurant increased 8%; communications increased 17%; and furniture and appliances increased 5%.

Operating expenses.

Broadcast expense (before depreciation, amortization and loss or gain on disposal of assets) increased $2.6 million, or 5%, to $50.8 million. This increase was due primarily to increases in non-compensation expense of $1.8 million and compensation expense of $0.8 million. Non-compensation expense increased primarily due to an increase in programing costs, other professional services and national sales commissions. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in payroll and pension expenses.

Corporate and administrative expense (before depreciation, amortization and loss or gain on disposal of assets) increased $0.1 million, or 2%, to $3.1 million. The increase in corporate and administrative expenses was due primarily to increased compensation expense. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in payroll and pension expenses. We recorded non-cash stock-based compensation expense during the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 of $14,000 and $34,000, respectively.

Detailed table of operating results:



Gray Television, Inc.
Selected Operating Data (Unaudited)
(in thousands except for per share data and percentages)


Three Months Ended
March 31,
---------

2012 2011
---- ----

Revenue (less agency
commissions) $80,674 $69,742
Operating expenses
before depreciation,
amortization and loss
(gain) on disposal
of assets, net:
Broadcast 50,772 48,179
Corporate and
administrative 3,106 3,038
Depreciation 5,891 6,998
Amortization of
intangible assets 19 34
Loss (gain) on
disposals of assets,
net 65 (13)
Operating expenses 59,853 58,236
------ ------
Operating income 20,821 11,506
Other income
(expense):
Miscellaneous income,
net 2 -
Interest expense (15,163) (16,000)
------- -------
Income (loss) before
income taxes 5,660 (4,494)
Income tax expense
(benefit) 2,289 (1,411)
----- ------
Net income (loss) 3,371 (3,083)
Preferred stock
dividends (including
accretion of
issuance cost of $77
and $118,
respectively) 1,179 1,789
Net income (loss)
available to common
stockholders $2,192 $(4,872)
====== =======

Basic and diluted per
share information:
Net income (loss)
available to common
stockholders $0.04 $(0.09)
===== ======
Weighted-average
shares outstanding 57,148 57,112
====== ======

Political revenue
(less agency
commission) $4,959 $1,381






Other Financial Data:



As of
-----
March 31, December 31,
2012 2011
---- ----
(in thousands)

Cash $15,111 $5,190
Long-term debt, including
current portion $822,366 $832,233
Preferred stock(1) $24,919 $24,841
Borrowing availability
under our senior credit
facility $40,000 $31,000


Three Months Ended March
31,
-------------------------
2012 2011
---- ----
(in thousands)

Net cash provided by
operating activities $26,996 $14,860
Net cash used in investing
activities (6,869) (9,313)
Net cash used in financing
activities (10,206) (1,206)
Net increase in cash $9,921 $4,341
====== ======


(1) As of March 31, 2012, preferred stock does not include unaccreted original issuance costs and accrued preferred stock dividends of $1.0 million and $14.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, preferred stock does not include unaccreted original issuance costs and accrued preferred stock dividends of $1.1 million and $13.7 million, respectively.

Internet Initiatives:

We continue to focus on expanding local content on our websites to drive increased traffic. Our website page view data for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:





Gray Websites - Data

Three Months Ended March 31,
----------------------------
%
2012 2011 Change
---- ---- ------
(in millions except for
percentages)

Advertising
impressions
generated 1,031 793 30 %
Total page
views
(including
mobile page
views) 380 271 40 %


We attribute the increase in our website traffic to increased posting of local content and public awareness of our websites resulting from our on-air promotion of our websites.

Our aggregate internet revenues are derived from two sources. The first source is advertising or sponsorship opportunities directly on our websites. We call this "direct internet revenue." The other revenue source is television advertising time purchased by our clients to directly promote their involvement in our websites. We refer to this internet revenue source as "internet-related commercial time sales."

Guidance for the Three Months Ending June 30, 2012 (the "Second Quarter of 2012")

We currently anticipate that our results of operations for the three month period ending June 30, 2012 will approximate the ranges presented in the table below:



Three Months Ended June 30,
---------------------------
2012 % Change 2012 % Change
Guidance From Guidance From
Low Actual High Actual Actual
Selected operating data: Range 2011 Range 2011 2011
------------------------ ----- ---- ----- ---- ----
(in thousands except for percentages)
OPERATING REVENUES:
Revenues (less agency
commissions) $85,800 13 % $86,500 14 % $76,201

OPERATING EXPENSES:
(before depreciation,
amortization
and other expenses)
Broadcast $52,000 8 % $52,500 10 % $47,930
Corporate and administrative $3,800 12 % $4,000 18 % $3,402

Other selected data:
Political advertising
revenues (less
agency commissions) $5,000 116 % $5,500 137 % $2,316


Comments on Guidance:

Net Revenue.

Based on our current forecast, we currently believe our second quarter of 2012 local revenue, excluding political advertising revenue, will increase from the three months ended June 30, 2011 (the "second quarter of 2011") by approximately 3% to 4%. We currently believe our second quarter of 2012 national revenue, excluding political advertising revenue, will increase from the second quarter of 2011 by approximately 10%.

We anticipate our second quarter of 2012 internet revenue, excluding political advertising revenue, will increase from the second quarter of 2011 by approximately 22%.

We anticipate our second quarter of 2012 retransmission consent revenue will increase from the second quarter of 2011 by approximately 60% to approximately $8.1 million. We anticipate that our full year 2012 retransmission consent revenue will range between approximately $33.0 million and $33.5 million.

We estimate our base consulting revenue will be $0.6 million for the second quarter of 2012. We do not anticipate recording any incentive consulting revenue in the second quarter of 2012.

Broadcast Operating Expense (before depreciation, amortization and loss or gain on disposal of assets).

The anticipated increase in broadcast operating expense for the second quarter of 2012 compared to the second quarter of 2011 is due primarily to anticipated increases in compensation expense and programming expense.

Corporate and Administrative Expense (before depreciation, amortization and loss or gain on disposal of assets).

The anticipated increase in corporate expense for the second quarter of 2012 compared to the second quarter of 2011 is due primarily to expected increases in compensation expenses.

Revenue (less agency commissions) by Category:

The table below presents our revenue (less agency commissions) or "net revenue" by type for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively:



Three Months Ended March 31,
----------------------------
2012 2011
---- ----
Percent Percent
Amount of Total Amount of Total
------ -------- ------ --------
(in thousands except for percentages)
Revenue (less agency
commissions)
Local $45,875 56.9% $43,765 62.8%
National 13,006 16.1% 12,975 18.6%
Internet 5,692 7.1% 4,247 6.1%
Political 4,959 6.1% 1,381 2.0%
Retransmission consent 8,478 10.5% 5,047 7.2%
Other 1,869 2.3% 1,777 2.6%
Consulting 795 1.0% 550 0.7%
Total $80,674 100.0% $69,742 100.0%
======= ===== ======= =====


The aggregate internet revenues presented above are derived from: (i) direct internet revenue and (ii) internet-related commercial time sales.

Non-GAAP Terms

From time to time, Gray supplements its financial results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") by disclosing the non-GAAP financial measures Broadcast Cash Flow and Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash Corporate Expenses. These non-GAAP amounts are used by us to approximate the amount used to calculate a key financial performance covenant contained in our senior credit facility. Broadcast Cash Flow is defined as net income (loss) plus corporate and administrative expense, depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets and program broadcast rights), loss on disposal of assets, miscellaneous expense, net, interest expense, income tax expense and, less gain on disposal of assets, payments for program broadcast obligations and network compensation revenue and network payments. Corporate and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation, amortization and non-cash stock-based compensation) are deducted from Broadcast Cash Flow to calculate "Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash Corporate Expenses." These non-GAAP terms are not defined in GAAP and our definitions may differ from, and therefore not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies, thereby limiting their usefulness. Such terms are used by management in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should be considered as supplements to, and not as substitutes for, net income (loss) and cash flows reported in accordance with GAAP.

Reconciliation:

Reconciliation of net income (loss) to the non-GAAP terms:



Three Months Ended
March 31,
---------
2012 2011
---- ----
(in thousands)

Net income (loss) $3,371 $(3,083)
Adjustments to reconcile from net income
(loss) to Broadcast Cash
Flow Less Cash Corporate Expenses:
Depreciation 5,891 6,998
Amortization of intangible assets 19 34
Non-cash stock-based compensation 14 34
Loss (gain) on disposals of assets, net 65 (13)
Miscellaneous income, net (2) -
Interest expense 15,163 16,000
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,289 (1,411)
Amortization of program broadcast rights 2,758 3,833
Common stock contributed to 401(k) plan
excluding corporate 401(k) contributions 7 8
Network compensation revenue recognized (157) (178)
Network compensation per network
affiliation agreement (60) (60)
Payments for program broadcast rights (2,795) (3,794)
------ ------
Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash Corporate
Expenses 26,563 18,368
Corporate and administrative expenses
excluding depreciation,
amortization of non-cash stock-based
compensation 3,092 3,004
Broadcast Cash Flow $29,655 $21,372
======= =======


The Company

Gray Television, Inc. is a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Gray currently operates 36 television stations serving 30 markets. We broadcast a primary channel from each of our stations and also operate at least one secondary channel from the majority of our stations. Each of our primary channels are affiliated with either CBS (17 channels), NBC (10 channels), ABC (8 channels) or FOX (1 channel). In addition, we currently operate 40 digital second channels that are affiliated with either ABC (1 channel), FOX (4 channels), CW (8 channels), MyNetworkTV (18 channels), Untamed Sports Network (1 channel) and The Country Network (1 channel) or are operated as local news/weather channels (7 channels).

Cautionary Statements for Purposes of the "Safe Harbor" Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the federal securities laws. These "forward-looking statements" are not statements of historical facts, and may include, among other things, statements regarding our current expectations and beliefs of operating results for the second quarter of 2012 or other periods, internet strategies, future expenses and other future events. Actual results are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and may differ materially from the current expectations and beliefs discussed in this press release. All information set forth in this release is as of May 2, 2012. We do not intend, and undertake no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. Information about certain potential factors that could affect our business and financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements are included under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and may be contained in reports subsequently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Conference Call Information

Gray Television, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter operating results on May 2, 2012. The call will begin at 11:30 AM Eastern Time. The live dial-in number is 1-800-533-7954 and the confirmation code is 5944339. The call will be webcast live and available for replay at www.gray.tv. The taped replay of the conference call will be available at 1-888-203-1112, Confirmation Code: 5944339 until June 1, 2012.

SOURCE Gray Television, Inc.

Gray Television, Inc.

CONTACT: Bob Prather, President and Chief Operating Officer, +1-404-266-8333; Jim Ryan, Senior V. P. and Chief Financial Officer, +1-404-504-9828

Web Site: http://www.gray.tv


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